The Oklahoma City Thunder may be in the quiet part of the NBA calendar, but Jaylin Williams is still one of the more interesting pieces on the roster heading toward the 2026-27 season.
After slimming down and carving out a bigger role last year, Williams turned in the best season of his career. He moved from being a solid depth option to a real part of Oklahoma City’s rotation, and injuries helped open the door for more minutes.
He took advantage, averaging a career-high 7.2 points while shooting 38.3% from 3 on 3.9 attempts. For a player who entered the league with his jumper still a question mark, that kind of growth stands out.
Now the challenge is keeping that level of production or pushing it higher.
Williams has become a more complete offensive player, not just a catch-and-shoot big. He showed secondary playmaking, and there were stretches when he had to serve as OKC’s primary scoring option with a bunch of regulars sidelined. That kind of scoring flexibility is part of why his development has been such a strong story since he arrived in Oklahoma City.
The 3-point shot remains the foundation of his value. Williams has settled into a clean fit around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s drive-heavy game, punishing defenses when they help off him and giving the Thunder a reliable outlet on the perimeter.
At this point, the numbers suggest he’s found the right blend of efficiency and volume. If there’s another step, it may come from taking a few more attempts, but the bigger point is that he’s already become a legitimate outside threat.
His body transformation also changed what he can do on the floor. Williams came into last season listed at 6-foot-9, 240 pounds, and he said he wanted to play quicker.
The result was a player who gained mobility without giving up much strength. That showed up in the way he could slide between small forward, power forward and center.
He had the bulk to battle inside, even against Nikola Jokic, but he also had enough movement to function as a perimeter-oriented option.
That versatility may matter even more now. Williams is technically behind Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein at center, but his role goes beyond a simple depth chart label.
With Thomas Sorber and Aday Mara also on the roster, he could end up spending less time at the five. That makes his ability to play as a forward even more important, and it’s a spot where his weight loss should help him stay with opposing wings.
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Chet Holmgren And Jared McCain Are Already Key To OKC's Next Step
Chet Holmgren and Jared McCain spent part of the offseason in Los Angeles working side by side, a reminder of how much the Thunders future already runs through a pair of young players still sharpening different parts of their games. Holmgren, in a group of NBA players taking part in workouts, focused on pull-up jumpers, while McCain put his attention on isolation skills, two areas that speak directly to how Oklahoma City wants its next wave to grow.
The Thunder are being viewed as co-favorites with the San Antonio Spurs for the 2026-27 season, and that status has a lot to do with the expectation that Holmgren and McCain will carry major roles by then. For Oklahoma City, the offseason work matters because it is less about where these two are today than how quickly they can become central pieces when the next step arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Face An Opening Night Choice That Could Shape Their Identity
Oklahoma Citys offseason shuffle has left one of its most important questions pointed squarely at opening night: who gets the last starting spot around a core that already includes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein. With Luguentz Dort moved out and new faces added through the draft, the Thunder are not just filling a vacancy, they are choosing a tone for the next phase of the roster.
The answer will say plenty about what kind of team they want to be right away. One option brings the kind of defensive edge that has long been part of Oklahoma Citys identity, while the other offers a more scoring-driven look and the promise of growth. However the decision goes, it will tell a lot about how the Thunder plan to balance continuity, upside and fit from the first tip of the season. [Read more 🡒]