Over the last few months, Jalen Williams has occasionally ditched the traditional Oklahoma City Thunder warmup gear for more creative clothing choices.
The 23-year-old has started to warm up for games by sporting customized Thunder shirts, usually made by fans. It’s another example of a long list where the second-year wing has endeared himself to the Thunder fan base.
The shirts usually feature a teammate or Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault. He talked about the decision to wear the shirts during pregame warmups, saying it’s a way to support both his teammates and fans who send him gear.
“I just think it’s cool. A lot of people send stuff to my P.O. Box, so I’ve gotten shirts like that that I still haven’t worn yet but it’s more just showing love to the team,” Williams said. “I think I wore Josh, I wore like the SLAM tee of Chet, I wore our SLAM tee where it’s like the group cover. Just trying to show love to some of the guys. I think it’s just a good thing to do. But it’s always gonna be Thunder-related too.”
Williams has turned into a fan favorite both on and off the court. On it, he’s OKC’s second-best scorer and has developed into one of the best young wings in the league with All-Star potential.
Off it, Williams’ fun personality and frequent social media interactions have made him relatable to the average fan. He’s a huge believer in making each game a special experience for fans since they don’t know the personal struggles someone might go through.
This mentality is universal among the Thunder. General manager Sam Presti has played a role in that. He has shown the squad what it takes for the average family to attend a Thunder game, a tactic to humanize a sea of millions.
“It kinda gets lost that people are looking up to us. … You never know who’s watching or whose lives you can affect,” Williams said. “Especially here where people do a lot for us to be able to play. … You never know who’s watching or what kids are trying to look up to you.”
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