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Resting between playoff series once again, the Oklahoma City Thunder could add an All-NBA talent. After punching their ticket for the 2026 Western Conference Finals, all eyes shifted towards Jalen Williams. The reigning NBA champions will need him to return if they want to go back-to-back.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault talked about Williams' recovery. He's missed their last six playoff games with a hamstring strain. It's his third in five months. He was spotted at OKC's Friday practice as it awaits the San Antonio Spurs or Minnesota Timberwolves in the next round.
"Progressing. Same stuff," Daigneault said. "I'm not going to give you the blow-by-blow on the details, but he continues to make progress and he's doing a great job."
Williams sustained a hamstring strain in OKC's Game 2 win over the Phoenix Suns on Apr. 22. Nearly a month later, the Thunder have had a best-case scenario in a nightmare-fueled situation. They've continued to be an NBA win machine without any hiccup at a perfect 8-0 record through the first two playoff rounds.
In Williams' absence, Ajay Mitchell has seamlessly stepped up as a 20-point scorer. He helped the Thunder close things out with a Round 1 sweep over the Phoenix Suns. He was a beneficiary of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's gravity in a Round 2 sweep over the Los Angeles Lakers.
It's been an injury-plagued year for Williams. He only played in 33 regular-season games. Two wrist surgeries and two hamstring strains sidelined him for most of the year. Because of that reality, the Thunder have grown an identity of winning basketball without him.
That said, the Thunder will need Williams to win an NBA championship. Don't let two series sweeps over subpar opponents fool you. The competition level will uptick tenfold from here on out. OKC will need an All-NBA talent to get another Larry O'Brien trophy.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Mark Daigneault offers latest injury update on Jalen Williams
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