During the Thunder’s 108-101 victory over the Clippers, Jalen Williams suffered a serious injury to his lower leg while attempting a layup, leading to him being stretchered off the court.
The injury left players and fans in disbelief, especially Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who appeared visibly upset as medical personnel took care of Williams at Paycom Center.
As Williams went for the basket, he found himself caught between two defenders and fell awkwardly, causing his left leg to bend in an unintended way when it hit the floor.
A trainer quickly placed a towel over Williams’ leg to obscure the injury while other staff members hurried to call for medical assistance, including a stretcher.
Viewers on the ESPN broadcast saw Gilgeous-Alexander hiding his face with his jersey, and other Clippers players also displayed their concern over the incident.
As Williams was being cared for, fans began chanting “JDub,” and he received a standing ovation as he was wheeled off the court. He even managed to give the crowd a thumbs up.
An emotional Gilgeous-Alexander expressed his feelings, saying, “I just feel bad for him,” as he fought back tears.
After the game, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault shared with reporters how difficult the situation was, mentioning, “we’re not doing great” in light of the injury.
He added, “Those are tough, man… Everyone empathizes; I think both teams in those situations are not doing great.”
Daigneault noted that the severity of the injury “speaks for itself,” and promised to provide more details about Williams on Monday.
This injury comes on the heels of a challenging season for Williams last year, where he only managed to play 33 games due to multiple injuries including strains in both hamstrings and a persistent wrist issue.
