The Oklahoma City Thunder will be without their best player for an extended period of time. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander injured his right foot as a result of plantar fasciitis. Coach Mark Daigneault told the media after Wednesday night’s game. The Thunder lost to the Memphis Grizzlies 116-107.
Thunder G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to be out for extended period with right foot plantar fasciitis:
Mark Daigneault: “It’s not day-to-day, it’s going to be a more significant amount of time…this one is an injury that we need to take a look at” (1) pic.twitter.com/CoDbPIuLIR
— Bryan Keating (@KOCOKeating) March 25, 2021
This season over the course of 35 games the third-year guard has averaged 23.7 points 4.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists a game. He leads the Thunder in points and assists per game. His measly 0.7 blocks a game also lead his team. He has shot a career-high 41.8% from three this season for a rebuilding OKC organization.
At 19-25 and sitting 4th in the Northwest Division, the Thunder are not going to make the playoffs this season. They sit at 12th overall in the conference only ahead of the Kings, Rockets, and Timberwolves.
Since arriving in the league as the 11th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, SGA has been a revelation. Jerry West was high on the young guard coming out of the University of Kentucky and brought him onto the Clippers to start his career. When the Clippers decided they could bring on Paul George of course they had to give up their young star in Alexander. Now he has developed into the best player on the Thunder as they move to a new chapter in their franchise history.
OKC shouldn’t be in a huge hurry to get SGA back to the court. Improving their draft placement is more valuable to them at this point in the season. There is no timeline as of now for a return.
