azcentral
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams sustained a gruesome injury to his lower left leg during the Thunder's 108-101 home win over the Los Angeles Clippers on October 25, and the Phoenix Suns are among those sending their support. All-Star guard Devin Booker, speaking after the Suns' morning shootaround at Paycom Center before their Monday, October 26 matchup with the Thunder, said he watched the injury live and was deeply saddened.
"It's sad, honestly," Booker said. "You feel for somebody like that who has done everything the right way and continues to miss his time, but my prayers and thoughts are with him. Hoping for a speedy recovery."
Williams, a Perry Gilbert High graduate, was carried off the court on a stretcher as Thunder teammates and fans were visibly emotional. He has been officially ruled out of Monday's game with a left lower leg injury. The contest is a rematch of last season's first-round playoff series, which Oklahoma City swept.
Suns guard Jalen Green, who played only 32 games last season primarily due to a right hamstring injury, also offered his condolences. "Unfortunate. Sad," Green said. "You never want anybody in this league to go down like that or have an injury like that." Green added, "It's sad to see. Hopefully he has a healthy recovery and has a good journey back."
The injury occurred with Oklahoma City leading 103-99. Williams was driving past Clippers guard Kris Dunn off the dribble toward the basket when Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. rotated over to contest and collided with Williams in midair; Dunn was called for the foul. Williams' left leg bent underneath his body as his left foot planted first on the floor, and when his leg snapped back straight, his left foot was twisted sideways. He appeared to be in shock at first before grimacing in pain.
Injuries have plagued Williams, who was limited to 33 games last regular season. The All-Star forward underwent right wrist surgery and did not play his first game of last season until November 28, 2025, against the Suns in NBA Cup action in Oklahoma City. He later dealt with a recurring hamstring injury. Through three games this season, he is averaging 13.7 points per game.
Suns guard Luke Kennard, who made his Suns debut on October 24 against the Golden State Warriors at Mortgage Matchup Center after missing the season opener with left knee tendinopathy, echoed the sentiments. "It's tough. It's tough," Kennard said. "You never want to see a guy get hurt and I know he's had some injuries before. I feel for him. I feel for the team, the coach, everybody that's involved, the fans. He's such a big piece of what they've built here, and I hate it for him. I understand the way that the team might feel right now. To lose a guy that early, it's definitely tough."
Key Analysis
The injury to Jalen Williams casts a shadow over the Thunder's early season and serves as a stark reminder of the physical toll of professional basketball. Williams, a key contributor, has faced multiple injury setbacks, and his absence will test Oklahoma City's depth. The reactions from Booker, Green, and Kennard highlight the solidarity among NBA players when a peer suffers a serious injury. As the Suns prepare to face the Thunder, the focus extends beyond the game to Williams' health and recovery.
Originally reported by azcentral.