Two Thunder Players Taken in Top 10 of 2022 Re-Draft
In a recent look back at the 2022 NBA Draft by Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report, OKC rookies Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams found themselves Top 10. Holmgren stood his ground as the second overall selection while Williams moved up from the 12th overall pick (his true draft position) to the ninth pick.
As expected, Wasserman kept Magic rookie sensation Paolo Banchero in the number one slot, followed by Holmgren, Jaden Ivey, Keegan Murray and Bennedict Mathurin. After the new-look top five, Jabari Smith Jr., Jalen Duren, Shaedon Sharpe, Williams and Walker Kessler round out the Wasserman's top 10.
While Holmgren has yet to play a regular season game for the Thunder, the Gonzaga product's length and skill level as a 7-footer are mesmerizing. These intangibles coupled with the productive outings the Minneapolis native put on display in the Summer League led to Holmgren sticking around in the top two.
Williams' impressive rookie campaign has earned the Santa Clara product a spot in the top 10. In 58 games this season, Williams has made 45 starts, averaging 12.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
The former Bronco is shooting an impressive 51.1% from the field, the highest percentage of all wings or guards in Bleacher Report's top 10. The 6-foot-6 ball handler is shooting 33.3% from 3-point range, which is one of the few key flaws in Williams' game.
This is likely to improve with time though, as the Gilbert, Arizona, native hit 39.6% of his shots from beyond the arc in his final year at Santa Clara.
While Williams' stats are measurably better than those of Sharpe, who is averaging 7.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game while shooting almost 47% from the field, the former seventh overall pick's youth and flashes of athleticism likely led to his placement above the Thunder standout. Williams' stats are similar to that of Murray, who is averaging 12.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game, shooting almost 45% from the field.
The argument for Murray, however, revolves around the success of his team, the Sacramento Kings. Murray has started 57 games for the Kings this season, who currently hold the third seed in the Western Conference.
While Williams' placement in Wasserman's redraft may not be agreeable to many Oklahoma City fans, it is important to consider the circumstances and situations that each rookie is playing under. Even moreso, this list does not reflect how well each rookie has played this season, but their expected ceiling based off of what they have shown since entering the NBA.
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