Jalen Williams has now missed his 18th game of the season, which unfortunately means he's no longer eligible for any postseason awards this year. This absence has some big consequences, not just for him but financially as well, he’s potentially losing out on as much as $48 million. That’s a serious hit on what could have been an even bigger payday.

Jalen is still healing from surgery he had during the offseason to fix a torn ligament in his wrist. Despite being sidelined, he signed a hefty five-year, $241 million rookie contract extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder this year. But here’s the kicker, if he'd made an All-NBA team this season, his contract could have bumped up to somewhere between $250 and $289 million. Missing those games means he’s now off the hook for that extra cash.

The Thunder have been having a historic season so far. Fresh off their first-ever championship, they kicked off this year at a blazing pace, something that only a handful of NBA teams have done in history. And impressively, they’ve done it without Jalen on the court. He’s been out the first 18 games recovering from wrist surgery, but the team hasn’t missed a beat.

Jalen, 24, really stepped up as one of the Thunder’s key players. Drafted in the first round back in 2022, he quickly became a crucial piece in Oklahoma City’s rise to becoming a contender. From his early days, he made an immediate impact, playing a big role in turning the franchise around.

Last year, he took a major leap forward, improving his game across the board. He averaged 19.1 points (up from 14.1 the year before), 4.5 assists (up from 3.3), and shot an impressive 54% from the field plus 42.7% from three-point range. That boost helped the Thunder become a real threat in the Western Conference.

In the 2024-25 season, Jalen didn’t slow down. He stepped up even more, improving his stats and earning his first All-Star selection. He played a key role in the Thunder’s playoff success, shining in big moments against teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves in the conference finals and the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals.

Because of his outstanding play, the Thunder rewarded him with a supermax extension worth $241 million over five years. This contract is flexible and could have gone even higher if he had made the All-NBA team this year, but missing those 18 games means that won’t happen.

As ESPN’s Bobby Marks pointed out, “Jalen Williams has now missed 18 games and is ineligible for postseason honors. Williams signed a five-year $241 million rookie extension with Oklahoma City in the offseason. The extension would have increased between $250-$289 million if Williams was named All-NBA this season.”

So, while it’s tough for Jalen personally to miss out on those awards and potential millions, Oklahoma City is showing it can succeed even without him on the floor for now. Here’s hoping Jalen recovers fully and comes back strong for the rest of the season and beyond.