Thunder's Jalen Williams diagnosed with Grade 1 left hamstring strain, listed as week-to-week

TL;DR

Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder has a Grade 1 left hamstring strain and is listed as week-to-week. He is likely to miss the remainder of the first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns.

Key points

Jalen Williams diagnosed with Grade 1 left hamstring strain
Listed as week-to-week by the Oklahoma City Thunder
Expected to miss entire first round of playoffs
Average recovery time for Grade 1 strain is 12 days
Williams has struggled with injuries this season

Oklahoma City ThunderJalen WilliamsNBA PlayoffsPhoenix Suns

The Oklahoma City Thunder had to figure out how to win without Jalen Williams for most of the regular season, they are going to have to do it again, likely for at least the rest of their first-round series against the Phoenix Suns.

Jalen Williams has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain and "he will be re-evaluated on a weekly basis," the team announced Thursday.

On average, a Grade 1 hamstring strain keeps a player out 12 days, according to Jeff Stotts of In Street Clothes, who maintains a database tracking NBA injuries. That timeline would keep Williams out for the entire first round of the playoffs, even if the series goes seven games (the Thunder are up 2-0), and if it ends earlier, he might miss the start of the second round.

Jalen Williams Injury History: The average time lost for Grade 1 hamstring strains is ~12.4 days. Multiple players have suffered the injury in the playoffs including Jaylen Brown, Steph Curry, & Devin Booker. Curry's injury occurred last year & kept him out of GS's last 4 games.

— Jeff Stotts (@InStreetClothes) April 23, 2026

Williams has been plagued by injuries all season and appeared in just 33 games for the Thunder this season. Williams was out for the first 19 games of the season recovering from right wrist surgery, then missed 30 more games due to a right hamstring injury (the opposite of the leg he injured Wednesday).

With Williams out, expect Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso and Aaron Wiggins to get more run.

This latest injury occurred in the third quarter of Game 2 on Wednesday night. Williams missed a transition layup, and as soon as he landed, he grabbed the back of his leg. Williams quickly checked himself out of the game and did not return.

Jalen Williams left Game 2 vs. the Suns with an apparent hamstring injury. pic.twitter.com/P47wjF0c9T

— ESPN (@espn) April 23, 2026

In the 33 games he did play this season, Williams averaged 17.1 points, 5.5 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game. In Game 1 of the series against the Suns, he had 22 points on 9-for-15 shooting. The Thunder won without Williams on Wednesday, 120-107, and took a 2-0 series lead as the series shifts to Phoenix for Game 3.

Q&A

How long is Jalen Williams expected to be out due to his hamstring injury?

Jalen Williams is expected to be out for approximately 12 days due to his Grade 1 hamstring strain, which could keep him out for the entire first round of the playoffs.

What is the impact of Jalen Williams' injury on the Thunder's playoff chances?

With Jalen Williams out, the Thunder will need to adjust their strategy to maintain their lead in the playoff series against the Phoenix Suns.

What is a Grade 1 hamstring strain and how does it affect players in the NBA?

A Grade 1 hamstring strain is a mild injury that typically results in a recovery time of about 12 days, affecting a player's ability to perform at full capacity.