Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star guard Jalen Williams was carried off the court on a stretcher after suffering a significant injury to his lower left leg during Sunday night’s 108-101 win over the LA Clippers.
The team has not yet given a diagnosis. Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said the club will provide the latest update on Williams’ condition on Monday morning. “We’re not doing great,” Daigneault said.
Williams was hurt while being fouled on a drive with 1:14 remaining in the fourth quarter. He landed awkwardly, and the leg collapsed beneath him, with his left foot bending out to the side at an unnatural angle.
He held his hands to his mouth and then his head as he looked at the injury while lying on the hardwood. A staffer quickly covered his lower leg with a towel, and medical personnel rushed to attend to him. His teammates and Clippers players reacted in shock, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander buried his face in his jersey and bent down beside him.
Williams was placed on a stretcher and wheeled off to a standing ovation. He gave the crowd two thumbs-up as he left. The game was halted for about five minutes before the Thunder went on to close out the victory.
Teammates react
Gilgeous-Alexander became emotional during his postgame television interview when he addressed the injury.
“I just feel bad for him,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s obviously going to be tough without a player like that. 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.”
Williams, a shooting guard who entered Sunday averaging 18 points through his first 250 NBA games, has already been an All-Star and an All-NBA player. He was a major part of the Thunder side that won the 2025 NBA title. He missed 49 games last season with a range 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.”
Guard Cason Wallace (left shoulder soreness) and forward Jaylin Williams (right wrist soreness) also left the game in the first quarter and did not return.
What comes next
The Thunder return to action on Monday at home against the Phoenix Suns. Daigneault said the schedule leaves Oklahoma City little choice but to move on somewhat quickly.