Will Jalen Williams be ready to play by 2026 Western Conference Finals?

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From the moment Jalen Williams held the back of his leg, OKC's collective stomach dropped. It's been a scene both parties have unfortunately gotten used to by now. The All-NBA talent continues to be plagued by nagging soft-tissue injuries.

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 somehow navigated 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 bonafide 20-point scorer. He helped the Thunder close things out with a Round 1 sweep over the Phoenix Suns. He was the a beneficiary of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's gravity in a Round 2 sweep over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Now, Williams will have nearly a month between his initial injury and Game 1 of the 2026 Western Conference Finals. The Thunder will face either the San Antonio Spurs or the Minnesota Timberwolves. If their Round 2 series ends in Game 6, then OKC will host Game 1 on May 18. If it goes to a Game 7, then OKC will host Game 1 on May 20.

That means Williams will either have 27 pr 29 days off between his hamstring strain in Game 2 against the Suns and Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Not bad. Most medical experts believe the 25-year-old could've been back by two weeks. Instead, OKC played it safe and allowed its squad to ride its momentum through eight playoff wins — with six being by double-digit points.

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.

But now, we're at the sprint part of the NBA's marathon. The Thunder will need Williams in these latter two playoff series to bring home another Larry O'Brien trophy — especially if it's the Spurs who advance. The All-NBA talent was OKC's second-best player in their championship run last year. It's really now or never for him to help out this year. Let's see if he can finish this playoff run with better health luck.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Will Jalen Williams be ready to play by 2026 Western Conference Finals?

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