Jalen Williams Could Make Statement in OKC Thunder's Opening Matchups

The All-NBA forward was sidelined for most of the postseason, and it might not take long for him to remind the league of his talent.

May 18, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) reacts in double overtime against the San Antonio Spurs during game one of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The NBA schedule is beginning to trickle out, and one of Oklahoma City’s stars should already have a couple of dates circled.

Last season, the Thunder’s title defense ended with a Game 7 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. After battling through injuries throughout the season, their postseason injury luck was too much to overcome, most notably the absence of Jalen Williams.

While the full NBA schedule is still a day away, some of the biggest matchups have already been released, and that includes the Thunder’s first two matchups of the season. Set for an opening night battle against the Spurs in San Antonio and the home opener against the Denver Nuggets a couple of days later, the Thunder could have a classic start to the season. 

Surely everyone on the roster will be ready to get back on the court and start the next chapter of Oklahoma City basketball, but there may not be anyone as ready as Williams. After earning his first All-Star, All-NBA and All-Defensive selections in 2024-25, the Thunder’s star forward missed significant time last season due to wrist and hamstring injuries. 

When he was on the court for the Thunder in the playoffs, he was a star and even looked like the best player on the floor for stretches. Going into next season, his matchups against the Spurs and Nuggets could be a perfect way for him to make his presence felt.

Given Oklahoma City’s struggles against the Spurs last season and Williams’ struggles against the Nuggets in the 2025 playoffs, these two matchups create clear opportunities for him to showcase his talents. With all eyes on him on the national stage, Williams will be looking to tip off another successful and hopefully healthy season.

Considering that Oklahoma City believes it should’ve won against the Spurs even without Williams, a big performance from the forward in a win could be the catalyst for another successful regular season. Averaging 17.1 points as he was in and out of the lineup last season, having a mostly healthy offseason could put him in position to take off once the regular season begins. 

Obviously, the Thunder will be making a statement by simply starting the season 2-0, but if those performances can come thanks to big games from Williams, the Thunder may look even scarier in 2027. There are still plenty of questions to be answered about Oklahoma City’s 2026-27 season, but Williams could silence any doubts with a couple of early statement games.