This NBA season has brought a plethora of surprises.
For me, I can’t believe the Minnesota Timberwolves are sitting atop the Western Conference with the Oklahoma City Thunder — a fact that surprises me just as much. Tyrese Haliburton is emerging as a fashion icon by NBA standards and the new face of Indiana, which I didn’t foresee. However, amid all these surprises, nothing has amazed me more than Jalen Williams’ impact on this year’s Thunder team.
I was one of Dub’s first fans. The moment he referred to Kobe Bryant as his all-time G.O.A.T., I was hooked. During that period, I observed his work ethic and knew he’d be something special — someday.
Now in his second season, I expected him to play a significant role for the Thunder, probably as their second or third option, averaging slightly fewer points per game than he does now, but still in the ballpark of 16-20 based on his rookie performance. What I didn’t anticipate was his secondary responsibility for the Thunder’s position near the top of the West for the entire season, currently fighting for the No. 1 seed.
The Thunder without him will win more games than not, but they aren’t as dynamic offensively or defensively without him, as highlighted in Tuesday night’s game against the Indiana Pacers, where the Thunder fell 121-111.
This season, we’ve seen that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reliably scores around 30 points approximately 75% of the time. He’s probably the most consistent superstar in the league, delivering nightly performances everyone can count on.
On Tuesday, after SGA, there was a significant drop-off in terms of playmaking. The player who bridges that gap for OKC is Williams, who can create while SGA rests — something the Thunder lacked against the Pacers.
In 2024 (30 games), Williams has scored 20 or more points 20 times. In those games, and more consistently, he provides another layer of defense for the Thunder, often guarding one of the best players on opposing teams. Again, OKC didn’t have that advantage against the third-best offensive team in the league, which proved detrimental as Indiana’s starters scored 89 points on 55% shooting.
It certainly didn’t help that Gordon Hayward, the 33-year-old wing not known for his defense, replaced Williams instead of Cason Wallace, known for being one of OKC’s best defenders.
Oklahoma City ranks third in offensive rating (120.2) and fifth in defensive rating (112.5). Williams’ defensive rating is 114.2, which is above average for OKC. He also boasts a 122.6 offensive rating, which is also above the team’s average, placing him among the league’s elite.
Despite having highly capable defensive-minded players in SGA, Wallace, Luguentz Dort, and Chet Holmgren, the Thunder missed Dub’s two-way capabilities against Indiana.
