Retour
In a week that has completely changed the franchise's trajectory, the Oklahoma City Thunder announced on Friday that Cason Wallace had surgery to repair his torn labrum. He will be re-evaluated before the end of the 2026-27 regular season.
The surgery was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache at the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles. Thunder medical personnel were present.
Wallace sustained a serious shoulder injury in OKC's win over the LA Clippers this past Sunday. He had fought to get over a screen on Isaiah Jackson. Instead, he fell in pain and left in the first quarter. Now, he's out for the foreseeable future. And maybe the whole year.
Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren also sustained season-altering injuries on the same night. Williams had a fractured fibula and a dislocated ankle. He was stretchered out in the final minute of regulation. And now, Holmgren felt discomfort in his right knee. That turned out to be a small patellar tendon tear. He's out for 8-to-10 weeks.
I don't think Wallace's injury is too surprising. We'll see if he can make a miraculous return before the 2027 NBA playoffs. Odds are, though, the Thunder might not even be in the postseason picture at that point. They have the next three months to figure out their next move as they'll be without three of their four best players.