Thunder face injury crisis, Shai: “I don’t know what we’ll do”
OKC must reinvent itself without three starters, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t have an immediate answer. Meanwhile, attention is also turning to Presti’s potential moves
Three starters out, two consecutive losses and plenty to sort out. It’s a difficult stretch for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are facing an increasingly complicated injury crisis. And even Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, at least for now, doesn’t appear to have a ready solution.
Asked how the team will navigate the coming weeks without Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace, the two-time MVP answered directly.
I don’t know. We definitely have some things to figure out
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Those three major absences will force the Thunder to make significant changes to their usual setup. In particular, Holmgren’s knee issue leaves OKC without a crucial presence around the basket and one of the most important players in its system.
He loves this game. He works hard
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Chet Holmgren
For OKC, the question now isn’t just who will replace the missing players, but how to make a team function after suddenly losing three members of its starting lineup.
Inevitably, some questions also concern Sam Presti. The general manager still has a substantial stockpile of future draft picks and could consider a move to help a group that will have to shoulder a heavy burden, at least over the coming weeks.