Oklahoma City Thunder starters Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace will both miss extended time after undergoing surgery to repair injuries suffered in Sunday's win over the LA Clippers. Williams suffered a fractured fibula and dislocated left ankle, while Wallace suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder, according to general manager Sam Presti. Presti said the timelines for both players' returns will be known after the operations, and both injuries typically require multiple months of rehabilitation, putting their availability in doubt for the rest of the season.
Williams went down with 1:14 remaining after being fouled on a drive and landing awkwardly, his left leg collapsing and ankle bent at an unnatural angle. He was stretchered off to a standing ovation. Williams, 25, an All-Star and All-NBA selection two seasons ago, has endured a difficult stretch of injuries over the past 18 months. He played through the 2025 championship playoffs with a torn ligament in his right wrist, but recurring hamstring strains limited him to 33 regular-season games last season. He is in the first season of a five-year, $239 million maximum contract.
Wallace, 22, injured his shoulder in the first quarter after running into a moving screen set by Clippers center Isaiah Jackson. He signed a five-year, $139 million contract extension last week and became a regular starter after Oklahoma City traded Luguentz Dort to the Atlanta Hawks over the summer. He was an All-Defensive selection last season.
Presti said the team would support both players through their recovery. "We are extremely optimistic about the recovery for both players," he said. "Most importantly, things could have been a lot worse."
Source: ESPN NBA · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing