2024-25 has been a true breakout season for OKC Thunder forward, Jalen Williams.
Though the former lottery pick certainly had himself a campaign to remember last year, through 25 games played this season he's managed to raise his already impressive level of play to even greater heights.
With his point totals and elite defensive acumen, Williams has proven himself to be a true two-way force on the hardwood and finds himself posting career highs in virtually every statistical category.
However, out of all the improvements to his game that he's managed to make, during a pre-NBA Cup Final interview the 23-year-old surprisingly revealed that it's his development as a rebounder that he's been "most proud of."
Thunder's Jalen Williams 'most proud of' his rebounding improvements
"I would say rebounding. It was something that I was looking at last summer that I thought I could get better at. just one of those things where I don't really have to work on it's just more about an effort thing," Williams said.
On top of his increased efforts, as he alluded to, Jalen Williams noted that his regular stints as Oklahoma City's primary pivot amid their injury-plagued campaign have certainly aided in his uptick in production on the glass. However, at the end of the day, his increased emphasis comes down to his drive to prove to himself that he could do it.
As things currently stand, the third-year pro is averaging 6.1 boards per game and a total rebounding percentage of 9.9 (both career bests). Comparatively, the forward saw averages of 4.0 and 7.1, respectively, last season.
Of course, as mentioned earlier, his numbers are up all across the board, as he's posting sensational all-around averages of 21.7 points, 5.0 assists, 2.0 steals, and just shy of a block while shooting 50.0 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from beyond the arc.
Serving as the 1B to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 1A, Williams has been a sensational running mate on this top-seeded Thunder team.
So much so, in fact, that fellow cornerstone Chet Holmgren (who has been sidelined for the past month with a right iliac wing fracture in his hip) has already started campaigning for him to receive the first All-Star nod of his career.
Now, despite his clear worthiness to be selected to February's illustrious exhibition out in San Francisco, there is bound to be strong competition for the mere 24 open slots.
Regardless of whether he ultimately gets selected, the voting outcome shouldn't take away from just how special of a year he's been having and will likely continue to have as the season rolls along.
For some, his scoring feats should be widely celebrated. To others, it's his elite defensive production that needs more recognition (102 defensive rating and +6.2 defensive box plus-minus).
However, Jalen Williams's efforts in the rebounding department are the advancements in which he's taken the most pride this season.