The Oklahoma City Thunder have been on a roll recently despite several players’ injuries.
Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Luguentz Dort, and Cason Wallace have all missed games. However, 6-foot-9 forward Jaylin Williams has stepped up when needed most.
The 2022 second-round pick out of the University of Arkansas has been putting up big numbers when he can see the floor more. Williams played over 30 minutes in just two of the team’s past 11 games in March. In these two games, J-Will notched his first two-career triple-doubles.
Jaylin Williams’ Ability to Stretch the Floor is Essential
Williams is the Thunder’s “glue guy.” He doesn’t always light up the box score, but he consistently has a significant impact on the game when he is on the court.
J-Will is shooting 37.5% from three this year, which is a respectable clip for a big man in the NBA. This percentage is higher than his All-Star teammates Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and JDub.
A big man who can shoot from deep requires opposing defenses to adjust accordingly. Teams will need to respect J-Will from the three-point line which will lead to opposing centers being drawn out of the paint.
This can create more opportunities for SGA, who leads the NBA in drives per game with 20.6 per game.
Spreading out the floor for his teammates will allow the Thunder to thrive in the paint like they have all season. OKC is No. 10 in the league in points in the paint with 50.4 per game.
In March, Williams is shooting 53.7% from the field and 51.4% from the three-point line. If he can continue on this hot streak, it will provide a much-needed boost off the bench come playoff time.
High-IQ Defense
Williams poses a constant threat on defense despite not being a towering shot-blocker. Before the NBA, Jaylin set a record 54 charges in his sophomore season with the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Despite averaging 16.9 minutes per contest, J-Will currently sits at ninth on the total charges drawn list this season with 11 total. In playoff basketball, where possessions are everything, drawing charges can swing momentum in OKC’s favor and frustrate the opponent.
Jaylin also offers much-needed help on the glass, something the Thunder struggle with. Only behind Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, he sits in third place on the Thunder in rebounds per game with 5.7.
While Hartenstein and Holmgren are both seven-foot big men, Williams offers a high level of physicality on the glass. His six-foot-nine, 240-pound frame is hard to move in the post while fighting for rebounds.
Playoff games often swing on a few energy plays, and Jaylin thrives in that gritty, effort-based role.
While Thunder fans can look forward to the playoffs, having secured the No. 1 seed in the ultra-competitive Western Conference, they should also be ready for Jaylin Williams to have an increased role in this season’s playoff run.
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