Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Miss Rest of Season with Ankle Injury

AP Photo/Kyle Phillips

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will miss the remainder of the season, head coach Mark Daigneault told reporters before Monday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Gilgeous-Alexander hasn’t played since March 21 while nursing an ankle injury.

Gilgeous-Alexander is in his fourth NBA season and third with OKC after playing his rookie year with the Los Angeles Clippers, who sent him to the Thunder as part of a blockbuster deal for Paul George in the summer of 2019.

The former Kentucky star is averaging 24.5 points, 5.9 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game for a 21-53 Thunder team in the midst of a massive overhaul.

The 23-year-old Canadian figures to be part of the Thunder’s future solutions to getting out of the Western Conference basement, however, as he continues to excel on a personal level despite the team’s ongoing struggles.

Unfortunately, Gilgeous-Alexander has been sidelined on numerous occasions this season.

A sprained right ankle kept him out for two games in late November. Concussion protocol sidelined him in early December for a game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

SGA sat Dec. 29 against the Phoenix Suns (right ankle soreness) and did so once more versus the Dallas Mavericks on Jan. 2 (health-and-safety protocols).

Gilgeous-Alexander then suffered a right ankle sprain during his team’s Jan. 28 matchup against the Indiana Pacers. The Thunder initially said that he would be sidelined through the All-Star break (Feb. 17-23), and he did return on Feb. 24.

Without SGA, more of the scoring and ball-handling responsibilities will fall on rookie Josh Giddey. Look for Theo Maledon and Tre Mann to all potentially pick up more minutes as well.