In his third season for the Thunder last year, Williams made the All-Star team, the All-NBA third team and the NBA Defensive second team. On the season, he averaged 21.6 points 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.6 steals. In his rookie season, he finished second in Rookie of the Year voting while averaging 14.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

The last time these two teams met up, Jalen Williams rattled the rim with a slam that tore ligaments in his wrist this past April playing out the stretch of the