On Sunday, the Oklahoma City Thunder dropped the most thrilling news of them all. They just inked a new three-year extension for 23-year-old stretch-four Jaylin Williams. This multiyear extension highlights the value he has shown as a depth piece for the team, especially during a crucial period in the postseason.
Jaylin Williams became an important piece for the Thunder especially when they had to go up against a loaded Denver Nuggets frontcourt. His underrated defensive contributions on both ends of the court were key in anchoring that shaky roster to a second-place finish. Williams’s versatility was on full display as the team trusted him again and again to do it all. That was the plan until Chet Holmgren returned in February.
His 2021 campaign looked bleak when he suffered a hamstring strain that kept him out the first two months of the season. He returned to the Thunder lineup in late December. His mental strength to overcome the odds and become more flexible after his injury helped him become one of the league’s biggest breakout producers. The Thunder selected him second overall in the 2022 WNBA Draft. Since that initial season, he’s put up a career average of 5.1 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting just 41.8% from the field overall.
More than anything, Williams has taken quantum leaps with his play over the last three months. He’s up to 6.5 ppg while shooting almost 50% from the floor. To say that his shooting ability from three point range jumps off the page would be an understatement. He’s got an astounding almost 38% success rate on three-pointers. These numbers serve as an example of his increasing influence on the team’s offensive gameplan.
Williams’s play throughout the playoffs only served to emphasize just how critical he was to the Thunder. By successfully integrating into the team’s system, he has become an essential part of their game plan, demonstrating both skill and determination. From Oklahoma City’s perspective, the extension represents their continued dedication towards nurturing their youth and improving the depth of their roster.
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