Thunder make notable Jalen Williams announcement before WCF

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams. Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Thunder make notable Jalen Williams announcement before WCF against Spurs

By Clark Dalton | Last updated May 17, 2026 8:56 PM ET

The Oklahoma City Thunder are now fully stocked heading into their biggest postseason test.

The team announced Sunday that guard Jalen Williams — who hasn't played since April 22 because of a hamstring strain — will be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday on NBC/Peacock at 8:30 p.m. ET (h/t Yahoo Sports). This update comes after he said he was ready to go in a video posted to his YouTube channel on Friday.

It's good that I haven't had to rush back from my hamstring stuff at all," Williams said. "I'm actually taking like extra days now than from what was originally planned because we were up 3-0 [over the Los Angeles Lakers], so there was no point in going into this series and possibly hurting myself before we play the Timberwolves or Spurs.

"I'm about to go into another series healthy."

Jalen Williams is listed as available for Game 1 of OKC’s Western Conference Finals matchup with the Spurs on Monday, the team announced.

Williams has been out since April 22 due to a hamstring strain. pic.twitter.com/SVE7KLet8a
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 17, 2026

A healthy Williams is huge for the Thunder, who are now bracing for their first postseason trial against the Spurs.

Why Jalen Williams' return is imperative for Thunder

The Thunder haven't lost a game in the playoffs after sweeping the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers in the first two rounds. Unlike those matchups, the contest against the Spurs won't be a breeze.

The No. 2-seeded Spurs, led by star forward Victor Wembanyama, were one of the few teams the No. 1-seeded Thunder struggled against in the regular season. The defending champions went 1-4 in five games against San Antonio.

Williams played in four of the five matchups against the Spurs during the regular season. He averaged 16.5 points per game, 5.3 assists per game and 3.8 rebounds per game in those games (via StatMuse).

The Thunder already stumbled against the Spurs with Williams in the lineup. Now, imagine if they tried to beat them without him. That may swing the pendulum in San Antonio's favor.

Williams, though, should be available for most of the series, better preparing the Thunder for the Western Conference grudge match. It could be close, but his return may give Oklahoma City a slight edge over San Antonio. As of Sunday, DraftKings Sportsbook gives the budding powerhouse -260 odds to win the series.

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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