Just about two weeks ago, with their center rotation decimated by injury — Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams were all sidelined — the Oklahoma City Thunder tabbed Jalen Williams to man the starting 5-spot for them. And midway through the third quarter, the 6-foot-6 wing twice turned away Javonte Green inside on the same possession.
It was a brilliant sequence from Williams that ignited Paycom Center into a frenzy and left ESPN’s Mark Jones astoundingly invigorated as well.
JALEN WILLIAMS WITH 2 BACK TO BACK BLOCKS
WHOLE ARENA IS BARKINGpic.twitter.com/ctTf1IY3Kp
— Thunder Film Room (@ThunderFilmRoom) November 14, 2024
In the first half, though, Williams also wrangled with New Orleans Pelicans star Brandon Ingram on the perimeter. He impeded Ingram’s path toward a screen, recovered to close out on the catch and effortlessly pickpocketed the lanky wing to gift Oklahoma City two points.
What Makes Williams So Important For The Thunder
The dichotomy of these prolific plays — thriving on the frontline and backline — exemplify what’s made Williams both one of the NBA’s best and most versatile defenders this season. He is not a one-man anchor for the Thunder’s top-ranked defense, but he is certainly a preeminent, invaluable cog in their dominance and has built upon his impressive first two years defensively.
Through 16 games, Oklahoma City’s 103.4 defensive rating is 10.6 points per 100 possessions lower than league average, according to Cleaning the Glass. That’s the widest gap in the site’s database, which spans back to 2003-04. The 2007-08 Boston Celtics currently hold the high-water mark at 8.7 points better than league average. Though early, the Thunder are obliterating that.
They operate a frenetic scheme designed to plug gaps as helpers, flood bodies inside during paint touches and fly around rotationally, all in the name of getting their hands on the ball. They’re first in opposing turnover rate (19.8 percent; second place is 17.4 percent) and deflections per game (22.6; second place is 19.8). Nobody induces chaos like them. They’re peerless.
This Thunder defense is preposterous. Hell of a group. pic.twitter.com/B7QCgh3ZyZ
— Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) November 22, 2024
Williams is integral to this ethos. He’s second in steals per game (2.2), ninth in steal rate (2.9 percent) and ninth in deflections per game (3.6).
There isn’t a singular route he takes to produce these numbers either. Off the ball, he’ll keep an eye on the backside to shore up the lane or lurk at the nail against drives. His mobility and 7-foot-2 wingspan ensure he can involve himself in plays without losing track of an individual assignment. He closes down space in prompt fashion and touts ridiculously strong hands. Some of the stuff he does looks downright cruel.
How Is Williams Versatile Defensively?
Although Williams is a viable point-of-attack defender, the Thunder don’t regularly task him with star-stopper responsibilities (at least right now). Their point-of-attack platoon is well-stocked and his size is best served elsewhere, particularly given Holmgren and Jaylin Williams’ absences. As a man-to-man defender, he’s usually deployed to corral dribble handoffs, deny the ball and effectively navigate off-ball screens, all of which he aces.
Instead, his on-ball chops most often shine through in transition. He’s a fast-break fire extinguisher, reliably making sound decisions, whether it be as a rim protector or pilfering takeaways.
It’s remarkable how many impactful defensive highlights he authors in the open floor — an environment where the immense advantages offenses already hold typically multiply. Not on Williams’ watch, though, and sometimes, he does it all on his own. Transition defense legend Danny Green retired recently and another Southwestern swingman immediately opted to play like his predecessor.
Before Hartenstein returned last week, Oklahoma City relied substantially on Williams to be its nominal center. With Hartenstein back, the burden isn’t as intense, but nonetheless will still exist.
According to Cleaning the Glass, 23 percent of Williams’ minutes have come at center this season. The Thunder hold a plus-10.1 net rating during that time, including a 111.4 defensive rating (70th percentile). His rim protection and willingness to play bigger than his frame — he loves a feisty, imposing box out — are driving forces behind this success.
As a low man, he’s bouncy, rangy and alert, applying his vertical explosion and atypical length for a wing to grant opponents uncourteous welcomes at the hoop. On field goals within 6 feet, players are shooting 15.4 percent worse than their average when Williams is the primary defender, per NBA.com. Among 167 players to register at least 50 such contests this year, his clip is ninth-best league-wide.
While Williams is a dazzling wing athlete, those plays aren’t one-off instances of a forward occasionally leveraging their tools to defend the paint. That is a 6-foot-6 forward legitimately undertaking big man duties and prospering.
His 1.5 percent block rate is a career-high and “only” ranks in the 43rd percentile because Cleaning the Glass classifies him as a big this year. In previous seasons, his 0.8 percent (2022-23) and 1.0 percent (2023-24) block rates placed him in the 74th percentile among wings!
The Thunder combine a distinct scheme with a distinct roster composition for their historic defense. That one of the linchpins is carving his own distinct path toward greatness should come as no surprise. Unique excellence is their identity, one that would not be possible without the malleable domain of a third-year forward whose prints are found virtually everyone on the court defensively.
