Patrick Williams has been in Chicago for four seasons, but it still feels like we’re getting to know the 22-year-old forward.
Selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, expectations have been loud for the athletic forward since he entered the league. Meanwhile, Williams has remained quiet. Not only has his on-court play struggled to live up to the hype, but he’s quickly built up a reputation for his rather hushed and calm demeanor. He isn’t one to celebrate a big bucket. He isn’t one to crack much of a smile. And he surely isn’t one to do much trash-talking.
While this may very well be Williams’ personality, it has felt like a representation of where his confidence level stands. Despite having an attractive toolbox on both ends of the floor, Williams often deferred to his teammates. Not until DeMar DeRozan or Nikola Vucevic was added to the injury report would we see Williams play with a little more aggressiveness. Even a move to the second unit didn’t necessarily bring a new side out of him.
Nevertheless, the Chicago Bulls are apparently confident that they can pull a more forceful and outgoing side out of the former Florida State Seminole. The team inked Williams to a five-year, $90 million deal this offseason, making him a significant part of the organization’s presumed rebuild. To justify this new payday, Williams is going to have to take a pretty sizable leap. Anything that looks like his typical 10-point, 4-rebound stat line from the past four seasons will not cut it. Likewise, now shockingly one of the more “experienced” players on this roster, he’ll have to find a way to break out of his quiet demeanor and play more of a leadership role.
Considering the past few years, I definitely have my concerns about Williams’ ability to be the person the Bulls hope he can be. But the good news is we may already see signs of him breaking out of his shell. A shows Williams returning to West Charlotte High School in North Carolina to host a basketball camp. Leading kids through drills and exercises with plenty of energy, this felt like a new Patrick Williams.
I encourage you to give it a watch:
Now, let me be absolutely clear, I know this feels like a massive reach. Williams isn’t about to become a huge personality and ultra-aggressive player simply because he showed some spirit at a youth basketball camp. I get that. However, I do think it’s at least somewhat meaningful that this video gives us a version of Williams we haven’t seen before. He acts happy, relaxed, and outspoken.
Finding your voice and being secure in your own skin is a key part of taking the next step as a player. After learning a lot of lessons over four seasons in the league and gaining financial security with his first big contract, maybe Williams is finally feeling a level of comfort. Once again, I’m not saying this video erases my worries, but I like the side of Patrick Williams it shows. Let’s hope he brings this version of himself to training camp next month.
