The Thunder’s worst fears around Jalen Williams’ injury were realized.
The All-Star wing dislocated his left ankle and has a fractured fibula after taking a nasty fall on a drive to the basket late in the fourth quarter Sunday night, Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti announced during his media availability Monday.
Fourth-year guard Cason Wallace, an All-Defensive Second Team selection a year ago, also has a torn left labrum.
Both will undergo surgery and will miss most of and potentially the entire regular season, according to ESPN. Presti did not offer up a return timetable.
“He’s as tough as they come. He’s an elite competitor,” Presti said of Williams. “Even last night, just miraculous in terms of his outlook in the way he’s looking forward to attacking this. And, you know, we’re going to be with him the entire way.”
It’s a rough blow for a Thunder team looking to win a second NBA championship in three years after losing to the Spurs in last season’s Western Conference finals.
Williams, who was averaging 13.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists in three games, injured himself when he was sandwiched between two Clippers players on a drive.
He landed with his left leg getting caught underneath him as he fell hard to the court. Williams, 25, was taken off on a stretcher after being immediately attended to by medical personnel.
Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was emotional when asked during his on-court postgame interview what was going through his mind watching Williams’ injury during the 108-101 win that moved the team to 3-0 on he season.
“I don’t even know,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I just feel bad for him. Nothing more than that.”
He knows the team has a much taller task ahead of it now without his co-star, but he is confident the team can work through it. Williams also missed time last season after wrist surgeries and dealt with multiple hamstring strains.
“It’s obviously going to be tough without a player like that,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “But he’s not gone forever. He’ll be back better than ever, and we know it. We’ve just got to hold the fort down until he comes back.”
Wallace tried to fight through a screen early in the game against the Clippers and immediately grabbed near his shoulder.
The 22-year-old, who is averaging 6.3 points and 2.3 rebounds this year, signed a five-year, $135 million contract with the team before the season started.
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