Thunder Get Terrible Injury News Ahead Of Camp

The Oklahoma City Thunder aren't starting the season on the right foot, as just days before the start of training camp, they've announced that star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will miss at least the first couple of weeks of camp with a knee injury.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander suffered a grade 2 left MCL sprain, Thunder say. He will be out for the start of training camp and be re-evaluated in two weeks.

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) September 21, 2022

Gilgeous-Alexander suffered a Grade 2 left MCL sprain, according to the Thunder. And although they say he'll be re-evaluated in two weeks, sports injury expert Jeff Stotts has a bit more of an alarming outlook for SGA:

According to the InStreetClothes Database, Grade 2 MCL sprains (partial tears) result in an average of ~41 days lost (~21 games) https://t.co/hneUQzGUlP

— Jeff Stotts (@InStreetClothes) September 21, 2022

Stotts says his database indicates that Grade 2 MCL sprains (which are partial tears) result in an average of about 41 days lost. That would take us to the beginning of November, which would cause Gilgeous-Alexander to miss about the first six games of the Thunder's season. 

The 24-year-old guard has had his share of injury problems the past two seasons, missing 63 games over that span. But when he has played, he's been the best player on the floor for OKC, averaging over 24 points a game the past two years, with 5.9 assists and just under 5 rebounds. 

2nd-year guard Josh Giddey will take over most of the ballhandling duties in SGA's absence. Giddey proved to be a star in his own right in his rookie season, averaging 12.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.4 assists. 

Photos: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports,  Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports