He serves as robin to the batman of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but Jalen Williams can make history when he wants to.
The talented forward had a performance for the ages in Monday’s Game 5 matchup between Oklahoma City and Indiana in the NBA Finals. Indiana expected for Alexander to have a marquee showing, but to watch Williams tear it up on the floor at the Paycom Center was difficult for it. The Pacers were helpless against the former No. 12 overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft.
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Williams did everything he wanted on the court for 35 minutes, including a career-high 40 points.
Jalen Williams Finals 40-ball pic.twitter.com/8n1SLbb59f
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) June 17, 2025
He made 14-of-25 shots from the field (56 percent), while shooting three-of-five from 3-point range. Williams also got to the free-throw line, making nine-of-12 from the charity stripe. He grabbed six rebounds, four assists, and a steal in a 120-109 victory for OKC — giving it a controlling 3-2 lead in the best of seven series. The 24-year-old joined elite company with his outing, becoming just the fifth player in over the last 40 seasons to score 25-plus points in three straight games in the NBA Finals before the age of 25. Williams is in a class with Kyrie Irving (2016), Kevin Durant (2012), Dwayne Wade (2006), and Shaquille O’Neal (1995). He has the Thunder one victory away from capturing the Larry O’Brien Trophy as NBA Champions.
25+ POINTS IN 3 STRAIGHT GAMES ????
Jalen Williams is just the 5th player over the last 40 seasons to do this in the NBA Finals before the age of 25, joining:
Kyrie Irving (2016)
Kevin Durant (2012)
Dwyane Wade (2006)
Shaquille O’Neal (1995) pic.twitter.com/vANu0UfBo6— NBA (@NBA) June 17, 2025
Game 6 will be on Thursday night.
Stephen M. Smith is a writer for Ball Exclusives. You can follow him on X via @CoachingMSmith.
