Jalen Williams Returns: Thunder Star’s Comeback Could Shake the West

Jalen Williams is officially back. After missing the Oklahoma City Thunder’s first 19 games while rehabbing two right-wrist surgeries, the All-NBA guard has been removed from the injury report and will make his 2025-26 season debut against the Phoenix Suns in Friday night’s NBA Cup showdown. Why Williams’ Return Matters Now • Oklahoma City is 18-1 with the best point differential through 19 games in league history (+16.5), yet the roster has lacked its No. 2 scorer and top perimeter defender all year. • With Williams back next to MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder gain the two-way wing who averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.6 steals last season while earning both All-NBA and All-Defense honors. • Oklahoma City’s offense ranked fifth without him; coaches expect his downhill drives and playmaking to unlock even more spacing for sharpshooters Isaiah Joe and Chet Holmgren. Injury Timeline Recap • July 12: Underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his shooting wrist. • Oct. 31: Had a screw removed after irritation slowed rehab. • Nov. 27: Upgraded to “day-to-day” and cleared for full contact. • Nov. 28: Activated for Suns matchup, ending a 126-day absence. Minutes Plan and Rotation Impact Head coach Mark Daigneault plans to “ramp thoughtfully,” likely slotting Williams near 24 minutes tonight with incremental five-minute increases every game. Rookie guard Ajay Mitchell, who averaged 15.9 points in spot starts, shifts to a sixth-man role, creating a deeper second unit. What’s at Stake for Williams Because league rules tie supermax eligibility to games played and All-NBA status, the 24-year-old is no longer eligible to boost the five-year, $239 million extension he signed in July to a potential $287 million supermax. Still, the Thunder view 2025-26 as a title-defense year, and Williams’ return is pivotal to repeating. Matchup to Watch: Williams vs. Booker Phoenix star Devin Booker is posting 28.9 points per game; Williams led the NBA in lowest points allowed per direct isolation last year. Expect Oklahoma City to test his wrist early by assigning him to Booker on key possessions. Outlook Beyond Tonight The Thunder enter a stretch of three games in four nights, including Western contenders Denver and Sacramento. If Williams exits Friday without setbacks, he could be back to his customary 34-minute workload by the second week of December, giving Oklahoma City its full championship core before the Christmas Day marquee against Boston. Key SEO Takeaways • Jalen Williams season debut • Oklahoma City Thunder injury update • NBA Cup Thunder vs Suns • Jalen Williams wrist surgery, contract extension, stats • Impact on Thunder title defense With Williams healthy and the league’s hottest team growing stronger, the Western Conference balance of power may be tilting even further toward Oklahoma City.