Jalen Williams added strength will be eye popping for OKC Thunder fans

The OKC Thunder fanbase was treated to a memorable rookie season from the 12th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Jalen Williams. Last year, Williams was good enough to earn first-team All-NBA honors, finish runner-up for Rookie of the Year, and be a key cog in the Thunder’s 16-win leap.

Along the way, Jalen Williams made it to Salt Lake City for the Rising Stars challenge and helped the OKC Thunder win a play-in game in their first trip back to the postseason since 2020. That led to him being tabbed for Team USA Select to help Team USA prepare for the World Cup. In those runs, he dominated the varsity squad to give us a glimpse at what year two holds.

The OKC Thunder have seen Jalen Williams add a ton of muscle this offseason, and Mark Daigneault explains how he has seen it impact his game.

Jalen Williams has been in the weight room this summer; it is clear to see via his social media posts, the early days of training camp, and even the multiple “random” drug tests the NBA has administered to Williams.

With that newfound strength, OKC Thunder fans are curious to see how it will impact his game on the floor. Their first look at second-year Jalen Williams will come on Monday against the San Antonio Spurs.

Mark Daigneault was asked about Jalen Williams’ added muscle after practice and highlighted that Williams is now “going through” defenders physically in training camp. Williams himself highlighted how the added strength makes him more “versatile” in the Thunder’s positionless system.

This is an eye-popping statement for a player who already shot 70 percent at the rim; now, he has added strength to convert at the ring. With even more avenues to take advantage of his savvy cuts, the Thunder could see a substantial uptick in numbers for Williams in his second season.