The NBA schedule is only starting to roll out, but Jalen Williams already has two dates that stand out.
Oklahoma City’s opening stretch comes with immediate weight: a season opener in San Antonio against the Spurs, then the home opener a couple of days later against the Denver Nuggets. Those are the first two matchups of the Thunder’s season, and they arrive with plenty of attention attached.
Williams feels like the player most likely to use that spotlight. After missing significant time last season because of wrist and hamstring injuries, he still put together a strong 2024-25 campaign that earned him his first All-Star, All-NBA and All-Defensive selections. When he was available in the playoffs, he looked like a star and, at times, like the best player on the floor.
That makes these opening games more than just early-season tuneups. Oklahoma City’s issues against the Spurs last season, along with Williams’ struggles against Denver in the 2025 playoffs, give him a pair of clean chances to make a statement. With the league watching and the season just beginning, he has a real shot to set the tone right away.
There’s also a practical side to it. Williams averaged 17.1 points while bouncing in and out of the lineup last season, and a healthier offseason could put him in position to hit the ground running.
If he helps the Thunder start 2-0, the team will obviously be happy with the result. If he drives those wins with big performances, the early buzz around Oklahoma City could get even louder.
The Thunder still have a lot to sort out about the 2026-27 season. But if Williams comes out swinging in those first two games, he can quiet plenty of doubts before the schedule really gets going.
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Jalen Williams Now Carries One Huge Thunder Question
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For Williams, the next step is as much about stability as production. The Thunder need him to keep building on what he has shown while staying on the floor and delivering the kind of consistency that makes a max-level investment feel secure, even as Holmgrens offensive growth remains part of the same larger equation. In a market like this, the front office is not only asking whether the ceiling is high enough, but whether the pieces around it can be preserved long enough to matter. [Read more 🡒]