Thunder's Jalen Williams says he's healthy entering WCF - ESPN

Oklahoma City Thunder star wing Jalen Williams, who has missed the past six games due to a Grade 1 strain in his left hamstring, declared himself healthy entering the Western Conference finals.

«It's good that I haven't had to rush back from my hamstring stuff at all,» Williams said on a video posted to his YouTube channel on Friday. «I'm actually taking like extra days now than from what was originally planned because we were up 3-0 [over the Lakers], so there was no point in going into this series and possibly hurting myself before we play the Timberwolves or the Spurs.

»I'm about to go into another series healthy."

Coach Mark Daigneault said after Friday's practice that Williams was «progressing» but declined to elaborate. Williams was dressed out for the practice.

The Thunder are not required to update Williams' status until the evening before the series opener.

Williams, a third-team All-NBA selection last season who played a critical role in the Thunder's title run despite a right wrist injury that required offseason surgery, was limited to 33 games due to injuries during the regular season.

Williams missed the first 19 games while recovering from his wrist surgery and then was sidelined for two extended stretches due to a right hamstring strain that he aggravated after returning before the All-Star break.

Williams got off to a spectacular start of the playoffs before straining his left hamstring during the third quarter of Oklahoma City's Game 2 win over the Phoenix Suns. He had 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the playoff opener and 19 points and four assists in only 23 minutes before exiting Game 2.

Ajay Mitchell starred in the Thunder's second-round sweep of the Lakers while filling in for Williams