Oklahoma City Thunder center Jaylin Williams has experienced remarkable growth as a player during the 2025-26 season. The 23-year-old big man has increased the volume with which he produces, secured a more consistent level of playing time, and even looked like a rising star when opportunity has come knocking.
In the process, Williams has handed Oklahoma City an invaluable skill set and the only offensive weapon that it previously lacked: A reliable volume shooter at an interior position.
Williams is currently averaging 7.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.7 blocks, and 1.5 three-point field goals made in just 20.6 minutes per game. He's doing so while shooting 37.1 percent from beyond the arc.
What's taken hold over the past six weeks, however, is an evolution from being an effective floor-spacer into a true knockdown shooter who's willing to punish teams for leaving him open.
Since Feb. 1, Williams is averaging 11.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.8 blocks, and 2.3 three-point field goals made in 24.0 minutes per game. He's shooting 47.2 percent from beyond the arc, and while that may not be sustainable, it reveals how much more he's capable of than previously believed.
With a big man who can not only space the floor with efficiency but volume, the Thunder's offense suddenly has a tool to develop into an even greater offensive juggernaut.
Jaylin Williams is becoming the volume shooting big the Thunder lacked
Chet Holmgren is obviously a strong shooter himself, but his average of 1.3 three-point field goals made in 29.3 minutes per game reflects the limited volume Oklahoma City can expect from him. He has a respectable career average of 1.8 conversions per 36 minutes, but that number has dipped to 1.6 in 2025-26.
By comparison, Williams is averaging more threes per game than Holmgren while playing fewer minutes, and nearly doubles his per-36 average at 2.7.
The unfortunate truth about Williams' drastic improvement since Feb. 1 is that it was born by necessity. Reigning scoring champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed 10 games, leaving a massive void to fill on offense and thus creating more opportunities for Williams to shoot.
Starting center Isaiah Hartenstein, meanwhile, has missed seven of the Thunder's 18 games since Feb. 1, which has inevitably opened the door for Williams to play more minutes.
Thunder big Jaylin Williams has reached a new level since Feb. 1
However Williams' growth came about, the bottom line is that it's impossible to ignore. The Thunder suddenly have a stretch 5 who can turn a game on its head by fearlessly attempting shots that no other big on the roster has consistently been willing to take.
In the process, Williams found the space to turn in some of the best performances of his NBA career—including three different games with at least 24 points and 11 rebounds.
Moving forward, a healthy Thunder team can operate with an entirely new dynamic at play on offense. Williams has proven capable of working alongside the starters and the reserves, even dropping 29 points and 12 rebounds while starting against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
If Williams can sustain a reasonable amount of the quality he's displayed since Feb. 1, the Thunder will somehow become even more unpredictable on offense.