Jalen Williams played just 33 games last season, yet he posted true shooting and net rating marks that outpaced almost anyone on the roster. Oklahoma City is paying him like a cornerstone, and a left hamstring issue now decides how quickly that bet starts paying off this season.
Efficient In A Short Sample
In 33 games last season, Williams averaged 28.4 minutes, 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.5 assists, shooting 48.4 percent overall and 83.7 percent from the line on limited volume, just 2.3 three-point attempts a night. His true shooting mark of 56.0 percent came on a 25.2 percent usage rate, the workload of a lead scorer without a lead scorer's shot diet. He also chipped in 1.2 steals and 0.3 blocks a game, turning it over only 1.9 times despite a 27.4 percent assist rate and a 7.9 percent rebound rate for a wing that involved. The offensive rating of 118.1 against a 106.4 mark allowed produced a net rating of 11.7, the kind of two-way swing a team builds a rotation around.
A Contract Built On What Comes Next
Williams starts this season at $41.5M, tied with Chet Holmgren for the largest number on Oklahoma City's books outside the point guard spot, and the figure climbs to $44.8M, then $48.1M, $51.5M and $54.8M through 2030-31. The organization isn't paying for 33 games. It's paying for a full season at that efficiency, next to a young core that already has a championship on its resume.
Health Decides The Season's Start
Camp opens with Williams working back from a left hamstring issue, with an estimated return around Oct. 1, ahead of the preseason opener on Oct. 6. What he needs to be this season is simple to state and harder to deliver: a full-season version of last year's efficient, high-usage self, not another partial year cut short. Get there, and the ceiling raises for everyone else sharing the floor with him.
How many games did Jalen Williams play last season?
He appeared in 33 games, averaging 28.4 minutes, 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.5 assists.
Is Jalen Williams healthy heading into training camp?
No, he's working back from a left hamstring issue with an estimated return around Oct. 1.
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