How Jaylin Williams Carved Out a Long Term Role for OKC Thunder

From the moment he stepped foot in Oklahoma City, Jaylin Williams has forced his way into fitting in. Whatever the Thunder have needed over the years, Williams has stepped in without a problem. Whether his role has increased or decreased, he has been the same professional in the building each and every day — and that’s why his fit with the Thunder has been a match made in heaven.

From the start of Oklahoma City’s rebuild, Williams has had to wear a lot of hats for this Thunder team. He was thrown into the fire during his rookie season, starting 36 out of his 49 total games played. Since then, his improvement has been noticeable and he has committed to being a modern day big man — one that genuinely helps the Thunder.

The biggest jump he has made from his Arkansas days is developing into a stretch big man — one that made timely 3-pointers in the playoffs this past season. He took a career-high 3.3 triples per game and converted at an impressive 39.9% from long range.

From being a heavily-relied on starter to an encourager at the end of the bench, Williams has already embarked on many different roles as a member of the Thunder organization. He recognized where he needed to improve to continue pushing for playing time or not, and whether he has seen that court time come to fruition or not, the improvement has been evident.

In the NBA, with players chasing different roles and contracts, Williams has never been outspoken about his role — or varying role — one bit. He has embraced everything with open arms. He might be outspoken in the locker room as a leader, but he’s all about the organization outwardly. Williams never complains or crosses the line — and was rewarded with a new long term contract as an added bonus.

Outside of what he brings to the Thunder on the floor and as a teammate in the locker room, his work in the community has added another layer of connection to Thunder fans. Whether it’s basketball camps, food drives, or any of his other community-based projects, he always finds a way to connect with fans on a personal level. It’s evident that’s nothing new, as seen by his hometown parade after the Thunder won the NBA Finals.

He has spoken at length about how he loves being in Oklahoma City, but that's a two-way street. The Thunder organization certainly loves having Williams around. His energy and enthusiasm has been a real treat, and it's a perfect fit for both parties long term. Williams has carved out a long term role by being an indispensable player in the organization.