Grading Kenrich Williams’ shaky year
Editor’s note: Over the next three weeks, The Oklahoman will publish a series of report cards on each of the Thunder’s 15 main roster players. Grades will be curved relative to role and expectations. Next up in the series, Kenrich Williams.
Kenrich Williams, at the wise age of 29, still acted as OKC Thunder’s veteran voice and standard bearer of grit and hustle, but Williams’ on-court opportunities and production this season lagged behind his immeasurable role behind the scenes.
Williams played the fewest minutes (14.9 per game) of his four-year Thunder career, of his six-year NBA career dating back to New Orleans. On one hand it was expected given the Thunder’s influx of young talent. On the other, his lack of playing time, especially in the playoffs, was surprising.
He played in seven of the Thunder’s 10 playoff games, averaging 4.6 minutes per game. If nothing else, the 6-foot-6 Texan wing could’ve given the Thunder a much-needed edge against the chippy (and chirpy) Mavericks.
“As a competitor, yeah, you want to play, but I trust the coaches,” Williams said in his exit interview.
Williams’ weirdest quirk, and perhaps one that limited his minutes, was his refusal to get fouled. Because getting fouled might lead him to the dreaded free-throw line, where Williams shot 50%. That’s bad, really bad, but it was an improvement from his 43.6% mark a year ago. Again, we’re talking free throws, not field goals.
Among the 266 players who logged at least 1,000 minutes this season, Williams’ free-throw percentage ranked dead last. And of those players, his freethrow attempts (7 of 14) were second fewest. Bulls guard Jevon Carter, of Press Virginia fame, went 4 of 7 from the free-throw line in 1,004 minutes.
Meanwhile, Williams shot 39.7% from 3-point range on two attempts per game. It was the second-best mark of his career.
His field-goal percentage dropped from 51.7% last season to 46.8% this season.
The Thunder outscored opponents by 8.4 points per 100 possessions with Williams on the court. Among Thunder regulars, only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Isaiah Joe, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams had a better net rating.
Kenrich Williams, who once stated his desire to retire in Oklahoma City, didn’t gripe about his smaller role. The Thunder won 57 games, after all.
“It’s an honor to be a part of a team, an organization like this that truly puts the team first,” he said in his exit interview. “I’m super proud of our success this year and how much growth we made from not only last year but the previous years … is something you can’t take for granted. I’m extremely grateful for it.”
Williams, a throw-in in the trade that sent Steven Adams to New Orleans, is set to make $6.7 million next season. He’s under contract through the 202627 season.
Kenrich Williams by the numbers
69. Although his minutes declined, Williams played in a career-high 69 games, up from 53, 49 and 66 in his first three seasons with the Thunder.
47.3%. Williams shot 47.3% from 3point range in 33 home games compared to 31.3% in 36 road games.
237. Kenrich Williams, at 237, ranks 13th on the Thunder’s all-time games played list. He’s third among active Thunder players behind Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort.
Kenrich Williams’ offseason homework
No surprise here. Free throws. Our guy Joel Lorenzi wrote a story on Williams shooting free throws off the backboard in practice, but we never saw it in a game. Might as well try it. Or go full Rick Barry.
Anything to blast through the mental block.
Kenrich Williams grade: C
For years we talked about how Williams was the ultimate playoff guy, a tough wing who can defend and knock down 3s. The type of player every team could use. Then, when the playoffs came around, the Thunder hardly used him.