In the midst of a career-best season, OKC Thunder veteran Jaylin Williams' offseason weight loss is a key contributor to the big man's excellent play.
After shedding nearly 10 pounds, new elements have been added to the big man's game, such as elite shooting, improved defensive impact, and the ability to share the floor with other centers.
These layers have given OKC new, interesting ways to utilize him into different lineups.
Jaylin Williams' weight loss opens new lineup possibilities for Thunder
In seasons past, Jay Will's limited mobility and inconsistent shooting often made him a potential liability, leading to unpredictable minutes. Now, he can play in nearly every lineup and is especially making a difference alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Though he has always technically been a solid three-point shooter, cashing in at a 38.7 percent clip throughout his career, it has largely been an afterthought in his game, as it has been predominantly tied to low volume and to only shooting wide-open looks.
Fortunately, that has changed this year, as he's currently averaging over four triples per game and is always ready for a catch-and-shoot opportunity.
Williams' willingness to shoot is largely due to his newly developed quick-release shooting form.
With him now being a considerable behind-the-arc threat, teams leave the paint without a lurking big man, creating easier driving lanes for Thunder cornerstone, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
In lineups with the two together, the Thunder have a 100th percentile point differential (plus-21.9), along with being a 98th percentile offense and defense in terms of points per possession.
On a team as exceptional as OKC, good statistics won't always tell the whole story, but it is clear that SGA's play is enhanced with Williams running alongside him. The MVP's efficiency and production go up considerably when the two are sharing the floor, with a true shooting percentage of 69.0 and scoring north of 35 points per 75 possessions.
Despite his weight loss, Williams remains an extremely talented screener, creating numerous open looks and posing a threat as a dribble-handoff player, occasionally making him the offensive hub for OKC.
With all of this considered, the Thunder can now run five-out lineups with him, creating more than enough opportunities for the team's shot creators like Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Ajay Mitchell to get to their spots at ease.
Prior to this season, Williams was often seen as an unreliable defender due to his combination of low verticality and slow feet.
Now, he's more than capable of keeping the defense afloat with Isaiah Hartenstein or Chet Holmgren on the bench. His recent physical feats have allowed him to maximize his defensive instincts and timing, making up for his still-underwhelming verticality.
So, with his newly found two-way traits to pair with his consistent passing and screening, OKC can run any lineup with him. Whether at center or power forward, with a defensive- or offensive-oriented supporting cast, the 23-year-old can be more than effective.
When playing with Chet Holmgren, the Thunder will wreak havoc on defense. This season, OKC has an 18.1 net rating and a monstrous 96 defensive rating when the big men share the court. The two have an exceptional combination of patience and technicality on defense, whether it's Holmgren's perfectly timed block or Williams' innate ability to draw a charge.
Facing the end of the regular season and the Thunder now seemingly fully healthy, it will be interesting to see just how much coach Mark Daigneault will try to adjust or change the bench lineups with Williams.