Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt took to social media Sunday to honor Thunder forward Jalen Williams after the player was forced to leave the game on a stretcher following a leg injury. The incident occurred with 1:14 remaining in the Thunder’s 108-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, when Williams drove to the basket and landed awkwardly on his leg.
Holt shared a photo he had taken of Williams earlier in the game and wrote, “His terrible injury tonight came just a minute or so after he had us all out of our seats for one of his signature moments. We’ll now have to hang on to that moment for awhile. I took this picture tonight. We can’t wait till the day Jalen levitates above the court again with ease. We’ll be there to cheer his return, however long it takes.” He added that the city will keep Williams in its thoughts and prayers as he works through recovery.
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander appeared visibly upset in a post‑game interview, saying, “Just feel bad for him, nothing more than that.” The injury also affected teammates Cason Wallace and Jaylin Williams, who left the game with injuries of their own, according to Holt’s statement.
The mayor’s tribute highlighted the deep connection between Oklahoma City and its NBA team, noting, “This city lives and dies with our Thunder. We support them on the court, as representatives of our city off the court, and as people that feel as familiar to us as our friends and neighbors. They’re our guys.”
What’s next: The Thunder have not announced a timeline for Williams’s return, but Holt’s message suggests the community will continue to monitor his progress and rally support when he is cleared to play again.
Sources: koco.com, cedarnews.net
