Jaylin Williams Enjoys Playing With Chet Holmgren

The Oklahoma City Thunder have dealt with some size concerns all season long. One way to combat the issue has been playing two of their 2022 NBA Draft picks Chet Holmgren and Jaylin Williams together. 

This has been a relatively new venture for the Thunder after Holmgren missed the entire 2022-23 season and Williams was thrust into the role of starting center midway through the year. The Arkansas big man is enjoying working with Holmgren.

"It's fun. I'm not used to being the four... Just knowing we always have a guy down there that's willing to go down there and block his shots," Williams said. 

The two have grown close in their time in Bricktown as the second-year big man discussed what it is like being teammates with Holmgren.

"He was injured the whole last year and even when he was rolling out in this gym in his scooter, he was yelling out saying, 'Let's play ones when I'm back! Let's play fives!'" Williams added following Thursday's shootaround. 

Mark Daigneault might have to deploy these lineups a bit more depending on their eventual playoff matchup. Despite adding size, the duo does not sacrifice the Thunder's style of play the Thunder bench boss explained.

“The fact that both of them have a perimeter skillset on offense allows us to continue our style of play,” Daigneault said pregame on Thursday. 

Up next, the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night to wrap up a four-game home stand before heading to Memphis.