Mark Williams Gets a Return Estimate, and It Stretches Into…

By the Suns Nightly Desk · Thursday, September 24

Mark Williams now has an estimated return date of Feb. 1, 2027, more than four months after surgery on his left shoulder reported Sept. 11. The Suns are still 0-0 in 2026-27, with four preseason games set to open Oct. 5 at the Pistons and the regular season opener Oct. 21 at the Trail Blazers.

Suns Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

A date at last. Williams' file listed no timeline for weeks after his Sept. 11 surgery. It now reads Feb. 1, 2027, a target that would keep the center out well into the season and leaves Khaman Maluach and Oso Ighodaro carrying the position through camp and beyond.

Three new names. John Camden, Corey Camper and Samuel Hoiberg signed camp contracts Sept. 23, pushing Phoenix's roster to 20 players. None displaces a rotation piece; all three are fighting for a training camp invite to stick.

Huntley's own clock. CJ Huntley is day-to-day with a hamstring issue, with an estimated return of Oct. 1, just ahead of the first preseason trip. His camp reps are the ones most at risk if the date slips.

Preseason gets dates. Phoenix opens preseason Oct. 5 at the Pistons, then plays Oct. 7 at the Bulls, hosts the Spurs on ESPN2 Oct. 10, and closes at San Antonio Oct. 14. The real opener comes Oct. 21 at Portland.

Payroll above the line. Phoenix carries $216.2 million in payroll, above the $200.4 million tax line and the first apron both. Devin Booker's $57.1 million anchors the number, with Jalen Green's $36.3 million second on the list.

Frontcourt math. Last season, whenever a teammate sat, Ighodaro's playing time climbed 12 minutes a game past his own average and his scoring rose with it, the kind of jump camp will test again with Williams sidelined into 2027.

Question for camp. Twenty players are now on the roster, but only so many spots make the regular rotation. Which of the three new signees survives final cuts, and who wins the bulk of center reps between Maluach and Ighodaro, stays open.

On deck Preseason opens Oct. 5 at the Pistons, followed by road and home dates against the Bulls and Spurs before the Oct. 21 regular season opener at the Trail Blazers.

When will Mark Williams return for the Suns?

His estimated return is Feb. 1, 2027, following surgery on his left shoulder reported Sept. 11 by Shams Charania.

When do the Suns play their first preseason game?

Phoenix opens the preseason Oct. 5 at the Pistons, with the regular season starting Oct. 21 at the Trail Blazers.