When Will Jalen Williams Return? Jalen Williams Injury Update
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams remains sidelined for Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers, listed as out due to recovery from right wrist surgery. On X, @CAlmanza1007 shared the Thunder injury report for tonight's game against the Lakers, stating that Jalen Williams (wrist surgery) is out.
The All-NBA wing, who hasn't debuted this season, initially tore a ligament in his dominant hand during the final weeks of the 2024-25 campaign and underwent repair surgery in July.
Williams took a significant step forward in his rehab this week, spotted hoisting and draining multiple three-pointers with his right hand during team warmups, his first real on-court action since the procedure. Thunder beat reporters noted his form looked sharp, a promising shift from the awkward push-shot he'd been using to manage pain earlier in recovery. This comes roughly two weeks after a follow-up surgery on Oct. 31 to remove a stabilizing screw, which set a 10- to 14-day reevaluation window.
On X, @anthonyVslater shared that Jalen Williams is getting shots up pregame in Oklahoma City after a screw was removed from his right wrist 11 days ago due to rehab irritation.
The Thunder initially projected he'd miss the first 15 games of 2025-26, but recent glimpses suggest he could accelerate that timeline. While no firm return date is set, he's not yet cleared for full practice sources indicate he's on track for a possible comeback within the next two weeks, potentially in time for the early November stretch against Eastern Conference foes.
Williams has voiced frustration over the setback, telling reporters, "I just wanna hoop," underscoring his itch to rejoin Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren on the court. For now, OKC's depth has held firm without him, but his return will be a massive boost for a squad eyeing another deep playoff run.
Disclaimer
This article summarizes publicly available reports and team updates on Jalen Williams’ wrist injury and rehabilitation. Return timelines may change based on medical evaluations and team decisions. Readers should follow official Oklahoma City Thunder announcements and verified journalist updates for the most accurate, up-to-date recovery and availability information.
