Thunder forward Kenrich Williams is no longer listed on the team’s injury report, meaning he’ll be available to make his season debut on Monday vs. the Clippers after missing the team’s first 10 games of the season (hat tip to Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman).
Williams underwent an arthroscopic debridement procedure on his right knee in mid-September, sidelining him for training camp, the preseason, and the start of the regular season. He was assigned to the G League for practice purposes over the weekend, indicating that he was nearing a return.
Williams, who will turn 30 next month, saw his playing time decline last season for the Thunder after averaging 22.0 minutes per game in his first three years in Oklahoma City. In 69 outings in 2023/24, the 6’6″ forward averaged 4.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in just 14.9 minutes per contest.
A solid defender who has made 38.8% of his attempts from beyond the arc since joining the Thunder in 2020, Williams slid down the depth chart as a result of younger players like Jalen Williams, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, and Cason Wallace taking on increased roles.
There’s no guarantee that Williams will actually see the floor on Monday despite being available. However, a couple factors are working in his favor. Not only is it the second night of a back-to-back set for Oklahoma City, but the club is missing its top three big men (Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Jaylin Williams) due to injuries and could use another healthy body in its frontcourt.
Although Williams entered the league as more of a wing, Basketball-Reference’s play-by-play data indicates he spent 93% of his minutes last season as a power forward or center. That data is somewhat subjective, but with three centers unavailable, the Thunder could certainly turn to Williams as a de facto big man in small-ball lineups.
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