Williams was recovering from right wrist surgery in July, then underwent a screw removal procedure on October 31 after playing through a torn ligament in last season’s NBA championship run.
The Thunder are off to a great start this season at 18-1, with the best point differential of plus-16.5 through 19 games in NBA history. Oklahoma City is only the fifth team in league history to start the season 18–1.
Last season, Williams emerged as one of the NBA’s best players, averaging 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He was one of two players to make both the All-NBA and All-Defense teams, along with Cleveland’s Evan Mobley.
According to GeniusIQ, Williams also led the NBA in points allowed per direct separation and ranked in the top five in points allowed per direct drive. He was one of just four players with 1,400 points, 300 rebounds, 300 assists and 100 steals last season, along with Denver’s Nikola Jokic, teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Clippers’ James Harden.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams combined to score 1,180 points in the 2025 playoffs, the fourth-most by a pair in a single postseason in NBA history.
The Thunder will be patient and cautious in readjusting Williams, who has previous experience with the lengthy absence of star big man Chet Holmgren last season, who missed three months with a hip injury before returning in February and slowly leading Oklahoma City to a playoff run.
The Thunder have gotten production from Ajay Mitchell and others in Williams’ absence, with the second-year guard averaging 15.9 points, 3.6 assists and 1.7 steals. Isaiah Joe is also averaging a career-high 13.2 points while shooting 40.2% from 3 on more than seven attempts per game.
Williams missed the first 19 games of the campaign and is ineligible for postseason honors, meaning he is no longer in line for the kicker’s $287 million super maximum contract in his five-year, $239 million extension.
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