The OKC Thunder are soundly in the conversation for the moniker of the best team in 2024-25 and find themselves leading the league in numerous statistical categories. From steals (11.3) and net rating (12.3) to their overall record of 37-8, it's evident that Oklahoma City is dominating both on the hardwood and the stat sheets.
Of course, despite their successes, Mark Daigneault's club still struggles in a few areas of play, with perhaps the most daunting hardship being their putrid free throw numbers.
While the Thunder drive to the rim at the second-highest rate in the association (58.5 attempts per game) they're only heading to the charity stripe at an average rate of 19.4 times per game, stacking up as the second-worst mark on the year.
To put this into perspective, the Memphis Grizzlies, who drive at the highest rate in the league (61.6 times per game), are hoisting up the most free throw attempts per game with 24.1.
To say this discrepancy is troubling would be a severe understatement, and, for months now, many OKC players have vocalized their displeasure over it.
Perhaps the most notable critique of these lacking calls so far into the season has been Jalen Williams, as he's frequently criticized the officiating crew during postgame pressers or even to their face mid-contest.
Regularly, the wing has been on the receiving end of serious contact, especially when attacking the lane and at the rim (drives at the 16-highest rate per game), and fails to draw a whistle, as he's shooting just 4.0 fould shots per game.
However, as of late it appears J-Dub is steadily starting to turn his misfortunes around, as he's excitingly seen an uptick in visits to the foul line over the last two weeks.
Thunder star Jalen Williams starting to see more foul line activity
While sustaining a similar level of activity on drives per game (15.0), Jalen Williams has seen a sizable uptick in free throw attempts (7.0) since January 12.
Fortunately, the forward hasn't been the only Thunder player who has seen more shots from the stripe during this stretch, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is attempting over two more shots on average at 10.4 while, as a collective, the ball club has simultaneously seen their attempts at the line inflate as they rank in at 20 in shots with 20.6 a game.
Hopefully this is a sign that the tides are beginning to shift and that Oklahoma City will be getting the calls that they deserve more often during this second half of the campaign.
At the moment, it appears Williams's complaining has finally started to pay off!