Already dropping rookie Chet Holmgren, the second general decide on this 12 months’s draft, to a Lisfranc harm this offseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder are actually getting ready for the 2022-23 NBA season with out their star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as nicely.
On Wednesday, the group introduced that Gilgeous-Alexander has a Grade 2 left MCL sprain and that he shall be out for the beginning of coaching camp. The Thunder additionally stated he shall be re-evaluated in two weeks.
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Gilgeous-Alexander, 24, has put collectively some stellar seasons lately in Oklahoma City and was coming into the brand new season as a possible first time All-Star candidate.
In three complete seasons with the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 21.9 factors, 5.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists per recreation whereas capturing 47.2 % from the ground in a complete of 161 video games.
Now, the younger star faces an uphill battle earlier than the brand new season even begins, placing his standing for the beginning of the 12 months in jeopardy. Every MCL harm is totally different and for Gilgeous-Alexander, he’ll very probably be out a minimal of two weeks with a Grade 2 harm.
Last season Brooklyn Nets star ahead Kevin Durant suffered a sprained MCL and missed shut to 2 months of motion. Los Angeles Lakers All-Star Anthony Davis additionally handled a sprained MCL final season that compelled him to overlook nearly five-and-a-half weeks price of motion.
The Thunder are coming off of a 24-58 season and have now missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the primary time since 2008-09.
Being one of many league’s youngest groups, Oklahoma City has been targeted on growing their younger core led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a core that can now must determine issues out early on within the season with out their two top-tier abilities in Holmgren and Gilgeous-Alexander.
Further updates on Gilgeous-Alexander’s harm and standing shall be supplied by the group at an extra date.
story by The Texas Tribune Source link