OKC Thunder: Jaylin Williams Putting Together Strong Summer League
The spotlight of Oklahoma City's Summer League has shined bright on a variety of different young players. From Chet Holmgren’s return, Tre Mann’s bounce back and Jalen Williams' electric performances, the Summer League has had its high points for the Thunder.
One player who is quietly having a solid summer is big man Jaylin Williams. He entered the Summer League looking at a possible shrinking role in the upcoming season with the return of Holmgren to the lineup. Williams, though, has continued to provide a solid supporting role in the lineup of the OKC Summer League squad, much like he did last regular season.
Williams posted a solid nine-point, seven-rebound outing against the Mavericks on Saturday. His stat line has been similar to his Saturday outing for most of the Summer League, as Williams continues to develop into a stretch player for OKC.
Along with his size, ability inside to grab rebounds and finish at the rim, Williams has also shown the prowess to bounce outside and knock down 3-point shots on occasion. With 2.3 attempts per game, he ended the regular season at a 40 percent clip from beyond the arc.
As the NBA continues to evolve into more of a position-less league, a player like Williams who can play outside and stretch the floor, but also go into the paint and dominate there could help OKC in the long run.
Williams took over the starting center job from Jeremiah Robinson-Earl early last year and never let it go. Now, with a starting job likely out of the cards for Williams, he has used the Summer League to show how he would fit into the rotation in a supporting role. If Williams provides the same results he did in his rookie season, he could be a major bench piece for OKC this year.
While the Summer League and the offseason can be taken with a grain of salt, the potential for Williams to be a solid role player is evident as he’s been one of OKC’s better performers while flying under the radar.
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