LAS VEGAS — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paused to consider the possibilities. His dark sunglasses covered his eyes, but the way he shook his head and grinned his lips suggested he’s impressed with the future he envisions for his Oklahoma City Thunder co-star .

“It would be stupid of me to put a cap on him,” the MVP candidate said after Saturday’s win to advance to the NBA Cup Final. “I think he can go as far as he wants, as far as he takes it.”

That co-star, forward Jalen Williams, has gone from a three-star prep prospect to the No. 2 option for a team with real championship hopes.

And like thunder itself, you can see the lightning before the full force of the storm arrives.

No one could have predicted Williams’ rise, but the 2023 Rookie of the Year runner-up is now a clear and present two-way threat whose impact on the court has led him to discussions around the league about how high he can climb and how far the thunder can go.

Jeff Teague, with his infectious way of stirring the pot, added to the debate last week with his comments on his Club 520 podcast, declaring Williams to be on the level of NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown.

“I think Jalen Williams is a top-notch player in the league,” Teague said before reiterating his claim to equality. “If you send Jalen Williams to the Celtics now, it will be the same thing.”

It raises a key question about Oklahoma City’s potential. Gilgeous-Alexander is an MVP talent, a true superstar. But the Thunder are, by and large, an elite team in the Western Conference. OKC’s depth and the way its roster fits make its championship dreams realistic.

But it takes two to make something go right, and to win the NBA championship you need a second star. Another player who can deliver huge results in critical moments.

The Celtics didn’t win until Brown became a beast alongside Jayson Tatum. The Dallas Mavericks made themselves a contender by pairing Kyrie Irving and Luka Dončić. Whenever Jamal Murray is at his best, he’s a perfect complement to Nikola Jokić – and when he’s not, the Nuggets have a big problem. Evan Mobley’s performance and Donovan Mitchell playing like a superstar transform Cleveland into a title contender.

The Thunder have used their wealth of resources to support their homegrown stars. Oklahoma City could cash in on its assets to get a proven star. Instead, up until now, the bet has been that Williams will develop into this guy. And so far he more than justifies this belief.

“Something very special,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of Williams. “As good as he wants to be. He has a really good feel for the game, which is difficult to learn or teach (early on) in your career. He just understands how to play basketball… and then he works hard, and his skills will only continue to grow from there.

“There are so many things he does for us on the basketball court that are at a very high level.”

Williams is on pace to average 20 points per game for the first time in his career. He enters the NBA Cup Championship game averaging 21.7 points on 50 percent shooting. At 23 years old, he is already a three-tier scorer and has a reputation for scoring baskets in a variety of ways. He’s one of the league’s best during the break, ranking 8th in the league in transition points per game – in the top 10 with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ja Morant and LeBron James.

In Saturday’s NBA Cup semifinal against the Houston Rockets with Gilgeous-Alexander on the bench, Williams led the Thunder to a double-digit lead in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. The duo combined for 52 of the team’s 111 points – with Isaiah Hartenstein adding 21 and Lu Dort 19 – giving a national audience a glimpse of the kind of chaos the Thunder have been in over the past six games following a second-round upset The Mavericks of Irving and Dončić want to wreak havoc in the postseason season.

“He’s super talented offensively,” Hartenstein said of Williams in the locker room after the game.

“Maybe he’ll get his shot from mid-range, he’ll find other people, then he’ll get to the basket. And to me, he’s definitely playing like an All-Star, and I think he should be included in the All-Star conversation.”

Although Williams was a solid defender, his defense has taken a significant step up in a league where so much attention is paid to offensive production. He is a top 10 NBA defender and has recorded eight steals in the last five games.

“I feel like you can apply it to any guy, big (or small) … that’s what he’s going to do,” Hartenstein said. “He’s a great defender on the support side. In terms of length, his arms are so long. He can block shots and get steals.”

Teammate Alex Caruso, who was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive selection twice in his career, sees promise in Williams’ abilities.

“He has special physical characteristics coupled with special instincts. “He doesn’t take up the whole field and twist and turn and turn, but when he decides to make a play, he makes it every time,” Caruso said. “He goes on the ball, he goes on the block. He does a phenomenal job of timing and coming up with the play.”

The 6-foot-6 Williams’ versatility cannot be overstated. His size, athleticism and skill make him useful across the board. Not only is he second on the Thunder in scoring, but he is also second in assists (5.0). He leads Oklahoma City in total rebounds, total steals and total dunks.

“I think every year I just try to master one thing,” Williams said after he totaled 20 points, five rebounds and five assists in the win over Houston.

This season he focused on his midfield. According to NBA statistics, he achieved a hit rate of 52.3 percent on his 65 mid-range shots. Last season he completed 48.8 percent of his 166 attempts.

“I try to take it one thing at a time and not rush anything,” Williams continued. “My father makes it a point to only take one year at a time. You don’t play this for a year. I’m trying to be in the NBA from 15 years old. … As my work progresses, I want to master several things per year and see where I succeed.”

Part of the significance of Williams answering that question – is he a worthy No. 2 on a championship team? – is its outstanding price. The No. 12 pick from Santa Clara in the 2022 NBA Draft will receive a massive contract extension this summer.

He is making $4.8 million this season and will make $6.6 million next season. His salary will certainly increase fivefold in 2026/27. Chet Holmgren, who was selected 10 spots ahead of Williams in the same draft, is also in line for an extension. The same year they get a raise, Gilgeous-Alexander — who is also eligible for a supermax extension after this season — will receive more than $40 million.

SGA is considered the face of the Thunder. Holmgren is unique and a certain goalkeeper. If Williams is who they think he is, OKC has the big three going forward. As long as the franchise can handle the price.

“He brings a lot to the table on both ends of the floor,” Dort said of Williams. “He can guard, he can get a bucket every time. He’s a guy who can play make. His ceiling, I mean, I think he can be an All-Star. I think he should be an All-Star this year, but we’ll see.

“He just has to keep doing what he’s doing. He brings so much to the game.”

(Top photo Jalen Williams: Joshua Gateley / Getty Images)