Tag: Kenrich Williams

Mark Daigneault tells story on discovering Thunder’s uncommonness

Mark Daigneault tells story on when he discovered Thunder’s uncommonness.

Throughout the season, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault heavily leaned on a two-word phrase to describe his group — uncommon maturity.

It’s a quick and accurate way to detail the Thunder. They were the youngest first seed in league history and the youngest squad to win a playoff series with their Round 1 sweep of the New Orleans Pelicans.

At 25 years old, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has turned into one of the best players in the league. In just their season seasons, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren round out one of the best trios.

Daigneault has been part of the Thunder’s journey back to being a title contender. The 39-year-old was hired in 2020 as the rebuild began. He suffered through two losing campaigns before slowly turning the ship around these last two years.

The Coach of the Year winner is now regarded as one of the best head coaches in the league. In his exit interview, Daigneault pinpointed an exact moment when he realized how uncommon the Thunder were.

He answered with his first season as several players on the roster back then who are still with OKC were building blocks of the foundation they’ve established over the years.

“I feel comfortable saying this now, but in my first year — I referenced this with our team recently — we were going through a rough skid,” Daigneault said. “We had a home game. We had an arena walk-through, and I was talking about — we were in the empty arena before a game. This was my first year. And I was talking to them about putting T-shirts in the seats.

“We’re going through a tough time now, but the habits, the standards, whatever I was talking about back then — is eventually going to put T-shirts in the seats if we just stay on it and stay with it.”

Daigneault is referencing the playoff shirts the Thunder deck out during home playoff games. It’s been a tradition in OKC since its arrival and this year saw that materialize for the first time with this core.

“Lu Dort, Shai, Kenrich Williams, Muscala were there, and the snowball was rolling at that time slowly,” Daigneault said. “It didn’t feel like it was picking up a ton of steam, but over time it’s just rolled faster and faster and faster, and it’s been an incremental thing that has now put T-shirts in the seats.”

This was a very introspective answer by Daigneault that showed a peek behind the curtain of the Thunder’s operation. The Thunder’s ascension this season wasn’t spontaneous. It was something that was worked on over the years.

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Mark Daigneault liked what he saw from Kenrich Williams in Thunder’s Game 4 win

Mark Daigneault liked what he saw from Kenrich Williams in Thunder’s Game 4 win over Mavericks.

After Dereck Lively II created an and-1opportunity on a dunk, Kenrich Williams had an issue with the celebration as the rookie’s legs hit the veteran wing.

The ensuing kerfuffle led to double technical fouls for Williams and P.J. Washington, who came to defend his rookie teammate.

That’s exactly what the Oklahoma City Thunder needed.

Through four games this series, the Dallas Mavericks have done an excellent job at bogging down OKC’s offense, resulting in low-scoring, close affairs that bring out the physicality on both sides.

After sitting out OKC’s playoff run until that point, Williams received his first real taste of postseason basketball in the Thunder’s 100-96 Game 4 win over the Mavericks.

In eight minutes, Williams had two rebounds and one assist. More importantly, though, he set the tone and gave the Thunder an edge by refusing to let the Mavericks punk him around.

The usual polite and soft-spoken Williams turns into an intense competitor during games. That type of nasty attitude is what the Thunder needed to jumpstart a comeback attempt after falling to a 14-point hole early on in Game 4.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault revealed the same sentiment after OKC’s close Game 4 win.

“I was hoping to see exactly what I saw — great energy,” Daigneault said about Williams. That game was a fight, a brawl. And he’s a brawler. He elevated the level of physicality.”

With Gordon Hayward out of the rotation, his playing time is up for grabs. Williams has seldom been used in the playoffs, but he’s certainly an option to receive the backup wing minutes for the rest of the Thunder’s second-round series against the Mavericks.

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Player grades: Thunder dominate Wizards with 147-106 win

Player grades for the Thunder’s 147-106 win over the Wizards.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Receiving MVP chants at the free-throw line, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored his 30th point in the waning seconds of the third quarter as he sat out the final frame.

Playing on the second night of a back-to-back, no funny business was involved in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 147-106 win over the Washington Wizards.

“We just want to be a team that generates rhythm shots and open shots. I thought we did that tonight. We did that last night, we’ve done that for much of the year,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said. “We’ve gotten more open 3’s than most teams in the league.”

The Thunder put up 41 points in the first quarter against one of the worst defensive teams in the league. OKC added to its lead with a 39-point second frame. At halftime, the Thunder led the Wizards, 80-57. It was the most points scored in the first half for OKC this season.

The 147 points in regulation is a season-high for the Thunder. The lowly Wizards continue to be in the race for the worst record in the league and have now lost 10 in a row.

The third quarter was much of the same story as the Thunder totaled 37 points to enter the final frame with an eye-popping 117 points and a 36-point lead.

Due to the lopsided score, the Thunder were afforded the luxury of resting their starters in the final frame. By the end of the period, OKC walked away with a 41-point win.

The Thunder shot an impressive 60% from the field and went 20-of-40 (50%) from 3. They dished out 30 assists on 55 baskets. Seven Thunder players scored double-digit points.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with a typical 30-point outing. He made easy work of the Wizards in his three quarters of work. Chet Holmgren also had one of his best-scoring games of the season, totaling 25 points and 10 rebounds.

“He’s just refining on the offensive end of the floor,” Daigneault said about Holmgren. “He’s shooting his catch-and-shoots with a lot of confidence right now, regardless of make or miss. He’s also getting his size into the game around the basket, especially against switches.”

Meanwhile, the lowly Wizards shot 39% from the field and went 9-of-38 (23.7%) from 3. They dished out 20 assists on 41 baskets. Five Wizards players scored double-digit points.

Jordan Poole had 21 points on 7-of-19 shooting, three assists and three rebounds. Corey Kispert totaled 20 points on 6-of-12 shooting and 3-of-7 from 3. Kyle Kuzma scored 14 points on 7-of-14 shooting.

The relatively low-stress win is exactly the type of outing OKC needed after its massive win over the LA Clippers on the previous night. The Thunder continue to rack up wins and are riding a four-game winning streak.

Let’s look at Thunder player grades.

Kenrich Williams gets TCU college jersey retired

Kenrich Williams gets TCU college jersey retired.

FORT WORTH — It was another jersey retirement for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Veteran forward Kenrich Williams had his No. 34 hung in the rafters at TCU’s home gym.

It was the second time Williams watched his jersey get retired. His high school did so earlier this season. The 29-year-old reflected on his journey, saying he couldn’t imagine this happening.

“I’m excited man! I’m super excited,” Williams said about his jersey retirement. “It’s a blessing just for me and my family. I think it’s gonna be fun. It’s gonna be a good experience.”

Williams talked about the similar cultures both the Thunder and TCU share, saying they do a great job at fostering a supportive environment.

“Sam Presti is gonna be here today and it’s a good feeling to know the GM of the team is looking out and showing love like that,” Williams said.

Williams’ retirement ceremony took place during halftime of TCU’s game against Texas. The home crowd sported customized Williams shirts.

“There’s really no words to express this,” Williams said. “I never would’ve imagined it. In my whole time here, I never tried to get my jersey retired. That wasn’t my goal.

After being traded to OKC in 2020, Williams has carved out a nice role with the Thunder as a backup wing. In 38 games this season, he’s averaging 4.6 points on 47.3% shooting, 2.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists.

 

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Player grades: Chet Holmgren hosts block party in Thunder’s 116-97 win over Grizzlies

Player grades for the Thunder’s 116-97 win over the Grizzlies.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Rebounding Chet Holmgren’s seventh swat, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pushed the pace and suddenly slammed his brakes to send Jaren Jackson Jr. flying past the midrange jumper.

The defense-to-offense highlight sequence exemplified the type of night the Oklahoma City Thunder enjoyed in their lopsided 116-97 win over the depleted Memphis Grizzlies.

“I thought we had good poise and maturity to build that lead,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said on the win.

It took a minute, but the Thunder eventually made light work of the short-handed Grizzlies. It was an unsurprising result considering OKC entered the night as a heavy favorite.

After the Grizzlies opened with a quick six-point advantage, the Thunder recovered and built a 34-26 lead following the first quarter. OKC’s lead expanded to 15 points at halftime.

A 26-13 scoring advantage in the third quarter helped the Thunder make the final frame inconsequential; they entered with a 28-point lead. OKC led by as many as 31 points.

The Thunder shot an impressive 46% from the field and went 11-of-36 (30.6%) from 3. OKC dished 31 assists on 42 made baskets. They had five players score double-digit points in their easy win.

Gilgeous-Alexander once again led the way with a relaxed 30 points in just three quarters as he sat out the final frame. Chet Holmgren continues to rack up blocks at an insane rate with seven in 25 minutes.

“The one thing that stands out for me is the fearlessness of him attacking those plays,” Daigneault said on Holmgren’s shot-blocking. “It’s a vulnerable position when you’re going up and contesting shots at the rim — especially at his frame. He’s always got his nose in the fight there.

“He’ll get dunked on five times in a game if it means contesting five rim shots. That’s the mental thing I respect most about him as a competitor. Forget about the shot block, he’s willing to fail, he’s willing to be embarrassed in pursuit of the right thing for the team on that play.”

Meanwhile, things were putrid for the Grizzlies, who entered the night missing several key players headlined by Ja Morant, who served the final game of his 25-game suspension.

The Grizzlies shot an ugly 35% from the field and a cold 19-of-54 (35.2%) from 3. Memphis committed 22 turnovers. In the third quarter, the Grizzlies shot an ugly 2-of-19 from the field.

It appears they’re in the midst of a lost season. They are a rough-looking 6-19 and have lost five consecutive games.

“Generally, we’re OK giving up a volume of 3s as long as they’re contested,” Daigneault said on their defense. “It means that we’re forcing teams to plan B. … If we’re forcing teams to shoot jump shots, that’s a good thing.”

Memphis’ two best players had decent outings. Desmond Bane scored 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting. Jaren Jackson Jr. had 11 points and five rebounds. Outside of those two though, the Grizzlies did not have a whole lot to write home about.

This was a perfect way to start a five-game homestand for OKC. It enjoyed a mellow win over the struggling Grizzlies. The Thunder’s best players weren’t needed to play in the fourth quarter and took advantage of a chance to give them extra rest.

Let’s look at Thunder player grades.

WATCH: Kenrich Williams gets high school jersey retired

WATCH: Kenrich Williams gets high school jersey retired.

In their recent trip to Texas, the Oklahoma City Thunder made a quick pit stop to see Kenrich Williams celebrated by his high school with a jersey retirement ceremony.

The 29-year-old attended University High School, a public school located in Waco, Texas. He earned District 8-4A defensive player of the year honors and led the squad to a 28–5 record during his senior year.

Williams played at the junior college level for one season before he attended TCU for three seasons. He went undrafted in 2018 and spent the first two seasons of his career with the New Orleans Pelicans before being traded to the Thunder.

Plenty of former athletes attended University, but Williams is arguably the best basketball player from the school. It only made sense his old school would retire his No. 34 jersey a day before his birthday and the Thunder’s win over the Dallas Mavericks.

Several of Williams’ teammates attended and applauded the accomplishment. It was a pretty cool moment for a tight-knit group that views the veteran wing as a locker room leader.

Williams is in his sixth season in the league. In nine games, he’s averaged 5.7 points and three rebounds. He has shot 53.3% from 3 on 1.7 attempts.

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Recap: OKC Thunder’s Sunday practice (Nov. 26)

Here’s a recap of the Thunder’s Sunday practice:

The Oklahoma City Thunder held practice on Sunday following their 127-123 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for OKC.

The Thunder have two days off before they play on Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Following practice, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault and wing Kenrich Williams spoke with the media.

Daigneault provided an update on Jalen Williams, who has missed the last three games with a hip strain. Kenrich Williams talked about his comfort level of playing as a small-ball center.

Here’s a quick recap of the Thunder’s practice as OKC is 11-5, one of the best records in the league.

Player grades: Thunder extends win streak to six with 116-102 win over Bulls

Player grades for the Thunder’s 116-102 win over the Bulls:

OKLAHOMA CITY — Fouled on a 3-pointer, Isaiah Joe completed the 4-point play to push OKC’s lead to 11 points with under two minutes left.

The Oklahoma City Thunder scared off any threat of a potential 18-point blown lead with a 116-102 win over the Chicago Bulls. The win extends OKC’s winning streak to six games, the longest active streak in the league.

“We got gritty in the last 15 minutes of the game,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said on the win. “We kinda opened up a little bit of a lead again after they came back and tied it and then we clamped down pretty good. I thought our focus was good. Everything they got was earned at that point for the most part.”

The Thunder built a 26-14 lead following the first quarter. By halftime, OKC had a 50-39 lead. A slow second-half opening by OKC allowed the Bulls to tie it at 67 apiece. After that, the Thunder managed to quickly rebuild their lead and entered the final frame leading 77-84.

In the fourth quarter, the Bulls teased a comeback but couldn’t get closer than three points. Following Joe’s 4-point play, it extinguished any chance of a Bulls upset win.

Overall, the Thunder shot 49% from the field and went 11-of-29 (37.9%) from 3. OKC also got a friendly whistle as it went 31-of-38 (81.6%) from the free-throw line. This marked a season-high in attempts.

“I thought the way the game got called tonight was a lot closer (to) the way we expected it coming into the season,” Daigneault said on OKC’s season-high 38 free-throw attempts. “The way it was called last year. I thought the contact tonight was no different than the contact we faced earlier in the season.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way for the Thunder as he scored a game-high 40 points and went a season-high 17-of-18 from the free-throw line. Chet Holmgren contributed with 18 points and 13 rebounds for the double-double.

On the opposite side, the Bulls struggled without Zach LaVine — who missed the game after some initial confusion about his availability. Chicago shot 39% from the field. A hot outside shooting night kept it in it as it went 17-of-44 (38.6%) from deep.

Coby White headlined the Bulls’ hot 3-point shooting night as he scored 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting from 3. DeMar DeRozan led Chicago with 25 points and went a perfect 13-of-13 from the free-throw line. Nikola Vucevic collected a 16-point and 12-rebound double-double.

It wasn’t the prettiest win, but the Thunder scrapped out a quality home victory against a Bulls team on the verge of blowing up. OKC now improved its record to an impressive 11-4 on the young season, good enough for second place thus far in the Western Conference.

“Collectively, we didn’t shoot it as well as we have,” Daigneault said.  “We needed to win a different way tonight and to the credit of the guys, we found a way to do that.”

Let’s look at Thunder player grades.

OKC Thunder’s Kenrich Williams set to make 2023-24 season debut

Kenrich Williams is set to make his 2023-24 season debut.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will welcome Kenrich Williams back after he missed the first 10 games of the 2023-24 regular season with back spasms.

The 28-year-old was no longer listed on the injury report for the Thunder’s play-in tournament game against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, which means he’ll be available to play.

With his pending return, the Thunder get one of their more reliable wings back after a lengthy absence.

In 53 games last season, Williams averaged eight points, 4.9 rebounds and two assists before he suffered a season-ending wrist injury in March.

With his return, Williams will likely get slotted back into OKC’s rotation as one of the first players off the bench. Considering the Thunder’s rebounding problem — they are 29th in the league in rebounds per game — perhaps the veteran could assist in this area.

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Mark Daigneault provides injury updates for Cason Wallace, Kenrich Williams

Mark Daigneault provided injury updates on Kenrich Williams and Cason Wallace on Monday.

During Monday’s practice, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault provided injury updates on a pair of players.

The Thunder added Kenrich Williams (back spasms) and Cason Wallace (sprained toe) to their injury report. In OKC’s last preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets, Williams missed the entire game while Wallace only played eight minutes in a start before being ruled out.

Wallace is considered day-to-day with the toe injury, and the team will take a conservative approach during the preseason.

“I think he is fine,” Daigneault said. “We are going to be conservative with him being preseason and he has done a good job to this point. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow. We were conservative with him in the game. (He has a) toe sprain and (is) day-to-day.”

Wallace is averaging 5.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, two assists and one steal on 38.5% shooting in three preseason games.

Meanwhile, Daigneault said Williams’ back flared up and a timeline on his return is too early to give out.

“We need to see how he’s responding,” Daigneault said. “His back is a little hot right now so we just need to see how he responds in the next couple of days. It’s not something you can do a firm timeline with at this particular stage.”

When it comes to Tuesday’s preseason game against the Milwaukee Bucks, it sounds like Wallace is closer than Williams but the most likely outcome is both miss it.

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