Sports continue to prove to be a microcosm of life, as in this case, the rich keep getting richer. For the second time in as many games, the Oklahoma City Thunder will see a player make his season debut. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, star forward Jalen Williams will play against the Phoenix Suns in the Emirates Cup Group A finale.
Second Thunder Player To Make Season Debut This Week
Williams has been sidelined since undergoing surgery to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist that bothered him throughout the 2025 postseason in July. The 2024-25 All-NBA third-team selection struggled in his recovery and underwent a second surgery last month to remove a screw that was irritating.
Williams has become the Thunder’s Robin to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s Batman. Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams combined for 1,180 points in the 2025 playoffs, the fourth most by a duo in a single postseason in NBA history. The 24-year-old, who was named to the All-NBA Defensive Second Team, is also one of the best two-way forwards in the league.
Williams is coming off a career season with 24.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.8 steals. The 24-year-old drained 2.0 threes with shooting splits of 48.4/36.5/78.9. He produced three double-doubles and scored in double-figures in all 69 games, including seven contests of 30-plus points.
While Williams’ return is good news for OKC, the Thunder plan to take it slowly with him.
“The Thunder will be patient and cautious reacclimating Williams, having previous experience with the lengthy absence of star big man Chet Holmgren last season, who missed three months due to a hip injury before returning in February and gradually making Oklahoma City whole ahead of the playoffs,” Charania reported.
Charania added that due to the 19 games missed, Williams is ineligible for postseason honors. Therefore, he is also unable to secure a supermax kicker worth $50 million in his five-year, $239 million extension.
Thunder Getting Healthier At Right Time
Williams is the second OKC player to make his season debut this week. Kenrich Williams made his first appearance in the Thunder’s 113-105 victory over Minnesota on Wednesday. Kenrich Williams didn’t score, missing his lone shot, though he collected four rebounds and recorded one assist in 13 minutes off the bench.
OKC is 18-1 on the season and has clearly been the best team in the league. The Thunder have won 10 straight and have outscored their opponents by over 15 points per contest. The Thunder own the league’s top defense and rank fourth in offensive rating, making them a team ranked in the top five in both categories.
OKC, 9-0 with an incredible +17.7 scoring margin at home, is 3-0 with a +71 scoring margin in Emirates NBA Cup action as they host Phoenix in the final Cup Group A contest. The Suns are also 3-0 in the NBA Cup play. Thus, the winner of this Thunder-Suns contest will advance to the quarterfinals and win the group.
Even if the Thunder falls to the Suns tonight, OKC should qualify for the quarterfinals unless they completely collapse. The Thunder and Suns are essentially competing for the “wildcard” spot in the event with the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies. Both teams are 2-1 in the Emirates Cup play, so the loser of the Clippers-Grizzlies game will be eliminated. The Grizzlies are +9 in the event, meaning they will need a “Hail Mary” to advance even if they defeat the Clippers, who have a negative scoring margin.
How Will Mark Daigneault Manage Thunder’s Rotation?
While Williams is available tonight, Aaron Wiggins remains out. Wiggins is missing his 10th straight game with a left thigh/adductor strain and 11th overall. There is no clear timetable for his return, but he is not likely to be available on Sunday against Portland either.
However, Branden Carlson is available after being inactive against Minnesota. Carlson, on a two-way deal, provides depth for the Thunder, averaging just 9 minutes per game in 13 appearances.
Williams will likely start against the Suns, though he will likely be on a minutes restriction and not play in back-to-back affairs for a little bit, like Holmgren. Expect Williams to see between 20 and 25 minutes tonight.
If Williams does indeed start, that means Mark Daigneault will use his seventh different starting lineup. Williams projects to replace Cason Wallace in the starting lineup. Wallace has started each of the 18 games he has been available, though he has struggled with efficiency. He leads the NBA with 2.3 steals per game, though he is shooting just 43.1% from the field while making 1.6 threes at 36.4%.
“I think Cason Wallace has taken a huge step forward, Hartenstein told Thunder Insider Brandon Rahbar. “Every night he guards one of the best players, and he’s doing an amazing job.. Ajay has gotten a lot better on defense. In general, we don’t have a weak link on defense.”
Thunder’s Projected Rotation
Gilgeous-Alexander is the only Thunder player averaging more than 30 minutes a game. With Williams replacing Wallace in the first unit, he will likely start at the two with Luguentz Dort, Holmgren, and Hartenstein filling the frontcourt. Thus, Wallace will move into the sixth man role, seeing likely 25 minutes behind SGA and Williams.
Ajay Mitchell, Alex Caruso, and Kenrich Williams figure to see consistent 12-to-20 minutes off the bench. Therefore, Jaylin Williams and Isaiah Joe are likely to pick up the remaining minutes. Both Jay Williams and Joe are among the losers, along with Ousmane Dieng, who is likely the biggest loser, as the Thunder get healthier. Joe has averaged 24 minutes in 14 appearances, while Jay Will has averaged 18.1 minutes in 18 contests, including one start.
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