The Thunder had one of the most dominant runs to a title in NBA history, winning 54 of their games by double digits and going 29-1 against the Eastern Conference during the regular season. The squad also finished with 68 wins. The most impressive statistic, though, is that they were the second-youngest team ever to win a championship. After the season, Sam Presti announced that Jalen Williams would require surgery for an injury to his wrist. Williams played through this injury the entire playoffs, and no one knew. This news came a few days before his massive payday, and did not affect his contract extension. Now, Williams has explained the wrist injury on his YouTube channel and also discussed it at the Summer League in Las Vegas.
Jalen Williams Reveals Details About His Wrist Injury
Williams’ Performance During the Playoffs
Williams had an impressive run during the NBA Playoffs. Most notably, he had a 40-point performance in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. With this feat, he became the fifth youngest player to have a 40-point game in the Finals. The four players in front of him are Jerry West, Rick Barry, Magic Johnson, and former Thunder guard Russell Westbrook. All of these players are Hall of Famers or a potential inductee. Williams did this all while having a wrist injury.
The Thunder and Williams kept the injury quiet, not disclosing it to the media. Some people assumed, though, that Williams was hurt. It was confirmed that the injury happened on April 9th against the Phoenix Suns. He was also seen wearing a brace and some wrap during the playoffs, which led fans to speculate over his status. Still, this did not stop the criticism or hate when Williams played below standards.
Here’s the play where Jalen Williams hurt his hand against Phoenix.
You can read his lips “I just f*cked up my hand” right after. He then attempts the ensuing jump ball with his left hand.pic.twitter.com/cRWYlvYBdy
— THE UNCONTESTED PODCAST (@The_Uncontested) July 8, 2025
Now, he gets to call himself an NBA champion, an All-NBA team member, and an All-Defenisve team member. Even with the wrist injury, he helped lead the Thunder to their first title in franchise history. The severity of the injury was something we did not know until Williams opened up about it.
Williams Changed His Entire Game
Williams announced on his YouTube channel and during Summer League that he received multiple injections for his wrist. This allowed him to play through the injury. Usually, players with torn ligaments undergo surgery immediately. Williams held off, though, and knew he had to play if the Thunder wanted to win.
Williams also said he had to change how he shot the ball because of the wrist injury. He said he had a limited range of motion, and specific ways he moved his hand caused pain to shoot into his wrist. This also affected him when it came to his defense and dribbling. At times, he would make mistakes he usually wouldn’t make when healthy.
Even through all that, Jalen still found a way to will his team to a championship. From the 40-point game to some stellar defensive plays, Williams fought through the pain to bring the fans something to cheer for. Williams should be healthy for training camp and preseason, assuming his recovery goes well. The preseason will be the first time fans see Jalen Williams in action post-injury, and it will also provide an opportunity to assess whether his shooting mechanics have returned to normal. The Thunder’s preseason begins on October 5th in Charlotte against the Hornets.
© Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
