Mark Williams: The Center Phoenix Won't See Until February

The Return Date. Williams has missed every game since training camp, sidelined by a shoulder and arm injury on his left side that reportedly required surgery. The Suns now carry an estimated return date of February 3, 2027, meaning the center misses the opener at Portland and roughly the season's first three months.

Last Season's Line. In his first year as a Sun, Williams appeared in 60 games, posting 11.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist a night across 23.6 minutes. He added 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks with 1.1 turnovers a game, a line built almost entirely around the rim.

Efficiency Over Volume. Williams converted 64.4 percent of his shots and posted a 68.0 true shooting mark on just a 16.7 percent usage rate. He barely attempted threes all season, making his lone attempt for a perfect mark, with the rest of his offense coming at the basket.

The Defensive Numbers. His on-court defensive rating sat at 113.3 against an offensive rating of 111.3, a net rating of -2.0 for a center expected to anchor the interior. His 16.2 percent rebound rate trailed what Phoenix has needed from its five, a gap the roster has felt in his absence.

How He Got Here. Phoenix landed Williams from Charlotte in a deal tied to the same July 2025 trade window that sent Kevin Durant to Houston, giving up Vasa Micic, the draft rights to Liam McNeeley and a 2029 first-round pick to get him.

The Contract Climb. Williams is owed $11.7 million this season, rising to $12.7 million in 2027-28 and $13.6 million in 2028-29 — a deal that keeps paying out while he recovers, on a payroll already deep into luxury-tax territory.

What He Needs. When Williams returns, Phoenix needs more than efficient scoring: it needs the rebounding and interior defense his 2025-26 numbers didn't fully deliver. A center this expensive, missing this much of the season, has to look different by February than he did a year ago.