Offensive skill set
Finally, we have probably the hardest aspect of William’s game to judge, his offense. Only averaging 9.8 points per game, there is not a whole lot to get excited about in a general sense. But if one were to delve a little deeper, there are flashes of brilliance among his game.
Firstly, he shoots 39 percent from three-point land, a more than respectable clip, and one that should continue to improve as he begins to fix his slower shot from back there. Secondly, he is the sixth most efficient rookie on offense this season.
And while that may seem low for the fourth overall pick, it’s important to consider that Williams was never touted to be a good offensive player coming out of Florida State. Finally, taking a look again at his 39 three-point shooting percentage, he actually shoots around 44 percent from each corner three, making him more than elite at being a catch and shoot guy. And for a rookie surrounded by two All-Stars in Zach Lavine and Nikola Vucevic, that’s a good enough role to have.
But the question still remains, what does this all mean for Williams in the future? We know his defense will always be there, aided by the fact that his frame is likely to continue growing. But on offense, it’s a little harder to tell. It’s no secret he models his game after his favorite player – Kawhi Leonard.
And the comparisons are there between the two guys, both coming out of college as great defensive wings with big frames and large wingspans. On top of this, Leonard much like Williams was not a prolific shooter out of San Diego State, and he was able to develop that after coming into the NBA.
Patrick Williams is smooooooth.@NBCSChicago | @patricklw4 pic.twitter.com/B2tddUmvJX
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 9, 2021
Williams on the other hand has begun to already show a smooth mid-range this season, possibly showing that he may become more of an off-the-dribble threat from that area – much like Kawhi is now.
As of right now, the ceiling for Williams is a Kawhi-type player. Someone who is an elite defender, but also a great offensive threat. And while he probably will not end up being as successful and dominant as Leonard, even coming close is not bad for a player whom many questioned heavily being picked fourth in last year’s draft.