OKC Thunder star Jalen Williams is 13 games into his 2026 season after missing the opening stretch due to offseason wrist surgery.
Many have pushed to be patient when it comes to giving time to re-acclimatize in advance, but now, about a month later, some fans may be starting to sound the alarm.
On the surface, J-Dub’s numbers look good. He is shooting 45.0 percent from the field and has similar assist and rebound numbers to his All-Star campaign last year.
However, it was his performance against higher-level competition that caused concern.
Jalen Williams struggles as Thunder faces high-end teams
Jalen Williams has struggled mightily against teams with a winning record. He’s shooting a dismal 38.7 percent against these contending teams, which is well below his overall per-game averages for the season.
Its turnover has also increased. Against teams at or below the .500 mark, he averages just 1.3 turnovers per game. Against winning teams, he coughs up the ball an average of 2.3 times per night.
In short, Williams did not play winning basketball when he was on the court against winning teams.
In its six games against losing teams, OKC is plus-71 when Williams is on the court.
In the seven games against competitive teams, the Thunder are +23 while on the court. Of course, if you exclude the 49-point outburst against the Suns, then they’re minus-9 as long as he’s in the lineup.
According to the eye test, Williams appeared shaken against top teams. He had more moments where he looked hesitant and was missing easy mid-range jumps that he usually does in his sleep.
His shot selection has been questionable at best, which was especially on display during the Thunder’s three-game losing streak against the Spurs, where the All-Star shot a combined 18-for-47, or just 38.3 percent.
The Thunder were outscored by a total of 25 points while on the floor.
The presence of the Thunder Star forces the supporting cast into abrupt adjustments
As a team, the Thunder still appear to be adjusting to Williams’ presence. They are just 9-4 in his 13 starts, which is in stark contrast to their dominant 18-1 record without him.
Other guards, like Ajay Mitchell and Cason Wallace, saw their minutes decline as their production increased.
Mitchell was on tears without the Thunder star, averaging 16.0 points per game. With Williams, however, he only averages 10.9 points.
Wallace’s effectiveness has also taken a big hit since Jalen’s return. He shot 43.1 percent and 36.4 percent from three in the season’s first leg. Since Dub’s return, however, he is shooting just 38.8 percent and 31.9 percent from beyond the arc.
The good news is that the season is still early and Oklahoma City isn’t in a rush to have Williams return to full health just yet.
He’ll have plenty of games to completely shake off the rust of an injury-driven offseason, and, when he does, this Thunder team will likely look a lot more competitive against other top-tier baseball clubs.
