Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star guard Jalen Williams was taken off the floor on a stretcher after suffering a significant injury to his lower left leg in Sunday night’s 108-101 win over the LA Clippers.
The team has not given an immediate diagnosis. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said the team will be briefed on Monday morning with the latest updates on Williams’ condition.
“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 came down awkwardly on the leg, which collapsed beneath him, and his left foot bent out to the side at an unnatural angle.
He brought his hands to his mouth, then to his head, as he looked at the injury while sitting on the hardwood. A staffer quickly covered his lower leg with a towel. Medical personnel rushed to attend to him as his teammates and the Clippers players reacted in shock. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander buried his face in his jersey and bent down near Williams.
Williams was placed on a stretcher and wheeled off the court to a standing ovation. He gave the crowd two thumbs-up as he was taken off. The game was stopped for about five minutes before the Thunder went on to finish the victory.
Teammates react
Gilgeous-Alexander teared up in his postgame television interview when addressing 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 in his first 250 NBA games, has already been an All-Star and an All-NBA player. He was a huge part of the Thunder team that won the 2025 NBA title. He 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.”
He added: “It’s unfortunate, his luck so far. But he’s equipped for it.”
Other injuries and schedule
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.
The Thunder play again on Monday, at home against the Phoenix Suns. The schedule leaves Oklahoma City little choice but to move on somewhat quickly, Daigneault said.