Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace will both undergo surgery after the Oklahoma City Thunder confirmed a fractured fibula and dislocated left ankle for Williams and a torn labrum in Wallace’s left shoulder.
Thunder general manager Sam Presti announced the diagnoses on Monday (US time), ESPN reported, with both players set to be sidelined indefinitely.
According to ESPN, both players are expected to miss several months, if not the entire season. Presti said a recovery timeline would not be released until after the procedures.
How the injuries happened
Williams was hurt with 1:14 left in the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s 108-101 win over the LA Clippers. He was fouled on a drive to the basket, came down awkwardly on his left leg and was taken from the court on a stretcher, giving the home crowd two thumbs up as he left.
Wallace’s injury came much earlier, in the first quarter, as he tried to get over a screen. The Thunder initially ruled him out for the rest of the game with what the team called shoulder soreness.
Read more: Jalen Williams Stretchered Off With Serious Leg Injury in Thunder Win
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was emotional after the game. “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,” he said, via ESPN.
A huge blow to the Thunder’s title hopes
The double blow hits a Thunder side chasing a second championship in three years. Williams, an All-Star and All-NBA player, was a key part of Oklahoma City’s 2025 title run, and ESPN noted his absence for large parts of the 2026 playoffs with hamstring problems played a big role in the Thunder’s Western Conference finals exit.
Williams is in the first season of a five-year, $240 million extension. He missed 49 games last season with hamstring issues and recovery from surgery on his right wrist.
Wallace, one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, signed a five-year, $139 million rookie-scale extension before the season and was expected to take on a bigger role this year.
Read more: Cason Wallace Agrees Five-Year, $139m Thunder Extension
Both players were already ruled out of Oklahoma City’s home game against the Phoenix Suns on Monday night (US time), alongside Chet Holmgren, who was listed with right patellar tendinitis on the NBA’s official injury report.
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