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Jalen Williams · Whichever historian coined the phrase, “Experience is the best teacher,” certainly never came across a group of fearless, competitive students of the game quite like Jalen Williams and the 2023-24 Oklahoma City Thunder. Adding to the list of environments he’s capable of thriving in, even in Year Two, Williams finds himself in isolation along the top of the 3-point arc against CJ McCollum, perennially one of the game’s craftiest offensive specialists. Upping his intensity to grapple his way through the New Orleans Pelicans’ pick-and-roll attempt, Williams mimics McCollum’s movements to perfection, forcing him into a turnover to send the charged-up home crowd into a frenzy. Successful in providing his youthful group with poise and veteran savvy in his first-ever postseason series, Williams’ intensity helped catapult the Thunder to both a blowout victory in Game Two on April 24, 2024, and a commanding 2-0 edge in the series. A key cog in a tireless defensive machine that forced the Pelicans into 18 turnovers, Williams offered two-way brilliance in the form of 21 points, nine rebounds, five assists, two steals, and three 3-pointers. · State of Mint