Jalen Williams on 2025 NBA Finals Game 7 crowd: 'Makes the hair on your arms stand up'
If anybody can accurately read the pulse of the fanbase, it's Jalen Williams. Out of everybody on the Oklahoma City Thunder, he's embraced the relationship the most. Not to say others have alienated themselves from their supporters, but the 24-year-old has gone out of his way to be relatable.
Ahead of a 2025 NBA Finals Game 7 against the Indiana Pacers, Williams expects the best home crowd he's ever experienced. There's been a Jekyll and Hyde situation throughout the playoffs for the Thunder. At home, they look like a dominant win machine that's blown teams out. On the road, they look vulnerable as their offense gets ugly.
The Thunder hope they can continue their home success one last time. The OKC home crowd should provide them a boost of adrenaline before the game even tips off.
"It makes the hair on your arms stand up a little bit. You're anxious going into it. Honestly, it's a little indescribable. It's hard to give a good answer because this Game 7 is going to be completely different from the last one we played in," Williams said. "But from a fan perspective, I can't imagine it won't be anything short of incredibly loud."
You can say that again. A decisive Game 5 to go up 3-2 in the NBA Finals likely led to plenty of headaches. Now multiply that by tenfold with a championship on the line in the biggest game in Thunder history. Everybody in OKC will be on pins and needles until Sunday night.
"Obviously, they are going to be anxious, too. We are very close to finishing the job, but very close doesn't get you far unless you finish it. I'm excited to see how much the city shows out," WIlliams said. "Probably have a different energy than it's ever had. I'm excited for that."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Nets' Cam Thomas, D'Angelo Russell listed as top-30 NBA free-agents
The Brooklyn Nets have a big offseason ahead of them as they have five picks in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft along with plenty of cap space to use. Brooklyn has a few days before the Draft begins on Wednesday, but with Game 7 of the NBA Finals happening on Sunday, the Nets will also have to worry about free-agency. Speaking of free-agency, Nets guards Cam Thomas and D'Angelo Russell are regarded as top-30 free-agents this offseason, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. Thomas, who is a restricted free-agent, ranks 15th on the list while Russell, who is unrestricted, places 28th on the list after what each player did during the 2024-25 season. Thomas, 23, is coming off a season in which he averaged 24.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 43.8% from the field and 34.9% from three-point land. In what was arguably his best season in his four-year career, Thomas played in just 25 games as he dealt with multiple left hamstring strains, the third of which ended his season in March. Pincus predicts that Thomas and the Nets will come to terms on a deal starting in the $24 million range while acknowledging that Thomas' could be lower due to the nature of the salary cap situation across the league. "While he's believed to have been seeking over $30 million in prior negotiations, that number may need to be much lower for a deal. Since he's restricted, Brooklyn has all the leverage, and no one else has the kind of cap room to give Thomas an offer sheet of note," Pincus wrote. Russell, 29, is coming off a campaign in which he averaged 12.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game during his 29 games played with the Nets. Russell came over to Brooklyn in a midseason trade with the Los Angeles Lakers to be the starting point guard, but it was clear that his numbers for the entire season were down from his prior three seasons. When it comes to Russell, Pincus predicts that the former Ohio State Buckeye will sign with the Milwaukee Bucks as they would be the team with the best offer for him at the Taxpayer Mid-level Exception (TMLE), listed as $5.685 million for the 2025-26 season. "If he can't get a team to give him the full NTMLE, he may have to settle for the TMLE with a team in need of a lead guard who can shoot the three," Pincus wrote.
Indianapolis Star
an hour ago
- Indianapolis Star
Who are refs for tonight's Pacers vs. Thunder Game 7 of NBA Finals?
The Indiana Pacers are one win away from their first NBA championship. A trending topic over the course of the NBA Finals has been the referees, especially following Game 4 which caused Pacers coach Rick Carlisle to publicly defend official Scott Foster. How Game 7 is called could be a key factor in whether the Thunder or Pacers lift the Larry O'Brien trophy Sunday night. The Thunder are shooting 84.2% from the free-throw line this series, while the Pacers are at 75.8%. The crew chief for Game 7 is James Capers, with Josh Tiven as referee and Sean Wright as umpire. This is Capers' 13th NBA Finals, Tiven's sixth Finals and Wright's second Finals. Three of the more criticized referees by fans will not be working Game 7 on Sunday. Game 7, Sun., June 22: Pacers at Thunder, 8 p.m. TV: ABC, with Mike Breen (play-by-play), Doris Burke and Richard Jefferson (analysis), and Lisa Salters (sideline reporting)
CNET
an hour ago
- CNET
NBA Finals 2025: How to Watch Pacers vs. Thunder Game 7 Tonight
The NBA Finals are in Oklahoma City for a winner-take-all Game 7. The Pacers won Game 6 in a rout at home last Thursday, preventing the Thunder from winning the title and forcing the NBA Finals to go the distance. The NBA Finals have reached Game 7 only 19 times before. The last Game 7 occurred in 2016, when LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied back from a 3-1 series deficit, winning Game 7 on the road against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Can the No. 4 seed in the East continue its improbable playoff run and seal the deal on the road? Or will the Thunder, the No. 1 seed in the West, capture its first title since moving to Oklahoma City in 2008? We'll get answers to those questions this evening. Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals is set for tonight at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) on ABC. Here's everything you need to know to watch or stream the game. The Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder will meet for Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night on to watch Game 7 of the NBA Finals Like every game of the NBA Finals, Game 7 will be shown on ABC. There are two ways to watch local channels without needing a cable or satellite TV subscription. The first is with a live TV streaming service. And the second is with an over-the-air antenna, if you live in an area that has good reception. Each of the five live TV streaming services carries ABC, but not every service carries every local network, so check each one using the links below to make sure it carries ABC in your area. All the live TV streaming services above allow you to cancel anytime and require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live TV streaming services guide.
