Suns center Mark Williams has surgery for torn labrum, likely out for several months

Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams is set to miss an extended period of the upcoming season after undergoing surgery to address a torn labrum in his left shoulder. The injury, which occurred during an offseason workout, prompted the team to make the announcement on Friday. The Suns have indicated that a specific timeline for Williams' return is yet to be determined, but a torn labrum often necessitates a recovery spanning several months.

Standing at 7-foot-1, Williams recently inked a $38 million, three-year contract to rejoin the Suns. Before signing, he had a productive first season with the franchise, recording an average of 11.8 points and eight rebounds per game. Williams, who played college basketball at Duke, has faced multiple injury challenges throughout his four-year NBA career; however, his 60 games played last season marked his career-high.

In Williams' absence, the Suns are anticipated to heavily rely on the contributions of fellow centers Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach, who are expected to shoulder a significant portion of the minutes at the position this season.