Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams had high hopes for the season, seeking to build on his third year in the league, wherein he played in all 82 regular season games. However, Williams’ fourth season didn’t turn out as envisioned, as he suffered a season-ending foot injury in late January.
Williams is set to undergo foot surgery in early March and hopes to return to the court in four months to prepare for next season. Nevertheless, the former fourth overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft couldn’t help but think about what could have been.
Continued development
At this point, it’s fair to speculate that Williams will not be the star the Bulls hoped he would be when they selected him in 2020. With career averages of 9.7 points and 4.2 rebounds, Williams pegs to be an athletic “3-and-D” guy moving forward. But that doesn’t mean he can’t continue to develop and potentially become a valuable piece for the Bulls.
Williams has shown flashes of being a versatile defender, with his long arms and athleticism allowing him to guard multiple positions on the court. He also possesses decent shooting ability, making 39 percent of his three-point attempts this season.
“I know what I showed when I was healthy this season,” Williams said.
“I think I know who I am as a player and what I’m capable of as a player. I’m kind of excited to see what happens. And just ready to get back to playing.”
Back to square one
When it comes to Williams, there’s plenty of room for improvement, and he has shown his willingness to put in the work. Only time will tell though, if the work he does in the offseason will allow him to make that all-important leap the franchise and fans have been waiting for.
“I definitely feel like that was stepping into who I am as a player, being able to get every facet that I think I can into the game,” Williams said.
“I definitely think that it was another step or two that I could have taken this season. That’s why I was so excited to get back this season.”
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