OKC Thunder star Jalen Williams is 13 games into his 2026 season after sitting out the first stretch due to offseason wrist surgery.
Many lobbied for patience when it came to giving the forward time to reacclimate, but now, roughly a month in, some fans may be starting to sound the alarm.
On the surface, J-Dub's numbers look fine. He's shooting 45.0 percent from the field and has similar assist and rebounding numbers to his All-Star campaign last year.
However, it has been his performance against higher-level competition that has raised concerns.
Jalen Williams struggling when Thunder play higher-end teams
Jalen Williams has struggled significantly against teams with a winning record. He is shooting a dismal 38.7 percent against these contending teams, which is well below his overall per-game season averages.
His turnovers have increased as well. Against teams at or under the .500 mark, he is averaging just 1.3 turnovers per game. Against winning teams, he's coughing up the ball at an average rate of 2.3 times a night.
In short, Williams has not played winning basketball when on the floor against winning teams.
In his six games against losing teams, OKC is plus-71 when Williams is on the court.
In the seven games against competitive teams, the Thunder are plus-23 while he has been on the floor. Of course, if you exclude the 49-point blowout against the Suns, then they are minus-9 while he is in the lineup.
From the eye test, Williams has looked rattled against upper-echelon squads. He has had more moments where he has looked hesitant and has been missing easy mid-range jumpers he usually makes in his sleep.
His shot selection has been questionable at best, which was especially on display during the Thunder's ongoing three-game losing streak against the Spurs, where the All-Star shot a combined 18 for 47, just 38.3 percent.
The Thunder got outscored by a combined 25 points while he was on the floor.
Thunder star's presence forcing supporting cast into abrupt adjustments
As a team, the Thunder appear to still be adjusting to Williams' presence. They are just 9-4 in his 13 starts, which is a stark contrast to their dominant 18-1 record without him.
Other guards, such as Ajay Mitchell and Cason Wallace, have seen their minutes dip along with their production.
Mitchell was on a tear without the Thunder star, averaging 16.0 points per game. With Williams, however, he is averaging just 10.9 points.
Wallace's efficiency has taken a massive hit since Jalen's return as well. He had been shooting 43.1 percent and 36.4 percent from three in the first leg of the season. Since Dub's return, though, he is shooting only 38.8 percent and 31.9 percent from beyond the arc.
The good news is it's still early in the season, and Oklahoma City is in no rush to have Williams back at full form just yet.
He'll have plenty of games to completely shake off the rust from an offseason dictated by injury, and, when he does, this Thunder team will likely look much more competitive against other top-tier ball clubs.