Jaylen Williams claims Chet Holmgren is strong in the NBA All-Star Game

Before beating the Miami Heat to extend their three-game winning streak, Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams campaigned for Chet Holmgren‘s All-Star bid. Williams campaigned for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to win the MVP months before SGA emerged as a major contender last season. This year, Jalen is back in Holmgren’s campaign, who could be heading to his first All-Star game in February.

Williams did his best All-Star pitch for Holmgren, surrounded by a crowd of journalists.

“For the third year in a row, we’re the No. 1 team in the West — Chet was at the forefront of that with Shay,” Williams said. “I mean, he’s hyped. Do I have to watch the games again? He’s having a great season. He’s one of the main reasons we’re where we are. What did we start the season with – 24-1? It doesn’t just happen without him.”

“So he’s been really special for us. He’s going to continue to do that. He’s gotten better and better every year. I think what makes him special, too, is that he’s not playing for that. He’s not playing for the All-Stars, he’s not playing for these personal things, and I think that’s why he’s had the success he’s had. He does the right thing. That’s it.”

With Williams out for the first 19 games, Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren and the Thunder’s 24-1 record is the best start in franchise history. Chet Holmgren is averaging 18.1 points on 57.4% shooting, including 37.3% from deep, 8.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game for Oklahoma City this season.

Jaylen Williams calls out ‘critics’ after Thunder win

Thunder All-Star Jaylen Williams called out his biggest critic after Sunday’s 124-112 win against the Heat. With 21 games behind him after two surgeries to repair torn ligaments in his right wrist, Williams turned to tough love was received on social media, which he says are exclusive to X (formerly Twitter).

“I thought I was my own biggest critic. Maybe Twitter,” Williams said. “I’m just taking it day by day. Mark was good about just saying it’s going to take time. What I have is not like (something), 100 people running around with this injury, nor do they have that many people who have had to have surgery twice. So it’s one of those things that I can look at as a new opportunity to show people who eventually have to go through it that at some point it’s possible to be human.

“So that’s how I looked at it. Like all things, it takes time. But I’ll figure it out. I’ll be able to get my head around it and get everything else going.”

In an attempt to ease the tension in his right hand, Williams revealed that he used a heated glove over a heated pillow while on the bench during Sunday’s win against the Heat.