The Oklahoma City Thunder started their season with a bang, grabbing a dominant 116-104 win over the San Antonio Spurs to get some revenge for last year’s Western Conference Finals. But along with that victory came some bad news: Jalen Williams is still struggling to shoot the ball after wrist surgery.
Williams went under the knife to fix a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist, and his shot has simply never been the same. Last season, his shooting percentages took a dive, dropping to 37.3 percent in the mid-range and a cold 29.9 percent from deep, down from 45.9 percent and 36.5 percent the year before.
Now, even with more than a year passed since the surgery and a long summer of rest and rehab, the issue persists. In the Thunder’s season opener, Williams shot just 25 percent from mid-range and made only one of his two three-point attempts. He also seemed hesitant, often passing up open looks from the perimeter. Of course, it is just the first game of an eighty-two-game season, so there is still time for him to find his rhythm again. But while the break seemed to help his hamstring, his shooting stroke has not benefited in the same way.
The good news for Oklahoma City is that they have Jared McCain looking like an absolute sniper. While Williams was searching for his shot, McCain was putting on a clinic off the bench. In twenty-two minutes, he dropped twenty points on seven-of-eight shooting, draining six of his eight three-pointers.
With Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins all gone, the team was expected to lean on guys like Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell for extra minutes. But McCain’s hot hand was too good to ignore, making it tough for coach Mark Daigneault to sit him down. His shooting was a lifesaver in the second half when the Spurs started to build some momentum, keeping Oklahoma City in control. If he keeps playing like this, McCain will be a huge factor, especially if Williams takes a while to find his form again.
