Bulls’ Patrick Williams gets starry-eyed talking about improved game

Williams gets starry-eyed talking about improved game originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

The conversation began with a focus on Patrick Williams’ improved 3-point shooting and what happened for it to jump from 35.3 percent on 2.4 attempts per game in October to 50 percent on 3.3 attempts this month.

As often happens with a player known on the Chicago Bulls for his self-reflection, the conversation quickly broadened.

“I told you I was going to figure it out. I think I’m still figuring it out. But I’m 100 percent locked in on being the player that I want to be,” Williams said following Sunday’s practice at the Advocate Center. “I always felt I had what it took to be a really good player in this league. But now I’m starting to feel like I have what it takes to be a star and a superstar in this league. I’m kind of trying to take that role on and build on it day-by-day.

“I think it’s definitely a team effort. Guys have been telling me this since my rookie year and before that since high school and college. Kind of trying to take it in my own mind now and show that on the court.”

Indeed, just as Williams’ 3-point shooting has improved, so has his overall game. His scoring has jumped from 7.1 points in October to 11.3 points this month, while his rebounding averages has increased from 2 to 5.2 per game.

His consistent defensive effort was most recently on full display in his physical matchup with Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, whom he blocked twice at the rim during the Bulls’ pre-Thanksgiving victory.

“I think I started out in a slump, and I got myself out of that. Obviously, the coaching staff and talking to my teammates definitely helped. But I think I got myself out of that just mentally,” Williams said. “That’s definitely hard to do in this league, especially when you don’t know how you’re going to play game-to-game. So I just tried to take it in my own hands and say if anybody is going to get myself out of…