3 underrated players on the OKC Thunder

The OKC Thunder need Kenrich Williams as he ties the roster together.

Kenrich Williams is similar to Wiggins as far as his impact. He is a savvy defender while being a jack of all trades on offense.

While many things can be said about Williams on the court, the 28-year-old provides value as a veteran leader. Ask any of his OKC Thunder teammates, and they would be quick to talk about how much they love him.

On the floor, his impact is difficult to measure through stats. He averaged eight points, about five rebounds and two assists. He’s a solid all-around player, but that shows up best in his lineup data.

After playing almost exclusively on the wing in his first couple of years with the Thunder, Williams had to play bigger last season with the lack of depth down low. His success playing at the four and five without any other big guys around helped unlock the Thunder’s potential playing small ball.

Unfortunately, Kenrich Williams could not finish the season due to a left wrist injury suffered at the end of February. The Thunder certainly missed what he brought to the table over the season’s final few weeks, finishing at 10th in the west.

Heading into next season, Williams’s only true weakness is his free-throw shooting. His 43% mark from the line is a bit of an oddity. He shot 37% from outside and 51% overall, so an improvement at the line would be a welcome gift for the Thunder.

With the addition of Chet Holmgren next season, Williams will likely fit back into his role as a wing. His play as a big will still be useful next season, and the Thunder know they are no limits to where Williams can play and be helpful.