SGA: Jalen Williams deserves to be All-Star

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is set to make his third straight All-Star appearance next month in San Francisco, but he's hoping teammate Jalen Williams will be able to join him.

"At 6-4, he's able to guard all five positions on the basketball court," Gilgeous-Alexander said of Williams following the Thunder's 134-114 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to Cliff Brunt of The Associated Press. "Like tonight, he guarded a 7-footer. I could never. And a lot of guys our size could never.

"Those types of things directly impact winning, and we clearly are winning basketball games. Nobody has his print on us winning basketball games more than Jalen Williams, and that's why he deserves to be an All-Star."

Williams sits seventh in fan voting among West frontcourt players. Supporters account for 50% of the vote for All-Star starters, while players and a media panel split the remaining half.

Williams' most likely route to the All-Star Game will be as a reserve, who are chosen by NBA head coaches.

The starters will be unveiled Jan. 23, followed by the reserves a week later.

Williams is averaging career highs across the board, including points (20.6 per contest), boards (5.7), assists (5.2), steals (1.8), and blocks (0.8). He's one of eight players in the league posting at least 20 points, five boards, five assists, and one steal per contest.

Williams has also been a key part of the Thunder's top-ranked defense, racking up the third-most total steals (72) and deflections (148) in the Association. He's served as a small-ball five with starting center Isaiah Hartenstein out of the lineup.

Cavs big man Evan Mobley went scoreless in Thursday's prime-time matchup when defended by Williams, per NBA.com.