Jalen Williams thrives, Mann struggles in Thunder loss to Rockets

The Oklahoma City Thunder fell in their first game in the Vegas Summer League portion, after going 2-1 in Salt Lake City, the OKC Thunder looked to carry that moment into a pivotal matchup with the number three overall pick Jabari Smith Jr and his Houston Rockets. In a surprise, the OKC Thunder saw Josh Giddey play in Vegas after originally not planning to. He accompanied rookies Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Ousmane Dieng to a close loss against the Rockets.

Jalen Williams was selected 12th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in last month’s 2022 NBA Draft. After Chet Holmgren’s dominating Summer League debut, the NBA world forgot just how good Jalen Williams played in that same game.

The Santa Clara product has been an excellent play-finisher that can shoot the lights out of the gym from beyond the arc. Williams has also shown a unique passing ability, and you can see the way he understands the game and timing of actions with his cutting and rim finishing. Jalen Williams has looked every bit like an NBA Lottery pick, and the OKC Thunder get to pair him with Chet Holmgren (and all their other pieces) for the next decade.

Jalen Williams Thrives, Tre Mann struggles as the Oklahoma City Thunder fall to the Houston Rockets in the first game in Vegas

The 12th overall pick finished with a team-high 15-points, shooting 58 percent from the floor, collecting five rebounds, an assist, and on defense swiping two steals and swatting a shot. Jalen Williams has been fantastic on the defensive end as well, especially in rotation in help defense and more team-style looks. He has been able to play iso defense at an above-average level and put pressure at the rim when guys attack him.

While Jalen Williams is having a near-perfect Summer League, Tre Mann is having…the opposite. The second-year guard has struggled to score so far in two games this summer and against Houston, he only made one shot from the floor on 13 attempts. The Florida product was blanked from three-point land going 0-for-5, but still finished with ten points (thanks to going 8-for-9 from the free-throw line), four rebounds, an assist, and a steal.

I do not think anyone should panic about Tre Mann’s sluggish Summer League. He has been awesome in actual NBA games, post All-Star Break Mann averaged 16 points per game on 35 percent from three-point land (seven attempts per game).

The OKC Thunder will be back in action against Orlando on Monday night, before taking on Sacramento on Wednesday, Golden State on Friday, and wrapping up their Summer slate on Sunday against an unknown opponent depending on how pool play works out.