Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams shared a concerning post on social media in response to a user that questioned why he acts “like a child.”
you never know what pain the happiest people are hiding behind their smile brother
— therealjalenwilliams (@jdubwttp) July 9, 2024
The user that criticized Williams then asked the Thunder forward if he was “good,” and there were more users that expressed concern for the former first-round pick as well.
you good?
— 🇦🇺 | 🐺 (@HoodieNaz_) July 9, 2024
Jdub feel free to dm me if youre not okay
— , (@PlayoffShai2) July 9, 2024
You good jdub?
— ɪᴍ.ʀɪʟᴇʏ シ ✞ ☘️ (@CookedByRiley0) July 9, 2024
Hope everything gets better Dub ❤️
— king_j1723 (@KingJ1723) July 9, 2024
Williams has not posted on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) since.
Hopefully Williams is able to get help or have someone to talk to in order to deal with whatever is troubling him at the moment. It’s also possible that he sent the post simply to make sure that the user that criticized him treats others nicely.
The No. 12 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Williams has become a crucial part of Oklahoma City’s young core, and he’s a rising star in the NBA.
Last season, Williams averaged 19.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 54.0 percent from the field and 42.7 percent from beyond the arc. He took a major leap as a 3-point shooter, going from 35.6 percent in his rookie season to over 42 percent in the 2023-24 campaign.
After making an All-Rookie team in the 2022-23 season, Williams could be on his way to an All-Star selection soon if he continues this upward trajectory.
Oklahoma City made a major leap as a team in the 2023-24 season, earning the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and making the second round of the playoffs. While the Thunder were knocked out by the Dallas Mavericks in the postseason, they gained some valuable experience in the playoffs for such a young roster.
Along with Williams, the Thunder have a young star and MVP candidate in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as well as big man Chet Holmgren, who was in the conversation for the Rookie of the Year award in the 2023-24 season.
The Thunder also made some moves to bolster their defense this offseason by trading for guard Alex Caruso and signing center Isaiah Hartenstein to a three-year deal after he spent the past two seasons with the New York Knicks.
It will be interesting to see how the new pieces fit next to Williams, Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren in the 2024-25 season.
