Jalen Williams rose from a Santa Clara standout to an All-NBA, All-Defense cornerstone on an Oklahoma City Thunder squad that rewrote the regular season record book. His unlikely trajectory beside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander powered a 68-14 pace and the franchise’s first championship in recent memory, with Williams earning his first All-Star nod and a contract extension as the payoff.

A revealing Summer League moment—going toe-to-toe with Darius Bazley— foreshadowed the fierce energy and competitiveness that fueled Williams’s breakout. Bazley’s later Phoenix trade and Lakers Summer League flirtation underscore the evolving Thunder era that Williams helped define.

NBA preseason kicks off Oct. 2 with Knicks vs. 76ers in Abu Dhabi, followed by a slate of international games from Australia to Macao. The regular season starts Oct. 21 with Thunder hosting Rockets and Lakers vs. Warriors. Preseason is a venue to test players and schemes, with last year’s top finishers (Thunder and Knicks) hinting at possible early momentum. Expect value from unknowns stepping into roles and strategic rotations that could shape early fantasy upside.

Key themes for fantasy managers: monitor rotation battles in international games, note which teams lean on young talent, and cue up late-round sleepers who could earn meaningful minutes as rosters settle before opening night. The schedule emphasizes cross-border exposure and strategic experimentation that often foreshadows breakout performances once wins count.