Jalen Brunson’s left wrist surgery comes with a built-in reminder: the calendar can say one thing, but the body may need longer to catch up.
The Knicks star and Finals MVP is expected to miss at least two months after undergoing a procedure to repair the injury. That timeline could look encouraging on paper, especially with a return projected before the start of the regular season. But Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams is living proof that being cleared for basketball activities is not the same as being all the way back.
Williams played through an injury in his dominant shooting wrist during Oklahoma City’s championship run in 2025, just as Brunson did for New York this past season. Both stars still produced at a high level, and both were central pieces in their teams’ title runs. In a striking parallel, each also managed to score 40-plus points in decisive Finals games despite the limitations.
Even so, Williams’ recovery showed how messy the road back can be.
His initial timetable after wrist surgery was 12 weeks, compared with Brunson’s eight, but the early returns were rough. In his first six games back, Williams shot 28.5 percent from deep. Over his first 24 games of the season, his effective field goal percentage sat at 49.7.
That rust never really disappeared, because other issues followed. Williams later dealt with multiple hamstring strains after returning, and those injuries kept him out for 30 regular-season games and 10 playoff games.
The lesson is simple: every recovery has its own path, and Brunson’s may not mirror Williams’ at all. But Williams’ experience is a sharp reminder that rehab doesn’t always move in a straight line. Setbacks can show up when least expected.
Williams made that point again after Luka Doncic’s hamstring injury in April, and the hope now is that Brunson avoids the same kind of detours that complicated the Thunder star’s season.
In Other News...
Thunder May Be Denying Cason Wallace The Role He Wants
Cason Wallace already looks like one of Oklahoma Citys most important young pieces, and last seasons All-Defensive Second Team nod only reinforced how quickly he has earned trust on that end of the floor. He is also eligible for a rookie extension, which makes his next step more than just a development question for the Thunder. Wallace has made it clear he wants a bigger on-court role, and there is a real case for him to push for more than the steady reserve minutes he has handled so far.
The problem for Wallace is that the roster seems to be tilting in a direction that keeps him in the same lane for now. Oklahoma Citys recent moves point toward continuity in the backcourt, even as the depth chart around him changes, and that could leave him as a key scoring option off the bench rather than a starter. For the Thunder, that arrangement may still make sense, since a larger reserve role could help Wallace sharpen his game, boost his value, and set up a more interesting negotiation down the road. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Face Another Huge Cason Wallace Decision This Offseason
The July moratorium has passed, but there still has not been any public update on a rookie extension for Cason Wallace, leaving one of Oklahoma Citys quieter offseason questions unresolved. The Thunder have shown a willingness to move deliberately after the moratorium before, and with the front office signaling a desire to keep the core together, Wallace remains part of a roster puzzle that is still being sorted out.
Wallace has given the Thunder plenty to think about after a career-best season that included All-Defensive Second Team recognition, and he is now heading into the final year of his rookie deal with bigger responsibilities in mind. He wants a full-time starting role, but the path to that kind of jump is not simple, and the next few decisions around the backcourt could say a lot about how Oklahoma City sees his place in the long term. [Read more 🡒]