Thunder End of the Year Report Card: Jalen Williams

Jalen Williams had a rookie campaign to remember in Oklahoma City.

When selected at No. 12 out of Santa Clara, he was viewed as a playable prospect right away that would fit in perfectly on a contending team. He was a do-it-all guy, who saw his stock soar behind an incredible NBA combine performance. And he had potential to be a serious 3-and-D threat for any team.

That description sold him short — by a lot. Williams has star potential, and proved every pre-draft analysis wrong by the end of the season. During the second half of the season, "J-Dub" was one of the catalysts behind Oklahoma City’s shocking postseason push and had to take the reins of No. 1 option when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was sidelined. His elite play even spurred a late Rookie of the Year push, even though Paolo Banchero’s 20 points per game ended up being too much to overcome.

Make no mistake, though. Williams shattered expectations and is a cornerstone in Oklahoma City’s core players moving forward.

Overall Grade: A+

Williams was an unbelievable addition for the Thunder. It’s rare that a rookie can impact winning so much, and the Santa Clara product did just that. Oklahoma City needed his talent on the floor at all times, and clearly made a home-run selection in the late lottery.

In 75 games, Williams totaled 14.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. He shot an impressive 52.1% from the floor, 35.6% from 3-point range and 81.2% from the free throw line. He also found his stride defensively, adding 1.4 steals per game. It couldn’t have been a better rookie campaign for the versatile wing.

Offensively

Williams showed impressive maturity on the offensive end and was able to play efficient basketball all season long. When rookies start scoring points in bunches, it’s usually on plenty of shots and low percentages. Williams, though, was soaring high above his rookie competition in the efficiency department.

He finished the season on a high note, winning the Western Conference Rookie of the Month award. In March and April, Williams totaled 18.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. He proved he can be close to a 20-point scorer for the Thunder game in and game out, and his ceiling is sky high.

The only noticeable area of Williams’ game for improvement is his outside shot, and even then, he was above 35% on the season.

Defensively

It took a bit for Williams to settle in defensively, but towards the end of the season he was one of Oklahoma City’s most versatile defenders. He was never a negative on the defensive side of the ball, but had to adjust to the pace of the NBA, especially on-ball.

His length, specifically in passing lanes and anticipating deflections, is invaluable for the Thunder. He created so many fast break opportunities and instant takeaways because of his instincts and speed. Down the stretch, Williams was tasked with guarding some of the best offensive players in the NBA, and often played undersized at the power forward spot.

His ability to guard so many different positions will pay off down the line for Oklahoma City. Williams is a player that’s here to stick around for the long-haul, and his ceiling could keep growing higher.

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