There are still two All-NBA teams that technically rate higher than the third team Williams made last season, not to mention an opportunity to further establish himself as a first-tier offensive initiator.
Note, too, that Williams actually slipped in subtle ways last year. He shot worse from the field and from deep than he did in 2023-24 as defenses focused more intently on him. A wrist injury probably didn’t help either.
Just because he’s already announced himself as the second-best player on a title-winner, it doesn’t mean J-Dub is done improving.
Dort’s minute-to-minute impact should remain at its currently high levels in his age-26 season, but it’s worth wondering whether the Thunder will trim his role as they search for a bit more balance.
OKC is defined by its defense, and Dort, an All-Defense first-teamer, is a huge part of that. But if the Thunder have a flaw, it’s on the other end, where a lack of secondary creation sometimes gums up the works. The fix may be more tactical than personnel-based, but OKC might experiment with using players like Ajay Mitchell, Nikola Topić, Aaron Wiggins or Isaiah Joe more often as it tries to juice its attack.
Dort will still be out there in the moments that matter most, making life difficult for the other team’s top scoring threat.
