Patrick Williams needs to be more aggressive — and confident — in Year 3 with the Chicago Bulls: ‘Motivation comes from inside’

It’s time for Patrick Williams to make a leap.

Two years after the Chicago Bulls selected him with the No. 4 pick in the draft, Williams is still carrying the weight of his draft stock — and still figuring out his role.

Other early selections in the 2020 class — Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Obi Toppin and Tyrese Haliburton — made an immediate impact. Williams’ trajectory has been more modest, hampered by a left wrist injury last season that sidelined him for all but 17 games.

As he enters Year 3, Williams said his years-old draft stock isn’t weighing on him.

“I don’t really go on to the game thinking that I’m the fourth overall pick,” Williams said. “I’m just Patrick Williams, No. 44 for the Chicago Bulls.”

Mentality will be a key for Williams, whom the Bulls have been pushing to up the ante on his aggressiveness around the rim since he arrived in Chicago. The 6-foot-7 Williams has the stature and agility to dominate cutting to the basket. Yet he often hesitates before his takes, appearing passive alongside more decisive players, such as fellow power forward Javonte Green.

Williams, 21, built up to more confident performances off the bench and in a youthful lineup in the last preseason game, throwing down a trio of dunks that hinted at his potential to go toe-to-toe with opposing bigs. But it wasn’t a coincidence that Williams appeared to blossom in those secondary rotations — in fact, it’s something Williams consciously recognized.

Williams admitted to an increased level of comfort when he plays with the second unit, with whom he feels more space to be the star. But when he joins the starting unit, Williams defers to veterans Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan.

“A lot of times in the first unit, obviously with Zach and DeMar, they’re All-Stars,” Williams said. “So I feel and the team feels like the best shot is for the ball to be in their hand. We’re trying to set screens for them and trying to get them open. … But with that second group, it’s just whoever has it.”

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Donovan hopes to break that Williams habit. The Bulls are actively pushing themselves away from “hero ball,” which often forced LaVine and DeRozan to carry the bulk of the scoring last season as the team struggled with injuries and inconsistency.

Although Donovan praised Williams’ willingness to support his teammates, he acknowledged the forward has to draw the line between selflessness and deference.

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“I know how conscientious he is about the team,” Donovan said. “He wants the group to function well and he’s got a high level of respect for those guys, so it’s probably only natural. He knows the level of scorers those guys are.”

The Bulls early this season will focus in part on finding a comfortable role for Williams — whether in the starting lineup or off the bench. Green made a bid for the starting power forward job last season and this preseason.

Williams, who has averaged 9.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in 88 career games, needs to gain varied touches to succeed — looks around the rim, 3-point chances and slashing opportunities off the two-man game.

“The aggressiveness part isn’t always about him putting the ball on the floor or shooting jump shots,” Donovan said. “It’s screen-and-rolls to the basket. It’s quick post-ups. It’s getting on the offensive glass. He got out in transition. If he does those things, that’s the aggressiveness we need.”

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Williams understands the pressure he faces in his third season. Without major offseason additions to the roster, the young power forward offers one of the best areas for the Bulls to take a major leap.

But Williams said that drive isn’t affected by chatter from critics or his position as a No. 4 pick — he just wants to win.

“Whenever you have motivation from the outside, I don’t think it’s real motivation,” Williams said. “Motivation comes from inside.”