The post-season ascension of Santa Clara guard Jalen Williams is complete.
“Super-excited to get going,” Williams said on OKC Thunder Twitter. ” I don’t have a lot of words right now because I’m excited but I’m looking forward to seeing you Saturday.” In Oklahoma City, Williams joins West Coast Conference rival Chet Holmgren, the 7-foot forward out of Gonzaga who went No. 2 overall behind top pick Paolo Banchero of Duke. One clue that Williams was moving up draft boards was his inclusion in the green room at Barclay Center in Brooklyn, which is reserved for potential lottery picks.
“He’s a guy that made a huge jump throughout the course of his career,” ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said. “He was very productive. People call him a late-bloomer, but he’s continued to improve throughout his basketball life.”