In a weird way, Jalen Williams missing these first 18 games of the 2025-26 NBA season may have been the best thing for the OKC Thunder.
According to NBA insider Bobby Marks, the forward has officially become ineligible to receive any postseason honors as a result of now falling short of the league minimum 65 games played threshold needed to qualify.
On the one hand, this may come as a disappointment for Williams, who just established himself as an All-NBA and All-Defensive talent last season.
However, on the other hand, it likely comes as a bit of a relief for the Thunder from a payroll perspective, as his disqualification from such distinctions has now saved the franchise anywhere from $9 to $48 million in the long run.
Thunder save big with Jalen Williams ineligible for postseason honors
Following a career-best campaign in 2024-25, one where he averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.6 steals on 48.4 percent shooting from the floor and 36.5 percent shooting from deep, Williams earned himself a max rookie extension worth $241 million over a five-year span.
Right away, the details of the deal were celebrated as a true win for the Thunder, as his 26.0 percent cap hike if he were to have earned All-NBA Third-Team honors yet again was viewed as a virtual steal compared to others who inked new extensions this past summer.
However, per league rules, players with his deal are eligible to earn the 30.0 percent cap max if they are to nab an All-NBA Team honor, win Defensive Player of the Year, or take home MVP either in the season before the new contract kicks in or in two of the previous three seasons, meaning that if J-Dub had a similar season to last, the Thunder would have been on the hook for a serious lump of coin.
Now, following his 18 consecutive missed games to start the year, Oklahoma City no longer has to worry about ponying up, which, considering they're already slated to exceed the second-apron next season as things are currently constructed, is a major win for the club.
Without Williams in the mix, the Thunder have proven themselves to be more than capable of staying afloat. In fact, boasting a record of 17-1, they are currently amid the 10-best start in NBA history.
Already viewed as the best team in the league, adding a player like Williams into the equation is borderline nightmare fuel for the rest of the association.
The best part is, while he'll presumably play like his All-NBA self once he finds his groove upon returning to action, the Thunder won't be forced to pay him like one.