It’s just a stomach churn.
Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams had to be taken off the field on a stretcher Sunday night following a nasty fall, in which his entire leg buckled awkwardly under his weight (it could have been his knee, his ankle or both that were injured). It looked like an injury that would end his three-game season.
You could see how serious it was by the reaction of players from both teams, who looked shocked, covered their faces, many initially walking away before returning to Williams’ side for support.
“It’s tough, man. We’re not doing very well,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said from the podium after the game.
“He loves to play. He loves to compete. That’s who he is,” said an emotional Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “I have no doubt he will come back better than before.”
The injury occurred with 1:14 to play, when Williams took an aggressive drive to the rim and was met there by Derrick Jones Jr. up front and Kris Dunn at the back. Williams fell at an angle, about to land on his back, but his left leg folded under him and then was bent at an angle where his legs would not bend. Dunn was whistled for a Fragrant 1 foul on the play.
Williams remained on the ground for several minutes, with his teammates around him, and the entire arena went silent. Williams was lifted onto a stretcher and, as he was taken out of the arena, some members of the crowd began chanting “J-Dub” and he gave a thumbs up.
Williams only played in 33 games last season, largely due to a hamstring injury, and was incredibly limited in the postseason. His return to health – averaging 16.5 points per game so far this season – was one of the reasons the Thunder were considered one of the title favorites.
The Thunder won, 108-101, but no one in Oklahoma City was celebrating. All thoughts are with J-Dub.
Gn sports
