Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder's Leader, Out for Season With Foot Injury

The Oklahoma City Thunder has dealt with plenty of adversity this season, and it was dealt another blow on Sunday when the team announced that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will miss the rest of the season with a foot injury.

Gilgeous-Alexander has been the Thunder’s best player this season, averaging 31.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. He is also one of the most exciting young players in the NBA, and his absence will be a major blow to the Thunder’s playoff hopes.

The injury occurred in the Thunder’s 112-109 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night. Gilgeous-Alexander left the game in the third quarter with a right ankle injury, and he did not return.

An MRI on Sunday revealed that Gilgeous-Alexander has a plantar fascia tear in his right foot. The injury is expected to sideline him for 4-6 weeks, which means he will miss the rest of the regular season and the playoffs.

The Thunder are currently 21-33 this season, and they are 10th in the Western Conference standings. They are 3.5 games behind the eighth-place Spurs, and they would need to make up that ground in the final 28 games of the season in order to make the playoffs.

Without Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder will need other players to step up. Josh Giddey, Darius Bazley and Lu Dort will need to play bigger roles, and the Thunder will also need to get more production from their bench.

The Thunder have a tough schedule remaining, and they will need to play well in order to make the playoffs. But with Gilgeous-Alexander out, their chances of making the postseason took a major hit.