When the Oklahoma City Thunder punched their ticket to the NBA Finals, the roar of the crowd and the thrill on the court told only part of the story. In fact, the Thunder’s playoff run hasn’t just been fueled by youthful energy or SGA’s MVP glow-up. It’s also about the little moments that stick.

Like the time veteran Alex Caruso, a 2020 champion with the Lakers, brought his bubble ring into the locker room to show the team what it really takes to win.

“It was a big ring, so that was motivation,” Jalen Williams said with a grin. “I think just the message… he had arguably one of the tougher rings, the bubble ring. Just what goes into a season. For them to win and have all the ups and downs of that season and still kind of stay focused — I think that’s been our biggest thing.”

Caruso’s story clearly hit home. While the outside world might still label OKC as too young, too smiley, too soon, Jalen and the Thunder group have locked in. “There’s a lot of stuff about us being young and I guess too happy or whatever the case may be for us not being ready to be on the next level,” Williams added. “But I think the biggest thing with him getting the ring was just how to stay focused through whatever we’re doing and just grow as a team.”

For Jalen Williams, it’s never just about what happens on the floor. It’s about intention. Whether it’s the influence of high school coaches who taught him how to break down film or a title ring that quietly set the tone months ago, the through line is clear: stay grounded, stay growing.

Because honestly, in the playoffs, that might just be the best way to go. But for Williams, the road to the Finals didn’t begin in Oklahoma or even Santa Clara — it started years ago on a high school court in Arizona, where a different kind of recognition recently took shape.

Jalen Williams receives rare recognition bestowed on just one other athlete

Far from the bright lights and roaring arenas, in a quiet corner of Arizona, a street holds a legacy quietly growing. Perry High School, the place where Williams’ basketball roots took hold and the foundation of a future NBA Finals contender was laid, announced it would be naming a street after him. A full-circle moment? You bet! And the only other athlete with this honor? Brock Purdy—a former Puma and the San Francisco 49ers’ QB.

“Means I’m old,” Williams joked when asked about the news. “High school is a long time ago… I definitely didn’t expect it. But I stayed at Perry all four years when I could have went prep or did something else. I had really good coaches — Coach Dwayne, Coach Fcher, Coach Hartwig — that kind of made me into the player that I am today.”

Long before his Twitter bio was the minimalist “dub.” it read, “Just a rose who grew from the concrete.” A fitting metaphor for a kid who blossomed from one of college basketball’s best-kept secrets at Santa Clara to a cornerstone of OKC’s rising dynasty. The 6-foot-5 swingman grew up in Gilbert, Arizona, after his family relocated from Colorado when he was 7. Both his parents were members of the U.S. Air Force, and that discipline shows up in every detail of his game today.

He idolized Kobe Bryant growing up and wore No. 24 at Santa Clara as a tribute. “Kobe is my reason for picking up a ball and wanting to play the game,” he once said. “I try to model his mentality and I try to take bits and pieces from how he may have approached the game and incorporate it into something that I feel is relatable.”

That “Mamba Mentality” has only grown sharper on the NBA stage as Jalen Williams continues to emerge as one of the most complete two-way wings in basketball.

In the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Williams displayed his adaptability and poise, averaging 18.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists over 10 games. He maintained shooting efficiencies of 46.9% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc, and 81.5% from the free-throw line. And now, as the Thunder prepare to face the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals, Williams isn’t just chasing a championship — he’s carrying every moment that got him here. The street named in his honor isn’t just concrete and signage. It’s a reminder of how far he’s come, and a hint at just how far this OKC team might still go.