Thunder forward Kenrich Williams is no longer listed on the team’s injury report, meaning he will be available for his season debut against the Clippers on Monday after missing the first 10 games of the season (hat tip to The Oklahoman’s Joel Lorenzi).

Williams underwent an arthroscopic debridement procedure on his right knee in mid-September, sidelining him through training camp, the preseason and the start of the regular season. He was assigned to the G League for practice purposes this weekend, indicating he was nearing a return.

Williams, who turns 30 next month, saw his playing time decrease last season for the Thunder after averaging 22.0 minutes per game in his first three years in Oklahoma City. In 69 games in 2023-24, the 6-foot-1 forward averaged 4.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in just 14.9 minutes per game.

Williams is a solid defender who has made 38.8% of his attempts from beyond the arc since joining the Thunder in 2020. Williams dropped down the list due to younger players like Jalen Williams, Isaiah Joe, Aaron WigginsAnd Cason Wallace taking on increasingly larger roles.

There is no guarantee that Williams will actually speak on Monday, despite being available. However, there are a number of factors working in his favor. Not only is it the second night of a back-to-back set for Oklahoma City, but the club is also missing its top three big men (Chet Holmgren, Isaiah HartensteinAnd Jaylin Williams) due to injuries and could still use a healthy body in the frontcourt.

Although Williams came into the league more as a winger, Basketball-Reference’s play-by-play data indicates that he spent 93% of his minutes as a power forward or center last season. 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 lineups.