Jalen Williams Says He Got 28-29 Shots in Hand for Injury During Thunder's Title Run

Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams revealed that he underwent a series of shots on his right hand and wrist throughout the 2024-25 postseason, which of course, ultimately resulted in a championship.

"I got 28 or 29 shots in my hand throughout the playoffs, and was like, 'That can't be for nothing. We have to win.' So that was my mentality," he revealed in a YouTube video on Tuesday (13:30 mark). "So after the 40 [points in Game 5]... it kinda sucks, and I've talked about it a little bit, but I didn't really get to enjoy it because I was so focused on, 'Let's just win the next game. Let's win however we need to win in seven, because there's just no way I get all these shots and we lose.' That was my thought process throughout the whole thing."

Williams noted that he was dealing with a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist that he suffered on April 9, and believes that injury occurred because he had been playing with a wrist sprain for the majority of the regular season.

He said that he altered his jump shot because of the tear, reworking it to be more about touch from his fingers rather than follow-through with his full wrist.

"He powered through," the Thunder's executive vice president and general manager, Sam Presti, told reporters this week regarding Williams' injury. "He showed incredible mental endurance and security in himself, and I've said this many times: The best players are secure players," Presti said. "I really thought it was pretty impressive that he just kept moving along with no excuses and obviously played his best basketball down the stretch of the season."