[Tyrese Haliburton](https://www.masslive.com/celtics/202x/06/tyrese-haliburton-injury-pacers-star-goes-down-in-game-7.html) wasn’t the only star gutting it out through injury during the NBA Finals this year. Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams also spent the team’s title run battling a right wrist injury that will now require surgery to repair a torn ligament, Thunder general manager Sam Presti revealed Monday.
Williams initially suffered the injury in a March 10 loss to the Denver Nuggets, sidelining him for two weeks. Presti said Williams is expected to fully recover in time for the start of the 2025-26 season.
When the Thunder met the Nuggets again in the Western Conference semifinals, Williams struggled through a stretch in which he shot just 10-for-43 over three games.
Asked whether his wrist was to blame, Williams brushed off the idea to reporters: “That’s not the reason why I’m making or missing shots. It hasn’t affected anything that’s been going on,” he said.
Following the initial injury, Williams played the remainder of the season with his wrist heavily taped, concealing the wrap beneath his usual shooting sleeve. Despite the setback, he averaged 21.4 points per game during the Thunder’s historic run to their first championship since the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City, including a 40-point performance that helped secure a critical Game 5 win over the Indiana Pacers in the Finals.
The 24-year-old is eligible this offseason for a rookie-scale extension that could be worth up to $247 million over five years, with potential supermax escalators pushing the total value as high as $296 million.