The Thunder welcome back their All-NBA talent, Jalen Williams. Oklahoma City aims to solidify their championship aspirations with their full starting lineup intact for the playoff push.
Oklahoma City Thunder fans finally got to read those four little words they've been longing to hear for the last five weeks and some change.
Jalen Williams is back.
ESPN's Shams Charania was the first to break the news on social media when he posted a two part tweet.
"Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams is off the injury report and will return to action on Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers, multiple sources tell ESPN. Williams missed the last 5-plus weeks due to a hamstring strain, and now is back with 11 regular-season games left."
"The Thunder hold an NBA-best 56-15 record while having had the second-most missed games due to injuries this season, trailing only the Memphis Grizzlies, per ESPN Research. Their lineup of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Lu Dort, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein has played just five games."
As a quick reminder, Williams was an All-Star, Third Team All-NBA and Second Team All-Defense selection last season. The do it all guard/wing/emergency center scored 40 points in an NBA Finals game. He was the second best player on an NBA championship winning roster. And just as Oklahoma City enters the stretch run of the season to ramp up for the postseason, Williams will be back on the court.
The one fear OKC fans have entertained in regards to a significant bump in the road of a possible repeat title is the possibility that the team would not have time to gel and get into a rhythm together before the playoffs. Williams returning to the lineup against the 76ers on Monday night means the Thunder will have 11 games to develop their chemistry with all working parts.
Williams has missed 45 games so far this season. In the 26 games he has played, the Santa Clara product has averaged 17.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.3 steals. In most of those games, he was still trying to find his form after two offseason wrist surgeries and recovery. Just as Williams was starting to look like his usual All-NBA self, he tweaked his hamstring. The hope now that he's back from the hamstring injury is that his shooting hand and motion is further recovered.
The Thunder have somehow retained the best record in the NBA despite a season dotted with various injuries up and down the roster. But with the news of Jalen Williams returning, the best team in the league just added an All-NBA talent back onto the court.
Finally, the news OKC fans have been waiting to hear.