When Patrick Williams signed a four-year, $90 million extension last year, doubts surrounded the deal. His insufficient output and injury concerns raised questions about whether he deserved that kind of investment. As the fourth overall pick in 2020, Williams has watched his draft classmates claim their spots in the league—frontrunner Anthony Edwards leading a franchise in Minnesota, and even later picks emerging as major contributors or team leaders. After five mediocre years in Chicago, it seemed fair to wonder if Williams would ever live up to his draft pedigree.

But this season, Williams might finally be finding his footing — even in a limited role.

Coming off the bench, Williams has quietly produced his best basketball of the season, averaging 9.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 22.8 minutes per game. As part of a second unit that's been a major factor in the Bulls' strong 6-1 start, Williams has delivered consistent scoring and timely contributions. His minutes have dipped to their lowest level since his rookie season in 2020-21, when he played 71 games at 27.9 minutes per contest, but his efficiency and impact have noticeably improved.

His shooting profile tells the story of a player becoming more comfortable in his role. Williams is shooting 46.7% on catch-and-shoot opportunities while also excelling in pull-up situations, which account for 20.5% of his shot attempts. He's converting an impressive 62.5% on those pull-ups, showing newfound confidence in creating his own looks. Interestingly, he shoots consistently regardless of defensive pressure, posting a 50% success rate when facing "0-2 tight" coverage and a 44% success rate against "2-4 tight" defense, according to NBA statistics.

Building on last season's trend of increased three-point volume, Williams continues to let it fly from deep, connecting on 1.8 of his 4.2 attempts per game. He's looked more decisive pulling the trigger from beyond the arc, particularly when the Bulls need momentum shifts. Alongside Kevin Huerter and Ayo Dosunmu, Williams has become one of Chicago's "bench killers" with starting potential.

"Patrick's been playing really well off the bench for us," Tre Jones said Tuesday at the facility. "He's been consistent, he's coming and giving us a spark every night."

With the Bulls' current identity built around depth and collective effort, many players are having standout performances on any given night as Billy Donovan deploys a deeper rotation. Williams stressed earlier this season that he's blocking out outside noise and focusing on his role, and the results speak for themselves.

Whether he continues coming off the bench or eventually reclaims a starting spot, Williams is finally showing glimpses of the player Chicago hoped they were drafting in 2020. His ability to score efficiently, space the floor, and contribute without demanding touches fits perfectly within the Bulls' "strength in numbers" approach. If he can sustain this level of play and stay healthy, Williams might yet prove his extension was worth the investment.

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