Why Chet Holmgren or Jalen Williams will be next OKC Thunder player in NBA All-Star Game
The Thunder has fielded an All-Star in 13 of its 16 seasons of existence. The only outliers being 2008-09 (the Thunder’s first season) and back-to-back rebuilding seasons in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
One of Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook, and often both, represented the Thunder as All-Stars in every year from 2010 to 2019.
Paul George was an All-Star in his two seasons in OKC, and Chris Paul was an All-Star in 2019-20.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has now made back-to-back All-Star appearances, with many more likely to come.
More: Mussatto: OKC Thunder has Big Three that rivals Durant, Westbrook, Harden days
Who’s the next Thunder All-Star? Jalen Williams or Chet Holmgren.
Here’s a better question: Who logs more career All-Star nods? Jalen Williams or Chet Holmgren?
Both were on the fringes of the conversation this year, J-Dub as a sophomore and Holmgren as a rookie. It’s not rare for two All-Stars to come from the same team — the Bucks, Celtics, Sixers, Knicks, Lakers, Clippers, Timberwolves and Suns all have two All-Stars this year — but no team has three.
The Warriors, the modern outlier of all outliers, had four All-Stars in 2017 and 2018: Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
Both Holmgren and Jalen Williams have multi-time All-Star upside. Maybe even multi-time All-NBA upside.
I’d lean Williams if I had to pick between him and Holmgren for more All-Star appearances. Two months ago I would’ve said Holmgren. Two months from now I might flip again.
This all to say that the Thunder, as it has throughout its brief history, is spoiled with All-Star talent.
More: Jalen Williams is having best OKC Thunder's 3-point season ever. See the top-10 list.
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder's next NBA All-Star will be Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren
