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Cason Wallace · Finding the bar already high following a 57-win masterpiece in 2023-24, the Oklahoma City Thunder — and anyone with predictions on this year’s champion — were left to metaphorically wonder: just how much higher could they vault? Three days into the NBA’s premiere week, Cason Wallace reached back, providing a most-thrilling answer. Drawing a rare start for just the 14th time of his burgeoning career, Wallace gives the always-supportive second unit something to celebrate, offsetting a seemingly-even three-on-three fastbreak with a speedy, ambitious race down floor. Showing nary an ounce of hesitation upon seeing 6-foot-10 Nikola Vučević hindering his rim path, Wallace merely rises with ferocity through an in-traffic jam, prompting every player in a blue-and-orange-colored warm-up out of their seat. The Thunder followed Wallace’s from-the-jump example, pouncing on the Chicago Bulls early, a luxury that guided a 19-point win on October 26, 2024. A fitting, hand-in-glove fit on both either side of the floor, and in any lineup combination Oklahoma City experimented with, Wallace’s contributions included nine points, six rebounds, two assists, three steals, and a +15 plus-minus. · State of Mint