Thunder coach Mark Daigneault looks at the growth of Cason Wallace as a playmaker

Before Oklahoma City The Thunder faced the Utah Jazz at the Paicom Centerhead coach of the Thunder Mark Daigneault discussed the growth of Cason Wallace as his team’s playmaker. Wallace finished with nine points and three assists in Sunday’s 127-101 win over the Brooklyn Nets. He also showed his playing abilities with the second unit.

During his pregame media availability, Daigneault discussed Wallace’s abilities as a playmaking guard for the Thunder.

“They tell you what they’re up to with what they do on the field,” Daigneault said. “He showed the capacity, at times last year, as a secondary playmaker. Cason did. And, even before he got here, in his college film, he showed the ability, especially as an end, to get in there and do some things. So you always had that in the back of your mind that he had that before (in his game). Then put him in some situations and see how he does.”

In his second season with the Thunder, Cason Wallace has taken on an increased role in 2024-25.

“I’m learning how to handle certain situations, the pick-and-roll; actions bring people to the right places,” Wallace said. “Just adding to my game.

Jaylen Williams returns to the Thunder lineup against the Jazz

Thunder forward Jalen Williams has been cleared to play against the Jazz. Williams was questionable before tipoff after entering the Paycom Center with a strained hip. But after his pre-game routinehe was inserted into Thunder head coach Mark Daigno’s starting lineup.

Williams looked ready to go before the game and was released less than half an hour before facing the Jazz.

The Thunder’s 26-point win over the Nets was Williams’ first missed game of the regular season. He enters Wednesday’s game averaging 20.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Williams could reach his first career All-Star game.

In the midst of his third year in the NBA, he is in the midst of his best season yet. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Western Conference in All-Star voting, Williams is seventh among forwards.

This week, their head coach, Marc Daigneault, was named one of the head coaches of the 2025 NBA All-Star Game. While this year’s new format will feature the All-Stars divided into three teams of six players in a four-team tournament, including NBA All-Stars in climb, Daigneault found that he was not given all the details about how it will play out in San Francisco.

This is the first time Daigneault will represent a Western Conference head coach.