Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams has been penalized $25,000 by the NBA for wearing apparel containing offensive language. The incident occurred during his postgame media availability on Sunday, following the team`s decisive 125-93 victory over the Denver Nuggets in the seventh game of their second-round playoff series.
Williams` fine was announced less than 24 hours after his standout performance in the series-clinching win, where he contributed 24 points, seven assists, and five rebounds.
After struggling in the previous Game 6 loss to Denver, Williams bounced back significantly, delivering one of his most impressive overall performances of the current NBA postseason. The Thunder`s triumph over Denver marks their return to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2016. They are set to compete against the Minnesota Timberwolves for a spot in the NBA Finals.
Speaking about Williams` effort after the game, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault told reporters, “Great force, especially early.” He emphasized that Williams made a deliberate choice to leverage his speed and power, adding, “He was on the gas from the jump tonight.”
This season marked Williams` first selection as an NBA All-Star. During the regular season, he averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists.
Oklahoma City is scheduled to host Minnesota for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday.
Jasper Hawthorne