3 Lessons for the OKC Thunder six game home stand
By Rylan Stiles
The Oklahoma City Thunder have drafted a potential All-Star with the 12th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Jalen Williams, and he is legit.
Jalen Williams has been an excellent story for the OKC Thunder fanbase, dating back to Summer League, where Williams displayed his versatility and three-level scoring ability. He also showed the energy he could provide the team with his reaction to Josh Giddey’s poster slam.
The Oklahoma City Thunder saw Jalen Williams start his rookie season with a bang, winning the October/November NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month award. From there, the Santa Clara product has only gotten better.
Williams has played all five positions this season for Mark Daigneault. He ranged from backup point guard to his regular home as the starting power forward. No matter where he has been placed in the lineup, the rookie has thrived.
During this homestand, Jalen Williams played in five games averaging 23 points, four rebounds, and five assists per game to go along with two steals per tilt on the defensive end. His shooting efficiency, even as a go-to scorer at times, remained the same as he shot a jaw-dropping 61 percent from the line and 58 percent from beyond the arc.
That was a good enough week for the 12th overall pick to force his way to second on the NBA’s rookie ladder. Williams is making the Rookie of the Year race closer than anyone would imagine at this point in the season.