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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

Last night, the Oklahoma City Thunder faced off against the Memphis Grizzles. The matchup marked the first time in quite a long time that no player from OKC’s side was listed on the injury report. While every player from the roster entered the game healthy, not everyone left it in the same condition. Tragedy struck during the 2nd quarter when Jalen Williams while attempting to score, ended up stepping on a camera operator and injuring his right ankle. The incident shortened his playing time, and the athlete had to return to the locker room in the middle of the game.

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While some fans expected the player to return once the second half neared, Williams was eventually ruled out for the rest of the game. No one seemed more upset with the fact than Williams himself. Taking to his official Instagram account, he uploaded a black and white photo of himself on his story. Along with the colorless filter, we can also see him covering his face with a towel. All the aesthetics in the image signal the impression that Williams is not taking his recent exit well. Furthermore, it has also raised speculation amongst fans whether the player’s situation is more dire than it seemed to be.

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Before the injury, the 22-year-old was looking to have a productive game. In just 10 minutes, he had managed to score 7 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists. Despite his absence, Williams’ team faced no major challenges and easily managed to defeat their rivals by 31 points. As of this moment, OKC’s coach Mark Daigneault has not provided any update on the injury. With the Thunder set to face off against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday, fans hope to receive some good news on Williams’ condition.

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How has Jalen Willams been performing this season?

Despite this only being his second year with the NBA, Jalen Williams has come out to become one of Oklahoma’s best scorers. When comparing his stats to his rookie season, the player’s average has significantly increased by 5.2 points and 1.2 assists. Furthermore, his three-point field goal percentage has seen an increase by 9.1%. From being the 12 overall pick during the 2022 NBA draft to becoming the second-highest average team scorer behind Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, the player has come a long way in a short time.

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USA Today via Reuters

William’s trouble with his ankle has been bothering him for quite some time now. After he developed another sprain during the first half of the season, he had to opt out of six games. Despite this, he continues to be one of the most consistent players of the year. While the Thunder currently occupies the top spot on the Western Conference Points table, they will be looking to have the support of Williams to maintain their momentum.

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READ MORE: “Allen Iverson”: OKC Sensation Didn’t Think Twice in Naming Favorite Fashion Icon

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Written by

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Ashmit Kumar

2,900 Articles

Ashmit Kumar is a Senior Basketball Writer at EssentiallySports with over three years of experience covering the NBA. A journalism graduate, Ashmit has been a crucial part of EssentiallySports’ NBA live trends desk for the past two seasons. His work extends beyond game coverage to include analysis of player endorsements, brand deals, and Team USA's Olympics campaigns.

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Saumya Khanduja

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