OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander watched Jalen Williams endured the most injury-riddled season of his career in 2025-26. Williams is entering training camp at full strength ahead of the upcoming season, which gives the Thunder one of its most important players, as Oklahoma City will begin its chase to capture a second title in three seasons.
Williams' comeback season will be a critical storyline to follow throughout 2026-27. Gilgeous-Alexander stressed how important Williams is for the Thunder at Media Day.
“We'll have an All-NBA talent who puts the ball in the basket and guards 1 through 5. So, that'll make life easier for not only myself, but the rest of the group,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Above all, I'm just excited for Dub to be able to play. Injuries suck, obviously. It's hard to have the game taken from you like that, especially when you work so hard. I'm excited for him to be able to play. He loves playing basketball. So, just that part of his life coming back will be exciting for him.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams played in only 38 games together for the Thunder last season, including five playoff games, where Oklahoma City lost Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals to the San Antonio Spurs. Williams had never missed a bulk of a season throughout his basketball career, which he believes helped him to understand his body better, and its limitations.
Article Continues Below“I had never really had any injuries that set me back. Looking back on my hamstring injuries, for people who don't know, it's a very touch-and-go thing. It's not like I was pulling my hamstring and it's December, and I can take all this time,” Williams said. “I'm pulling my hamstring sometimes in the middle of the playoffs. It's a lot of other things that go into that. So, it was more just about rest, understanding my body, and some of the cues to let me know that my hamstrings are going to get tired.”
When a reporter asked Williams if he's eager to prove to everyone that he's still got it, Jalen agreed to a certain extent, before reflecting on how he's more excited to prove something to himself.
“I would definitely say that, but it's also I'm more exciting to remind myself that I play basketball,” Williams said. “Again, I've never sat out that long. So, I'm more excited to go hoop again. I know what I am. So, I'm not too concerned about trying to prove to other people something. We've all seen it. I'm just excited to prove that I can play healthy, and do that whole thing, and move on. I'm just excited to get going.”
Williams and the Thunder will host the New Orleans Pelicans in their preseason opener on October 6.