The Thunder enter the 2022-23 season with a couple of injuries to core players, but help is on the way.
No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren is already sidelined for the entire season but Shai Gilgeous-Alexader, who missed all of training camp and the preseason with a knee injury, is expected to be available for Opening Night.
Gilgeous-Alexander has proven himself to be one of the best young players in the NBA over the last two seasons with averages of 24.2 points, 5.9 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game. However, injuries have limited him to 91 of a possible 154 games. He appeared in 35 games in 2020-21 and 56 games in 2021-22.
What's next for Gilgeous-Alexander? Here's everything we know about his injury and the latest news on when he may return to the court.
MORE: What is a Lisfranc injury? Expert medical analysis on Holmgren's diagnosis
What is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's injury?
The Athletic's Shams Charania broke the news on Sept. 21 that Gilgeous-Alexander had suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee.
It's unknown when and how Gilgeous-Alexander suffered the injury.
Gilgeous-Alexander averaged a career-best 24.5 points to go along with 5.9 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game in 2021-22. He appeared in 56 games, missing a chunk of time around the All-Star break and then again at the end of the season with a right ankle injury.
The Thunder finished the season with a 24-58 record.
How long will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander be out?
According to an ESPN report, the Thunder said Gilgeous-Alexander would be reevaluated in two weeks, which caused him to miss all of training camp and each of Oklahoma City's six preseason games.
Back on Sept. 22, when general manager Sam Presti was asked if Gilgeous-Alexander would be ready for the start of the regular season, he said he didn't know the answer.
On Tuesday, the day before OKC's season opener, The Oklahoman's Joe Mussatto reported that Gilgeous-Alexander will be available for Wednesday's contest against the Timberwolves.
“It wasn’t pleasant the first couple days, but I tried to do everything I could to make sure I was good for Game 1,” Gilgeous-Alexander said, according to Mussatto.
“It’s a game I love to play. It’s part of my identity. I just can’t wait to get back out there.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander career stats, highlights
- 18.2 points per game
- 4.5 rebounds per game
- 4.3 assists per game
- 1.1 steals per game
- 0.7 blocks per game
- 2.2 turnovers per game
- 31.8 minutes per game
- 47.3 percent field goal shooting
- 34.8 percent 3-point shooting
- 80.7 percent free throw shooting
