Thunder’s Jalen Williams says he’s healthy entering WCF
Oklahoma City Thunder star wing Jalen Williamswho has missed the previous six video games as a consequence of a Grade 1 pressure in his left hamstring, declared himself healthy entering the Western Conference finals.
“It’s good that I haven’t had to rush back from my hamstring stuff at all,” Williams mentioned on a video posted to his YouTube channel on Friday. “I’m really taking like additional days now than from what was initially deliberate as a result of we have been up 3-0 [over the Lakers]so there was no level in going into this sequence and presumably hurting myself earlier than we play the Timberwolves or the Spurs.
“I’m about to enter one other healthy sequence.”
Coach Mark Daigneault said after Friday’s practice that Williams was “progressing” but declined to elaborate. Williams was dressed out for practice.
On Sunday night, when the Thunder were required to update Williams’ status, he was not on the injury report.
Williams, a third-team All-NBA selection last season who played a critical role in the Thunder’s title run despite a right wrist injury that required offseason surgery, was limited to 33 games due to injuries during the regular season.
Williams missed the first 19 games while recovering from his wrist surgery and then was sidelined for two extended stretches due to a right hamstring strain that he aggravated after returning before the All-Star break.
Williams got off to a spectacular start of the playoffs before straining his left hamstring during the third quarter of Oklahoma City’s Game 2 win over the Phoenix Suns. He had 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the playoff opener and 19 points and four assists in only 23 minutes before exiting Game 2.
Ajay Mitchell starred in the Thunder’s second-round sweep of the Lakers while filling in for Williams in the starting lineup, averaging 22.5 points and 6.0 assists in the four games.
“I’m by no means anxious concerning the staff,” Williams told ESPN after the Game 3 win in Los Angeles. “My fear all the time comes from ensuring that I’m in a position to get myself to some extent the place I may also help the staff when I’m sitting out for that lengthy. But we now have a great staff so it is like no actual rush to get again, if that is sensible. I haven’t got to push sure buttons or do what I did final yr [with his wrist] to get my hamstrings proper.
“So that’s the nice part about it. But I want to play.”
