Thunder Secure Jaylin Williams with Multi-Year Extension Following Championship Victory
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Thunder have locked up their versatile reserve big man, Jaylin Williams, with a multi-year contract extension following the team’s triumphant championship season. The extension reflects the Thunder’s confidence in Williams as a key part of their future.
During the 2024 championship run, Williams made a notable impact, starting nine games and impressively recording triple-doubles in three of them. Over the course of the season, he averaged 5.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 16.7 minutes per game, making his presence felt off the bench for the title-winning squad.
Williams, drafted 34th overall by Oklahoma City in the 2022 NBA Draft, is expected to continue his growth as a versatile contributor in the coming years. ESPN reports that the new deal is a three-year, $24 million contract, with the third year being a team option, ensuring flexibility for the organization.
The extension of Williams signifies Oklahoma City’s commitment to nurturing its young talent and building a future contender, with the hope that Williams’ continued development will contribute to more championship aspirations down the road.
Victoria Mboko Faces Krejcikova in First Round of U.S. Open
NEW YORK — Canada’s rising tennis star, Victoria Mboko, is set to square off against two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova in the first round of the U.S. Open.
Mboko, who turns 19 on Tuesday, enters the prestigious tournament as the highest-ranked Canadian, seeded 22nd in the women’s draw. The Toronto native is coming off a breakthrough victory at the National Bank Open in Montreal, where she defeated top-ranked Coco Gauff, world No. 10 Elena Rybakina, and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.
Krejcikova, a 29-year-old from Czechia, enters the tournament ranked 61st in the world, but her career accomplishments — including titles at the 2021 French Open and 2024 Wimbledon — make her a formidable first-round opponent. This matchup promises to be a thrilling test for the young Canadian as she looks to extend her recent success.
Meanwhile, fellow Canadians Leylah Fernandez and Felix Auger-Aliassime also received favorable draws, facing qualifiers in their opening rounds.
Fernandez, the 2021 U.S. Open finalist, is seeded 31st and enjoying a resurgence, including a victory at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C., last month. Auger-Aliassime, who made a deep run to the U.S. Open semifinals in 2021, has had an impressive season, winning two titles and advancing to the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Masters.
Other Canadian players, including Denis Shapovalov and Gabriel Diallo, are also looking to make a statement. Shapovalov, ranked 27th, faces Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics in the first round, while Diallo, ranked 31st, will take on Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur.
As the U.S. Open unfolds, these talented Canadians are ready to make their mark, with high hopes for a deep run at Flushing Meadows.