Oklahoma City Thunder star guard Jalen Williams will make his 2025-26 season debut on Friday against the Phoenix Suns, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Thursday.
Jalen Williams Had Multiple Wrist Surgeries
Williams, 24, underwent surgery at the start of July to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist that caused him discomfort throughout the 2025 playoffs.
However, Williams required a second procedure in late October to remove a screw that was causing irritation. The former first-rounder has made steady progress on his path to recovery.
“It’s not an injury that people have a problem recovering from,” Thunder general manager Sam Presti said during his end-of-season news conference in June. “It’s pretty common.”
Just in: Thunder All-NBA guard Jalen Williams is off the injury report and will make his season debut against the Phoenix Suns on Friday night in OKC, multiple sources tell ESPN. Williams recovered from wrist surgery after playing through a torn ligament in the 2025 title run. pic.twitter.com/4emDduKKzY
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 27, 2025
Per Charania, the Thunder will take a “patient and cautious” approach to Williams’ return to the lineup. Ajay Mitchell and Isaiah Joe have stepped up their performances with Williams sidelined.
Last season, Williams received his first All-Star selection after averaging career highs of 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game in 69 appearances.
Williams also earned a spot on the All-NBA Third Team and All-Defensive Second Team. Plus, he averaged 21.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game during the 2025 playoffs.
In the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, Williams averaged 23.6 points on 43.3% shooting from the floor to go with 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per contest.
Williams No Longer Eligible For NBA Honors
Williams is no longer eligible for major postseason awards due to the 65-game rule. He sat out the first 19 games of the campaign and is no longer in line for the $287 million super maximum contract kicker in his five-year, $239 million extension.
The maximum rookie contract extension Williams signed in July includes contract escalators for receiving All-NBA honors, being named MVP, or achieving Defensive Player of the Year.
Per Spotrac, Williams is making $6.6 million this season on the final year of his rookie contract. His 2026-27 salary will climb to $41.5 million. Reaching all the escalators would have raised his salary to nearly $50 million.
Despite having multiple players sidelined throughout the start of the season due to injuries, the Thunder lead the Western Conference and the NBA with an 18-1 record.
Charania noted that Oklahoma City has the best point differential through 19 games in NBA history at plus-16.5. The Thunder are also only the fifth team in league history to start a season 18-1.
Oklahoma City should take full advantage of its repeat window as the team is projected to have a payroll of $246 million in 2026-27, which will take the club over the first and second apron.
