It was only January when OKC Thunder forward Jalen Williams unnerved the fanbase with some alarming comments about the potential recovery timeline from his wrist surgery last offseason.
The former All-Star was brutally honest about how he needed time to recover and how it might take months, even years, before he returned to his former self.
Now in March, Jalen Williams' ongoing absence is making these remarks even more ominous.
Thunder star has been unable to get any traction this season
When Williams opened up about his recovery in mid-January, he was in the midst of learning how to play with his new hindrances as he battled through numerous inconsistent shooting nights.
Less than a week later, however, he suffered a right hamstring strain that put him out until mid-February. He returned with a 6-for-17 shooting effort against the Lakers and, in just his second game back, he re-aggravated the injury, causing him to miss even more time.
Williams hasn't seen the floor since.
Though he is nearing the end of his two-week window, J-Dub's return to action is not a guarantee. Given the fact that his latest absence is the result of a re-injury, it is likely that the Thunder are being extra cautious this time around.
Jalen William's attempt to shake off rust might not be a smooth process
While the Thunder are right to proceed with caution regarding their star's health, the situation has cost Dub the necessary reps he needs to find the touch he lost after his wrist surgery. While no one expects him to be the same player he was last season anytime soon, the number of shots he missed out on in this year's campaign will no doubt be a factor down the stretch.
The lost time could prove costly when it matters most. It is unlikely OKC will be able to rely on the player who dropped 40 points in Game 5 of last year's Finals.
Williams coming back as a shell of his former self could be a huge blow to the Thunder offense in April and May, especially if he soaks up shot volume like he was doing before his hamstring troubles.
In a playoff environment where every possession counts, coach Mark Daigneault and company simply cannot afford to give him time to readjust.
Following Williams' return to action will be a significant storyline moving forward. If he doesn't come back until late March or early April, his playoff production may prove to be the question mark that OKC never expected to have.