In what could be a candidate for the defensive play of the year thus far not just for the Chicago Bulls, but around the entire NBA, rookie forward Patrick Williams was seen snatching the ball out of the hands of Phoenix Suns big man DeAndre Ayton. The former Florida State Seminole Williams has consistently improved his defense all season to date, but he got the highlight play of his rookie campaign on the night of March 31.
First-year head coach Billy Donovan saw his improving rookie 6-foot-7 and 215 pound North Carolina native Williams come through with a huge defensive play, stuffing the former Arizona Wildcat Ayton in the first half in the second meeting between these two teams this season.
Williams got over to Ayton just before he got to the rim. And the quickness in the movement of Williams to get in front of the rim ahead of Ayton was insane. Ayton didn’t even get a chance to get to the rim before Williams snatched the ball out of his hand. This highlight is one that is definitely a SportsCenter Top 10 candidate.
INTERCEPTED BY THE ROOKIE.@NBCSChicago | @PatrickLW4 pic.twitter.com/as3YsmX91e
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) April 1, 2021
This play by Williams meeting Ayton in front of the rim on a blocked dunk is also one of the best defensive plays you’ll ever see in the NBA. It proves just how special Williams could be for the Bulls when he starts rounding out his game on both ends of the floor.
The defensive ability of Chicago Bulls’ rookie Patrick Williams
Williams is already proving to be one of the most potent defenders on this Bulls roster. He often draws the toughest of defensive assignments for Donovan and the Bulls, and he’s still averaging roughly one steal and one block per game in the process.
The only block or steal that Williams had in the first half against the Suns on March 31 on the road was a special one. Ayton did get a highlight alley-oop later in the second half, but it paled in comparison to the quality of the highlight from the Bulls rookie.
Williams and the Bulls hold a record of 19-26 around halftime of their March 31 meeting on the road with the Suns. They’re hoping to snap a losing skid in the midst of this Western Conference road trip against the Suns to round out the month of March.