Mark Williams
Getty
Mark Williams will be out for an extended period of time with a foot injury.
After an electric start to begin his Phoenix Suns career, center Mark Williams has begun to fall out of the rotation.
Over the Suns’ recent four-game stretch, Williams’ minutes have been up and down. Tuesday was the first time he logged over 20 minutes in a game since Feb. 21 in an overtime win over the Orlando Magic.
An injury could have been the reason behind it. Suns insider Shane Young revealed that Mark Williams will be re-evaluated in two-to-three weeks after sustaining a stress reaction in the third metatarsal of his left foot.
Mark Williams’ Injury History
Mark Williams
GettyMark Williams to miss two-to-three weeks with a stress reaction in his left foot.
Injuries have been a common theme for Mark Williams since getting drafted No. 15 overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2022 NBA Draft.
In his rookie season, the 7-foot-1, 240-pound center was limited to just 43 games for the Hornets while dealing with ankle and thumb injuries.
Williams would go on to suffer a lingering back injury that would result in just 19 games in his sophomore season. Before missing the final four months of 2023-24, he averaged 12.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 64.9 percent from the field.
Then came his third season with the Hornets (and a few days as a Los Angeles Laker).
He suffered a strained tendon in his left foot, missing the first 20 games of the 2024-25 season. Injuries became a pattern for the Duke product, and the Hornets attempted to trade the center to the Lakers before the 2025 trade deadline.
This would be a popular conversation for the rest of the season. Williams failed his physical with the Lakers, and the trade that sent him to Los Angeles in exchange for Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 first-round pick, and a 2040 pick swap was rescinded.
Williams returned to the Hornets for the final stretch of the regular season with a vengeance, averaging 15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.2 blocks while shooting 60.4 percent from the field.
Suns Acquire Mark Williams During 2025 NBA Draft
Mark Williams
GettyThe Phoenix Suns traded for Mark Williams on the night of the 2025 NBA Draft.
The vibes in Charlotte were off after having to take back the rim-protecting center. It came to a boiling point during the 2025 NBA Draft.
Phoenix was beginning a new era after dealing Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets over the offseason. With this being said, the Suns traded for Mark Williams on the night of the draft.
Charlotte moved Williams in exchange for the No. 29 pick (Liam McNeeley) and a 2029 first-round pick.
Despite already acquiring a center, the Suns would go on to draft center Khaman Maluach with the No. 10 overall pick.
Although it was a move worth questioning, Mark Williams has been the main center for the Suns in the 2025-26 season. He was able to stay healthy up until news came out on the stress reaction in the third metatarsal of his left foot on Thursday.
Through 56 games (52 starts), Williams is averaging 11.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, while shooting 63.3 percent from the field. His recent stretch of games have been
During the 24-year-old’s absence, 2024 second-round pick Oso Ighodaro will likely step in to the starting lineup. Khaman Maluach could also get a chance at increased minutes moving forward.
It will be interesting to see if Jordan Ott will get Maluach involved. Although Phoenix used a lottery pick for the big man, he’s been limited to just 26 games played, averaging 1.8 points and 1.6 rebounds in 5.3 minutes.