This is brutal news out of Oklahoma City.
Jalen Williams suffered a dislocated left ankle and fractured fibula from a horrific fall in Sunday's win over the Clippers, Thunder General Manager Sam Presti said Monday in a media briefing. While Presti wouldn't discuss a return timeline, Williams will miss most — and more likely all — of the remainder of this season.
"This is an injury that generally we see more in football players," Presti said, adding that the former All-Star was in good spirits. "I spent a lot of time speaking to different doctors and his agents, us, his family, and it's a surgical situation."
In that same game, starting guard Cason Wallace left with a shoulder injury which turns out to be a torn labrum in his left shoulder, Presti said. That also is going to require surgery and, while again Presti would not give a timeline, Wallace is likely out for the season.
"I think everybody knows he's a total warrior and probably would have gone back in the game if we let him," Presti said of Wallace. "So obviously tough night last night. There's no way to paint that differently."
Through three games, Williams has averaged 13.7 points and 4.7 rebounds a game. While he's struggled with his shot (38.5% so far this season), he's stepped up in clutch moments. When Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had an off night against Denver, Williams stepped up with 21 points. Just having him out there as a secondary shot creator and threat took a lot of pressure off SGA.
Wallace took on a major defensive role for the Thunder to start the season, but his offense was still coming around, averaging 6.3 points per game and shooting 30% from 3-point range.
Both players were starters and played key roles in the Thunder's 3-0 start. When asked whether these injuries might push the Thunder to make a trade to help fill out the roster, Presti said he hasn't thought about it yet.
"For me, the last not even 24 hours, whatever it's been, it's all about people," Presti said. "I know you got to ask the question... but I really haven't given a lot of thought to that. Right now, it's about those two guys, their families."
Oklahoma City can and very likely will file for a disabled player exception for both Williams and Wallace, which would give them some financial flexibility to bring in another player (Williams' salary would let them bring in a player being paid up to $15 million). However, that does not open up a roster spot.
Presti also talked up Oklahoma City and the Thunder culture.
"I'm not going to sit up here and say this is exactly where we want to be, or this is how we'd like to have it. But at the same time, we're extremely optimistic about the recovery for both the players," Presti said. "Most importantly, you know, things could have been a lot worse. And I think in these types of situations, it's important to kind of take stock, take a step back, realize we're dealing with people, realize we're dealing with the greatest athletes in the world. They're going to be back out there. They'll be playing for our team. They'll be representing our city and our state in short order...
"We're, as an organization, and also as a city and a community, this is what we're built for. This is the kind of thing that gets thrown at you here, and you just plow right through it. You walk through punches, and you step over roadblocks. And I think our guys are ready to do that. But it's certainly disappointing. I don't want to sugarcoat that for anybody."
