The OKC Thunder are assessing most of their roster to see if they will fit their rebuilding model. Kenrich Williams has played every game this season and every time that he hits the floor he leaves everything out there.
This is true if Williams gets on the floor for three minutes as he did against the San Antonio Spurs or 27 minutes as he did against the Chicago Bulls.
He plays every minute like it’s the last time he may get on the hardwood at the NBA level. It reminds me of the way Luguentz Dort played the entirety of last season.
Prior to the season starting, there appeared no way that Williams would even make the roster. The Thunder appeared to have T.J. Leaf, Admiral Schofield, and Frank Jackson ahead of Williams on the pecking order. They would be waived and Williams would make the squad.
The OKC Thunder value doing things the right way, Kenrich Williams embodies this.
Whether it is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Ty Jerome, who is yet to play a game, the OKC Thunder value what you can bring to the team both during a game and in practice. In fact, the Thunder prefer their players to have good character over bringing in a disruptive superstar.
8 points in first half from Kenrich Williams. #OKCvsCHI pic.twitter.com/Ngd8Y2LrPM
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 16, 2021
Williams has shown that he will give all for the team. He has a level of intensity on the court that can only be infectious. He makes effort play after effort play and performs at well above his listed height of 6-6. However, his true potential was finally on display against the Chicago Bulls.
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Williams played 27 minutes and was plus 22 in that time. This was in part due to the 6-of-6 shooting from the floor, including making a 3-point shot on his way to 14 points. He also collected five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
However, what the box score did not show was the intense defense he played on any Bulls player he could find.
He simply did not stop and was rewarded with game time because of the positive impact he had on the team for the game.
However, the story starts two nights previously in the 29 point loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Williams was given 15 minutes of playing time during the blowout loss where he collected nine points, five rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block.
Williams made the floor so much earlier in the Bulls game than normal because he did not quit in the Lakers game. To put it simply, there are no wasted minutes in the NBA and if Williams continues to bring the energy the Thunder will benefit from it.
In the game against the Denver Nuggets, Williams only played six minutes. He did not have a huge impact on the game but he needs these learning nights as well so that the Thunder can make the most of Kenrich Williams’ energy.