OKC has depth beyond compare, but there’s a reason this team is so adaptable and indefatigable in the face of injuries. That reason is Jalen Williams. He has quickly ascended the ladder to NBA stardom, emerging as pretty much the ideal modern wing — a hub of versatility, capable of shifting positions and roles like a chameleon shifts the colors of his skin.
- Chris Kline
FanSided Staff Writer
Williams is such a disruptive force on defense. He does not get the credit he deserves because of the battalion around him in OKC, but Williams has proven that he can rebound and rim protect as a small-ball five just as effectively as he fights over screens and sticks with ball-handlers on the perimeter. He’s a heat-seeking missile in passing lanes and a dialed-in help defender. We can fawn over J-Dub’s offensive progression all day, but he’s a genuine two-way star.
The offense has, however, been truly incredible to watch. Williams was always a sneaky ball-handling threat coming out of Santa Clara, but watching him obliterate defenses as a driver and live-dribble passer is something else. He is so perfectly attuned to what OKC wants to accomplish on that side of the ball. The dribble-pass-shoot utility, the constant rim pressure. He’s among the most well-rounded stars in basketball. There are precious few holes to poke in Williams’ skill set, and he’s still very much on the upswing. Talk about a gem.