The Phoenix Suns are heading toward the 2026-27 season with a fresh blow to the middle of the floor: starting center Mark Williams is out after undergoing surgery for a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news Thursday morning, noting that Williams “will miss an extended period of time” after suffering the injury in an offseason workout.
Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro added that the timeline is still unsettled and that Williams could be sidelined for months.
“This injury will have Mark Williams out several months from what I am told. There is no timetable on his return at this point,” he put on X.
The Suns confirmed the procedure in a team release, saying Williams had “successful surgery on Thursday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.” The team also said, “A timetable for his return to play will be established at a later date.”
It’s a tough hit for Phoenix, especially after the club re-signed Williams this offseason to a three-year, $38 million deal. The Suns had been hoping to get more continuity from him after injuries had complicated his early run, and last season offered a glimpse of what that might look like. Williams played a career-high 60 regular-season games, though a left foot injury still slowed him down and ultimately affected the end of his year.
Now the Suns have to pivot again. Coach Jordan Ott pointed to the next wave of big men when discussing the club’s response to injuries last season.
“It’ll have an opportunity for both (Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach). It’ll have an opportunity just to continue to take the next step.
Next man up. Ready to go," Suns coach Jordan Ott said of the injury last season.
That same idea will matter again as Phoenix opens the 2026-27 season. Ighodaro and Maluach are expected to shoulder the load at center, with Ighodaro having handled much of the play there during the team’s late play-in and playoff push while Williams was out.