OKC’s Jalen Williams continues to regain form following his injury return.
BOSTON — As he continues to regain his form after a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the previous two months, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams recognized the physical and mental challenges that come with each game back.
“Anyone who has experienced a hamstring injury knows that the real discomfort often arises after the game,” Williams stated to ESPN on Wednesday morning prior to the Thunder’s matchup against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. “Tonight will serve as another assessment. I have played two games previously, but then I sustained another injury. These upcoming games will be more of a test.”
He demonstrated his progress simply by the absence of a limp during the postgame press conference, despite contributing a modest seven points, three rebounds, and three assists in 24 minutes of action during the Thunder’s 119-109 defeat, which was anticipated as a potential NBA Finals preview.
Williams had made a more impressive return from a right hamstring injury last month, but he was limited to just two games before re-injuring it. He missed 10 games prior to the reaggravation and then sat out another 16 after his brief return.
“It’s a strange sensation,” Williams remarked to ESPN. “When you strain it, the feeling is quite unfamiliar; the movements you perform while gradually returning can be intimidating. However, I now feel confident during workouts and donβt dwell on it while playing.”
The Thunder are taking a cautious approach with Williams’ comeback, aware that another hamstring injury could jeopardize his season and significantly impact their chances of defending their NBA title.
He logged 20 minutes on Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers. On Wednesday, Williams reached the 21-minute mark before Thunder coach Mark Daigneault brought him back in with just under three minutes left.
“We are still managing his minutes. We are lenient with that; itβs not a strict limit,” Daigneault explained. “We are certainly not aiming for 30-minute games just yet.”
During Wednesday’s game, Williams and Celtics forward Jayson Tatum occasionally found themselves matched up against one another. Neither participated in the last Thunder-Celtics encounter two weeks prior in Oklahoma City, and both share the experience of returning from significant injuries. They connected after the game, united by their rehabilitation journeys.
“It’s great to see someone of his caliber on the court. Itβs awesome that he gets to play. He looked really good,” Williams commented. “I chatted with him a bit; itβs challenging, thereβs no rhythm. Iβve never entered a game without breaking a sweat. Figuring it out is part of the learning process.”
Tatum was competing in his 10th game following Achilles surgery last May and had a strong performance with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists.
Williams missed the Thunder’s first 20 games due to offseason wrist surgery, and then encountered hamstring issues six weeks after returning to play.
“Our minute limits differ,” Williams noted. “Iβm not sure what Tatum’s restrictions are, but many players will tell you that when youβre accustomed to playing 35 minutes and suddenly have 10 or 12 minutes taken away, your game can become a bit disjointed.”
Williams stated that his objectives are more focused on minute management, even as the Thunder compete with the San Antonio Spurs for home-court advantage in the Western Conference playoffs. The Thunder currently lead the Spurs by two games with nine games left, while the Spurs hold the tiebreaker.
“Experiencing the same injury twice presents a mental challenge, especially when trying to perform explosive movements,” Williams explained. “This is not an excuse, but it is often overlooked; it stems from being part of a strong team. You want to maintain the gameβs flow. Itβs about adjusting in the final 10 games of the season.”
