Stiles Points: Jalen Williams Is a Superstar
The Oklahoma City Thunder have enjoyed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander burst onto the scene as a superstar during his time in Bricktown building to the point that he should be considered the leader in the clubhouse for the league's Most Valuable Player Award.
In 2022, the OKC Thunder used the 12th overall pick on Jalen Williams one spot below Gilgoues-Alexander's 2019 draft position. Williams was a late bloomer rising up boards at the NBA Draft Combine and having the Thunder fall in love with him leading into the draft.
In fact, the Santa Clara product told a story during the draft process that the Thunder were one of the teams that followed him closest in college. So it wasn't surprising to the organization when Williams finished runner-up for the Rookie of the Year award last season falling to top pick Paolo Banchero.
Since his rookie season, everyone Nationally and Locally has danced around the swingman's ceiling. While everyone can agree he is a rising star the question has been to what degree? Everyone scared to go too far out on the limb. Could Oklahoma City truly be striking gold again? After drafting back-to-back-to-back MVPs, is there a shot OKC has acquired another pair of superstars?
Not only is it possible, they have. Stripping away expectation levels, narratives and not holding uncontrollable against Williams, you see he is already a Superstar with the bones of an eventual top-15 player in the NBA.
So far this season, Williams is averaging 19 points, four rebounds, as many assists and 1.6 stocks. While he is shooting 54 percent from the floor, 44 percent from beyond the arc and 81 percent at the charity stripe, it is how he is getting to the numbers that prove his stardom.
The Thunder Sophomore is shooting 69 percent at the rim, 48 percent in the mid-range, 52 percent on corner triples and 44 percent on non-corner 3-point attempts. Though, it is not just his wildly efficient numbers that bear out his star status.
Williams ranks in the 87th percentile as a pick-and-roll ball handler turning in 1.024 points per possession, posting 1.163 points per possession in transition, 1.239 points per possession on spot-up chances and 1.441 points per possession on cuts.
He has been able to carry the load offensively to start the second and fourth quarters being able to shake loose from defenses, score through them and even produce when a defender is draped all over him.
However, he is not just an offensive player. His unbelievable motor lets him make a massive impact on the defensive end with a frame built to switch 1-5. Williams shuts down pick-and-roll attacks only allowing 0.734 points per possession and ranks in the 68th percentile as an overall defender according to Synergy. Williams only allows the opponents to convert 43 percent of the rim at the rim showing off high-end rim protection for his size and in a pinch.
As he continues to grow physically and play with more aggression offensively his Free Throw Attempts project to uptick as Gilgeous-Alexander's did throughout his career to boost his point per game column allowing a national audience to view him as a star.
When you list out the talent and impact Williams possesses it is that of a superstar. Do not be left looking around in two or three seasons when the conversation catches up around the Thunder youngster wondering where this came from. The signs are in big bold print now.
Stiles Points:
- Gilgeous-Alexander once again notched 31 points and got to the line 15 times in this game despite free throws being down across the league, Gilgeous-Alexander's scoring portfolio forces defenses to be undisciplined biting at every fake thrown at them.
- Lu Dort once again checked in for a good shooting night going 3-for-6 from beyond the arc. Two of those triples were the results of him cashing in plays that saw all five players touch the ball before a shot.
- Isaiah Joe and Cason Wallace continue to let OKC play small by playing bigger than they are listed defensively and knocking down shots on the offensive end.
- Kyrie Irving and Thunder fans got into a spat courtside during the second half of this game.
Song of the Day: Starman by Davis Bowie
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