It’s hard to overstate how important Jalen Williams was to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s recent championship run. He proved immense fortitude as he played through an ugly wrist ailment. The young star had surgery to repair the issue recently, which gave him trouble all throughout the playoffs. He possessed a fierce will to fight for the betterment of his team’s success. Even with this injury, he managed to use painkilling injections and reworked his shooting form.
Williams’ legendary performance Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. He scored 40 points, and led the Thunder to an important 3-2 series lead. His contributions didn’t stop there. Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, coming alive with a dazzling 34 points! Even through shooting slumps, Williams didn’t lose sight of his mission to help deliver the championship.
To combat his injury, Williams was getting lidocaine injections before games and multiple times in practice. Under pressure with a hand full of O.J. “I got 28 or 29 shots in my hand throughout the playoffs,” he stated, highlighting the extent of his commitment to the team’s success.
The Thunder’s training staff employed various taping techniques to support Williams’ wrist, often concealed under his arm sleeve. It was this careful planning that would let him rejoin the fight at full strength with lessening pain. We saw challenges in that second round, most notably coming up short against the Denver Nuggets. His still-ailing wrist injury would flare up several times over during that eventual matchup.
Williams especially took a beating for his lackluster showing. This led to immense pressure on him to downplay the severity of his injury. “And I was like, ‘That can’t be for nothing. We have to win.’ So, that was my mentality,” he explained, emphasizing his determination to push through adversity.
In the postseason, Williams was up and down, managing only 38% from the field and a terrible 23% mark from deep. Even with these challenges, his skills and experience were irreplaceable assets to our team. Thunder president Sam Presti praised his mental strength and dedication, stating, “He powered through. He showed incredible mental endurance and security in himself.”
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