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.