JJ Redick and Lebron James Offer High Praise for Young Thunder Duo

Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams are forcing their way into the NBA spotlight.

Dec 26, 2023; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) / Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma City has received an abundance of national media exposure with the team’s rapid rise. It isn’t just a fun underdog story anymore, this team has a top three record in the NBA. The Thunder appears to be set up for contention for years to come, and it’s hard not to marvel.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has brought plenty of the attention to this team. Having an NBA candidate changes the dynamic of everything. Oklahoma City has tripled in nationally televised games and they have been the topic of many popular podcasts. Although Gilgeous-Alexander is certainly the head of the snake, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are raising eyebrows too.

JJ Redick and LeBron James talked a bit about the Thunder’s young duo on the pair’s new podcast.

“I think about Chris Bosh, and it makes me think of Chet Holmgren a little bit,” Redick told James when thinking about how Bosh unlocked the Heat’s offense. “You guys probably run different stuff, but what makes OKC so good is their ability to drive the basketball. And then drive the basketball and then kick. 

“And they did this last year, and they were 42-40. Then, all of a sudden, Chet comes in and it unlocks everything. To unlock how you maximize the offense, you need Chet on that team.”

It was easy to watch Thunder games last season and realize there was a gaping hole down low. Oklahoma City scratched and clawed its way into the playoffs, but the team had no real shot without a center on the roster. Enter in Holmgren.

The big man from Gonzaga missed his entire rookie season but has more than made up for it with his real rookie campaign. He’s averaging 16.7 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He has also been the Thunder’s best interior defender, averaging 2.4 blocks a night. Holmgren has changed everything for this team on both ends of the floor.

“No question about it,” LeBron said. “He changes the dynamic of everything … OKC now, at the same time that the big is trying to load (heavy help) on Shai, there’s a guard that’s flaring Chet to the opposite slot. Do you know how hard that is? They’re flaring a 7-footer to the opposite slot. 

“I mean, there’s ways to guard it, I’m not gonna say it right now because we may see them in the playoffs. But that’s very difficult when you have a guy like Shai, or J-Dub, who has now turned into a…”

Before LeBron could even finish talking about Holmgren, he was thinking about Oklahoma City’s other rising star. Picked at No. 12 in the same draft as Holmgren, Jalen Williams has taken a massive leap into the second scoring option next to Gilgeous-Alexander. 

Williams is averaging 19.5 points, 4.6 assists and 4.0 rebounds on 54% shooting and 43.1% from 3-point range. LeBron was carefully picking his next work to describe J-Dub, but Redick wasn’t afraid to say it.

“He’s a star,” Redick said, finishing his sentence. And LeBron echoed it next, “He’s a star.”

“I told him too, I said ‘Man, you’re out here killing,” James said. “He said he had a hell of a summer. He came to me and said ‘My younger brother played against Bronny last night.’ Cause his younger brother goes to Colorado. I told him ‘Man, keep going bro, you’re killing this s——.’”

Williams taking a massive leap is as big a reason as any that Oklahoma City has taken the jump to contender status. He has been the perfect second option for Gilgeous-Alexander — and now makes his life easier. Williams has been a plus defender and is one of the few isolation scorers on the Thunder’s roster. His efficiency has been sky high, and the shots he’s making seem to be sustainable.

“He’s one of those guys, he’s right now, not many holes in his game,” Redick said. “He’s pretty damn good at nearly everything. He’s 22 now, I believe.”

Even though he was an older, more polished rookie, LeBron still couldn’t believe his age. “S——, that’s it?”

The 2022 NBA draft could be one that changes the Thunder franchise forever. Holmgren and Williams are cornerstones, and the duo is showing no signs of slowing down.

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