Mark Daigneault offers no clarity on Jalen Williams injury

The OKC Thunder have seen Jalen Williams sidelined for a week after suffering a hip injury against the Golden State Warriors last Saturday in an overtime win in the Bay Area. The Sophomore forward woke up sore on the second night of a back-to-back set in Portland the following day and has not returned to the court since.

Even at Friday’s practice, Jalen Williams did not participate. When Oklahoma City Thunder bench boss Mark Daigneault announced the Santa Clara product would miss tonight’s game against the 76ers, Williams released a cryptic video on social media.

Possibility as intended, this led OKC Thunder fans to speculate about the cloudy status of the rising star. On Saturday, ahead of the Thunder’s clash with the 76ers, Mark Daigneault held his typical pregame press conference with the media.

I asked Mark Daigneault for any clarity on the situation surrounding Jalen Williams’ Hip injury under the pretense of whether it is this a day-to-day injury or more long-term than that. Daigneault deflected, sticking by the injury report ruling of “He is out right now.”

Mark Daigneault reflected on a situation last season where he shared more details with the media about an injury than the report reflected, and it caused the organization to be fined. However, in that situation, it was regarding a player’s status in an eventual game.

Even this season, Daigneault has offered a day-to-day or week-to-week level timetable for injuries. Citing rookie Cason Wallace, he was day-to-day in the preseason when he suffered his toe injury.

Daigneault could have just been playing coy here, or there could be more to the story. The only good news for Jalen Williams’ sake is how the schedule has fallen out for the Sophomore. Since Sustaining the Hip Injury in Golden State, the OKC Thunder will only play four games in ten days.

This gives the OKC Thunder ample time to try and get their rising star back on the court. So far, Williams has averaged 17 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a stock per game, shooting 51 percent from the floor, 36 percent from beyond the arc, and 88 percent from the charity stripe.