Three triple-doubles in three starts. That’s what Jaylin Williams produced in three late starts last season. Debate the value of a triple-double on your own time, but that production made people realize how the third-string center may be too talented for his role.
The Oklahoma City Thunder had one of the greatest seasons ever. They finished with a historic 68-14 record and brought home an NBA championship. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren receive all of the credit, but their rich depth played an equally important part in their playoff journey.
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Most of the time, players in Williams’ position would seek greener pastures. He already collected one ring. Now it’s about individual success. The 23-year-old could’ve sought a bigger role elsewhere. Most teams would have him as their starter or backup center.
Instead, Williams stayed in OKC. He signed a three-year, $24 million contract extension this offseason. His development into a rotation player who ranges from starter to third-string center is one of the more underrated storylines the Thunder have seen unfold over the last three years.
At 2025-26 Media Day, Williams reflected on his decision to sign a new deal. Even though he’s behind Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein on the depth chart, it was all about enjoying what he’s built over the years in OKC and hoping to be part of something special.
“The way I’ve looked at the NBA and my journey in the NBA and my journey in college is that everything is a blessing,” Williams said. “I really started thinking about that more and more last season when I dealt with those two hamstring injuries.”
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The injury Williams referenced cost him the first two months of the 2024-25 regular season. The training camp injury extended over to the games that mattered. A setback delayed his eventual debut. He helped the Thunder juggle through injuries in their frontcourt all season.
“Every time I step on the court, every time I tie my shoes, every time I do a layup, anytime I do anything I’m blessed to be there,” Williams said. “If I’m sitting on the bench watching those guys go out there and kill whoever they’re playing against, I’m blessed to be there.”
To win an NBA championship, you need everybody to be on the same page. Or risk players going rogue and playing agenda basketball. That’s the scary phrase Sam Presti and the Thunder have uttered several times over the years. Williams helps those intangibles with his locker room chemistry.
You rarely see that in the NBA — especially from young players. Ambitions can easily morph into selfishness. The Thunder have done an impeccable job of avoiding that toxin so far. It’ll be important that it stays that way as they embark on a lengthy championship window.
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“I love our team. I want Hart, I want Chet to have a great successful career. I want them to succeed at the highest level and regardless if I play zero minutes or if I play 30 minutes,” Williams said. “I’m blessed whatever I am and I’m blessed to even be in this arena in the first place.”
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: How Jaylin Williams stays happy in OKC as role player: ‘I’m blessed’