It has been years since the Thunder have had multiple All-NBA teams. The last time was in 2019, with Paul George making the first team and Russell Westbrook making the third team. The new generation of Thunder greats is breaking the drought of multiple All-NBA selections.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams are the new Thunder duo to make the All-NBA teams together. Gilgeous-Alexander is an All-NBA first-team member, and Williams makes the third team. This is Gilgeous-Alexander’s third All-NBA selection and Williams’ first selection. Both had fantastic seasons and are deserving of these awards. Let’s take a deep dive into their seasons.
Thunder Back on Top With All-NBA Selections
Shai’s Historic Season
Gilgeous-Alexander had a season that will go down as one of the greatest seasons by a guard in history. He scored 32.7 points on 51.9 percent shooting, five rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game. These stats helped him win his first MVP in his career. His defense was also great, racking up 1.7 steals and a block a night.
Shai also became the second player in NBA history to score 30 or more points a game on 50 percent shooting to go along with at least five rebounds, five assists, 1.50 steals, and one block. The other player was Michael Jordan. This is some elite company to be a part of. Although Gilgeous-Alexander has had some controversy this season due to his free-throw numbers, this is just an excuse fans have when Shai plays better than their favorite player. Even Gilgeous-Alexander said so when talking to Richard Jefferson.
Richard Jefferson says SGA told him that no one cared when he was taking 11 free throws per game on a 10th seed, but now that he’s taking 9 a game and sending everyone’s favorite player home, people suddenly care
(
@RoadTrippinPod / @Weston22518)
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 22, 2025
This season will go down in everyone’s memory, but there are two sides. One side will say he earned these accolades and that Shai is going down as the best guard of this generation. The other side says he is an “unethical” hooper and that Shai can’t do anything without a super team or free throws. These opinions don’t matter; Shai will forever be the 2024-2025 NBA MVP.
The Rise of Jalen “J-Dub” Williams
This was the year of Jalen Williams. If NBA fans did not know who he was before, they should now. Not only did J-Dub make the All-NBA third team, but he was a member of the All-Defensive second team and an All-Star. He has also put on quite a display in the Western Conference Finals.
Williams was all over the court and did everything for the Thunder, and it showed up in the stats. Williams averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists a night in his third year. He was also a defensive monster, getting 1.6 steals and 0.7 blocks a night while guarding every position.
When Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren were out at the same time, the Thunder needed a center. Jaylin Williams was not an option, as he was also injured. Enter Jalen Williams, the starting center. Without J-Dub stepping up, it could have spelled doom for Oklahoma City. During his time as a center, he won and lost three games. Yes, Hartenstein returned soon after Holmgren went down, but what if he didn’t? Williams was to Shai as Robin was to Batman. Without Williams, would Shai have led the Thunder to the one seed?
Poetry Behind the Selections
There is a bit of poetry behind these All-NBA selections for the Thunder. With George and Westbrook being the last Thunder duo to be named to All-NBA teams, it makes it a full circle moment—those were the players that started the rebuild in downtown Oklahoma City. George was the player traded away for Shai and the pick that turned into Williams. It is poetic; the old is what brought this new generation of Thunder basketball. All that is left is for this duo to win the championship, something no Thunder team has ever done.
Featured image: © Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
The post Thunder Back On Top With All-NBA Selections appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.