Thunder's Jalen Williams reveals why he isn't thinking about hamstring injury after return

Jalen Williams discusses his mental approach to recovery after missing 15 games with a right hamstring injury.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 4:55am

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Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, who missed 15 consecutive games due to a right hamstring injury, says the biggest challenge in his return has been a mental one. Williams, in only his third game back, scored 18 points, dished out 8 assists, and grabbed 6 rebounds to help the Thunder defeat the Chicago Bulls 131-113. The 23-year-old explained that he's no longer focused on the injury, but rather on consistently making the plays he's capable of making.

Why it matters

The Thunder are in a tight race for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, holding a 2-game lead over the San Antonio Spurs. Williams' return to form is crucial for Oklahoma City's playoff push, as the second-year forward has been a key contributor this season, averaging 15.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game.

The details

In his first two games back from the hamstring injury, Williams said fatigue wasn't an issue, but rather the mental hurdles of feeling 100% again. 'The biggest thing for me is a mental thing. Last time I strained it, I felt good. And I had pulled it trying to reach for a pass,' Williams explained. 'It's one of those things where, just over time, the more you get reps doing it, you stop thinking about it.' With 8 games left in the regular season, Williams plans to make the most of his increased playing time to regain his rhythm ahead of the playoffs.

  • Williams missed 15 consecutive games due to the right hamstring injury.
  • Friday's game against the Bulls was Williams' third game back from the injury.

The players

Jalen Williams

A 23-year-old forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder who is in his second NBA season. Williams is averaging 15.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game this season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The Thunder's All-Star point guard, who led the team with 25 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals in the win over the Bulls.

Mark Daigneault

The head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who discussed the team's sense of urgency in the race for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

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What they’re saying

“The biggest thing for me is a mental thing. Last time I strained it, I felt good. And I had pulled it trying to reach for a pass. It's one of those things where, just over time, the more you get reps doing it, you stop thinking about it.”

— Jalen Williams, Thunder Forward

“If your sense of urgency increases based on the standings, then your sense of urgency wasn't high enough to begin with. We try to have a sense of urgency about improving and building our habits, competing together every single opportunity we get. And, if you need external forces to increase that, then, like I said, your bar is not planned enough in the first place.”

— Mark Daigneault, Thunder Head Coach

What’s next

With 8 games left in the regular season, Jalen Williams plans to make the most of his increased playing time to regain his rhythm ahead of the Thunder's postseason push.

The takeaway

Jalen Williams' honest assessment of the mental hurdles in his recovery from a hamstring injury highlights the challenges NBA players face in returning to full strength after missing significant time. His focus on consistency and building good habits, rather than the standings, reflects the Thunder's disciplined approach as they aim for the top seed in the West.