As the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder are playing under immense pressure. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the superstar people expect greatness from, but he still needs a solid supporting cast.
This involves Jalen Williams, who was the clear #2 during the 2024-25 championship run. In their championship defense during the 2025-26 season, J-Dub has not been healthy, but he is getting ready ahead of the 2026 Playoffs.
Jalen Williams still has a crucial role in OKC's championship defense
As the star player for the Thunder, Gilgeous-Alexander is respected around the league. He is the favorite to win the MVP award again for the second year in a row because he has carried the Thunder to the first seed in the Western Conference.
At the same time, he has been without Williams for a large chunk of the season. He and Holmgren have missed time, which has led SGA to carry the team when needed. He has done well, but he knows a supporting cast will help.
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He believes that Williams is a big part of their potential title bid in the upcoming Playoffs. Of course, the Thunder have tons of good players across the roster, but a healthy Williams is dangerous for opponents.
"He’s one of the best players on this team, and he’s one of the biggest reasons we won last year, and if we’re going to win again, we’re going to need him to be that guy," SGA said after their latest win on Sunday.
That is a thoughtful way of saying that Williams is important to the team. At the same time, Gilgeous-Alexander is challenging his teammate because he knows what Williams can do, which will be on full display in the postseason.
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