Jalen Williams on Playing Game 7 of the NBA Finals in OKC with the Home Fans 😅

Game 7. NBA Finals. At home. In Oklahoma City. For Jalen Williams, it’s the culmination of a dream that started in gyms with bad lighting and hardwood floors with more dead spots than bounce. Now, he finds himself one win away from a championship, and he’ll get to try and do it with the OKC faithful behind him.

“This is what you dream about, man,” Jalen said, a wide smile stretching across his face after practice on Saturday. “Game 7, at home, for everything. I still can’t believe it’s really happening.”

Williams, the versatile wing who’s become a cornerstone of the Thunder’s rebuild-turned-contender, has been electric throughout the Finals. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren have rightfully taken the spotlight for their performances, it’s been Jalen’s two-way play, hustle, and timely buckets that have helped propel OKC to this moment. Now, with just 48 minutes standing between him and an NBA title, Jalen’s focus is sharper than ever—but he’s still letting himself soak in the moment.

“I’ve been telling myself to just breathe,” Williams said. “You try not to get too high or too low. But man… it’s Game 7. At home. The fans are gonna be crazy.”

OKC’s Home-Court Magic

The Paycom Center has been electric all postseason long. From the opening round to the dramatic Game 6 loss in Indiana, Thunder fans have shown up in waves—young, loud, and hungry for their first championship since the franchise moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. And they’ve been especially vocal about Jalen Williams, the guy who plays like every possession might be his last.

“They give us so much energy,” Williams said. “When the crowd gets loud, it feels like you can’t get tired. You just feed off it.”

The Thunder went 6–1 at home during these playoffs before losing Game 2 of the Finals. With the series now tied 3–3 after two blowouts in Games 5 and 6, OKC has one last chance to make that home-court advantage count.

“For us to come back home and have the last one here—it’s a blessing,” Williams added. “We earned this all season. We wanted Game 7 in our house.”

Growing into a Star

Jalen Williams has evolved from a surprise lottery pick out of Santa Clara into one of the most well-rounded young wings in the league. This season, he averaged over 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists while shooting efficiently from the field. But it’s been his poise in the biggest moments that’s stood out.

“I think Jalen’s made for this,” head coach Mark Daigneault said. “He doesn’t get rattled. He competes. He finds ways to impact the game even if his shot’s not falling.”

In Game 4, with OKC trailing at halftime, it was Williams who sparked the comeback with a thunderous dunk, followed by a steal and a three. He finished with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists in that game—an all-around performance that reminded everyone just how crucial he is to this team.

But Williams isn’t just focused on scoring.

“It’s about winning,” he said. “I’ll guard whoever, I’ll dive on the floor, I’ll be the hype guy if I have to. Whatever it takes.”

Feeling the Pressure—but Embracing It

Not every player welcomes the stress of a Game 7. The stakes, the lights, the history—it can be overwhelming. But for Jalen, it’s something to be embraced.

“You can’t hide from it,” he said. “Like, we all know what this is. Either we win and celebrate a title in our house, or we walk off the floor watching someone else do it. That’s real.”

Williams says he’s leaned on the veterans in the locker room—guys like Lu Dort and Isaiah Joe—for support. He’s also been in touch with Thunder alumni, including Russell Westbrook, who reached out to wish the team good luck ahead of Sunday night.

“Russ sent me a message—just told me to stay locked in and be myself,” Jalen said. “That meant a lot. He’s a legend here.”

A City Behind Them

More than anything, Williams knows what this means for Oklahoma City. The small-market franchise has never won a championship. The heartbreak of the 2012 Finals loss to LeBron’s Heat still lingers. But now, with a new core and a fresh identity, the Thunder are writing their own chapter.

“Man, the fans here are different,” Jalen said. “They’ve been with us through the rebuild, through the losses, the trades, everything. To give them this moment—it’s special. I just want to finish the job for them.”

As tipoff for Game 7 approaches, the nerves will rise. The media attention will grow. But Jalen Williams is staying grounded—eyes on the prize, smile on his face, and a city rallying behind him.

“I’ll probably cry if we win,” he laughed. “But until then, I’m locked in. We’ve got 48 minutes to make history. Let’s go get it.”