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Thunder have a Jalen Williams problem they desperately need to solve
OKC Thunder star Jalen Williams is 13 games into his 2026 season after sitting out the first stretch due to offseason wrist surgery.
Many lobbied for patience when it came to giving the forward time to reacclimate, but now, roughly a month in, some fans may be starting to sound the alarm.
On the surface, J-Dub's numbers look fine. He's shooting 45.0 percent from the field and has similar assist and rebounding numbers to his All-Star campaign last year.
However, it has been his performance against higher-level competition that has raised concerns.
Jalen Williams has struggled significantly against teams with a winning record. He is shooting a dismal 38.7 percent against these contending teams, which is well below his overall per-game season averages.
How Jalen Williams Can Be Effective As Jump Shot Slow to Come Around
2025 was unforgettable for Jalen Williams. It was his first All-Star nod, first All-NBA and All-Defensive honors, and he won his first NBA Championship while getting his number retired at Santa Clara along the way. He did most of that work on torn ligaments in his wrist. That led to offseason surgery where he also had to get screws removed from his wrists before the season began before ultimately returning to the hardwood on Nov. 28 playing in the last 15 games for the Bricktown Ballers.
This season, Williams is not yet putting up those All-NBA level numbers. The fourth-year swingman is averaging 17.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.5 blocks per game while shooting 45% from the floor, 31% from deep and 84% at the line. His points and field goal percentage are at their lowest point since his rookie season.
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Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault on how Jalen Williams can continue being great
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault on how Jalen Williams can continue being great originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are still the favorites to win the championship, as they continue to defend their title. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains the team's best player, as he is one of the favorites to win the regular-season MVP.
While the reigning regular-season and Finals MVP is on the team, the Thunder are a great team because of their supporting cast. This season, the supporting cast has been great, but it is not reaching the heights of the previous campaign. Case in point, Jalen Williams is not having the best season, but everyone knows he has the potential to break out and be a star again.
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