NBA NBA West Thunder

Jalen Williams Deserves First-Team All-Defense

Miles LeichtMarch 24, 20252 Mins read1.1k

Oklahoma City Thunder Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Jalen Williams

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - OCTOBER 27: Jalen Williams #8 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates a made basket at the end of the first half against the Atlanta Hawks at Paycom Center on October 27, 2024 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)

The Oklahoma City Thunder have had a historic defense this year despite their defensive star, Chet Holmgren, missing most of the season.

This is because of Jalen Williams.

Yet, despite J-Dub being the anchor of this historic defense, no one seems to recognize it. Here’s why J-Dub should be First Team All-NBA Defense.

Jalen Williams’ Stats Are Stunning

In large part to J-Dub’s defense, OKC has the best defensive rating in the league at 107.1.

OKC also ranks first in forcing turnovers (17.0), steals per game (10.5), opponent two-point field goal percentage (51.3%), and opponent three-point percentage (34.0%), and ranks second in opponent points per game (106.8).

(All clips via shotcreator.com)

Outside of team stats, Williams is also near the top of individual defensive stats.

J-Dub is number one in defensive rating this year (106.7), fifth in deflections per game (3.5), and seventh in steals per game this year (1.7). Players also shoot 40.7% against him and 11.5% worse at the rim when J-Dub is there, which is the 97th percentile in the league. This means that only a few players have a lower percentage.

Some of these stats could look confusing, so here is a simple way to explain them: Jalen Williams has provided some of the best rim pressure in the league while also causing chaos on the perimeter, forcing turnovers and poor shots.

This is a defensive comparison between Williams and the current favorite for Defensive Player of the Year, Draymond Green (via databallr.com):

Circumstances

As stated earlier, defensive standout Chet Holmgren has missed most of the season.

And it has not just been Chet. Former All-Defense member Alex Caruso has only played 46 games, and Isaiah Hartenstein has played 49. Because of these injuries, Williams has sometimes had to become the main paint defender.

At 6-foot-6, he still did a great job at the center spot, keeping the team afloat at 3-3 in those games.

In just his third season, Jalen Williams has been asked to do everything, and he has done it. He guards players taller and more athletic, but they still don’t stand a chance.

Williams’ incredible instincts, strength, and arm length have made him one of the league’s premier defenders.

Written by

Miles Leicht

Despite growing up in Northeast Ohio, Miles gravitated towards the Oklahoma City Thunder and New York Giants at a young age. Now, he is a sports management major at Miami Ohio and a proficient writer and editor at The Lead.