Jalen Williams returned with impactful playmaking and surprising conditioning, showcasing defensive prowess despite offensive rust. His presence immediately elevates the Thunder.
After missing the first 19 games of the season, Jalen Williams finally made his long awaited return Friday night against the Phoenix Suns and he wasted no time reminding everyone what makes him such a vital piece of the Thunder’s rising core.
Oklahoma City didn’t ease him in, either. Williams logged 29 minutes in his season debut and finished with 11 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals, delivering a performance that was both encouraging and a clear preview of what he’ll bring once he’s fully back in rhythm.
Given the long layoff, it was expected that certain aspects of Williams’ game would take time. His touch around the rim and shots and his overall feel on the offensive end showed some understandable rust.
There were moments where his timing wasn’t quite in sync, and a couple of shots lacked the polish fans are used to seeing from him. But that’s normal for a player shaking off five months of inactivity, and the encouraging part is that even with those bumps, Williams still found ways to be productive and impactful.
The most impressive aspect of his return was his playmaking. Williams looked completely comfortable orchestrating the Thunder offense, operating with the same pace and composure that has made him one of Mark Daigneault’s most reliable decision makers.
His 8 assists weren’t empty numbers either. He controlled possessions, manipulated defenders, and consistently made the right reads, especially in pick-and-roll situations. Even with his jumper still coming back online, Williams’ ability to run the offense elevated the Thunder flow anytime he was on the floor.
His conditioning might have been the biggest surprise of the night. For someone who hasn’t played since game 7 of the finals, he didn’t look winded, labored, or short on energy. Logging 29 minutes in a debut after that much time off would tax most players, but Williams carried himself like someone who had been active the whole time.
That bodes extremely well for how quickly he’ll reintegrate into the Thunder’s pace heavy style.
Offensively, it will naturally take a few games for everything to click back into place for him. The timing, the touch, the comfort in tight windows, all of that sharpens with reps.
But while the offensive end showed some expected rust, the defensive end looked like Williams hadn’t missed a single day. His instincts, activity, and versatility were all on full display.
He was everywhere: contesting shots, digging down on drives, switching onto bigger players, and jumping passing lanes for deflections and steals. His two recorded steals only tell part of the story; his presence alone disrupted Phoenix’s rhythm repeatedly.
It was a reminder of why Jalen Williams is widely regarded as one of the most versatile and impactful defenders in the league. His combination of size, mobility, strength, and anticipation gives the Thunder a defensive Swiss Army knife. One that looked to be in midseason form the second he stepped back onto the floor.
For a first game back, Williams delivered exactly what the Thunder needed: steadiness, playmaking, activity, and defensive greatness. And once his offensive touch returns, Oklahoma City will have their full version of Jalen Williams again, and that should make the rest of the league very uncomfortable.