Nikola Vucevic says the Chicago Bulls are a different team when Patrick Williams is "more aggressive"

After a horrendous start to the season wherein he played subpar basketball and got yanked out of the starting lineup, the Chicago Bulls’ young forward Patrick Williams has seemingly turned a corner this season, and his teammates have noticed, saying the team is a lot better when the former Florida State star is playing with confidence and aggression.

No longer overthinking

A lot of pressure can mount on the shoulders of a player whom many fans expected to take the team and the franchise to new heights. After all, Williams was picked fourth overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, way ahead of guards Tyrese Haliburton and Tyrese Maxey, both of whom are expected to be named All-Stars this season.

That pressure was not lost on Williams, who buckled under it and failed to live up to expectations. He began the season on a massive slump, averaging 5.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game on god-awful shooting splits of 33 percent from the field and 26 percent from three-point land.

However, he has found a way out of the slump and is making more of an impact on the court. His last nine games have seen an uptick in Williams’ performance, as he averaged 13.9 points, 5.7 rebounds,1.6 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game. He has also shot the ball better, making 53 percent of his shots, including 45 percent from long distance.

“Pat’s been really good the last couple of games,” Nikola Vucevic said.

“You can tell he’s more confident, more aggressive. He’s not overthinking. He’s just using his instincts and playing well for us on both ends of the floor. We’re a different team when he’s doing that.”

Patrick Williams doing the thing! pic.twitter.com/lGIgZ7xha6
— Will Gottlieb (@Will_Gottlieb) December 12, 2023

Coming into his own

When Williams isn’t getting in his own way, he’s capable of stuffing the stat sheet on a regular basis, like the game he had against the San Antonio Spurs when he had 20 points, six rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block.

“I think he’s started to realize just how good and how talented he really is, and when he plays with force, he’s so strong, so athletic, so physical that he’s hard to guard, especially when he’s getting downhill when he’s crashing the glass. And he’s only scratching the surface,” Coby White said of Williams’ potential.

Arguably the most encouraging game of Patrick Williams' career last night.

He shot 8-11 and scored at all three levels. The best, tho, was seeing him go 5/5 at the rim. No hesitation attacking in transition and moving hard off the ball.

This is a guy who's figuring it out. pic.twitter.com/sYH5Jh0NwQ
— Elias Schuster (@Schuster_Elias) December 9, 2023

No longer overthinking

Coming into his own

Players the Chicago Bulls can build on if they tear the roster down