Jalen Williams has missed all 18 of Oklahoma City’s games so far, and while the Thunder continue rolling at 17-1, his absence carries financial consequences, writes Alex Schiffer of Front Office Sports.
With only 64 games left, Williams can’t reach the 65-game minimum needed for postseason award eligibility. That matters because the five-year rookie-scale extension he signed in July contains escalators tied to All-NBA, MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Williams is earning $6.6MM this season before his salary jumps to $41.5MM in 2026/27. Hitting every escalator could have pushed that number close to $50MM.
While MVP was never realistic, repeating as an All-NBA second- or third-team selection was very much in play. Schiffer notes such honors would have raised his future salary by one or two percent – roughly $1.5MM to $3MM.
Taken 12th overall in 2022, Williams quickly became one of the Thunder’s core stars, averaging 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists last season and delivering a 40-point Game 5 during OKC’s run to the NBA title.
He had wrist surgery in July to repair a torn scapholunate ligament, then underwent another procedure in October to remove an irritating screw. There is still no timetable for his return.
Schiffer adds that although OKC will save money without the escalators kicking in, the Thunder don’t desperately need the relief.
They aren’t a tax team now, and despite a projected $246MM payroll for 2026/27 – which would land them in the second apron – they have about $54MM in non-guaranteed contracts, including $28.5MM for Isaiah Hartenstein, $18.2MM for Luguentz Dort, and $7.2MM for Kenrich Williams.
Jalen Williams Now Ineligible For Postseason Awards https://t.co/TIJ6YV3NvU pic.twitter.com/5egzmolFNg
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) November 24, 2025
