Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams is set to make his season debut on Friday against the Phoenix Suns the team confirmed.
Williams has been sidelined due to surgery on his right wrist for most of the summer and the early part of the NBA season. The 24 year old played through a torn ligament during his team’s championship run in 2024-25, and recently had a screw removed in October as the final step of the process.
Despite missing the All-NBA two-way player, OKC has picked up right where they left off, sitting atop the Western Conference at 18-1 on the year. They also have the best point differential to start a season in NBA history at plus 16.5.
Adding Williams back to the mix is a terrifying thought for opponents, and an embarrassment of riches for the Thunder. The Denver native averaged 21.6pts/5.3reb/5.1ast/1.6stl per game for the Thunder last season, while also making the All-NBA and All-Defence teams across the association.
Oklahoma City figures to be cautious with Williams in his first few appearances. A luxury they can afford given the team’s hot start. Expect the team to follow last year’s slow ramp up of Chet Holmgren as the blue print for how Williams will likely be deployed to close out the 2025 calendar year.
Because of the surgery, the Santa Clara alum is ineligible for postseason awards as a result of having missed 19 games already. As such, he will be forfeiting roughly $48M in potential bonuses in his 5 year, $239M contract extension. His $287M contract kicker will not come into play, but Williams will presumably be back to full health, and avoids needing to play through pain like he did throughout the homestretch of last year.
After the team’s NBA Cup group stage game vs. Phoenix on Friday, the team hits the road for games against the Trail Blazers and Warriors, before returning home on December 5th to host number 1 overall draft pick Cooper Flagg and the rest of his Mavericks teammates.
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