Jalen Williams, proud of the young Thunder: "We don't need veterans to win"
Tremendous season for OKC to achieve the franchise's first ring in Oklahoma
Jalen Williams spoke about the value of youth in the recent success of the Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA champions and the second youngest team to achieve this in the league's history. The forward granted an interview to SLAM magazine, where he was also featured, and took the opportunity to debunk the idea that veteran experience is a necessary condition to reach glory.
"I don't think you need a bunch of veterans to be successful," he stated. "I think they are definitely useful. But... I learned to be a professional even before signing with the Thunder. You go in there, and every ball in the cart is placed in the same direction; we tuck in our shirts during practices; we don't wear jewelry during practices. That was instilled in me from the moment I arrived in the organization. So, we haven't needed the veterans to teach us how to do things. We matured faster because that's the environment we've been in."
The Thunder's title was largely due to the accelerated growth of their young core. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has led the team as a established league star, accompanied by the defensive and offensive impact of Chet Holmgren, who hasn't quite become a big star as expected. Alongside them, Williams has become a key piece, while other young talents on the roster have responded to the demand to compete at the highest level without needing an extensive adaptation period.
However, Williams acknowledged that the presence of veterans was also important. While the weight of the roster fell on the younger players, more experienced ones like Alex Caruso contributed solidity, composure, and competitive habits that helped the team take the definitive step towards the championship. The combination of a well-defined organizational culture, discipline transmitted since each player's arrival, and the energy of a young roster allowed Oklahoma City to show that it's not always necessary to wait years for maturity or accumulate veteran figures to conquer the NBA.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Jalen Williams, orgulloso de los jóvenes Thunder: "No necesitamos veteranos para ganar"
