Patrick Williams has suited up for 276 contests in a Chicago Bulls jersey, 211 of which have been starts. Of his five professional campaigns, he's been a positive on the court in only one—2023-24. Every other season, Chicago has been, at least, 6.3 points per 100 possessions worse with Williams on the floor.
In fact, this past season was Williams' second-best on/off split of his career. With the 23-year-old on the court, the Bulls were 5.4 points offensively and 0.9 points defensively worse, culminating in minus-6.3. Oddly enough, the 2024-25 season was arguably the worst of Williams' career.
Williams struggled in his first season since signing his $90 million extension
Williams averaged career-lows across the board, from 9.0 points and 3.8 rebounds to a 39.7 percent mark from the floor and a 35.3 percent conversion rate from distance. Coincidentally, the former fourth-overall pick's new nadir came after signing a five-year, $90 million extension on the first day of free agency in 2024.
Amid a rocky fifth professional season, Williams was sent to the bench after starting his first 35 games of the year. While the move yielded positive results at the outset, Williams finished the season averaging fewer points per game and shooting 7.8 percent worse from beyond the arc in 27 appearances in a reserve role.
Immediately following the season, vice president of basketball operations and lead decision-maker Arturas Karnisovas said in his exit interview that Williams had a "tough year." Karnisovas followed that up by saying, "…I think he’ll learn. He is healthy. He has five months to work and get ready for the next season and capitalize and improve next year.’’
Typically, a sentiment such as this would be directed at a second, or maybe a third-year player, not a player going on his sixth season after signing a near $100 million pact. There was no hiding Karnisovas' embellishment of his first draft pick as VP of Basketball Operations. The enablement seemed clear as day.
The Bulls are done enabling Patrick Williams
That is, until Chicago Sun Times' Joe Cowley provided additional insight three weeks later. Cowley wrote, "According to a source, the Bulls basically told Williams things are now on him." The Bulls' pundit later mentioned just how many resources the franchise put forth to coddle the 23-year-old wing.
The Bulls reportedly enlisted three development coaches to work solely with Williams over the past few seasons on top of what's already been listed, such as handing him an unearned, uncontested starting role and re-signing him to an exorbitant pact.
Finally, a few seasons too late, an ultimatum has seemingly been handed down. Of course, there's nowhere for Williams to go. Chicago is tied to the embroiled forward for four more seasons and $72 million. Trading the former Florida State Seminole is an impossible feat at this juncture. However, with Matas Buzelis on board and another potential lottery pick on the way, Williams' entire role is in jeopardy.
It's come down to a matter of will for the former fourth-overall pick. Whether Williams has the desire to improve and regain his starting spot will be on his own terms. After years of enablement, this is a step in the right direction to unlocking Williams' potential.