Jan. 12, 2026, 3:26 p.m. CT
Diving for a loose ball, Jaylin Williams landed among a group of courtside fans who got their money’s worth. The hustle play didn’t result in anything positive for the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the pure-energy move is something they sorely missed in their recent mediocre stretch.
After missing 13 consecutive games with heel bursitis, Williams returned to the Thunder. The month-long absence coincided with OKC’s worst stretch in years, with an 8-5 record. The defensive intensity dulled with each loss. Part of that was getting destroyed on the boards.
The Thunder had great first-shot defense, but it’d be erased by giving up second-chance looks. That wasn’t a problem in their 124-112 win over the Miami Heat. Williams finished with nine points, five rebounds and one assist off the bench.
How much Williams’ absence correlated to OKC’s rebounding woes is up for interpretation. Really, you could argue Isaiah Hartenstein’s absence played a larger role in that. Nonetheless, the Thunder were excited to have him back in the rotation.
Here’s what the Thunder said about Williams’ return after a month out:
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“Having him is huge. Just because he’s a good defensive rebounder in a vacuum, but it also moves everybody kinda down and allows them to rebound their position a little bit more. When we’re smaller, everybody’s kinda having to rebound a position up or block out a position up, which is tough. We were good on the glass all night and did a good job on the offensive glass. I thought the guys played their minutes hard and part of that is crashing and getting on the offensive glass.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
“Physicality. Communication. He’s a smart basketball player. When he’s out there, he brings a level of connectiveness because he’s always talking. Always know where guys should be. Just has a good feel for the game. Making players for himself and others. Really good basketball player and when he’s out there, we’re a better team.”
Jalen Williams
“Aside from basketball, just his presence. Being there, actually playing does a lot for our team. He knows it. It’s kinda like K-Rich in a sense. Them being there is just super important to the energy of our team and the overall vibe and confidence that the team has. Obviously, having him on the court, he’s able to stretch the floor. He’s smart, plays hard, just another energy boost. He just means so much to the team. Obviously, means a ton to Oklahoma. He’s just one of those guys who comes in and can affect the game without having to do anything, just based off his energy and presence.”