Mark Williams out after shoulder surgery, with an est. return of Feb. 3
Suns center Mark Williams had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder and is out. His estimated return date is Feb. 3, 2027. He is coming off a 60-game season in which he shot 64.4 percent from the field.
By the Suns Nightly Desk · updated 2 d ago01The story of the nightThe injury and the timelineWilliams is listed as out with a left shoulder injury.
Williams is listed as out with a left shoulder injury. He underwent surgery on a torn labrum in his left shoulder, and Shams Charania of ESPN reported he will miss an extended period of time. The estimated return date is Feb. 3, 2027. That puts his absence well into the 2026-27 season. The injury report first moved him from day-to-day to out on Sept. 11, the same day the surgery news came out. For the Suns, it means the 7-1 center will not be part of the opening stretch of the schedule, and the team has to plan around a long wait for his return.
02What the injury report showsThe shoulder is not the first issue on his chart this fall.
The shoulder is not the first issue on his chart this fall. On Sept. 6, Williams was listed day-to-day with a left foot injury. Five days later, on Sept. 11, his status changed to out with the left shoulder injury. The shoulder is now the only injury on his current report. The earlier foot listing was day-to-day, and the shoulder surgery is the reason he is out. The Suns have given a return estimate of Feb. 3, 2027, though such dates can shift as recovery moves along. Fans should treat that date as an estimate, not a promise.
03Last season's productionLast season, in 2025-26, Williams played 60 games for Phoenix and averaged 23.6 minutes.
Last season, in 2025-26, Williams played 60 games for Phoenix and averaged 23.6 minutes. He put up 11.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. He turned the ball over 1.1 times a night. His efficiency stood out. He shot 64.4 percent from the field and 77.1 percent at the free-throw line, with a true shooting mark of 68.0 percent. His usage rate was a modest 16.7 percent, which fits a finisher around the rim. His plus-minus for the year was -0.7.
04A look at the final stretch of last seasonWilliams closed out 2025-26 with a handful of useful games.
Williams closed out 2025-26 with a handful of useful games. On April 7 against Houston, he scored 19 points with 8 rebounds in 28.0 minutes, his best line in the recent log. Three days earlier, in a win over Chicago on April 5, he had 14 points and 8 rebounds in 25.7 minutes. On April 10 against the Lakers, he had 7 points and 5 rebounds in 20.5 minutes in a loss. Earlier, on March 3 against Sacramento, he had 10 points and 9 rebounds in a win. Phoenix lost three of those four April games.
05Preseason and the Suns' roster movesWilliams is not listed as having produced in the preseason.
Williams is not listed as having produced in the preseason. The game log shows zeros across the board for Oct. 5 against Detroit, Oct. 7 against Chicago and Oct. 14 against San Antonio, and Phoenix lost all three. Elsewhere on the Suns, per recent reports, the team is set to waive Koby Brea, a move dated Oct. 19. Another report from Sept. 17 said Duop Reath will sign with the Suns. Both items are reported moves, not confirmed ones. With Williams out, any frontcourt depth the Suns add takes on more weight.
Williams11.7 ppg
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