Jaylen Williams is preaching patience after his season debut

As it is The Oklahoma City Thunder are trying to create the next NBA dynastya key piece of that puzzle returned on Friday, as Jalen Williams bounced back in a 123-119 win over the Phoenix Suns. While it is Thunder star was receiving encouraging updates lately, he’s finally back after missing 19 games this season, while Williams talked about his season debut.

Williams would start playing 29 minutes, as he scored 11 points on 3-of-12 shooting from the field, along with eight assists, four rebounds and two steals. After the game, in the postgame press conference, Williams talked about how it will take patience to get back to the player he once was, with these first few games helping him get under himself.

“It’s going to take some time,” Williams said, per Michael Martin. “I haven’t played in forever, and there’s been a lot behind the scenes, as far as what’s actually been going on with my hand and the two hand surgeries, like, I’m still trying to work through, like, my jump and dribbling, and, like, trying to get my touch back, and it’s just something that needs to progress throughout the season.”

Jaylen Williams knows it will take some time to get back to his pre-injury offensive form.

“I haven’t played in forever and there’s been a lot behind the scenes as far as what’s been going on with my hand. I’ve had two operations on my hand, I’m still trying to find a way out.” pic.tvitter.com/TnBkRkfNcT

— Michael Martin (@MichaelOnSports) November 29, 2025

Thunder’s Jalen Williams on where he is ahead of the deadline

With The Thunder have had a dominant start to the seasonthe return of a player like Williams only spells danger for the rest of the league as the team looks to repeat as champions. Still, it will take time for Williams to fully adapt, but the 24-year-old would talk about being ahead of schedule in some areas and what he needs to work on.

“But defensively, my feet are good. The wind is really good for me, so I can always do that, and then I can find the cuts until I get a lot more of my offensive rhythm back,” Williams said. “I’m also joining a team that was 18-1 when I played … so you try to fit in a little bit offensively and not mess up the rotations. And then obviously, (Isaiah Hartenstein) and (Ajai Mitchell) aren’t playing tonight either … So you’re just trying to pick and choose spots with what the team is like me.

Either way, Oklahoma City is now 19-1, looking to snap a 12-game winning streak Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers.