Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, a key figure in the team’s historic NBA Championship run, has undergone surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right wrist and will be reevaluated in 12 weeks, the franchise announced Tuesday.
The 24-year-old All-Star played through the injury throughout the 2025 playoffs, displaying remarkable toughness and consistency.
Thunder General Manager Sam Presti revealed on Monday that Williams had suffered a sprain in February, but the ligament fully tore during the final week of the regular season.
Despite the injury, Williams continued to perform at a high level, averaging 21.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game during the playoffs.
In the NBA Finals, Williams averaged 23.6 points per game, helping the Thunder clinch their first-ever NBA title with a Game 7 victory over the Indiana Pacers on June 22 in Oklahoma City.
“The part that I’m most impressed with is that he never made excuses,” Presti said. “He powered through. He showed incredible mental endurance and security in himself. He just kept moving along — and obviously played his best basketball down the stretch of the season.”
Williams was named to the All-NBA Third Team following a breakout regular season and emerged as a cornerstone of the Thunder’s dynamic young core.
According to the team, the surgery was successful and the injury is not considered career-threatening. Presti noted that while the original hope was for Williams to be ready by the start of the 2025–26 season in October, the current timeline now targets a November return.
“It’s a very common injury,” Presti said. “It’s not something players have long-term problems recovering from.”
With Williams out for the opening stretch of the season, the Thunder will rely on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and their deep bench to maintain momentum as they begin their title defense.
Oklahoma City enters the 2025–26 campaign with high expectations, and Williams’ expected mid-season return will likely provide a major boost as the Thunder aim for back-to-back championships.
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