With that performance, Jalen Williams joined Kyrie Irving (2016), Kevin Durant (2012), Dwyane Wade (2006), and Shaquille O'Neal (1995) as the only players in the last 40 years to score 25+ points in three straight NBA Finals games. Williams had 26 in Game 3 and 27 in Game 4.

Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just joined elite company — and their Game 5 explosion has sparked echoes of a legendary NBA Finals duo.

Williams lasted until No. 12 in the 2022 draft, after the Thunder already had taken Holmgren third and Ousmane Dieng, who hasn’t worked out, 11th. He since has emerged as the best player from the 2022 crop, with a work ethic that has helped him turn weaknesses (like an inability to go left, leading to a poor playoffs last year) into strengths.

Since Kyrie Irving tore his ACL in March, the Mavericks have had to question what next season might look like. Considering Irving’s age, there is no guarantee that he looks the same when he returns, and his absence could last the majority of the season.