Thunder guard Jalen Williams to return Friday against Suns
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Oklahoma City Thunder All-NBA guard Jalen Williams is expected to play his first game of the season on Friday night against the Phoenix Suns, according to sources familiar with the situation.
The 24-year-old underwent surgery on his right wrist in July, then had a screw removed on Oct. 31. He originally injured the wrist during last season’s championship run but continued to play through a torn ligament.
Oklahoma City has opened the 2025-26 campaign 18-1, posting a league-record plus-16.5 point differential through 19 games. The Thunder are just the fifth team in NBA history to start a season 18-1.
Williams sat out those 19 contests and, under league rules, will be ineligible for postseason awards. That status removes the $287 million super-max trigger from the five-year, $239 million extension he signed previously.
Last season, Williams averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.6 steals, earning spots on both the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams. GeniusIQ tracking ranked him first in points allowed per direct isolation and inside the top five in points allowed per direct drive. He was one of four players to reach 1,400 points, 300 rebounds, 300 assists and 100 steals, joining Nikola Jokić, teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and James Harden.
Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander combined for 1,180 points during the 2025 playoffs, the fourth-highest total for a duo in a single postseason.
The Thunder plan to reintroduce Williams gradually, mirroring last season’s cautious approach with center Chet Holmgren, who missed three months with a hip injury before returning in February.
Second-year guard Ajay Mitchell has averaged 15.9 points, 3.6 assists and 1.7 steals in Williams’ absence, while Isaiah Joe is contributing a career-best 13.2 points per game and hitting 40.2% of his seven-plus three-point attempts per night.
Tipoff between the Thunder and Suns is scheduled for Friday at Paycom Center.
Source: ESPN
