The Oklahoma City Thunder are still the favorites to win the championship, as they continue to defend their title. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains the team's best player, as he is one of the favorites to win the regular-season MVP.
While the reigning regular-season and Finals MVP is on the team, the Thunder are a great team because of their supporting cast. This season, the supporting cast has been great, but it is not reaching the heights of the previous campaign. Case in point, Jalen Williams is not having the best season, but everyone knows he has the potential to break out and be a star again.
Daigneault admires Williams' well-rounded greatness
After averaging over 21 points per game on solid efficiency in the previous season, Williams has dipped this season. He is only scoring 17.5 points per game on mediocre efficiency, which is not what people expect from Williams. Of course, he is coming off a major surgery to his wrist, which has likely affected his shooting.
Head coach Mark Daigneault has plenty of options on the team, which has led to multiple wins. Gilgeous-Alexander is firmly cemented as the top guy, but Daigneault would love to see Williams return to his form. Chet Holmgren is a bit inconsistent as well, which could be too taxing on Gilgeous-Alexander in the long run.
More: Thunder coach Mark Daigneault is impressed with Chet Holmgren's growth offensively
Despite some of the issues with Williams, Daigneault is still a big fan of his starting wing. While he is not scoring at the rate he was during their championship run, he is still making an impact elsewhere. Williams' rebounding and playmaking have largely remained the same, and his defense is still quite solid.
"What makes him a great player is that he's very good at everything. That’s really what he needs to hang his hat on. It's how he established himself as a great player. It's how to continue to be a great player," Daigneault said after the Thunder's New Year's Eve win.
Moving forward, the Thunder will need Williams to perform with his well-rounded skill set. However, they will also need him to provide the support that Gilgeous-Alexander needs to beat teams like the San Antonio Spurs and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
This season is not the cakewalk that some people thought it would be. The Thunder have a strong challenge coming this season and in the postseason. If Williams returns to his best, there might be no team that can stop the Thunder.
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