The Oklahoma City Thunder were able to get back from an Emirates NBA Cup final slip by winning on the road against the Orlando Magic. However, head coach Mark Daigneault is not completely happy because of the way Jalen Williams was treated all game.
Talking to reporters after the battle at Kia Center, Daigneault expressed his frustration because of the non-calls that should have favored his starting forward.
Here’s a stat: Jalen Williams and I both shot the same amount of free throws tonight. We both shot zero, and all I did was call a couple time outs, called some plays, and clapped a couple times when we scored and he was in the throat of the defense for 48 minutes.
Williams finished the game with 11 points on 5 out of 15 shooting. He also had 7 assists.
It was not just Williams. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, labeled by his haters as a free throw merchant, went to the line just four times, almost half of his 8.2 average this season.
Daigneault, whose emotions are probably amplified by his concerns for Thunder’s schedule, clarified that he does not want to hear officials blow their whistle unwittingly for Williams.
“We’re just asking for it to be met with application of the rules the way that would be for any other player,” he said.
Jalen Williams has a different approach compared to Mark Daigneault
Daigneault is frustrated with free throw disparity but the player he is defending is looking at it from a different perspective
Williams said he is aware that he is getting hammered but is still not getting the calls. However, with him averaging 21 points in spite of it, he thought it is encouraging.
“It’s very frustrating. I also don’t let that affect the rest of my game. I think I average 21 with no free throws. It’s almost encouraging in a way,” he told reporters post-game when asked about the issue.
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