INDIANAPOLIS — The NBA held their 2024 Rising Stars challenge media availability on Friday.
During the event, the Oklahoma City Thunder had the most representatives among NBA teams with Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace.
The trio has been part of an impressive Thunder (37-17) that sits a game back from first place in the Western Conference standings heading into the All-Star break.
Holmgren and Williams are part of the same squad with Jalen Rose while Wallace will be on Pau Gasol’s team. The full explanation and rosters of the four-team single-elimination tournament can be read here.
Here’s a quick recap of what Holmgren, Williams and Wallace had to say as they prepare for the weekend festivities.
Chet Holmgren after his presser started off with being asked about the WWE & the 90s: “I wasn’t ready for these questions.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) February 16, 2024
Chet on the Thunder’s success: “The diehard fans who really watch us could see the talent we’ve had over the last couple years.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) February 16, 2024
Chet on Wemby: pic.twitter.com/SKQhKC1vte
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) February 16, 2024
I asked Cason Wallace what the biggest adjustment has been this year in the first half of the season transitioning to the NBA and what he is looking to do in the second half pic.twitter.com/FNuFGMPW21
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) February 16, 2024
Breaking: Cason Wallace is a Wilt 100-point game believer.
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) February 16, 2024
I asked Cason Wallace if he had any pre draft story about the Thunder and how the Thunder pre draft workouts are different from other teams he said they treated him like I was already part of the team pic.twitter.com/8IfkSBG0hW
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) February 16, 2024
Jalen Williams gets asked what rule he’d add to the NBA if it was up to him: “hand checking.”
— Joel Lorenzi (@jxlorenzi) February 16, 2024
Cason Wallace on playing with Victor Wembanyama today he laughed and added “You know I like to throw lobs, I’m going to see how high he can get” pic.twitter.com/8dcBSOkoNl
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) February 16, 2024
Jalen Williams on who he’d least trust to drive his car on the team: “Poku for sure.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) February 16, 2024
Cason Wallace on his favorite All-Star weekend activity: "All I cared about was the dunk contest. I just like to see the cool dunks they can do."
Said his favorite was Zach LaVine's
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) February 16, 2024
Cason Wallace on the Thunder having 5 representatives at All-Star weekend: "It shows how good we are as a team. A lot of players competing at a high level. I feel like it's being noticed by the rest of the NBA."
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) February 16, 2024
Cason Wallace said his 'Welcome to the NBA' moment occurred in training camp when he had to defend SGA: "It didn’t go very well."
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) February 16, 2024
When asked who on the team he wouldn't let drive his car, Cason Wallace chose Jaylin Williams
"Everybody on the team knows why we shouldn't let JWill even have a car," Wallace joked.
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) February 16, 2024
Jalen Williams on OKC's chemistry: "That just stems from us being relatable as a team cause we're so young. We kinda mix in with the youth pretty well. We all just get along really well."
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) February 16, 2024
