Former Santa Clara men’s basketball star Jalen Williams suffered a gruesome injury during a regular-season game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, Oct. 25, leaving fans wondering about the fate of his season.
Williams landed awkwardly on his left leg while attempting a dunk and being fouled by Kris Dunn in the fourth quarter, and was later diagnosed with a dislocated left ankle and a fractured fibula, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. He underwent surgery on Wednesday, Oct. 28. The injury has effectively sidelined Williams for months, with the possibility of missing the entire season.
Fans gave Williams a standing ovation as he was wheeled off the court on a stretcher, and messages of support began pouring in on social media. Some compared the injury to Gordon Hayward’s in 2017, when he dislocated his left ankle and fractured his left tibia just five minutes into his Boston Celtics debut.
Williams entered the 2026 season, his fifth in the league, with hopes of adding to an already impressive resume with the Thunder. Just two seasons ago, the former Bronco earned his first NBA All-Star selection, All-NBA honors, and most significantly, won an NBA Championship.
In Game 5 of the 2024-25 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, Williams scored a new playoff career-high with 40 points in a 120-109 win, giving the Thunder a 3-2 lead in the series. He became the third-youngest player to score at least 40 points in a finals game, behind only Magic Johnson and Russell Westbrook.
In the offseason following the championship, Williams signed a five-year contract extension with the Thunder worth up to $287 million. On Dec. 3, his jersey No. 24 was retired by the Santa Clara Broncos.
However, Williams soon faced injury struggles—missing more than half of the 2025-26 season due to setbacks following right wrist surgery and hamstring strains. In the playoffs, the Thunder were eliminated after losing in the Western Conference Finals to the San Antonio Spurs. Williams missed several postseason games and did not play in Game 7, unable to help salvage the Thunder’s chances.
Returning this season in limited minutes, Williams played three preseason games and scored in the double digits in each. In his first three starts, the Thunder notched consecutive victories and began the season undefeated at 3-0.
The Thunder will have a difficult season ahead, forced to replace both Williams and guard Cason Wallace, who has been sidelined for an estimated five to six months after a torn labrum in his left shoulder.