Patrick Williams just got some well-deserved recognition.
The NBA announced All-Rookie teams on Thursday night, and the Bulls’ No. 4-overall pick earned himself a Second Team selection. Williams grabbed 2 first-team votes and 46 second-team votes to easily make the cut.
Williams received 2 first-team votes and 46 second-team votes, giving him 50 points overall
Rest of the results: pic.twitter.com/MNld9SYjSr
— Rob Schaefer (@rob_schaef) June 18, 2021
While Williams may have struggled to make the impact of a first-team member, he still experienced one of the most seamless transitions into the NBA this season. Williams started 71 games, averaging 9.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game on a solid 48.3 percent shooting from the field and 39.1 percent shooting from downtown. The offensive side of the ball proved to be a work in progress, but he still demonstrated great flashes with a steady 3-pointer, smooth mid-range jumper, and good eye for the sneaky assist.
His bread-and-butter came on the defensive end, however, where he increasingly had stints guarding the opposing team’s best player. The effort on that end of the floor garnered praise from the likes of LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and Devin Booker. He finished 3rd in the rookie class in blocks and 6th in steals.
Knowing Williams’ calm and focused demeanor, and his previous comments on his absence from the Rising Stars roster during All-Star Weekend, I’m sure he will act like this acknowledgment does not mean much. But it does further demonstrate that he is one of the brightest young players in this league, so let’s hope it can provide him a nice internal confidence boost as he heads into Year 2.