Jalen Williams and the Oklahoma City Thunder are still picking up the pieces after getting dethroned by the San Antonio Spurs.
The Thunder lost their NBA crown and their bid for back-to-back titles after being outclassed by the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, though Williams believes Oklahoma City would have been on its way to the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks had he not missed games due to injury.
“Obviously, I think I could have made an impact,” he told reporters on Sunday, via Anthony Slater of ESPN. “I think we could’ve won if I played. We went to seven with them without me playing. I don’t think I make us worse.”
That statement sparked some strong reactions from fans on social media.
it’s funny cause if you look at the numbers, OKC plays better without him
— 𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚛𝚜 🏆 (@LosSoWavyy) May 31, 2026
This guy is delusional
— Enitan Bello (@enitandev) May 31, 2026
He’s the same person that said they would break the 73-9 record
Dudes missed over 50 games this season. They still won 64 games. You basically never play for them.
— HELLMANN *NFC & TCA* (@JewThugMike) May 31, 2026
I thought he might put all that arrogance away after taking the fat L. Nope. Someone needs to remind him they’ve won one title. One. They’ve been to the finals one time. Once.
— Hoops fan (@MrX06438369) June 1, 2026
This guy is a real dummy
— T (@tyler13davis) June 1, 2026
The 25-year-old guard-forward struggled to stay healthy in the 2025-26 campaign, appearing in only 33 regular-season games and just five in the 2026 playoffs. Despite his absences, the Thunder went 64-18 and came just a win away from reaching the NBA Finals for the second year in a row.
Williams will have the entire offseason to heal up from his injury and prepare for what the Thunder hope will be a huge bounce-back campaign for him in 2026-27.
