The calendar has flipped to August. Which means we're in the dog days of the NBA's year-round calendar. Little will happen over the next two months as teams across the league prepare for the 2026-27 season. Before we move on, though, let's reflect one last time on last year.
The Oklahoma City Thunder had a league-best 64-18 regular-season record. Juggling injuries all year, they overcame notable absences all year. Alas, they fell short of a second NBA championship with a 2026 Western Conference Finals exit.
To reflect on their 2025-26 season, Thunder Wire will conduct player grades for all 20 players who suited up for them this past year. Thirteenth up is Kenrich Williams, who continues to be steady at the end of the bench:
2025-26 statistics:
- 6.5 points
- 3.3 rebounds
- 1.4 assists
- 47.3% shooting
- 38.8% 3-point shooting
- 63.5% free-throw shooting
Advanced stats:
- True-shooting percentage: 56.9%
- Usage rate: 18.3%
- Win shares: 2.3
- VORP: 0.3
Significant Percentile Finishes:
- Transition scorer: 72.1 percentile
- Spot-up scorer: 51.9 percentile
- Cutter: 73.8 percentile
Contract:
- 2026-27: $5 million
Thoughts:
At this point, Williams has seen about everything you can think of. He's been on the Thunder for six-plus seasons. He now only trails Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the longest-tenured player in OKC. Even though his playing time has dwindled over the years, that speaks more to the ridiculous depth they've stacked over the years. When his number was called, the 31-year-old delivered with quality rotation minutes.
It was another year where Williams was in semi-bubble wrap. He had knee surgery on Media Day and missed the first month of the regular season. That's become a norm as he deals with knee problems. Because of his spot on the depth chart, OKC sprinkled in a handful of DNPs over the regular season. That limited him to just 56 regular-season games. Not the highest number, but the upside in that? It allowed him to conserve his legs when needed most.
The Thunder juggled injuries all season long. Specifically to their frontcourt room. Because of that, they needed Williams to log serious minutes on some nights. And to his credit, he balled out. He's content with being a role player whose shot diet consists of catch-and-shoot looks. But if needed, he can create his own offense within the perimeter and drop a blue-collar-esque 20-plus points.
Williams has continued to rely on his outside jumper. That's his go-to shot attempt. Happens when you play alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He knocked it down with great efficiency. Albeit on a small sample. On the other end, he remains a plus defender. He showed he can defend multiple possessions and can bang down low. The Thunder have had the league-best defense for two years in a row. A roster filled with plus-defenders is the biggest reason for that. Nobody the opposition can really pick on.
Sure, Williams continues to mostly be on the outside of OKC's playoff rotation. For whatever reason. But he's a weapon to have in the regular season. You're running a marathon. That means everybody on your roster has to occasionally contribute. He showed he can gladly be an innings eater when needed. You need that type of depth if you hope to be a legitimate title contender.
Moving Forward:
At a fork in the road, the Thunder and Williams decided it was best to keep their marriage alive. At least for another year. They declined his team option, but eventually brought him back on a one-year deal. The sequence wasn't a shocker to anybody who somewhat follows OKC. The 31-year-old reiterated in his exit interview that he wants to retire with this NBA franchise. He's one year closer to reaching that goal.
At this point, the Thunder should know what to expect from Williams. He'll play around 65 games for 15-ish minutes a night. He can hover around the perimeter as a catch-and-shoot threat. He can also drive downhill when needed. And on defense, he'll compete and up the physicality. Ask Victor Wembanyama, who had him grabbing and stretching his jersey at certain points last year. He's both a fan and locker-room favorite. The 31-year-old has really found an NBA home in OKC after a forgettable start to his career.
Think there's a smidgen of room for Williams to play more minutes. The Thunder said goodbye to three frontcourt players this offseason with cost-cutting moves. Their departures open up a glut of minutes and possessions. He could be a beneficiary and get real minutes since OKC was in a rebuild. But if nothing materializes and it's the status quo, then he'll be a rich 12th man on your bench.
The Thunder won an NBA championship with a roster filled with developmental success stories. Williams is one of those. He went from a forgettable part of the 2020 Steven Adams trade to spending at least seven seasons in OKC as a decent role player. That's quite the addition to get as a throw-in name. Even if his best years are behind him, he's perfectly fine to have among your third-string players. Both for his on-court production and the intangibles he brings to the locker room.
Final Grade: B-minus
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: 2025-26 Thunder player grades: Kenrich Williams