Jalen Williams is back - and while the offense is still finding its rhythm, the defense is already making noise.
In just his second game back from injury, the Oklahoma City Thunder forward looked like he hadn’t missed a beat on the defensive end. Williams followed up a two-block, one-steal performance in his return with three more blocks in Sunday’s 123-115 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. And he did it without the help of starting center Isaiah Hartenstein, who was out of the lineup.
Williams admitted after the game that defense has come more naturally in his return than offense - and that’s not surprising. His defensive motor was running hot all night.
“It’s just more about my effort,” Williams said. “I’ll always have that chip on my shoulder, defensively. I think I’m one of the best defenders in the NBA, just being able to do a lot.”
That’s not just talk - it’s backed up by what we’re seeing on the court. Williams was flying around, contesting shots, switching across multiple positions, and setting the tone for a Thunder defense that’s been one of the league’s most disruptive this season. He’s not just defending - he’s enjoying it.
“Defense is also very fun for me,” he added. “I like playing defense.”
But even with the win, Williams knows there’s room for improvement - especially when it came to slowing down Deni Avdija, who poured in 31 points and lived at the free-throw line. Avdija attempted a staggering 23 free throws, part of a night where Portland earned 37 trips to the stripe.
“I’d have loved to not have fouled as much as a team,” Williams said. “But it’s good to have games like that - those are what prepare you for later on in the season. When you can find a way to win, even through ugly games, it’s a sign of a pretty good team.”
That’s the kind of perspective you want from a young leader. Williams isn’t just focused on the box score - he’s thinking long-term, about how these gritty, imperfect games help shape a team’s identity.
“Obviously, we gotta keep them off the line, especially Avdija - he had like a hundred free throws today,” he said with a grin. “But again, just figuring out different ways to win - I think - was impressive tonight.”
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault echoed the sentiment. He wasn’t interested in pointing fingers at the officials. His focus was internal - on what the Thunder could have done better to keep Avdija from getting downhill so often.
“Can’t control the officiating and how the games get called,” Daigneault said. “So, we control what we can. I thought Avdija, tonight, shot 23 free throws, and anytime that happens, to us, we’re going to look in the mirror first.”
That’s a coach holding his team accountable. Daigneault pointed out that Avdija was often left isolated, especially in the first half, without enough defensive help.
“He was on an island a lot of the night,” Daigneault said. “And you got three officials staring at him when that’s the case.”
The Thunder know they’ve got to tighten things up - particularly when it comes to defending without fouling. But even in a game where they gave up too many freebies, they still found a way to close it out. That speaks to the resilience of this group.
And with Williams back in the mix, the Thunder’s ceiling only rises. His defense is already making an impact. Once the offense catches up, Oklahoma City could be even more dangerous.
Next up: a showdown with the Warriors on Tuesday. Another test, another opportunity - and if Williams keeps playing like this, the Thunder are going to be a problem.