This is why basketball is a team sport: the Oklahoma City Thunder have received significant contributions this season from what many may say is an unexpected source, amid their long list of injuries.
Jaylin Williams Among Most Fascinating Stories in the League
Yes, this season hasn’t gone the way they wanted after their championship run.
The Thunder have the second-most games lost due to injuries, as multiple key contributors — Jalen Williams (40 games missed), Isaiah Hartenstein (30 games missed), Alex Caruso (23 games missed), and Ajay Mitchell (22 games missed) — have all missed significant time this season. Other key figures — Kenrich Willaims (20 games missed), Aaron Wiggins (15 games missed), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander(12 games missed), Lu Dort (11 games missed), and Chet Holmgren (10 games missed) have missed extended periods of time at various points throughout the season as well, causing the team to rely heavily on its depth.
Multiple players have stepped up for the Thunder, showcasing their depth, as OKC not only sits atop the Western Conference but also holds the league’s best record at 51-15. One player who has specifically answered the call for Mark Daigneault is Jaylin Williams, who has been thrust with larger responsibilities with Hartenstein missing significant stretches of the season and with Holmgren recently missing time.
Considering the magnitude of the game, Williams arguably had the best performance of his career on Monday night, finishing with 29 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and just one turnover while shooting 10-of-17 from the floor and a career-high 7-of-11 from deep, which is the most made threes by a Thunder big, in a massive 129-126 win over the Denver Nuggets.
Williams’ perimeter shooting and presence defensively propelled the Thunder to a crucial win alongside an MVP-sealing performance from Gilgeous-Alexander.
This is a week-and-a-half removed after Williams finished with a career-high 30 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, a steal, and a block while shooting 9-of-14 from the floor, 5-of-10 from deep, and 7-of-7 from the free throw line against the Eastern Conference No. 1 seed in the Detroit Pistons.
These two games against two of the best teams in the league have shown the progression in what has been Williams’ best stretch of his career, from the former 34th pick, who is averaging a career high 20.5 minutes per game in 51 games played, to go along with 11 starts. He’s averaging 7.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game this year, while shooting 36.5% from deep on 4.1 attempts per game.
His numbers may not jump out, but Williams’ contributions have been vital for the Thunder. His interior defense, presence on boards, passing prowess from the hub, and ability to stretch the floor make the former second-round pick not only a valuable role player for OKC but one of the premier backup bigs.
With the Thunder season derailed by injuries, Williams has been instrumental in OKC maintaining the No. 1 seed and home-court advantage outright in the postseason, as their depth has helped hold down the fort. His improved skill set gives the Thunder another option in their playoff arsenal.
With Williams becoming a valuable piece on a championship roster, his ascension throughout his NBA journey has become one of the most fascinating stories in the league.
Main Image: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
