On paper, a 6-foot-6, 220-pound forward starting at the center position sounds like a disaster.

Fortunately for the Oklahoma City Thunder, they have one of the most unique forwards in the entire NBA. When she needed someone to step up to the starting center role, he was immediately ready to take it.

Since Chet Holmgren went down with a broken hip against the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 10, Jalen Williams has slipped into a starting lineup spot. Isaiah Hartenstein is expected to make his season debut in the coming weeks, but until then, the 23-year-old will serve as the only center on the roster.

The Thunder have won the rebounding battle just once in the five games since Holmgren’s absence began, but both she and Williams have flourished in big ways. Behind averages of 24 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and 1.8 blocks per game in that span, he helped steer the ship to a positive 3-2 record.

To no one’s surprise, moving Williams to the starting center spot gave Oklahoma City a unique opportunity on offense. He can do everything offensively — from shooting 3-pointers off the dribble to driving to the basket — which has allowed him to play at an even faster pace with longer floor spacing.

Defensively is where the slump was expected, and while it certainly isn’t performing any better without Holmgren, it’s holding its own. Williams anchored the Thunder’s defense remarkably well against big centers like Dereck Lively II and Ivica Zubac, using his versatility to force turnovers and even block shots at a high rate.

Williams should, in theory, have more trouble defending centers, but somehow, any kind of adjustment period was blown in the first game. He played more physically, which helped him go toe-to-toe with players much bigger than him.

Any challenge that is thrown at Williams, he is more than willing to accept.

“You can stress him as much as you can stress him … The guy is almost better the more circumstances you put him under.” coach Mark Daigneault said.

Oklahoma City couldn’t have seen these circumstances coming, but thanks to running small-ball lineups over the past year, it’s a comfortable enough concept for the players on the roster to fit in effectively.

It would be impossible for the Thunder not to drop a few games during that time with such a disadvantage in the rebounding category, but the team as a whole didn’t just see it as a stretch to get through. Night in and night out, he can still compete against any opponent that crosses his path.

Once Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams and Holmgren return, it will be a welcome sight, but Oklahoma City isn’t looking to stay afloat until those eventual dates. He wants to compete like he has all season.

When Jalen Williams was presented with the opposite idea, he quickly shot it down.

“Not to dismiss your question, but that’s kind of a loser mentality.” Williams said. “For example, we’re not trying to survive … we’re going to go there to win every game. Obviously, we want the big guys back and healthy, but we’re not victims.”

The absence of centers could easily be used as an excuse for the Thunder after losses to the Warriors and Dallas Mavericks, but it wasn’t. It’s challenging to play without key pieces — especially a potential All-Star and All-Defense candidate — but injuries are part of the game.

Small-ball weeks are not a mode of survival for Oklahoma City, nor is it a casualty to endure. With Williams’ dedication to playing true center as much as possible, along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s continued excellence, he shouldn’t fall too far on the Western Conference ladder until Hartenstein arrives.

The mentality hasn’t changed for Williams or the Thunder despite the early season adversity. Every game can be won, no matter how much of a disadvantage there seems to be.

Any other mindset is only asking for a loss.

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