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Kenrich Williams Rumors
And importantly, Presti turned down all the offers he must have received for the young players who make the core of his excellent team. Who knows what incredible NBA players he could have received for Chet Holmgren or Jalen Williams. Presti has a hardfought collection of players he likes. I heard from another team that was blown away that Presti wouldn’t even consider offers for tenth-man Kenrich Williams. The Pacers are similar. Rick Carlisle had a vision for Blur Ball and it dang near won them an NBA title. They spent years seeking out the right players to go around Tyrese Haliburton. The Raptors had a system that used Pascal Siakam one way, and they weren’t sure that made him a max player. The Pacers were like we know what do with that guy who never gets tired. The Knicks saw Obi Toppin’s flaws, the Pacers saw a big man who never stopped bouncing around the floor.
Tim Kawakami: OKC bench took over this one: Wiggins +24 Hartenstein +17 KWilliams +15 (in 8 minutes, guarantee Daigneault talks about him postgame)
Clemente Almanza: Kenrich Williams on helping Chet Holmgren out after his 2 missed FTs in their Game 1 loss to the Nuggets: “Just being there for him. I have experience in the league. I’ve been through ups and downs… Just trying to give him wisdom. He kinda changed the game as well last night with his energy.
Rylan Stiles: Asked Kenrich Williams if he’s had a chance to reflect on the Thunder’s historic season given he was in OKC for the rebuild “it doesn’t feel real,” said it puts things in perspective and mentions what it means to be apart of this organization with this team:
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“I’m the oldest guy on the team—me and Kenrich [Williams]. Hart’s [Isaiah Hartenstein] only 26,” Caruso said. “They call me OG and old guy. I’m like a median age, like barely over the median age in the NBA. But they’re also kids, like most of them are actual kids. So, they don’t know any better. Cason [Wallace] makes fun of me because I’m bald all the time. “One time, I can’t remember if it was practice or at the arena, and he was looking at me and started laughing, and I’m like, ‘What is it? What is it today? And he’s like, “I just really forget you’re the first bald teammate I’ve ever had.” And I’m like, ‘that’s because you’re 22 years old,’ you’ve only played with high school and college kids,” Caruso concluded.
A testy third-quarter scuffle nearly erupted into a full-blown fight Sunday, resulting in three ejections, during the Oklahoma City Thunder's 146-132 win over the San Antonio Spurs. "We had an altercation?" Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams asked jokingly during his postgame interview on the court with ESPN. "It made us refocus, figure out what's important." Officials issued double technicals to Kenrich Williams and Julian Champagnie as well as Jeremy Sochan and Lu Dort after the incident. Williams, Champagnie and Dort were ejected.
With three minutes left in the third quarter, Williams was elbowed in the jaw while guarding Champagnie as he passed to Stephon Castle, who found Sochan cutting under the basket for a two-handed dunk. As that play unfolded, Williams and Champagnie stood near the scorer's table, shoving each other. "When people are aggressive, there are a lot of coincidental elbows or contact," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. "I don't really know who was at fault, to be honest. But it just looked like that was what initiated it. And then there was the response on both ends. [It] just looked like Kenrich Williams was being aggressive, and Julian was opening up. I don't know if that's an offensive foul now. I don't know where that line is of what space you're allowed."
Brandon Rahbar: Kenrich Williams on SGA: “I’ve been with him for 5 years and it’s amazing to see his growth. He’s super inspiring. He gives off confidence to the team. He’s also growing as a leader as well. The things you see out of some of the all-time great.”
Royce Young: Thunder beat the Heat 115-101. OKC won the fourth 32-8. - SGA: 32-4-9 - Dort: 17 - Dub: 18-6-3 - Kenrich: 14 and 4 rebounds - Wiggs: 11 and 5 rebounds - Joe: 10 Heat led by as many as 21.
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Royce Young: Thunder beat the Grizzlies 125-112. - SGA: 32 and 7 assists - Dub: 25-6-6 - Wiggins: 26 + 11 rebounds (8-13 from 3) - Hart: 12-14-4 + 3 blocks - Caruso: 14-3-2 - JWill: 5-8-3 - Kenrich: 6-8-4 Impressive game on the road on the second night of a back-to-back.
The Thunder could seemingly figure out a salary match for Johnson without surrendering key players, but even that would likely mean parting with Kenrich Williams. I've only ever heard how Williams and the Thunder hold a strong mutual fondness for each ... and that Williams is regarded a key player within the Thunder's cohesive culture. His minutes, by the way, have only increased month over month this season. Did You Know: Kenrich Williams is making a real push for a 50/40/90 season.
Should Oklahoma City ultimately pursue a Cam Johnson trade with Brooklyn, keep an eye on January 15 when Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe are each eligible to be traded. The Thunder has a boatload of future first-round draft picks available to dangle along with tradeable salaries such as Kenrich Williams – our top trade candidate coming into the season – Ousmane Dieng, and Jaylin Williams.
Brandon Rahbar: Kenrich Williams is available to play tonight vs the Clippers. Good timing, Kenny Hustle.
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