OKC Thunder: Jalen Williams Stands Pat at No. 2 on NBA Rookie Ladder

With just two games remaining in the OKC Thunder regular season, rookie Jalen Williams sits at No. 2 on the NBA Rookie Ladder.

With just two games left on the Oklahoma City Thunder schedule, Jalen Williams remains at No. 2 on the official NBA Rookie Ladder.

Williams has occupied the No. 2 spot for close to a month now after seeing a massive spike in production. Over 16 games in the last month, he’s averaged 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 56 percent from the field and 45 percent from beyond the arc.

Just last night in a loss to Golden State, Williams poured on 19 points on 7-for-14 shooting, adding four rebounds, two assists, one steal and hitting two of his three shots from beyond the arc.

While some might’ve thought Williams was making a case for the 2022-23 Rookie of the Year Award with his improved play, NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner isn’t so sure: “Paolo Banchero’s status as the favorite to snag the NBA’s Kia Rookie of the Year Award isn’t dead at all. In fact, it’s looking and feeling rather chipper with five days left in the regular season.”

“A tighter award chase to add some intrigue when ballots are cast in the final days, has been wishful thinking, salted with a little recency bias.” Aschburner wrote.

There’s likely no real pathway to Williams taking home the ROY Award. But with their twelfth pick likely to finish as the runner-up with No. 2 overall selection Chet Holmgren waiting in the wings, Thunder fans can sleep soundly regarding the 2022 NBA Draft.

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