Thunder's Jalen Williams Gets Honest About Spurs Rivalry

The San Antonio Spurs took down the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, securing a 111-103 final score on the road.

This playoff series felt like the first of many between these young, talented teams. It’s already one of the league’s best rivalries, and there’s no doubt it will continue to grow in years to come.

During his exit interview on Sunday, Thunder star Jalen Williams was asked about his team’s rivalry with the Spurs.

"They kicked our [expletive] a couple times this year, the beginning of the year,” Williams said. “It's honestly crazy playing them, because it feels like we’re playing a version of ourselves.”

“It’s exciting. We don’t run from competition,” Williams continued. “Teams that play like that always make each other better. … They’re so young and they all accept the role that they’re in. That’s why they’re really good.

“They’re going to be good for a long time. We’re going to be good for a long time.”

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Williams was only able to appear in three games in the Thunder’s Western Conference Finals series against the Spurs as he dealt with a nagging hamstring injury that plagued him throughout the postseason.

"It would've been a challenge if I played or not, but I definitely think I could've changed the series. But we’ll just have to wait until we meet again at some point,” Williams said of missing most of the series.

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The Spurs now advance to face off against the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.

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This story was originally published May 31, 2026 at 3:41 PM.