The Oklahoma City Thunder have played all games this season without their young star Jalen Williams, who earned his first All-Star appearance last season.
Following his 18th missed game of the season, where the Thunder beat the Blazers, 122-95, he has fallen below the 65-game requirement to qualify for any postseason individual honors like the MVP award or an All-NBA team selection.
He missed the first 18 games of the season due to undergoing offseason wrist surgery to repair a fully torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist, as the defending champions went 17-1 in that stretch.
Consequently, he has failed to meet the criteria stated in his contract that could increase his current $241 million valued contract to be eligible for a bonus, making it valued between $250 million and $289 million, which could have been $48 million more than the extension’s current value. Thus, this failure to play in 18 games this season has cost him millions, and potentially tens of millions of dollars.
According to Williams’ contract extension, he would have been eligible for a hefty bonus to his contract upon any All-NBA selection. But unfortunately, due to his injury, the 24-year-old All-Star is currently not available to play for the Thunder.
Williams signed a massive contract extension this summer, with an average salary of $48.2 million for the next five years, which kicks in from the 2026-27 season. This season’s he’s only earning $6.5 million; therefore, his absence is costing the Thunder a lot less than it could have had he delayed his surgery.
Last season, he averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists, while shooting 48.5% from the field to earn his first All-Star selection and his first NBA championship.
He dropped 40 points in a crucial game during the NBA Finals last season and seemed to be on the verge of taking a superstar leap this season. Who knows? If he played a fully healthy season, he may have earned his All-NBA selection to earn that contract bonus.
Despite being short-handed, the Thunder are running the Western Conference once again. Currently the No. 1 seed in the conference, their only defeat this season has also come the Blazers, so it seems that tonight they took their revenge.
It is hard to imagine how dominant the Thunder would be once they have Williams back in full health. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander already has some solid support from Chet Holmgren, Ajay Mitchell, and Isaiah Hartenstein. Williams’ return would definitely take this team to another level.
