The Oklahoma City Thunder might’ve caught their biggest break in the form of Jalen Williams.
No, not because of how many games he’s played — but how many he’s missed.
After sitting out Sunday night’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers, Williams has now missed 18 games, making him ineligible for postseason honors. That includes All-NBA, league awards and All-Defensive teams.
Shockingly, that’s not even the biggest loss for Williams. By missing the early-season threshold, he’s no longer eligible for the 30% max extension bump, costing him a potential $47 million. Had he made his season debut earlier, he could have qualified for the 30% max; instead, he’ll earn 25% of the cap, projected at $41.5 million.
Williams signed a five-year, $241 million rookie extension with Oklahoma City this past offseason. That deal could have ballooned between $250–$289 million with an All-NBA selection this year.
Looking ahead, Oklahoma City is projected to have nearly half of its cap tied up during the 2026–27 season through the contracts of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. With Holmgren and Williams both agreeing to extensions over the summer, Sam Presti will need to strategize carefully when building the supporting cast around his franchise trio.
OKC currently sits $58 million over the luxury tax, and that number could grow depending on Lu Dort’s player-option decision next season. Still, the financials appear to be the last thing on the organization’s mind — especially with a championship window wide open.
The Thunder holding a 17–1 record without Williams playing a single minute is a reality the rest of the league simply hasn’t come to terms with. Last season, Williams averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists, earning his first All-Star nod along with All-NBA and All-Defensive Second Team honors.
While it remains unclear exactly when Williams will return to the lineup, his presence may give Oklahoma City “problems” they didn’t even know they could have — the kind every title contender wants.
More Thunder news:
- OKC inches closer to matching Stephen Curry–era Warriors record
- Oklahoma City bench erupts for nearly half of team’s 144 Points
- Thunder give Jalen Williams injury designation as he nears return from wrist surgery
- Shai-Gilgeous Alexander put himself in elite scoring category with Steph Curry, Jerry West