
Game 7. NBA Finals. At home. In Oklahoma City. For Jalen Williams, itās 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 heāll get to try and do it with the OKC faithful behind him.
āThis is what you dream about, man,ā Jalen said, a wide smile stretching across his face after practice on Saturday. āGame 7, at home, for everything. I still canāt believe itās really happening.ā
Williams, the versatile wing whoās become a cornerstone of the Thunderās rebuild-turned-contender, has been electric throughout the Finals. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren have rightfully taken the spotlight for their performances, itās been Jalenās 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, Jalenās focus is sharper than everābut heās still letting himself soak in the moment.
āIāve been telling myself to just breathe,ā Williams said. āYou try not to get too high or too low. But man⦠itās Game 7. At home. The fans are gonna be crazy.ā
OKCās 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 wavesāyoung, loud, and hungry for their first championship since the franchise moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. And theyāve been especially vocal about Jalen Williams, the guy who plays like every possession might be his last.
āThey give us so much energy,ā Williams said. āWhen the crowd gets loud, it feels like you canāt get tired. You just feed off it.ā
The Thunder went 6ā1 at home during these playoffs before losing Game 2 of the Finals. With the series now tied 3ā3 after two blowouts in Games 5 and 6, OKC has one last chance to make that home-court advantage count.
āFor us to come back home and have the last one hereāitās a blessing,ā Williams added. āWe earned this all season. We wanted Game 7 in our house.ā
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 itās been his poise in the biggest moments thatās stood out.
āI think Jalenās made for this,ā head coach Mark Daigneault said. āHe doesnāt get rattled. He competes. He finds ways to impact the game even if his shotās not falling.ā
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 gameāan all-around performance that reminded everyone just how crucial he is to this team.
But Williams isnāt just focused on scoring.
āItās about winning,ā he said. āIāll guard whoever, Iāll dive on the floor, Iāll be the hype guy if I have to. Whatever it takes.ā
Feeling the Pressureābut Embracing It

Not every player welcomes the stress of a Game 7. The stakes, the lights, the historyāit can be overwhelming. But for Jalen, itās something to be embraced.
āYou canāt hide from it,ā he said. āLike, 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. Thatās real.ā
Williams says heās leaned on the veterans in the locker roomāguys like Lu Dort and Isaiah Joeāfor support. Heās also been in touch with Thunder alumni, including Russell Westbrook, who reached out to wish the team good luck ahead of Sunday night.
āRuss sent me a messageājust told me to stay locked in and be myself,ā Jalen said. āThat meant a lot. Heās a legend here.ā
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 LeBronās Heat still lingers. But now, with a new core and a fresh identity, the Thunder are writing their own chapter.
āMan, the fans here are different,ā Jalen said. āTheyāve been with us through the rebuild, through the losses, the trades, everything. To give them this momentāitās special. I just want to finish the job for them.ā
As tipoff for Game 7 approaches, the nerves will rise. The media attention will grow. But Jalen Williams is staying groundedāeyes on the prize, smile on his face, and a city rallying behind him.
āIāll probably cry if we win,ā he laughed. āBut until then, Iām locked in. Weāve got 48 minutes to make history. Letās go get it.ā