Jalen Williams of the OKC Thunder is making progress on his recovery from a Grade 1 left hamstring strain. He has been sidelined since April 22 and was seen at practice, though his return timeline remains uncertain.
Key points
Jalen Williams is recovering from a Grade 1 left hamstring strain
He has been sidelined since April 22
Williams was seen at practice recently
The Thunder is re-evaluating his condition weekly
Head coach Mark Daigneault confirmed his progress
Mentioned in this story
Mark Daigneault
Jalen WilliamsOKC Thunder
Jalen Williams injury update: Thunder star is 'making progress' on strained hamstring
Williams has been sidelined since April 22 with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, which OKC is re-evaluating on a weekly basis. The All-NBA forward was seen at practice Friday, although it remains unclear how much he participated and how close he is to returning.
“He’s progressing," head coach Mark Daigneault said of Williams after practice. "Same stuff. I'm not going to give you the blow-by-blow on the details, but he continues to make progress and is doing a great job.”
OKC will face the winner of the San Antonio Spurs and the Minnesota Timberwolves. San Antonio holds a 3-2 lead in that best-of-seven series with Game 6 scheduled for Friday. Game 7, if necessary, would be on Sunday.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder battle for a tip off during the first quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives with the ball against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 and Ajay Mitchell #25 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against Cason Wallace #22 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Head Coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up against the Oklahoma City Thunder prior to Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: A detailed view of Los Angeles Lakers themed T-shirts prior to Game Four against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: LeBron James #23 and Bronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers warm up against the Oklahoma City Thunder prior to Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder warms up prior to Game Four against the Los Angeles Lakers in the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up prior to Game Four against Oklahoma City Thunder in the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder battle for a tip off during the first quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder battle for a tip off during the first quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives with the ball against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 and Ajay Mitchell #25 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against Cason Wallace #22 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Head Coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up against the Oklahoma City Thunder prior to Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: A detailed view of Los Angeles Lakers themed T-shirts prior to Game Four against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: LeBron James #23 and Bronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers warm up against the Oklahoma City Thunder prior to Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder warms up prior to Game Four against the Los Angeles Lakers in the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers in Game 4 NBA Playoffs, see top photos
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up prior to Game Four against Oklahoma City Thunder in the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
If that series ends in six games, OKC will host Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Monday. If it ends in seven games, OKC will host Game 1 on Wednesday. Tipoff times have not yet been determined.
That would give Williams 25-27 days of recovery time for his injury, which he sustained during Game 2 of a first-round series against the Phoenix Suns. A Grade 1 hamstring strain typically takes 1-3 weeks to come back from.
Mitchell should continue to play a large role upon Williams' return, and the two teammates will likely spend a good amount of time on the floor together. Both players are strong shot creators and can play off of each other, along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
“I think it’s what you see with Ajay, generally, when he’s out there with Shai," Daigneault said. "I think it’s what you’ve seen in the past with Shai and Dub (Williams) being out there together. Just having two guys who are a threat to create and are always in attack mode is really helpful. And then obviously Shai is going to get doubled at times. And when the ball can come out to a guy who’s that much of a threat, it impacts the next closeout, which puts the next pass at a huge advantage.
"I think that’s what everybody saw a lot of in the Lakers series. Shai gets two on him, it comes out to Ajay, he’s kind of facilitating the next play and then it’s the next guy who’s at a huge advantage to make a play. That’s all downstream of those guys’ gravity.”
