The Oklahoma City Thunder’s depth took a hit ahead of training camp, as Kenrich Williams recently underwent surgery on his right knee in New York. According to the team’s PR statement, the veteran swingman will be re-evaluated after the preseason.
Kenrich Williams is coming off a down year in 2023-24. After averaging 22.0 minutes per game in his first three years with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the 29-year-old only played 14.9 minutes per night in 69 regular season games last season, averaging 4.7 points and 3.0 rebounds per game on 46.8 percent shooting from the field and 39.7 percent from three-point land.
The former TCU star is one of the most dependable wings the Oklahoma City Thunder has because of his ability to guard multiple positions and space the floor with his outside shot. However, he has struggled with injuries in the past few years.
Williams’ 2022-23 campaign ended prematurely due to a wrist injury, and he missed the first few weeks of the 2023-24 campaign with back spasms. From there, he struggled to regain his form.
With Williams sidelined anew, there will be more opportunities for Isaiah Joe, Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, Ousmane Dieng, and Dillon Jones, whom the team selected with the No. 26 pick in this summer’s NBA Draft.
Oklahoma City Thunder expected to contend next season
The Oklahoma City Thunder are coming off a solid 2023-24 season, as they were the top seed in the Western Conference with a 57-25 win-loss record.
They made the postseason for the first time since 2020 and swept the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round. However, the Dallas Mavericks ended the Oklahoma City Thunder’s playoff run, defeating them in six games during the Western Conference semifinals.
With the new additions of Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein, the Oklahoma City Thunder should be right up there among the upper-echelon teams in the Western Conference.
