Thunder Guard Jalen Wiliams Generating Rookie of the Year Buzz

Fresh off a career-best 32 points, Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Jalen Williams has generated some late-season Rookie of the Year buzz.

Paolo Banchero and Bennedict Mathurin have highlighted this year's rookie class, but if we are talking about which rookie has made the biggest impact to his team right away, it has been OKC's Jalen Williams (@JdubPSCEO). https://t.co/oZUxyPVNbQ
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) March 6, 2023

Don’t look now, but Jalen Williams is making a late Rookie of the Year push. 👀

Too late to catch Paolo Banchero, but by season’s end, you might have a legit argument that he had the best overall rookie season in his class factoring his offensive efficiency and defensive impact.… pic.twitter.com/gEIa2lWpVp
— V̷a̷t̷o̷r̷ (@VatorSports) March 6, 2023

Drafted twelfth overall, Williams has already far exceeded the expectations set for him prior to the season. Even before a strong combine performance, he was seen as a late-first to second rounder.

Now, he’s emerging as one of the top rookies in the league. And for good reason.

On the year, Williams is averaging 13.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 52 percent overall on the season. Those numbers alone give cause for Thunder fans to celebrate, but it’s his recent stretch that has given him national acclaim.

In his last 11 games, Williams is averaging. 20.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.5 steals per game while shooting 57 percent overall, 50 percent from beyond the arc and 85 percent at the line.

For months now, it’s been a foregone conclusion that Orlando Magic forward and top pick in the 2023 draft Paolo Banchero will take home the Rookie of the Year Award. And that’s likely still the case.

But with Banchero’s ranged numbers slumping and Williams continuing to excel with more and more responsibility from the Thunder, things are certainly more interesting than they were a few weeks ago.

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