Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams is taken off the court by medical staff during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Clippers, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Clippers guard Keaton Wagler, right, shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Clippers center Brook Lopez, right, shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder center Aday Mara during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso, right, steals the ball from Clippers guard Darius Garland during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Clippers forward Rui Hachimura (28) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) pushes past Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams (8) drives past Clippers guard Darius Garland (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, left, looks for an opening around Clippers forward Isaiah Jackson during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace, left, drives past Clippers guard Darius Garland during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder was taken off the court on a stretcher Sunday night, after suffering a serious injury to his lower left leg while getting fouled in a scene that moved some of his teammates to the brink of tears.
Read more Luka Doncic scores 52 points as Lakers overcome Jazz in offensive showcase
He was injured on a drive with 1:14 remaining of Oklahoma City’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers, getting tended to almost immediately by medical personnel after going down underneath the basket on the Thunder’s offensive end.
Williams’ ankle was draped by towels and players from both teams acted in immediate dismay and disbelief as the stretcher was brought out. The game was stopped for about five minutes, and the Thunder went on to finish a 108-101 victory.
“Just feel bad for him,” Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said in a postgame televised interview, fighting back tears as he spoke. “Nothing more than that.”
There was no immediate diagnosis from the Thunder, though it was obvious that the injury was severe — and the stretcher was called for within just a few seconds of the play ending. Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said the team would be briefed Monday morning with the latest updates on Williams’ condition.
“We’re not doing great,” Daigneault said.
Williams, seated up on the stretcher, saluted the cheering fans with two thumbs-up signals as he was wheeled off the court.
Read more Former Trojan Bryan Jackson comes out on top in Wisconsin’s throttling of USC
“Our whole city will have JDub in our thoughts and prayers as he deals with this adversity and as he makes his way through his recovery,” Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt posted on social media after the game.
Williams — a shooting guard who entered Sunday having averaged 18 points per game in his first 250 NBA contests — has been an All-Star and an All-NBA player already in his career, plus was a huge part of the Thunder team that won the 2025 NBA title. He missed 49 games last season with an array of issues, mostly hamstring problems and recovery from a significant surgery on his right wrist.
“He just loves playing, loves the competition,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “That’s who he is. … It’s unfortunate, his luck so far. But he’s equipped for it.”
The Thunder play Monday night again at home against Phoenix. The schedule gives Oklahoma City little choice but to try and move on somewhat quickly, Daigneault said.
“We don’t have a choice,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s what we signed up for. It’s obviously going to be tough without a player like that. He’s not gone forever. He’ll be back better than ever. We know it. We’ve just got to hold the fort down until he comes back.”
Read more Rams show resilience with short-handed win over Raiders