With his 13 points and 20 rebounds, Jonas Valanciunas hurt the Thunder very badly in the first round, and unsurprisingly, the Lithuanian tried to impress his young opponents. We saw him elbow his way, score a big offensive rebound, and then we saw him scream on Jalen Williams (19 points, 7 rebounds) as the two competed for a ball. The referees have already blown the whistle, but the two players do not want to let go of the ball. Valanciunas then screams, and Williams responds by… barking!
“Jonas yelled in my face, and he picked me up off the ground… I just barked… I don’t know…” the OKC winger laughs. “It was just good energy and it was pretty cool.” I bark at the audience, and they bark back. It's just two competitors giving each other energy and fighting for a ball. It's playoff basketball and nothing else. The moment he picked me up off the ground, I didn't know how to react, and I barked.”
Everyone started barking
In fact, this barking does not date from this meeting, and it has even become a ritual between the Williams (Jalen and Jaylin) with the public. When they return to the locker room, the two bark at the crowd, and the fans respond. Same thing during the presentation of the squad at the start of the season. “It’s to show that we are a pack” Jaylin had explained. “We are a bunch of dogs. We are united. We will move forward together, five of us. Bismack was asked to do it. Then another. And everyone is barking now. »
Then asked about the crazy atmosphere at the Paycom Center for his first in the playoffs, Williams continued: “I didn't expect them to bark so much and we have great fans. The best in the NBA, and it was cool.”
