[Injury] Jalen Williams gets injured on his left hamstring.
He is questionable to return.
This is why it’s hard to repeat. Honestly the healthiest team is gonna win it this year.
It’s why it’s hard to win a championship at all. Their opponent’s best player got injured at the beginning of game 7 of the Finals lmao
I feel like it’s important now more than ever considering how intense the game is today.
Older playoff games look like pickup compared to today 😭
Even if you meant “pick-up truck”, it wouldn’t be wrong either.
*sorry just truck drivers and plumbers joke
Even if J-Dub is out for the whole playoffs I might still have the Thunder winning it all, but mainly cause I’d be baking in the trend that every other team is also going to have or already has a significant injury.
The whole thing is pretty deflating. Regular season product is diluted because everyone is saving themselves for the playoffs. Then playoffs get here and everyone does go hard but get injured. Seems like it’s just going to be the case every year now because of how intense the game is. The Thunder are super young and super deep and they can’t avoid it either.
Beyond the bummer of seeing players get hurt, it also undermines how much enjoyment I even get watching healthy players play. Because you’re just always worried they’re going to get hurt. My secondary reaction to watching J-Dub make so many explosive moves in the first half was genuinely, “I hope he doesn’t get hurt.”
Good thing the Lakers got it out of the way before playoffs started with injuries to luka and reaves! That means no one else can get injured on the lakers right? …right?
Shit it was more intense during the spurs/pistons finals. They scored in the 70s. Every fucking shot was the most important shot lol.
People really forgot that Jalen Williams played through the playoffs last season with a torn ligament?
And half his year was fried from coming back from surgery for that injury
He had 40 in the finals and probably was 1 great game away from stealing the Finals MVP. That clearly didn’t kill his game that much, played every single game afaik.
Okay? He also had a very good postseason so how is that similar to players who are significantly hindered by injuries? Tyrese literally couldn’t walk so how are you making that comparison?
J Dub was significantly hampered by injuries, genuinely was a liability offensively for much of the Nugs series.
His late finals performances really pulled up how bad he was for a lot of that run.
JDub had to relearn how to shoot and was getting painkiller injections 10 minutes before every game and again at half-time. Haliburton’s injury sucks, but only influenced game 7. JDub’s injury impacted every game of that playoff run.
If JDub isn’t injured going into the Finals, Haliburton’s injury never happens because JDub probably shoots better than 6⁄19 in game 1 that OKC lost by 1 point.
Haliburton’s injury sucks, but only influenced game 7. JDub’s injury impacted every game of that playoff run.
JFC. #50 in education on prime display. Arguing a wrist sprain is more impactful than a fucking achilles
Please learn reading comprehension before talking about education lmfao
Fucking American education and arrogance on prime display. Reread what he said.
No. I am arguing that the timing of the injury is more impactful than the achilles tear. Haliburton’s injury happened with 5 minutes left in the 1st quarter of Game 7, whereas JDub was injured for about 23 playoff games.
This is fucking embarrassing
I think the Finals teams last year were #1 and #3 in missed-games-per-man? 🤦🏻♀️
Don’t see how a regular season stat is relevant to a post season injury conversation
Girl I’m not trying to argue I’m trying to corroborate. Pacers had missed games because of Tyrese’s Game 7 injury and Thunder had missed games because of Dub’s wrist injury he played through. It’s at least a little relevant! Rude smh.
Pacers had that finals game 7 if Hali stays in
So weird how often this gets repeated as if it’s fact. They weren’t even winning when he got hurt.
Shai ended that game like 7⁄27, and Pacers were holding on for a bit, I think a healthy Tyrese takes them over, he is their system
Probably because Hali was extremely hot, something like 3 for 3 from 3, good +/-, and objectively OKC looked to be having a poor game to start, and the Pacers were leading at the half even though Hali had already gone out injured. Not that hard to figure out. Pacers had the better super star, better mentality super star, and better coach.
What’s actually weird is the narrative that OKC is some crazy juggernaut—but they have injury problems just like anyone, and we’ve already seen that teams like Denver, Spurs, Pacers, and Celtics can at least go to 7 with them if not beat them. They’re certainly a really well run contender with an elite front office and stacks of picks and good personnel decisions, but come on, they’re not going to be the next ‘10s Warriors or ‘90s Bulls.
Hali famously disappears lol people act like he dropped 20 points in the 1st or something
Wtf you clown lol. He hit 4 game-winning or game-tying shots in the last 5 seconds in just the 2025 playoffs alone. He hit the Reggie Miller choke meme. He led a 15-point comeback in game 1 of the finals on the road against OKC and hit an all-timer of a game winner. Hali was clutch player of the playoffs, and would have gotten the Golden Balls from MacMahon for sure. That torn Achilles changed so many history books. Some dude in Eternity doing Minimum Necessary Changes for some reason (Asimov reference).
He also had entire halves where he straight up wouldn’t shoot the ball and would completely disappeared multiple times in every series. Even had the worst finals game I’ve ever seen in one of them lmao he was VERY up and down, even within single games
Disagree. Everyone has bad games, bad shooting nights, or hidden injuries. Saying a guy had a bad game doesn’t change the overall picture, especially for young players who are still figuring out how to rest, recover, and travel over a 20-game playoffs.
Actually, maybe I shouldn’t argue that. Taking your argument as truth is probably better for my real argument. If we assume he disappears in some games and is a 50⁄50 up or down player, then the fact he started so damn hot in game 7 means OKC was definitely about to get another Reggie Miller choke meme, if not for the Achilles tear.
The fact that the thunder even needed 7 games against a 5 seed tells us all we need to know
And was busting their ass too
Yeah he was busting our ass so badly it was tied when he got hurt.
Tbf they likely just meant on an individual performance level he was doing so.
Obviously the game could have still gone either way with him in. They didn’t say “with Hali in the Pacers were busting the Thunder.”
You get it
Apparently reading isn’t for everyone though
Yeah the point was just that Hali was playing well that game which is relevant because it was close before he went down.
Respect Haliburton
No finals team has been fully healthy the next playoffs since like 2018 shit is a joke
Rockets win in 2018 if Paul doesn’t miss game 7
Warriors coast to a 4 game sweep if Iggy isn’t hurt
Brother the Warriors lost a game before Iggy got injured
I guess he was so important that his injury rippled back through time and caused them to lose the previous game by 22 points
Even 2018 had the rockets injured.
Celtics.
I mean missing starting center for almost entire playoffs, including finals,no?
So the Pistons will win.
As long as Cade’s lungs hold out.
This is why it’s hard to win a championship period. It truly is a game of attrition.
This is so true… its tough to go through multiple grueling and long seasons
Suns are healthy lol
Thunder can definitely repeat with him, ngl.
Aren’t OKC about the best equipped team to handle loosing any player but their #1?
Healthiest team from the west. Eastern teams are all super flawed. Cleveland has harden and their bigs are weird before anyone mentions them. On paper they’re the least flawed.
Portlands pretty healthy right now 👀
OKC are deep enough that JDub going down won’t affect them as much. If it were another team like the Spurs, Nuggets or Lakers (who are already down their two best players outside of Bron) you’d be right, but this doesn’t really matter as much for OKC.
Yeah losing our second best player affects nothing at all, you’re right.
You’re overreacting because you’re a homer for the Thunder. OKC will do what they do, with or without JDUB. Win. Relax
Why do people act like this team is KD warrior level lmao. This 100% will hinder them.
Theyre a great team but not THAT good. Even last year they got taken to 7 by a hobbled nuggets team and to 7 in the finals.
They also had a very rough stretch this season without Jalen IIRC
You can’t really compare playoff and regular season basketball, they also had their best stretch without him.
They don’t need to be KD warrior level to beat at the very least the top contenders in the west. Thats more my point if I didn’t articulate it well. Maybe the Spurs are the biggest threat but they’re very inexperienced in the playoffs, and health is a question for them too, especially with Wemby.
The KD warriors got taken to 7 by Houston as well. No matter how good you are, nothing is granted in the playoffs. JDub is crucial for the team because without him, their offense is probably the least sophisticated in the post-season.
They dont want to give us an excuse for clearly not playing at our best with our 2nd best player out.
Bro what???
Yes??? Bro???? What’s up??????
OKC still do what they do without Jdub. But if the Spurs and Thunder both make it to the WCF. The thunder arent winning that series without Jdub.
reddit brain shit here
Williams is their biggest playoffs riser. The team overall has gotten better but you gotta remember they literally don’t win last year without him.
This is completely false.
You’re overreacting. The thunder are good enough to win without him and did for large stretches last and this year.
This is playoff basketball. We weren’t playing a series against the best teams in the league.
I agree people are heavily underestimating his importance, just look at was it Game 5? Of the Finals last year. But Thunder fans were also happy to hype the team up when they started 24-1 without JDub playing.
But yes, at the same time, that was the easiest schedule in the league those first 25 games (maybe even in NBA history by record of opponents) and these are top Playoff teams they’ll have to face. It’s a whole different ballgame.
But if ya’ll thought you were able to go 74-8 for the season (factoring him coming back at some point ofc) because you started that strong without him, then you could still be strong enough to get the chip without him.
I don’t think people watch enough Thunder games, due to the widespread hatred of the team. OKC is a great team but their offense is gross at times. When the smartest basketball minds are game planning for you night in and night out, that will only get worse.
The reason they went to 7 against Denver and Indiana is because none of the supporting pieces could create consistent offense and that allowed teams to overwhelm Shai. JDub himself was inconsistent but he swung crucial games because he had the upside that guys like Dort and Cason Wallace simply don’t.
I do agree with this.
People aren’t ready to accept this lol
it’s the playoffs. they can beat the suns and win in R2 but they need him fit for anything after and if you dont understand that just log off and go to bed now.
Only if you go to bed too.
You don’t watch a lot of OKC games if you think this is the case. Playoff basketball is different from the regular season and Lu Dort was terrorizing the team’s offense in the regular season. JDub is the only consistent high-level scoring threat other than Shai, without him you’re going to have games where no one can hit anything and the entire defense collapses on Shai.
Watching OKC games would be too damaging to the optic nerves.
Plus they have Mitchell, Joe, Wiggins, McCain who are all perimeter threats in some way or another. Hartenstein and Holmgren can get them easy buckets too. OKC are deep man.
Right so you don’t watch okc, idk why anyone should listen to anything you’re saying tbh
Yall are crybabies that’s literally all there is to it. You went 24-1 to start the season without Williams.
Spurs won a game without wemby this season? Guess that means they don’t need wemby
Yes both teams are very deep wowser great observation there son. Only thing is the Spurs aren’t as deep as the Thunder 🤣
so you admit you dont watch them play and you still think you’re opinion means anything?
Bro. Did I say that I don’t watch OKC games at all? Obviously I’d watch them when they’re playing the Spurs. All I said was “watching OKC games would be too damaging to the optic nerves”. Nothing was implied about whether or not I never watch them lmao. It was a mild joke that evidently was too offensive for you. And it’s basketball. Opinions mean jack shit from all of us. Youre allowed to see something that someone else may see differently. That’s it.
You are underestimating the impact of their 2nd best player.
I’m not. I’m just saying the Thunder depth, especially on team defense which is crucial in the playoffs, will survive JDub being out. Obviously JDub is an outstanding defender in his own right and gives them an additional offensive punch, but the lineup without JDub is still a force to be reckoned with. They went 24-1 without him in the early stretch of this season, remember
Without JDub, their second option is Ajay Mitchell… who has been great but is completely unproven in the playoffs and in that role. If you’re a spark plug off the bench, it’s okay to have an off game or two but when the team is relying on you as a primary offensive engine, a rough streak can capsize production.
Bro depth is far less valuable in the playoffs than having your best guys out there.
I was just saying if they needed to ever release cap space his contract is prime for them to lose/trade and they would still be good!
Literally anything can happen in the playoffs. I never understand how middle teams don’t just go for it instead of tanking for a late lottery pick.
The Suns still have no chance against OKC even with this injury
Sure but suddenly the Lakers chances just shot up
Idk about shot up maybe slightly up
Our odds have increased considerably from where they were at immediately before Game 1
Which is from basically 0 to now just pretty small!
So youre telling me theres a chance…
I mean yea nobody expected the Rockets to be complete ass and Luke Kennard to drop 25 a game.
The Luke kennard part was out of no where but the rockets have been pretty ass for a bit. I think people just thought the lakers would be more ass
The rockets came into the playoffs on like a 9-1 run in their last 10
Ima be real, yall with LeBron Luka and Reaves can seriously get out of the west this year, you absolutely need those three together though.
Out of everyone in the west I’d say yall got the best top 3
Jokic Murray Gordon’s gotta be up there
If lebron can pull this off there’s no question he’s the goat
It’s still a puncher’s chance but we’ve seen shooting variance claim a juggernaut like the Celtics just last season. All it takes is for a couple role players to have a rough stretch and all of a sudden you’re down 3-1. The great thing about JDub is that he has all-defensive impact while also being productive offensively, OKC can’t replace that. If Ajay Mitchell or Jared Mccain go cold, they aren’t going to earn their pay on the other side.
Dafuq? JDub was out majority of the season and the Thunder still swomped everybody
True Lakers should forfeit
Unfortunately, they’re not as good at forfeiting as the Houston Rockets
after the Suns
Meh maybe if they are fully healthy but I still see OKC winning that series
The lakers with Luka couldn’t do it I know everyone is high on LeBron right now but the lakers are not taking OKC out.
but Lakers with Luka and Reaves back will have a legit chance
I don’t think those hamstrings of Jdub, Luka and Reaves can last 6 games TBH, Jdub has like 3 hamstring injuries and he does not even look like he is putting max effort. This soft tissue injuries are just unfortunate. AG is not 100% yet since injuring it vs OKC in the playoffs last year.
The Lakers aren’t a middle team like OP was talking about but sure, maybe LA can push the series to 6 or 7 games
Lakers and Thunder have played 3 times fully healthy (so J Dub included). 1 Lakers 1st half blowout win, 1 Thunder 1st half blowout win, 1 game where Luka was thrown out in 4th while Lakers lead. All in OKC.
You’re being slightly pessimistic if Luka/Reaves are back.
Im all for watching competitive basketball and hope you are right
If we can push it to 6 or 7 we have a better chance than everyone think with Luka if he’s healthy. My view is though it’s more likely to be a gentleman sweep.
Didn’t we watch OKC destroy a fully healthy Laker squad? Like 30+point win? I know regular season is regular but…
The Lakers have the personnel to swing a series. 2026 Devin Booker or Dillion Brooks aren’t going to kill you but Luka, Reaves, and Lebron might.
We saw a similar thing happen last year with the Celtics. The Lakers would be a massive underdog but their chance skyrockets without JDub.
Eh we have no idea what Luka and Reaves are going to look like if they even return by game 1.
Jdub issue looked incredibly minor and precautionary he was able to jog, I’m not a doctor but there’s a very fair chance he’s back for round 2 game 1.
Middle teams aren’t in the lottery. You still need some talent to go for it. Also, teams that skipped the play in are just genuinely non play in teams. They tanked themselves from say 30 wins to 22 or something.
That’s y I was hoping some1 would try to take mpj from us. Need more picks!
I mean come on, what the hell would any of the tanking teams this season do in the playoffs? PHX won’t even win more than 2 with or without JDub. So realistically the 8 seed is hoping for Shai and JDub to get injured, then Luka and Reaves, then Jokic, then Tatum and Brown. I don’t think PHX would even beat OKC without Shai or Boston without one of Tatum or Brown
Sure, but what are the Suns odds of winning it all? If you believe Vegas, ~0.1%. 1 in 1000. Seems believable to me. Whereas if they missed the playoffs they’d have, like, a 1% chance at the #1 pick and a decent shot at top 4. Getting to the playoffs just to get probably swept by OKC even with JDub out isn’t worth giving up potentially generational talent.
Cue Lakers doomers saying they shouldn’t even try to bring Luka back the past month
Feel horrible for J Dub. Dude pushed himself as a 3rd yr guy and showed he can be a no 2 on a title team. And now he’s dealt with a tough, injury riddled yr. Hopefully it’s nothing too serious. If there’s a team that could survive him out for some time, it’s this team, excited to see how the depth guys step up. Bracket being favorable to them also helps, SA and DEN on a potential collision course
JDub take my hammy, I beg of you
Feeling it immediately doesn’t bode well
bro cant catch a break :(
If there’s any upside to this, at least it’s not the same hamstring he’s hurt before. Hopefully it’s nothing too serious, though. OKC should try to wrap this series up and get a comfortable lead going into round 2 so he doesn’t need to rush back. You do not want to fuck with hamstring injuries, since they have a high chance of getting injured again if it hasn’t fully healed
Only downside is that if he doesn’t have to miss time, he may overcompensate on his other leg and risk hurting that one, too. Happens all too often with lower body injuries
Yeah DOUBLE hammies in one year I really hope he doesn’t try to push it and make anything worse
Yeah that was my bigger concern. From my understanding you do NOT want to repeatedly reinjure the same hamstring. Even if it’s had more than enough time to heal, it can still leave behind scar tissue and other structural weaknesses that just makes reinjury even more likely
He already did compensate . This was his left hamstring. He injured his right hamstring twice this year.
I hope Wemby is okay and stays healthy and I hope JDUB can stay healthy. A WCF versus you guys with our teams fully healthy will be so fun to watch!
I’m not playing Jalen Williams until WCF
Damn
Haven’t the Thunder been fine without Jdub this year? Dude can rest up for the next series.
If it’s a strain he’s not gonna be in the next series
They’ll be fine this series and next. WCF and the NBA finals they’ll need him though.
And playing back into condition. You can’t just jump into the finals after extended period off and be 100
Porzingis did it. But yeah it’s really hard.
And Tingus has a lot of experience returning from injury
We’re really making it to the championship aren’t we? I can’t believe this is my life
fuck hamstrings
Oh man
Based on my personal experience with injuries, this is quiet common and somewhat predictable. Repeated injuries to right hammy leading to body compensating for the frequently injured portion which eventually leads to a seperate injury. He has obviously been good and cleared but when you are pushing your body to intense limits at the highest level it reaches a point beyond anything you can simulate during rehab/ recovery or even full contact practice.
I think with a healthy Shai we’re still better than everyone else
The problem is we go from unlikable to human
We’ve been injured all season…I think we’re ok without JDub until the western conference finals.
Wow, I can’t believe he would fake an injury to save face after missing the layup
dudes turning into Street clothes
wish the nba season was shorter
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/46y4seFu2Q
He will be fine.
Playoffs are officially lame now
Lakers ain’t winning SHIT 💩
If we ever get past rockets, I expect JJ redick to pull something out of his ass to scheme out SGA out of game 1 - and then to rock the world and talk irrationally to everyone
As someone who has experienced a few hamstring injuries in his life playing sports. I say a week to two weeks till he’s good to play. But he’ll be at high risk to reinjure it for maybe a month
Thanks Doc
Without J Dub they aren’t beating the Spurs or Nuggets tbh.
kill me. just when we finally get a bit of momentum in our season
Brother we finished first in the west for the third year straight, wdym “finally getting momentum” 😂
we had a clean sheet of health after 81 games this season. that’s what i meant
You’re getting downvoted but the injuries have been BRUTAL this year. The starting five played like 2 games together till this series. So sad for JDub this year though every time he is catching his stride
when you finally??? get a “bit” of momentum.
your team is so deep it won’t even matter lmao
Gotta love SGA stepping on the defenders foot and committing the most obvious push off with no call at :30
What does that have to do with J Dubs hamstring injury?
Nothing at all, it was just something I noticed in the clip
That push off was super sonic dude 😂 I actually scoffed