Inside The Thunder

Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams Take Home Hardware, Wallace Bounced in First Round

The Oklahoma City Thunder were well represented at the NBA Rising Stars Challenge, and Team Jalen Rose, led by Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, took home the trophy.
Rylan Stiles|
Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams Take Home Hardware, Wallace Bounced in First Round
Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams Take Home Hardware, Wallace Bounced in First Round

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Oklahoma City Thunder

On Friday Night, the NBA put on its annual Rising Stars Challenge. For the second straight season, the format got a facelift, going to a four-team tournament coached by basketball legends. 

After the Rising Stars draft, Cason Wallace ended up separated from his Thunder teammates on Team Catchings, while Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren wound up on Team Rose. 

As the Thunder players were put on opposite sides of the bracket, there was no storybook championship as Wallace's squad was ousted in the first round in a surprising upset as Team Schrempf's G League team dethroned the Victor Wembanyama-led catching team. However, the Kentucky product shined off the bench pouring in eight points. 

Holmgren and Williams had a vastly different night than their rookie teammate, bringing back the Rising Stars trophy, and putting more cash in their own pockets. The Santa Clara product hit the game-winner in the target score format of the title game.

In the championship game, Williams chipped in five points, three assists, and two rebounds. Holmgren turned in two points, as many rebounds, and swatted a shot. 

The Oklahoma City trio had a successful night, and the organization is not done yet. Keyontae Johnson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander still have their events to go on Sunday. 

The Thunder will pick up their schedule on Thursday, Feb 22 at 7 p.m. against the L.A. Clippers which could be the debut of Gordon Hayward and Bismack Biyombo to spark the team after the mid-winter classic. 

Cason Wallace Will Be Crucial to Oklahoma City's Success Down the Stretch

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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. 

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