Kenrich Williams Reveals OKC Thunder Teammates Are Monitoring Playoff Race

The Oklahoma City Thunder are aware of their playoff standing according to veteran forward Kenrich Williams.
Feb 6, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kenrich Williams (34) prepares
Feb 6, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kenrich Williams (34) prepares / Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

The Oklahoma City Thunder (49-21) are among the best teams in the NBA. In a heated Western Conference race, each night swings their standings and thus potential playoff matchup. To this point, the Thunder have remained firm in the team not looking ahead or peaking at the standings.

"I can't speak for everybody else but I don't really talk about it. I've been on a team where we've been in the playoffs and got taken out early. I think we can lose sight of [getting] caught up in the playoffs and then by the time they come, even if you’re in, you're hitting you may not be ready because you haven't taken care of the business that's present. You haven't built a muscle to be able to succeed in the in the playoffs," Sharpshooter Isaiah Joe said on March 12.

This is in line with Jalen Williams who said “I’m not aware at all. I don’t think that’s something we bring up. I think it’s more just winning the games. I think that really resolves a lot of the tiebreaker stuff," back on March 20.

On Tuesday ahead of the Thunder's matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans, Kenrich Williams was asked about how the team is handling the tight Western Conference Race.

"I don’t really watch basketball outside of the team concept as far as watching games.
but you keep tabs on it. The guys, they watch it closely. … I don’t think we’re too worried about it. It’s gonna come, so we’re not putting much thought into it," Williams said.

The Oklahoma City Thunder sit in second place but hold the tiebreakers over the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves while being a game back of Denver for the top seed in the West and a half-game up on Minnesota.

It is only natural to keep tabs on the state of the league, but it is not the only thing consuming this young Thunder team. There are still 12 games remaining this season.


Want to join the discussion? Like Inside the Thunder on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Thunder news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.


Published
Rylan Stiles

RYLAN STILES

Rylan Stiles is a credentialed media member covering the Oklahoma City Thunder. He hosts the Locked On Thunder Podcast, and is Lead Beat Writer for Inside the Thunder. Rylan is also an award-winning play-by-play broadcaster for the Oklahoma Sports Network.