Jalen Williams’ new role emerged without any warning.

Williams, a broad-shouldered, 6-foot-5 freight engine, has defended larger players for years, but no one ever tagged him with the label to match. Until recently, the 20-point scorer appeared as your typical small forward. Three weeks ago, outside forces decided he would no longer be one.

In November, the Oklahoma City Thunder lost one 7-footer, Chet Holmgren, to a pelvic fracture. Another, Isaiah Hartenstein, was already sidelined. Without any conventional big men, they replaced Holmgren in the first unit with the 6-foot-5 Isaiah Joe. That meant an adjustment for Williams, the team’s new final line of defense.

Williams would battle with the opposition’s centers each night. He would line up at center circle to take jump balls at the beginnings of games. Each leap was a little surprise, a reminder that a lifelong perimeter player was now down low with the big boys.

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