How Cason Wallace’s defensive potential was unlocked by the Thunder’s friendly competition
The article How Cason Wallace’s Defensive Potential Was Unlocked by the Thunder’s Friendly Competition appeared first on ClutchPoints.
After Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace won Western Conference Defensive Player of the Month for October and November, All-Star Jalen Williams revealed how he helped the third-year guard improve his defense. The Thunder surround Wallace with veteran defensive stalwarts like Lu Dort and Alex Caruso as resources of veteran minds he can draw on, while Williams, an all-defensive forward, in his own right, has challenged all three.
Advertisement
Williams wanted to see if Wallace could lead the Thunder in steals against Caruso, Dort and himself, he said, a goal that has continued this season, as Cason averages 2.2 steals per game, the second-most in the NBA.
“It’s just more fun. Maybe we started out as a joke. He’s such a good defender that I was trying to get him to score more goals his freshman year,” Williams said. “Then last year he started trying more and more, and he was throwing a lot more interceptions. I was just seeing different ways with him to steal the ball that I probably couldn’t do, and vice versa. So we kind of challenged ourselves with that.
“Then adding AC, another first team All-Defense, and then Lu, who doesn’t get any steals. It’s just friendly competition. But it’s just about trying to challenge us to be great at that, every day, and not get bored, trying to play defense.”
After being named Defensive Player of the Month, Wallace finished with two steals and a block in the Thunder’s 124-112 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
Advertisement
How Alex Caruso and Lu Dort helped the Thunder’s Cason Wallace
Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault knows it’s no coincidence that Cason Wallace continues to evolve as a blocking defender. The same argument can be made for Ajay Mitchell’s defense this season, as the second-year prospect has moved from a third-stringer to a fringe starting guard. The Thunder’s elite defensive culture is contagious in every way coach Daigneault could hope for.
“As time goes on, these guys get more experience when they play against guys like Jordan Poole – they learn the league, they learn the pictures, their instincts start to grow over time, which I think comes from experience,” Daigneault said. “He obviously has a gift beyond that. You’d have to ask him what he does intentionally.
Advertisement
“But I think he’s become a little more intentional in his study and learning the nuances of the game. I think Dort and Caruso have probably helped him to some extent. Those guys are pretty tight,” Daigneault concluded.
The Thunder will enter Friday’s game against the Mavericks on a 13-game winning streak.
Related: Thunder Jalen Williams’ Heartfelt Reaction to Santa Clara Jersey Retirement
Related: Why 2025-26 is the promising regular season Chet Holmgren and Thunder have been waiting for
