Jalen Williams brought the heat on the court—and apparently, a little too much of it to the postgame podium. After dominating the Denver Nuggets in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s swingman found himself in the NBA’s crosshairs—not for anything he said or did during the game, but for what he wore after it.

On May 19, the league fined Jalen Williams $25,000 for “wearing clothing with profane language” during an official media appearance. The decision came from the President of League Operations, Byron Spruell. It’s the largest fine of Williams’ career so far. His previous run-ins with the league were minor—mostly technical fouls carrying $2,000 fines. Nothing close to his latest fashion offense.

In fact, the shirt didn’t cause any problems during the presser. Jalen Williams said nothing inappropriate. But the NBA keeps a tight grip on image and professionalism during official media sessions. Even artistic or ironic profanity doesn’t fly when you’re repping the league in front of cameras.

In the postgame press conference, following OKC’s emphatic 125–93 win over Denver, Williams showed up rocking a black T-shirt that read: “F— Art, Let’s Dance.” Jalen Williams likely chose the shirt with the quote—widely attributed to Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti—as a quirky celebration of freedom or expression, but the NBA didn’t see it that way.

And if you’re wondering just how rare this kind of fine is—yeah, it’s up there. Williams’ $25K slap is among the highest ever for a dress code or attire-related infraction, especially during a postgame press conference. Back in 2005, the NBA introduced its dress code largely in response to Allen Iverson’s hip-hop-inspired fits. That era sparked a whole debate about player expression, but fines usually ranged from $10K to $20K.  There is no record of a $25,000 fine for a single attire infraction from that period.

Even Russell Westbrook’s famous $25,000 fine in 2019 wasn’t about fashion—it was for barking back at a heckler. So for Williams, this isn’t just a wallet hit, it’s a little slice of league history.

So yeah, the shirt cost him. But on the court? That night, Jalen Williams made the whole league forget about the fine.

Jalen Williams’ $25K price tag statement night

Now, Jalen Williams is going to be remembered for wearing one of the most expensive NBA T-shirts ever. But he didn’t just light up the pressers—he lit up the court, too. Leading the Thunder to a dominating 125-93 Game 7 win over Denver, the 23-year-old earned the right to celebrate.

Williams entered Game 7 with the pressure cranked all the way up. He’d shot just 33.7% across the first six games of the series and caught some heat for disappearing in big moments. But when it mattered most, he flipped the script. After a sluggish Thunder start, Williams absolutely took over the second quarter—dropping 17 points in a single stretch that powered OKC to a 39-point explosion and flipped the game on its head.

And it wasn’t just scoring. He hounded Nikola Jokic on defense, stripped the MVP clean, and turned it into a fast-break dunk that nearly blew the roof off Paycom Center. He finished with 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, a pair of threes, and that monster steal. From there, the Thunder never looked back.

Coach Mark Daigneault praised Williams’ maturity, but it was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who said it best: “He came with great force… Used his speed and power. Gave us momentum. He wouldn’t have played the way he played today last year.” That’s a guy stepping into the spotlight and staying there.

And to be clear—this wasn’t some one-night fluke. Williams has been balling all postseason long, averaging 19.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.7 assists across 11 games. Add in his first All-Star nod earlier this season, and the 23-year-old has made it loud and clear: he’s not just part of OKC’s future—he’s shaping it in real time.

And his latest tryst with the league shows that the confidence goes beyond the court—it shows in his wardrobe, too. Despite the $25,000 fine and the media buzz, the T-shirt drama hasn’t distracted the team. The Thunder are just four wins away from the NBA Finals. They’ll face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals starting May 21 and Williams is expected to play a huge role.

As for the shirt? It’s probably headed to the back of the closet—or maybe a remix that passes league dress code. Either way, the message is clear: whether it’s points or wardrobe choices, Williams is proving he won’t follow anyone else’s script.