Mark Daigneault didn’t have to squint to see what Jalen Williams brings back to Oklahoma City.
In Williams’ first game since sitting out Game 7 of last season’s Western Conference Finals, the Thunder forward looked sharp right away in a 128-126 preseason loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. He logged 19 first-half minutes and put up 16 points on 8-for-11 shooting, along with six assists, four rebounds and one block. It came on the second night of Oklahoma City’s back-to-back, after 12th overall pick Aday Mara made his NBA debut on Tuesday.
For Daigneault, the biggest takeaway was less about the box score and more about the way Williams carried himself.
Mark Daigneault reacts to Jalen Williams’ Thunder preseason debut against the Bucks: “Just great to see him out there, playing with confidence and aggression that he did on both ends of the floor.
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) October 8, 2026
He’s got an electric motor that really is contagious inside of the team, and you… pic.twitter.com/OIDUba8Cgp
“He was awesome. It's just great to see him out there, playing with the confidence and aggression that he did on both ends of the floor,” Daigneault said.
“He's got an electric motor that really is contagious inside of the team, and you really feel it when he's on the court, on both ends of the court. I thought Shai, Cason, Caruso, and him; they came out really, really sharp on both ends, which was encouraging.”
Williams didn’t look like a player easing back in. He moved cleanly, attacked with purpose and fit right back into the flow for a Thunder team that nearly reached the NBA Finals without him. With Oklahoma City now entering the 2026-27 season, his return gives the group another major piece to lean on after he played just 38 games last season, including five playoff appearances.
The Thunder now get five days off before traveling to face the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.
In Other News...
Aday Mara Is Giving The Thunder A Reason To Rethink His Role
Aday Mara has already given Oklahoma City a small preseason puzzle to solve. In two games, the rookie has looked polished well beyond the usual early-October evaluation period, showing soft touch, good footwork, solid rebounding and the kind of passing that fits naturally with the Thunders style. Head coach Mark Daigneault has noticed the way Mara can do more than just finish plays, and that matters for a team that values versatility from every spot on the floor.
Bennett Stirtz has also added to the optimism around Oklahoma Citys rookie class, bringing scoring and defensive activity to the mix. But Mara is the one creating the more interesting conversation, because his playmaking hints at a role that could stretch beyond what people expected when camp opened. The Thunder do not have to decide anything right now, yet his early preseason work is starting to raise the question of how much more they might be able to get out of him. [Read more 🡒]
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Took OKCs Playoff Exit Harder Than Fans Knew
Shai Gilgeous-Alexanders response to Oklahoma Citys playoff exit apparently lingered well beyond the spring, according to trainer Nem Ilic, who said the Thunder guard took the Knicks championship run as a reminder of what was left on the table. The backdrop was OKCs loss in the Western Conference finals, a finish that clearly sat heavy enough to shape how Gilgeous-Alexander approached the months that followed.
Ilic said the offseason became a work period aimed at sharpening conditioning and making Gilgeous-Alexander more comfortable operating off the ball, a sign the Thunder star is still searching for ways to raise his ceiling. He offered a quick preview of that next step in his preseason debut, when he scored 17 points in 17 minutes, and the early return suggests the same frustration that followed the playoff exit may have fueled the work. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Let A Young Bucks Guard Make A Late Statement
The Thunders preseason trip to Milwaukee ended in a narrow 128-126 loss, but the game also offered a look at how quickly rookie guard Brayden Burries can change a rhythm. Coming off the bench for the Bucks, Burries gave them a useful burst with 16 points, five rebounds, one assist and two steals in 21 minutes, and he was part of the late push that turned a tight exhibition into something worth paying attention to.
For Oklahoma City, the more interesting part may have been how steady the young guard looked when the game tightened. Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins came away impressed with Burries composure against different looks, a notable early-season nod for a rookie still carving out his place. Even in a preseason setting, a performance like that can stick, especially when it comes in the kind of closing minutes that usually separate empty box-score nights from something a little more meaningful. [Read more 🡒]