The OKC Thunder will open up the 2021-22 NBA regular season on the road against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, with a trio of games on tap this week as the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Houston Rockets in Houston on Friday before their home opener on Sunday, October 24th against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The first week of the season is always exciting for NBA fans. With the build-up to a new, fun season filled with hope, optimism, expectation, and more season preview content than you can consume. It will all start on October 19th for the league itself with the reigning Champion Bucks takes on the Nets, and the new Lakers big 3, or big 360 if you prefer, taking on the Golden State Warriors. Some teams are already dealing with injuries, like the Pelicans starting their playoff quest without Zion Williamson, while other teams are fully healthy entering week one.
OKC Thunder enter week one injury-free to start the season
Mark Daigneault spoke to those of us in the media today after practice and mentioned everyone practiced today. Isaiah Roby, Tre Mann, Derrick Favors, Kenrich Williams, Vit Krejci, all dealt with injuries or things off the floor to keep them out at times throughout this preseason period.
Everyone took to the practice court on Sunday morning days before the preseason opener, with Mark Daigneault assuring the media Vit Krejci the rookie guard who was drafted in 2020 but held out all year due to an ACL injury, has cleared his visa issue and is available to play in games. If he will crack the rotation is a different story, but the most important part is he is cleared to play.
Kenrich Williams, who has been sidelined for all four preseason matchups with a bruised toe was also cleared to practice and is tracking to be available for the preseason opener. The OKC Thunder head ball coach has already placed Williams in a bench role, saying they are more comfortable with him off the pine thanks to his professionalism and ability to help an incredibly young second unit.