The OKC Thunder continue to dominate the NBA, as evidenced by their league-leading 21-1 record, a comfortable 4.5-game lead in the Western Conference standings.
The narrative early in the year was that they were playing well despite Jalen Williams' injury-induced absence. Now, with Williams back in the fold, the Thunder are fully reaching their potential -- and that's a scary thought for the rest of the NBA.
Williams is one of the best players on the roster, and he, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Chet Holmgren make up one of the best big threes in the game today.
OKC's depth is crucial, though, as players such as Alex Caruso and Ajay Mitchell have made significant impacts throughout the 2025-26 campaign.
Mitchell, in particular, has had a breakout season. However, with Williams back in the rotation, there have been questions about how much playing time he will receive.
That said, even if his minutes decline or his role changes, Mitchell will remain one of the best depth players in the league.
As for Williams, he is quickly reminding fans how much of an impact he can make while on the floor.
Top-ranked Thunder only get better with Jalen Williams back
The Thunder most recently defeated the Golden State Warriors by a final score of 124-112 on Tuesday night. Williams scored 22 points to go along with six assists, three rebounds, one steal, and one block.
His performance is a perfect example of everything he brings to this team.
The Thunder know Gilgeous-Alexander (38 points) is going to lead the charge most nights from a scoring standpoint, but having a secondary bucket-getter like Williams, who can also contribute in several other areas of the game, makes them especially dangerous.
Williams, 24, is averaging 16.3 points, 6.3 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 1.0 steals per outing across his three games since returning from injury. It may be a small sample size, but Williams' presence has already been felt, to say the least.
The Thunder will have a surprising challenge on Friday night, as they will host a Dallas Mavericks team that looked like one of the worst squads in the NBA early in the season. The Mavs are beginning to find their rhythm, though, having won three consecutive games.
Jalen Williams and the Thunder will look to end the Mavs' winning streak and earn their 22nd victory of the season in what could end up being a competitive contest.