Thunder History: Jalen Williams’ Among Most Productive Rookies Ever

With an impressive draft history, the Oklahoma City Thunder has produced many incredible rookies through the years. Some of the top players in the NBA started their respective careers with the organization in OKC, going on to do spectacular things.

With that in mind, there’s a case to be made that Jalen Williams put together the most productive rookie season of any. When looking at his numbers across the board last season, he’s top five in Thunder franchise history in nearly every category.

Points: 1056 (2nd)
Rebounds: 337 (4th)
Assists: 248 (3rd)
FGM: 414 (2nd)
FG%: 52.1% (2nd)
3PM: 73 (5th)
FTM: 155 (3rd)
Steals: 103 (2nd)
Blocks: 35 (5th)

Williams still has the majority of his career ahead of him and will need to continue to improve if he is going to reach his ceiling. Regardless, the trajectory he is on is quite impressive. Especially considering the rookies of the past he was competing with statistically, it’s even more impressive.

Finishing second in NBA Rookie of the Year voting behind only Paolo Banchero, Williams appears to have been a steal for Oklahoma City at pick No. 12 in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Jalen Williams is preparing for a BIG year 2 🏁

Featuring the new haircut 👀

(via @wmebasketball /IG) pic.twitter.com/VOO0YbLOyU
— Cooper Jones (@CooperJNBA) May 3, 2023

With his size and length, Williams played all five positions at times this year, showcasing his ability to do it all. Versatility is the name of the game in the modern NBA, which he fits perfectly.

As the Thunder continues to rebuild the roster towards contention, expect Williams to emerge as a potential star in Oklahoma City.

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