The 2022 NBA draft class, in hindsight, hasn't lived up to the hype-except if you're the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their savvy moves to snag Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams with the Nos. 2 and 12 picks might just be the foundation of the league's next powerhouse.
As Andrew Schlecht mentioned on The Athletic NBA Daily, "The best players from this draft are Chet and J-Dub." While the draft class as a whole hasn't delivered on expectations, Holmgren and Williams have emerged as game-changers for the Thunder.
Holmgren's defensive prowess and offensive versatility make him a nightmare matchup, while Williams shines as both a focal point and a top-tier secondary option. These are the transformative talents teams dream of landing, and for Oklahoma City, the dream became reality.
For Thunder fans, the 2022 draft is a cause for celebration, unlike the rest of the league, which might remember it less fondly.
While other teams found some success with All-Stars like Paolo Banchero and Jalen Duren, neither has quite reached franchise player status. Banchero's numbers are impressive but not always efficient, and Duren, though impactful as a rim-runner, faces limitations inherent to that role.
The draft also had its misses, with one top-10 pick, Johnny Davis, already out of the league and another, Jeremy Sochan, recently on the waiver wire.
Holmgren and Williams, however, are leading the class in career box plus/minus and value over replacement player, according to Basketball-Reference.com. Both are averaging over 16.5 points and shooting above 50% from the field, ranking in the top three for total win shares, just behind Duren.
This dominance underscores the brilliance of Sam Presti, the Thunder's executive vice president and general manager. His knack for stockpiling young talent and maneuvering around the restrictive collective bargaining agreement sets the Thunder apart as a formidable force now and in the future.