Bleacher Report Predicts Jaylin Williams as Oklahoma City's Biggest Surprise

Even with Chet Holmgren back in the lineup, Jaylin Williams could still find a lot of success.

Much of the offseason attention has been centered around Chet Holmgren, and rightfully so. The big man is finally back after missing a full season, and looked like a game changer throughout the summer. Between last year's Summer League session and this year's run in Vegas and Salt Lake City, Holmgren's hype has continued to grow.

In addition, he trained with some of the best players in the NBA during Team USA training camp. He's certainly penciled into the Thunder's starting lineup.

Even with Holmgren, though, last year's rookie surprise Jaylin Williams will still have a role on this team. He picked up great experience a season ago, playing in massive games down the stretch and performing well.

The Arkansas product averaged 5.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting 40.7% from 3-point range. He was listed in Bleacher Report's latest article featuring one player from each team that will surprise people. Even though Williams was a surprise player last season, it's a solid bet again.

"He also doesn't play a particularly loud style," BR wrote about the Thunder's forgotten young prospect. Drawing a charge, which he did a team-high 43 times, won't exactly fill the highlight reel like an emphatic rejection can. His crafty playmaking also doesn't jump off the stat sheet the way gaudy scoring numbers would.

"Yet it's his ability to succeed in the sport's subtleties that could make him a vital piece of this Thunder team and maybe a bunch more of them in the future. His willingness to play a role and ability to execute it could have his playing time trending way up."

He could play a big role next to Holmgren or off the bench, absorbing some of the physical blows from the massive big men in the NBA. Holmgren's weight and physicality have drawn concerns, but having a player like Williams could help lighten the load.

Williams encapsulates a player who bought into Thunder culture and will do the dirty work for this team moving forward.

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