Overview
- Williams missed the first 19 games after wrist surgery that followed Oklahoma City’s 2025 title and then suffered multiple hamstring strains that limited him to roughly the mid‑30s in regular‑season games.
- His hamstring problems moved between legs across February to April, forced him out of the first two playoff rounds for long stretches, and flared again after a full Game 1 in the Western Conference Finals.
- He attempted a short return in Game 6 of the WCF but was ruled out of Game 7 with a recurring left hamstring issue, a loss teammates and coaches called a major factor in Oklahoma City’s elimination.
- Williams described the season as mentally draining and detailed a lengthy rehab routine in exit interviews, saying he believes he could have changed the series outcome if healthy.
- The Thunder and Williams plan to use the extended offseason to rest, diagnose whether wrist surgery or load issues contributed to the cascade of injuries, and focus on targeted hamstring strengthening and load management next season.