The Oklahoma City Thunder have quietly assembled one of the deepest rosters in the NBA, and for Jalen Williams, that depth could be the key to a career-defining season. After a dazzling 2024-25 campaign where he averaged 21.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists, earned his first All-Star selection, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, Williams was on top of the world. That world came crashing down last season as injuries limited him to just 33 games. The Thunder still managed to win the championship, but Williams could only watch from the sidelines for much of the regular season. Now, with a full offseason to recover, he is eager to remind everyone why he was considered one of the league's rising stars.

Reaching the heights of 2024-25 again is a tall order, especially for a player coming off an injury. But Williams has a significant advantage: he shares the court with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the two-time reigning MVP. Defenses have begun to treat Gilgeous-Alexander with extreme caution, often throwing double-teams and collapsing the paint. This was evident during last postseason, where he averaged over eight assists per game, the highest on the Thunder roster. Opponents are forced to game-plan around him, which in turn frees up other players. For Williams, that means more room to operate off the ball, slice through gaps, and find open spots for catch-and-shoot opportunities or drives to the rim.

Williams has been off the court for nearly a year, so opposing teams have not had to adjust to his specific threat. Come next season, they will have to account for both elite scorers simultaneously, along with other weapons like Chet Holmgren, who stretches the floor and opens driving lanes. The overaggressive play on Gilgeous-Alexander will allow Williams to move freely, set up in advantageous positions, and create big plays throughout the game. This synergy could push his numbers beyond what he achieved in his breakout season.

Of course, hoping a player has his best season yet after a significant injury is a gamble. Williams has the skill to do so, and the Thunder have put him in a position where he will get more free looks than ever before. The question is whether his body can hold up. If he stays healthy and takes full advantage of the opportunities created by his star-laden cast, the Thunder wing could take the league by storm once again. The pieces are in place for a remarkable comeback.