When it comes to a team headlined by MVP frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, first-time All-Star Jalen Williams, and budding stud Chet Holmgren, fans and pundits often tend to overlook some of the efforts put forth by the other players residing on this OKC Thunder roster.
Because of this, SGA felt the need to name-drop one of his teammates, in particular, for his play following Wednesday's 120-103 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, as he hyped up the impact big man Jaylin Williams had on the night and praised his ability to stay ready despite his ever-changing role.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander calls Jaylin Williams 'special' after Thunder win
"Some nights he plays, some nights he doesn't play. Some nights he gets told he's not gonna play and then just gets thrown in and plays. And then to have a masterpiece of a game like he did tonight was so big. Guys in my position, not take it for granted, but you'll never understand how hard it is to not have security. Every night, I know I'm going to play 35 minutes, I'm going to shoot 20 shots, no matter what. To not have that and still be steady as a rock is special. We're lucky to have a guy like that. He was who he was tonight, and it's a reason why we've been a good team all year," Gilgeous-Alexander said of Jaylin Williams.
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— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) March 6, 2025
Earlier in the season, Williams was relied on heavily down in the frontcourt due, in large, to the widespread injuries to Oklahoma City's big man arsenal, particularly Chet Holmgren who was sidelined from November 11 to February 7 with a right iliac wing fracture.
During this stretch, the 22-year-old saw roughly 17 minutes of action per night and registered a usage percentage of 15.1.
However, as Gilgeous-Alexander pointed out, since Holmgren's return, the Thunder center has seen his role and minutes distribution steadily decline and sporadically change, seeing 23 minutes one night and then two consecutive DNPs a few games later.
During this month-long stretch, his usage rate has dropped considerably to a team-low 9.9 percent.
Wednesday was a prime example of what Gilgeous-Alexander highlighted about Williams. He logged a mere nine minutes of action during their previous outing against the Houston Rockets on Monday and then saw his playing time skyrocket to 19 minutes against Memphis.
The big man would then finish the contest with 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks on 100 percent shooting from both beyond the arc and the field as a whole while cashing home on several momentum-shifting buckets along the way.
Now, while the Thunder star may have felt the need to point out the positive effects that Williams' play had on the team during their latest showing, his impact has been undeniable all throughout the 2024-25 campaign.
Out of those who have seen 30 or more games played, Jaylin Williams ranks fifth on the team in defensive rating (105.1), sixth in offensive rating (118.4), seventh in net rating (13.3), and ninth in plus-minus (+4.6).
So even though he may not get the headline-worthy attention that SGA, J-Dub, and Holmgren do, his play and presence on the team has been a major boon for Oklahoma City all throughout the year.
Wednesday served as a reminder to Thunder fans.