Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams had surgery Thursday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder and will miss several months, the team announced Friday.
The 7-foot-1 Williams, 24, who signed a fully guaranteed three-year, $38 million deal to return to the Suns in free agency, suffered the injury during a recent offseason workout.
He was coming off the healthiest season of his four-year NBA career, appearing in 60 games after a previous high of 44. He averaged 11.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 23.6 minutes per game.
Williams arrived in Phoenix in a 2025 draft night deal from Charlotte, after the Hornets' first attempt to trade him was rescinded shortly at that year's trade deadline. Williams took over as the Suns' starting center and was part of a group that helped Phoenix beat preseason expectations in earning a playoff berth.
He has career averages of 12 points, 8.5 rebounds and one block per game.
Without Williams, the Suns will likely lean on Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach to play the bulk of the minutes at center this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.