The Oklahoma City Thunder are rolling through the 2025-26 NBA season like a freight train with no brakes. At 24-2, they’re not just winning - they’re dominating.
And while the buzz around their historic pace has fans whispering about the Warriors’ 73-9 record, Jalen Williams isn’t getting caught up in the noise. For him, it’s not about chasing history - it’s about staying sharp, getting better, and making the most of every opportunity to grow, both individually and as a team.
One of those opportunities came recently, not in a game, but off the court, when Williams was spotted catching up with BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa during a Thunder road trip to Utah. Dybantsa, widely considered the top prospect in next year’s NBA Draft, was in the building as Oklahoma City dismantled the Jazz 144-112 on November 21. And while the Thunder forward didn’t suit up that night, his presence - and his conversation with Dybantsa - didn’t go unnoticed.
Now, let’s not read too much into a courtside chat. Williams, ever aware of the speculation that follows every move in today’s NBA, kept things light but honest when asked about their relationship.
“He’s a really good player, obviously,” Williams said. “I don’t even know how we met the first time.
I know Thunder Twitter and everybody else in the world will run with whatever I say, so I gotta be careful. Just a good dude.
Obviously, the Thunder in town - everybody knows about the picks and everything that’s going on. I think I met him last year.
A lot has gone on. He’s just a good kid.”
The “picks and everything that’s going on” part? That’s where things get interesting.
Oklahoma City owns the Los Angeles Clippers’ unprotected first-round pick in next year’s draft - and with the Clippers sitting at 6-20, tied for the third-worst record in the league, that pick is looking more and more like a golden ticket. If the lottery balls bounce the right way, the Thunder could be in position to land a generational talent like Dybantsa without even needing to bottom out themselves.
That’s the kind of long-term planning that’s made OKC one of the smartest-run franchises in the league.
But for now, Williams is keeping the focus on the present - and using the rare luxury of extra practice time to refine his game. After missing the start of the season and debuting on November 28 in a win over the Suns, he’s finding his rhythm and appreciating the chance to put in real work.
“For me, it’s been good just because I didn’t have training camp or anything,” Williams said. “So I’ve actually been able to work out, which is nice.
This has been the first time I’ve had consecutive days where I actually worked out and utilized both my hands. That’s cool.
You don’t really get a lot of days like that.”
It’s not just about getting shots up, either. The Thunder are using this stretch like a mini training camp - a chance to reset, study film, and drill down on the details that often get lost in the grind of an 82-game season.
“We got to go through actual practice and kind of have like a training camp flow,” Williams said. “Where we get to re-integrate our principles, watch film, just do the whole deep dive on the season - what we’ve been good at, what we’ve been bad at - and actually be able to work on it.”
That kind of self-awareness and attention to detail is part of what’s made the Thunder so dangerous this season. They’re not just riding talent or momentum - they’re building something sustainable. And with a roster that’s already stacked with young talent, the possibility of adding a player like Dybantsa through the draft is almost unfair.
Next up for OKC? A Thursday night matchup at home against the Clippers - the very team whose struggles could end up fueling the Thunder’s future even more. A win would push Oklahoma City to 25-2, keeping them on pace with some of the greatest regular-season teams in NBA history.
But don’t expect Jalen Williams or anyone in that locker room to get caught looking too far ahead. The focus is internal.
The mission is clear. And if the Thunder keep this up, the rest of the league is going to have to find a way to catch up - both now and in the years to come.