If you ask any NBA player if they’d be willing to sacrifice a month of the regular season for a championship ring, they’d gladly agree in a heartbeat. That’s how Jalen Williams has viewed his wrist surgery recovery as a small setback recently required a second procedure.
But dang, that doesn’t mean Williams can’t miss being out there with his teammates. No sense of regret has haunted his mind. Just hints of nostalgia and FOMO.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have survived Williams’ absence. They’re off to an 8-1 start in the 2025-26 regular season. They broke a franchise record for most wins to start a regular season at eight before they finally lost to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Dating back to last season, the Thunder are an absurd 21-1 in games Williams has missed. That’s the type of ridiculous floor Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gives you. As long as he’s healthy, OKC will win most of its games. Regardless of who else is available.
But the Thunder have missed their second All-NBA player. Williams gives them another 25-point scoring threat. On the other side, he anchors the league’s best defense. Elite rim protection paired with his pterodactyl-esque wingspan makes him a nightmare to match up with in the perimeter.
Williams took to Instagram to express his frustration that perhaps his offseason wrist surgery to repair a torn ligament he played through in their 2025 NBA playoff run is taking longer than he anticipated. After all, Sam Presti said in his exit interview that he’d be ready to go by Opening Night.
When it’s all said and done, Williams will likely miss around the first 15 games of the 2025-26 regular season. The social media savvy superstar sent out a simple message on his Instagram story: “I just wanna hoop.”
The feeling is mutual for the Thunder and their fanbase. But patience is necessary. They will need Williams in April and May. Not in October and November. Ultimately, this is the price you pay for playing deep into June and not getting an offseason surgery until July. But doesn’t mean it can’t sting as he continues to support on the bench.