Jalen Williams: Wrist surgery| Season debut| Injury update| Contract

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Wrist Injury & Surgeries

During the 2025 postseason — when Oklahoma City Thunder made their championship run — Jalen Williams played through a torn scapholunate ligament in his right (shooting) wrist.
After the season, on July 1, 2025, he underwent his first surgery to repair the ligament.
As rehabilitation progressed, the team noticed irritation caused by a screw used in the repair. Consequently, in late October 2025, Williams had a second procedure to remove that screw, further delaying his return.

After missing the first 19 games of the 2025–26 season due to surgery and recovery, Williams has now been taken off the injury report.
He is slated to make his season debut on Friday, Nov 28, 2025, against Phoenix Suns, marking his return ahead of a matchup with Portland Trail Blazers.
While Williams is back, it’s worth noting that the long layoff will likely affect his rhythm early on. Nonetheless, his return bolsters OKC’s lineup significantly.

This past offseason, Williams signed a five-year, rookie-scale maximum extension, potentially worth up to US $287 million.
However, due to missing 19 games this season, he fails to meet the NBA’s minimum games requirement for postseason awards. As a result, he becomes ineligible for the “cap-bump” escalator tied to such accolades — which means his contract will operate under the 25% of cap threshold instead of 30%.
In practical terms, that could mean missing out on up to US $40–50 million over the course of the deal, depending on performance and team success.

The return of Williams reunites him with core teammates like Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander and Chet Holmgren — preserving the core that delivered the 2025 NBA championship.
For Williams personally, regaining health and rhythm now is crucial. This season will shape not only how he contributes on-court, but also whether he can push for earning back maximum earnings through potential future accolades.
For fans and analysts, his return is a reminder of the risk-and-reward balancing act in pro sports: playing hurt brought a championship — but also caused long-term consequences.

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