Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams was taken off the court on a stretcher after suffering a significant lower-leg injury during their 108-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Williams - a shooting guard who entered Sunday having averaged 18 points per game in his first 250 NBA contests - has been an All-Star and an All-NBA player already in his career, was a huge part of the Thunder team that won the 2024-25 NBA title.
He injured his lower left leg and saw his ankle turn in an unnatural angle in a drive with 1:14 remaining, with Williams immediately treated by medical personnel after going down underneath the basket on the Thunder's offensive end.
Williams' ankle was draped by towels before a stretcher was brought out, with players left visibly shaken by the incident and the game stopped for around five minutes before the Thunder completed their victory.
"Just feel bad for him," Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said in a post-match interview, fighting back tears as he spoke. "Nothing more than that."
Williams, seated up on the stretcher, saluted the cheering fans with two thumbs-up signals as he was wheeled off the court.
There was no immediate diagnosis from the Thunder, though it was clear that the injury was severe - and the stretcher was called for within just a few seconds of the play ending.
Final from OKC pic.twitter.com/i2BmeVGAEh
Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said the team would be briefed Monday morning with the latest updates on Williams' condition.
"Our whole city will have JDub in our thoughts and prayers as he deals with this adversity and as he makes his way through his recovery," Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt posted on social media after the game.
This city lives and dies with our Thunder. We support them on the court, as representatives of our city off the court, and as people that feel as familiar to us as our friends and neighbors. They’re our guys. It’s been a thrill for all of us to have JDub back on the court this… pic.twitter.com/d3jeUldDBY
Williams missed 49 games last season with an array of issues, mostly hamstring problems and recovery from a significant surgery on his right wrist.
"He just loves playing, loves the competition," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "That's who he is. It's unfortunate, his luck so far. But he's equipped for it."
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Source: Sports
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