OKC Thunder Second Year Guard Earns High Praise From Team

The Oklahoma City Thunder have seen Cason Wallace step up this week without Jalen Williams on the floor and his production has earned plenty of praise from his teammates.

Mar 15, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) dribbles in the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images / Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

The Oklahoma City Thunder have built a roster that possesses the most depth in the NBA. It allows the Thunder to truly lean into the next man up mentality that every professional team yearns for.

This week, it has been Cason Wallace who has filled in admirably for a banged up Thunder squad. Over the course of the last five games, the Kentucky product has been on the ball more and produced.

Wallace is averaging 14 points, four assists and a rebound in the three games this week without Jalen Williams, 64% shooting from the floor, 57% from beyond the arc and 75% at the charity stripe. This has garnered praise from his teammates and coaches.

“The sky is the limit for him. He’s gonna be as good as he continues to want to be. I think he wants to be a really good player in this league for a long time and I see him doing that," Chet Holmgren said after practice on Tuesday.

The seven-footer wasn't the only one to offer praise to Wallace, over the weekend, superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tabbed the second year guard as a future All-Star.

"He has tools to be an All-Star. He has tools to be a Jrue Holiday," Gilgeous-Alexander said of Wallace on Sunday. "That type of All-Star. End you defensively and when he has the ball, he can play with it. He can make a play, he can make a shot. Steps up in big moments. He has that ability and to see his confidence grow as he's with us and see his development, it's been really fun, it's been great."

This has been a banner week for Wallace, specifically on the ball and playing off the catch. Over the last five games, the Kentucky product is finishing at an above 70% clip at the cup and Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault chimed in on his improvements in that area.

“He’s always had nice finishing skill. I think the challenge has been getting himself into those situations more. That’s where he’s learning. He’s starting to really get aggressive in transition and punching gaps with the ball," Daigneault said.

As the rest of the season becomes more about internal development than the record –– with the Thunder owning a 12.5 game cushion on the No. 2 seed in the West –– Wallace's development should be at the top of the chart of things to watch for down the stretch.

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