Scottie Pippen Predicts Jalen Williams’ Rise Will Surpass His Own Legendary Legacy—Here’s Why

Jalen Williams has been on an electrifying scoring streak throughout the opening five games of this year’s NBA Finals, each time topping his previous output—a feat that’s turning heads and rewriting expectations. At just 24, this Oklahoma City Thunder wing exploded for a dazzling 40-point showcase in Game 5, swinging momentum firmly in OKC’s favor against the Indiana Pacers. Now, Williams isn’t the sole star lighting up the stage; he’s often sharing the spotlight with league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Together, these two have carved out a staggering 291 points, joining the ranks of some of the most formidable duos in Finals history—a list that reads like a who’s who of basketball legends. It’s no wonder that Scottie Pippen, the iconic sidekick to Michael Jordan’s greatness, sees reflections of his own game in Williams, praising the young Thunder player’s potential to not just emulate but surpass past achievements thanks to today’s freer offensive style. As Oklahoma City inches closer to a potential championship, led by this dynamic pair, the basketball world watches eagerly—and if this momentum holds, Games 6 and beyond could be historic. LEARN MORE.

AdvertisementWilliams doesn’t always take center stage, though. In fact, the first-time NBA All-Star is often second in command, behind league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.”I don’t even want to put a cap on him to say that he’s going to be me,” Pippen said, via ESPN. “I see him being greater, if I can say that. Just because of where the game is today. They have offensive freedom. We didn’t have that. We mostly ran out of a system. These guys have the freedom to shoot 3-balls and things of that nature. Players that are playing in today’s game have a chance to be better than players in the past because of the ability to shoot the ball.”

“I don’t even want to put a cap on him to say that he’s going to be me,” Pippen said, via ESPN. “I see him being greater, if I can say that. Just because of where the game is today. They have offensive freedom. We didn’t have that. We mostly ran out of a system. These guys have the freedom to shoot 3-balls and things of that nature. Players that are playing in today’s game have a chance to be better than players in the past because of the ability to shoot the ball.”

“I don’t even want to put a cap on him to say that he’s going to be me,” Pippen said, via ESPN. “I see him being greater, if I can say that. Just because of where the game is today. They have offensive freedom. We didn’t have that. We mostly ran out of a system. These guys have the freedom to shoot 3-balls and things of that nature. Players that are playing in today’s game have a chance to be better than players in the past because of the ability to shoot the ball.”

Pippen, Jordan’s Hall of Fame sidekick during a six-championship run in the ’90s, told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon he sees a lot of himself in Williams.”He is pretty special,” Pippen said of Williams, via ESPN. “I see a guy rising to be one of the top players in this league. He’s definitely a player that is capable of being able to lead that franchise to multiple championships — him and Shai, of course.”Both unheralded high school prospects who blossomed at mid-majors — physically with growth spurts and on the court in production — Pippen and Williams seemingly came out of nowhere and then broke out in the NBA.Jalen Williams has upped his scoring total in each of the first five games of this year’s NBA Finals.Advertisement