Jalen Williams has upped his scoring total in each of the first five games of this year’s NBA Finals.
The 24-year-old Oklahoma City Thunder wing starred Monday with 40 points in a triumphant, series-tilting Game 5 win over the Indiana Pacers.
Advertisement
Williams doesn’t always take center stage, though. In fact, the first-time NBA All-Star is often second in command, behind league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Together, they’ve combined for a whopping 291 points in the Finals.
Here are the only tandems to score more more points through five Finals games, according to ESPN Research: the Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in 1993, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James and Kyrie Irving in 2017 and the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant in 2017.
That’s legendary company, and Williams is drawing comparisons to one member of that decorated group in particular.
Advertisement
Pippen, Jordan’s Hall of Fame sidekick during a six-championship run in the ’90s, told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon that he sees a lot of himself in Williams.
“I don’t even want to put a cap on him to say that he’s going to be me,” Pippen said, via ESPN. “I see him being greater, if I can say that. Just because of where the game is today. They have offensive freedom. We didn’t have that. We mostly ran out of a system. These guys have the freedom to shoot 3-balls and things of that nature. Players that are playing in today’s game have a chance to be better than players in the past because of the ability to shoot the ball.”
Pippen added, via ESPN: “If this kid continues to shoot the 3-ball the way that he shoots it, I’m not going to sit here and argue with nobody and say that you can compare us. Because you can’t. He wins.”
Williams is a 38.2% career 3-point shooter, and he’s coming off a prolific Game 5 performance, in which he went 3 for 5 from deep. Pippen, meanwhile, shot just 32.6% from long range during his 17-season career and didn’t have a season with 100-plus 3s until he was 29 — Williams already has two of those in his first three years in the league.
Advertisement
But the parallels between the versatile playmakers are mostly uncanny, as depicted by MacMahon in his feature.
Both unheralded high school prospects who blossomed at mid-majors — physically with growth spurts and on the court in production — Pippen and Williams seemingly came out of nowhere and then broke out in the NBA.
Pippen played at Central Arkansas. Williams played at Santa Clara. They each maintained their guard skills while adding more height and ultimately landing in the first round of their respective drafts, separated by 35 years.
“He is pretty special,” Pippen said of Williams, via ESPN. “I see a guy rising to be one of the top players in this league. He’s definitely a player that is capable of being able to lead that franchise to multiple championships — him and Shai, of course.”
The Thunder, led by their MVP and Pippen-like-sidekick, could clinch the first of those championships Thursday night against the Indiana Pacers.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Třetí etapa Kolem Nizozemska se nedojela kvůli autům na trati
Závod první kategorie UCI vede Brit Ethan Hayter, který vyhrál úterní prolog i čtvrteční druhou etapu. V průběžném pořadí má náskok dvou sekund před Švédem Jakobem Söderqvistem. Český jezdec Tomáš Kopecký je osmnáctý s minutovou ztrátou, Adam Ťoupalík figuruje na 86. pozici.Jde o první ročník akce, jež navazuje na dřívější závod Kolem Nizozemska, který se jel naposledy v roce 2004. Skončí v neděli v Arnhemu.Podobný incident poznamenal únorový závod Étoile de Bességes ve Francii, z kterého odstoupilo ve třetí etapě deset týmů poté, co proti pelotonu vyjelo auto. Jiné vozidlo se na trať dostalo už o den dříve.
Last Night in Baseball: Brewers Are 1 Loss From The End, Unlike Revived Blue Jays
Having a tough time following along with the MLB postseason? Just want to relive the best moments?Don't worry, we're here to help you by figuring out what you missed but shouldn't have. Here are all the best moments from last night in Major League Baseball:The Brewers are in troubleThe Dodgers are now up 3-0 in the NLCS, because the Brewers can’t hit to save their season. It’s not that Los Angeles is just throwing random pitchers out there — their rotation is very expensive and is doing what it is being paid to do, and they haven’t even gotten to starting Shohei Ohtani yet — but Milwaukee has hit well all season regardless of opponents. The Dodgers’ rotation is on fire at the right time, though, and the Brewers are suffering for it.Mookie Betts doubled in a run in the […]
Last Night in Baseball: Brewers Are 1 Loss From The End, Unlike Revived Blue Jays
Having a tough time following along with the MLB postseason? Just want to relive the best moments?Don't worry, we're here to help you by figuring out what you missed but shouldn't have. Here are all the best moments from last night in Major League Baseball:The Brewers are in troubleThe Dodgers are now up 3-0 in the NLCS, because the Brewers can’t hit to save their season. It’s not that Los Angeles is just throwing random pitchers out there — their rotation is very expensive and is doing what it is being paid to do, and they haven’t even gotten to starting Shohei Ohtani yet — but Milwaukee has hit well all season regardless of opponents. The Dodgers’ rotation is on fire at the right time, though, and the Brewers are suffering for it.Mookie Betts doubled in a run in the […]
ONLINE: Videomomenty ze zápasu Pardubice – Liberec
Online magazín deníku Právo & Seznam.czCopyright © 1996–2025, Seznam.cz, a.s., Borgis, a.s., ČTK, DPA, Reuters, fotobanka Profimedia.Publikování nebo další šíření obsahu serveru Sport.cz je bez písemného souhlasu společnosti Borgis, a.s. zakázáno. RSS kanály serveru Sport.cz jsou určeny pouze pro osobní užití. Jakékoli kopírování, šíření nebo využívání obsahu RSS kanálů serveru Sport.cz bez předchozího písemného souhlasu společnosti Borgis a.s. není dovoleno. Dodavatelem obsahu serveru Sport.cz a osobou vykonávající redakční odpovědnost je společnost BORGIS a.s. Šiřitelem reklamy na serveru Sport.cz je společnost Seznam.cz, a.s., IČO 26168685.
ONLINE: Videomomenty ze zápasu Kometa Brno – Mladá Boleslav
Online magazín deníku Právo & Seznam.czCopyright © 1996–2025, Seznam.cz, a.s., Borgis, a.s., ČTK, DPA, Reuters, fotobanka Profimedia.Publikování nebo další šíření obsahu serveru Sport.cz je bez písemného souhlasu společnosti Borgis, a.s. zakázáno. RSS kanály serveru Sport.cz jsou určeny pouze pro osobní užití. Jakékoli kopírování, šíření nebo využívání obsahu RSS kanálů serveru Sport.cz bez předchozího písemného souhlasu společnosti Borgis a.s. není dovoleno. Dodavatelem obsahu serveru Sport.cz a osobou vykonávající redakční odpovědnost je společnost BORGIS a.s. Šiřitelem reklamy na serveru Sport.cz je společnost Seznam.cz, a.s., IČO 26168685.
Ranking da Fifa tem nova queda do Brasil, mas sem risco para o sorteio da Copa do Mundo
Seleção de Carlo Ancelotti está em queda no ranking da Fifa (crédito: Alamy Live News)O ranking da Fifa do mês de outubro trouxe a Seleção Brasileira na sétima colocação. Em relação a setembro, o time comandado por Carlo Ancelotti caiu mais um degrau por causa da derrota de virada por 3 a 2 para o Japão, o que fez a Holanda assumir o sexto lugar. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEÉ a segunda queda seguida do Brasil, que estava em quinto lugar em agosto. Além dos holandeses, que venceram Finlândia e Malta por 4 a 0, Portugal já passara à frente no mês passado, por causa da derrota brasileira para a Bolívia, na última rodada das Eliminatórias da América do Sul.Ranking da Fifa define potes em sorteioApesar do atual momento, a Seleção Brasileira não corre o risco de perder uma das 12 vagas de […]
Related
Třetí etapa Kolem Nizozemska se nedojela kvůli autům na trati
Závod první kategorie UCI vede Brit Ethan Hayter, který vyhrál úterní prolog i čtvrteční druhou etapu. V průběžném pořadí má náskok dvou sekund před Švédem Jakobem Söderqvistem. Český jezdec Tomáš Kopecký je osmnáctý s minutovou ztrátou, Adam Ťoupalík figuruje na 86. pozici.Jde o první ročník akce, jež navazuje na dřívější závod Kolem Nizozemska, který se jel naposledy v roce 2004. Skončí v neděli v Arnhemu.Podobný incident poznamenal únorový závod Étoile de Bességes ve Francii, z kterého odstoupilo ve třetí etapě deset týmů poté, co proti pelotonu vyjelo auto. Jiné vozidlo se na trať dostalo už o den dříve.
Last Night in Baseball: Brewers Are 1 Loss From The End, Unlike Revived Blue Jays
Having a tough time following along with the MLB postseason? Just want to relive the best moments?Don't worry, we're here to help you by figuring out what you missed but shouldn't have. Here are all the best moments from last night in Major League Baseball:The Brewers are in troubleThe Dodgers are now up 3-0 in the NLCS, because the Brewers can’t hit to save their season. It’s not that Los Angeles is just throwing random pitchers out there — their rotation is very expensive and is doing what it is being paid to do, and they haven’t even gotten to starting Shohei Ohtani yet — but Milwaukee has hit well all season regardless of opponents. The Dodgers’ rotation is on fire at the right time, though, and the Brewers are suffering for it.Mookie Betts doubled in a run in the […]
Last Night in Baseball: Brewers Are 1 Loss From The End, Unlike Revived Blue Jays
Having a tough time following along with the MLB postseason? Just want to relive the best moments?Don't worry, we're here to help you by figuring out what you missed but shouldn't have. Here are all the best moments from last night in Major League Baseball:The Brewers are in troubleThe Dodgers are now up 3-0 in the NLCS, because the Brewers can’t hit to save their season. It’s not that Los Angeles is just throwing random pitchers out there — their rotation is very expensive and is doing what it is being paid to do, and they haven’t even gotten to starting Shohei Ohtani yet — but Milwaukee has hit well all season regardless of opponents. The Dodgers’ rotation is on fire at the right time, though, and the Brewers are suffering for it.Mookie Betts doubled in a run in the […]
ONLINE: Videomomenty ze zápasu Pardubice – Liberec
Online magazín deníku Právo & Seznam.czCopyright © 1996–2025, Seznam.cz, a.s., Borgis, a.s., ČTK, DPA, Reuters, fotobanka Profimedia.Publikování nebo další šíření obsahu serveru Sport.cz je bez písemného souhlasu společnosti Borgis, a.s. zakázáno. RSS kanály serveru Sport.cz jsou určeny pouze pro osobní užití. Jakékoli kopírování, šíření nebo využívání obsahu RSS kanálů serveru Sport.cz bez předchozího písemného souhlasu společnosti Borgis a.s. není dovoleno. Dodavatelem obsahu serveru Sport.cz a osobou vykonávající redakční odpovědnost je společnost BORGIS a.s. Šiřitelem reklamy na serveru Sport.cz je společnost Seznam.cz, a.s., IČO 26168685.
ONLINE: Videomomenty ze zápasu Kometa Brno – Mladá Boleslav
Online magazín deníku Právo & Seznam.czCopyright © 1996–2025, Seznam.cz, a.s., Borgis, a.s., ČTK, DPA, Reuters, fotobanka Profimedia.Publikování nebo další šíření obsahu serveru Sport.cz je bez písemného souhlasu společnosti Borgis, a.s. zakázáno. RSS kanály serveru Sport.cz jsou určeny pouze pro osobní užití. Jakékoli kopírování, šíření nebo využívání obsahu RSS kanálů serveru Sport.cz bez předchozího písemného souhlasu společnosti Borgis a.s. není dovoleno. Dodavatelem obsahu serveru Sport.cz a osobou vykonávající redakční odpovědnost je společnost BORGIS a.s. Šiřitelem reklamy na serveru Sport.cz je společnost Seznam.cz, a.s., IČO 26168685.
Ranking da Fifa tem nova queda do Brasil, mas sem risco para o sorteio da Copa do Mundo
Seleção de Carlo Ancelotti está em queda no ranking da Fifa (crédito: Alamy Live News)O ranking da Fifa do mês de outubro trouxe a Seleção Brasileira na sétima colocação. Em relação a setembro, o time comandado por Carlo Ancelotti caiu mais um degrau por causa da derrota de virada por 3 a 2 para o Japão, o que fez a Holanda assumir o sexto lugar. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEÉ a segunda queda seguida do Brasil, que estava em quinto lugar em agosto. Além dos holandeses, que venceram Finlândia e Malta por 4 a 0, Portugal já passara à frente no mês passado, por causa da derrota brasileira para a Bolívia, na última rodada das Eliminatórias da América do Sul.Ranking da Fifa define potes em sorteioApesar do atual momento, a Seleção Brasileira não corre o risco de perder uma das 12 vagas de […]
Be the first to leave a comment