Thunder Summer League: The Scaled Impact of Jalen Wiliams
While NBA Summer League is generally an opportunity for players that haven't yet established themselves as key pieces of an NBA rotation, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams has hinted at playing for the team this summer in some capacity. With OKC set to participate in two separate leagues, one in Salt Lake City followed by Las Vegas, he could perhaps play in the former.
Daniel Bell of BSO caught up with Williams at the NBA Finals, where the Thunder rising star is serving as a player media correspondent. Inside the Thunder has already outlined these intentions, but what does that mean for Oklahoma City?
For one, Williams will bring stability to a roster that will be mostly comprised of players that don't have much experience on an NBA floor. These are key developmental minutes and an opportunity to showcase their upside. Having a proven contributor on the floor alongside them, especially one that can facilitate for others, should only elevate these other prospects' abilities to perform well. It's unlikely that Williams plays a ton of minutes, but the ones he does play should make the game easier for others around him.
This is especially true for Chet Holmgren, who missed the entirety of last season due to an injury. Assuming he plays, NBA Summer League will be a platform for him to get back into the swing of things and build much needed confidence entering training camp. Playing with someone like Williams should remove pressure from the 7-footer and open up the game for him. Holmgren getting off to a hot start and gaining that confidence would go a long way.
Finally, Williams simply being in the locker room and on the sideline when he isn't playing will be a valuable resource for the other Thunder participants. Having a mature player that knows what the grind of an 82-game season is like is fantastic to have around these other young guys, especially the rookies that the team will bring in later this month.
Regardless of how much Williams plays in July, it should pay dividends for Oklahoma City in many ways.
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