Kenrich Williams Peaking at the Perfect Time
Oklahoma City’s backup forward is making a big impact over the last three weeks.
Kenrich Williams has always been Oklahoma City’s staple of stability. He has been consistent since he joined the Thunder and has grown in a leadership role. He’s a well respected veteran on the team and plays with passion Thunder fans appreciate. Over the last month leading up to the playoffs, Williams is starting to play his best basketball of the season.
Williams had a slow start to the season but has ramped it up as of late. He’s scored five points or more in 11 straight games and has made a 3-pointer in each of the last four. He’s still rebounding at a high level and playing hard on the defensive side of the ball. It has been a late season resurgence for the TCU product.
Over the last 10 games, Williams is averaging 8.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 19 minutes a game. He’s shooting 57.4% from the floor, 42.9% from 3-point range and 100% from the free throw line. Those numbers are way above his season averages, which stand at 4.7 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.
On top of the quality minutes, the Thunder have found something that works in playing Williams alongside Chet Holmgren. Even though Williams doesn’t have supreme size, he’s a terrific rebounder and plays much bigger than what he’s listed. It gives Holmgren relief to have another rebounder and defender in the front court, and it could be something Mark Daigneault turns to in the playoffs.
On Friday night, Williams was one of the only reasons Oklahoma City had a chance. He had a season-high 18 points on a perfect 7-of-7 from the floor and 2-of-2 from deep. If this is the version of Williams Oklahoma City is getting in the postseason, it will be a tremendous lift.
Like Josh Giddey, Williams has turned a corner and is playing his best basketball of the season.
Want to join the discussion?Like Inside the Thunder on Facebookand follow us on Twitterto stay up to date on all the latest Thunder news. You can alsomeet the teambehind the coverage.
