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Jalen Williams Has Hilarious Reaction to Kevin Durant Trade After NBA Championship

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 1:09 PM ET

Jalen Williams is in just his third season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he's already carved out a brilliant NBA resume.

An All-Star, All-NBA and All-Defensive talent, Williams can add NBA champion to his resume.

From an unforgettable 40-point performance in Game 5 to a more than forgettable minus-40 performance in Game 6 -- the 24-year-old star rode the highs and lows to become a champion.

While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the MVP -- both for the regular season and NBA Finals -- he doesn't find the success he did without Williams on the roster.

The Santa Clara product has been superb during his short career in Oklahoma City.

On the day of the Thunder taking on the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals -- former Oklahoma City superstar Kevin Durant was traded to his fifth team.

Durant was dealt to the Houston Rockets from the Phoenix Suns, though the NBA world remained focused on the Finals.

The morning after securing the franchise's first title, Williams was asked on ESPN's "First Take" about the Durant trade.

"That's dope for Houston... wherever KD goes, he's gonna change the way a team plays for the better. ... I can care less about what's going on in the NBA besides our parade," Williams said.

"That's dope for Houston... wherever KD goes, he's gonna change the way a team plays for the better. ... I can care less about what's going on in the NBA besides our parade."

Jalen Williams on the Rockets acquiring Kevin Durant from the Suns pic.twitter.com/cV3XvowtIj
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 23, 2025

One thing is clear -- Williams is focused on the celebration coming into downtown Oklahoma City on Tuesday.

The team might have been young. They were inexperienced, sure. There were plenty of reasons fans and pundits doubted the Thunder.

They delivered, though. Despite all the great talent that has rolled through Oklahoma City, they finally won an NBA title for the first time in their 17-year existence.

It's absolutely right for Williams -- and the rest of the Thunder squad -- to not care about the rest of the league right now.

The city was behind the team for the entirety of the playoff run, and they will all share a moment of joy on Tuesday morning, regardless of what happens in the NBA landscape.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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