Suns’ Mark Williams Suffers Major Injury | Are Knicks Being Overlooked In East?

September 11, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Mark Williams, the Phoenix Suns' 24-year-old center, had just played the most games of his NBA career last season—60 of them—and signed a three-year, $38 million fully guaranteed deal this offseason. Now he needs surgery for a torn labrum in his shoulder and will miss the first couple of months of the season. The hosts of Locked On NBA Game Night walk through what this means for Williams, who the Suns will turn to in his place, and then pivot to a separate question: after winning the title, have the New York Knicks already been forgotten in a suddenly loaded Eastern Conference?

Mark Williams’ Setback and Phoenix’s Options

Williams averaged nearly a double-double last season (12 points, 8 rebounds) in 23 minutes per game, shot 64% from two-point range, and was beginning to show how he could fit alongside Devin Booker. When Booker and Williams shared the floor, the Suns posted a 112 defensive rating and a 117 offensive rating, and their offense became more efficient at the rim, mid-range, and from three. The hosts note that Williams is still a raw player—his rim-protection numbers should be better given his athletic tools, and his post scoring needs refinement—but the development arc was finally trending upward after seasons of 43, 19, and 44 games played. The injury costs him critical reps at a moment when he was supposed to prove he could be a reliable starting center.

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What you'll learn

1 (02:08) **Mark Williams' Shoulder Injury and Its Impact on the Suns** - Haze and Swiper break down the torn labrum that will sideline Williams for the start of the season.
2 (08:38) **Who Replaces Williams in the Suns' Starting Lineup?** - The debate over whether Oso Ighodaro or Kel’el Ware should step into the starting five.
3 (12:00) **Are the New York Knicks Being Overlooked as Defending Champions?** - The conversation shifts to the East, where big-name moves to Miami and Philadelphia have stolen the headlines.
4 (21:09) **Swiper's Dark Horse: The Indiana Pacers** - Swiper explains why the Pacers could be a better team than even the Finals version of themselves.
5 (24:59) **Jalen Duren's Contract Standoff with the Pistons** - The hosts analyze the reported $5 million annual gap and the risk of Duren taking the qualifying offer.
6 Standout Quotes
7 (31:22) "If you ain't one of the top eight, ten players in the sport, that Supermax ain't your business. And barely top eight—it might just be top six or seven."

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Phoenix Suns face a major challenge as Mark Williams suffers a torn labrum after his healthiest NBA season yet—will their young bigs step up or struggle to fill the void? Oso Ighodaro and Kaman Malawach are poised for expanded roles, while Devin Booker’s chemistry with the frontcourt remains a key storyline in the upcoming campaign.

Hayes and Swipa debate whether the New York Knicks are being overlooked despite a historic playoff run and league-best offensive rating. The conversation spotlights the Knicks’ revamped depth, Andre Drummond’s arrival, and Rick Carlisle’s surging Indiana Pacers as a dark horse threat. Plus, Jalen Duren’s contract standoff with the Detroit Pistons raises tough questions about center valuation in today’s NBA—will betting on himself pay off or backfire?

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