A tough break has hit Mark Williams just as he was looking to keep building his NBA career.
According to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania, the former Duke center underwent surgery on Thursday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder and is expected to miss an extended period of time. Charania also reported on X that, "Williams suffered the injury in an offseason workout."
Williams spent two seasons at Duke, playing from 2020-21 through 2021-22, and made his biggest leap as a sophomore. That year, he averaged 11.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game.
After leaving Durham, Williams was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the No. 15 overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft. He has now played four professional seasons and has career averages of 12 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and a block per game.
At 24, this is a frustrating setback for Williams, who will now focus on getting healthy and trying to settle into a steady role with the Suns.
Phoenix will need to adjust without him, and another former Duke player is in line for a bigger workload. Khaman Maluach, the Suns’ No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, is expected to take on more responsibility in Williams’ absence.
Duke’s presence in the league keeps growing, and head coach Jon Scheyer has continued the program’s strong pipeline of talent. The Blue Devils also have three more former standouts heading into their rookie seasons in 2026-27: Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Evans, and Maliq Brown.
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Duke's Huge Road Win Came With One Worry Fans Can't Ignore
Dukes 31-27 road win at Illinois gave the Blue Devils a valuable early-season rsum piece, and it came with a lot to like on both sides of the ball. Walker Eget managed the offense well, Jonah Burton provided the top receiving spark, and Evan Smith delivered the kind of defensive play that can swing a game away from home.
Still, the final minutes left one concern hanging over an otherwise encouraging night. Egets late injury was enough to put a brief scare into the Duke sideline, and while the offense held together, the Blue Devils are now left hoping their quarterback can keep building on that performance. Jared Richardson, meanwhile, is still waiting for his season to catch up to the rest of the attack. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Is Hanging Around At Illinois For One Very Revealing Reason
Duke is still in the thick of its non-conference game at Illinois after a first half that swung back and forth, with the Blue Devils answering early pressure and finding enough offense to keep the margin tight. Illinois built its lead with a sharp passing start and the kind of early rhythm that put Duke on its heels, but the Blue Devils stayed attached thanks to a run game that kept producing usable drives and helped prevent the game from getting away.
Nate Sheppard has been the centerpiece of that response, giving Duke a much-needed spark as both a runner and a receiver while the Blue Devils leaned on him to steady the offense. Both teams also made their share of fourth-down gambles, underscoring how little separation there has been, and Duke heads into the second half still with a chance to turn an uneven opening 30 minutes into something bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Duke's Adan Diggs Chase Is More Complicated Than It Looks
Adan Diggs is already one of the more intriguing names in the 2027 recruiting class, and Duke remains in the mix after extending an offer to the five-star combo guard. He has trimmed his college list to seven schools, which is usually where the chase starts to feel real, and the Blue Devils have reason to stay involved as they continue to evaluate how he fits into their long-term backcourt plans.
The wrinkle for Duke is simple: the guard room could still be crowded by the time Diggs would arrive. As things stand, the Blue Devils may already have a deep group in place for 2027-28, which means this recruitment is not just about talent but timing and roster balance. Diggs is worth watching, but Dukes pitch may depend on how its current guard picture develops over the next couple of cycles. [Read more 🡒]