Inside The Thunder

OKC Thunder: How Will Jaylin Williams Fit Following Stellar Rookie Campaign?

Thunder forward Jaylin Williams enters his second season after absorbing a large role last season. Will that change following Oklahoma City's offseason moves?

Nathan Aker

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Oklahoma City’s Jaylin Williams didn’t necessarily enter last season with the highest of expectations.

Behind the noise of No. 2 pick Chet Holmgren, lottery picks Ousmane Dieng and Jalen Williams, the former Arkansas Razorback was the Thunder’s final pick in the 2022 draft at No. 34 overall.

But through last season’s experimental approach, Williams proved to be a reliable, versatile big as he exceeded those expectations and helped the Thunder in the win column many times through a gritty and unselfish play style.

The 6-foot-10, then 20-year-old forward started in 36 out of 49 games played, primarily being utilized at center due to a lack of depth and Holmgren being sidelined the entire year.

Williams soon became a fan favorite, drawing charges left and right, developing as a leader and growing as a producer night in and night out.

But as a number of new players have been brought in, along with a healthy Holmgren, what will his minutes and role look like this upcoming season?

It appears Williams will be moved out of the starting lineup with Holmgren starting at the five. With Holmgren supplanting, Williams will still have a prime spot on this team to grow as a backup center.

Williams averaged 18.7 minutes per game last season, but those minutes ranged anywhere from 11 to 32 nearing the end of the season. With established bench players like Isaiah Joe, Kenrich Williams and Dieng returning, as well as incoming rookies like Vasilije Micic and Cason Wallace, he’ll have to earn those minutes once again this season.

That average will most likely drop. But if he produces similar numbers and effort plays to make the most out of his minutes early on in the year, Williams does have an opportunity to work his way to the sixth man in rotation.

OKC should be experimenting with different lineups with the additions of Wallace and Micic, the possible retainments of Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Usman Garuba and Jack White, as well as simply seeking out the team’s most cohesive bench players.

With this in mind, Williams may very well slip into the power forward spot at times ,depending on the lineup, where he could be even more productive.

At the center position, he sank 46 threes on just 113 attempts, marking him a real long-range shooting threat as a 40.7% 3-point shooter. This skill could allow him to further flourish and space the floor at the four.

Many times last season, we saw Williams floating out to the 3-point line, standing static in the corner or popping out of a down screen or ball screen for open looks from beyond the arc. However, this rendered lesser paint traffic occasionally, as well as a congested perimeter with Williams’ being stationed on the outside.

Paired in a lineup with Holmgren at the five — or in a second, small-ball unit with Garuba, Robinson-Earl or White — the power forward role has the potential to be slightly more freeing for the 21-year-old on the offensive side of the ball.

Shifting lenses and looking ahead of his sophomore campaign, he’s been busy.

Stepping out to Pro Am leagues like Skinz League in Edmond, to hosting a Thunder Cares event alongside Isaiah Joe in their hometown of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Williams seems to be in happy spirits ahead of fall camp and the 2023-24 season.

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Nathan Aker
NATHAN AKER

Nathan is a senior at the University of Oklahoma majoring in Public Relations set to graduate in May 2024. He holds experience covering multiple sports, primarily basketball, at the high school and collegiate level. 

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