OKC leaves the first round with THREE lottery picks.
About half an hour before the draft, things began to look chaotic. When Woj’s tweets began leaning towards Paolo Banchero being a realistic #1 pick, Thunder fans began to scramble at the idea that Jabari Smith might be available.
The talk leading up to the draft held true though, as the Thunder selected Chet Holmgren with the #2 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft
The excitement wouldn’t end there, as the Thunder have reportedly traded multiple first round picks to grab the #11 pick from New York, which was used to take Ousmane Dieng (New Zealand Breakers). The Thunder kept their #12 pick and selected Jalen Williams (Santa Clara). When officially announced from the podium, Adam Silver said the Thunder had traded “three conditional first round picks”.
Shams Charania reported the picks:
– 2023 protected 1st rounder via Detroit
– 2023 protected 1st rounder via Washington
– 2023 protected 1st rounder via Denver
The Thunder came into the second round with the #34 pick in the draft (after trading #30 to the Denver Nuggets). In a move that is sure to confuse every OKC Podcaster for the next couple of weeks, the Thunder selected Jaylin Williams out of Arkansas…. Yes… Sam Presti drafted two Jalen/Jaylin Williamses.
Chet Holmgren (#2 Pick in the 2022 NBA Draft)
2021-2022 Season:
Games: 32
MPG: 26.8
FGM: 170
FGA: 280
PCT: .607
FTM: 71
FTA: 99
PCT: .717
RPG: 9.9
APG: 1.9
SPG: 0.8
BPG: 3.7
PTS: 452
AVG: 14.1
3PT: 41-105 (.390)
Fun Fact: Chet’s 117 blocks in the 21-22 season tied the Gonzaga and WCC single-season records.
Ousmane Dieng (#11 via New York Knicks)
2021-2022 Stats for the New Zealand Breakers:
Games: 23
MPG: 20.8
FGM: 80
FGA: 201
PCT: .298
FTM: 18
FTA: 27
PCT: .667
REB: 3.2
AST: 1.1
STL: .6
BLK: .3
PTS: 204
AVG: 8.9
3PT: .271
Fun Fact: Dieng is the first European-born player to join the NBL’s Next Stars program, which has helped develop LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey, and R.J. Hampton into NBA players.
Jalen Williams (#12 Pick in the 2022 NBA Draft)
2021-2022 Season Stats:
Games: 33
MPG: 34.8
FGM: 219
FGA: 427
PCT: .513
FTM: 114
FTA: 141
PCT: .809
RPG: 4.4
APG: 4.2
SPG: 1.2
BPG: 0.5
PTS: 594
AVG: 18.0
3PT: 42-106 (.396)
Fun Fact: Williams is the first player drafted out of Santa Clara since Steve Nash (#15 pick in the 1996 NBA Draft)
Jaylin Williams (#34 Pick in the 2022 NBA Draft)
2021-2022 Season:
Games:
MPG: 31.6
FGM: 142
FGA: 308
PCT: .461
FTM: 102
FTA: 140
PCT: .729
RPG: 9.8
APG: 2.6
SPG: 1.3
BPG: 1.1
PTS: 403
AVG: 10.9
3PT: 17-71 (.239)
Fun Fact: Williams led the nation in charges drawn (54) last season.
