Oklahoma City Thunder Lose Two More Starters to Injuries, Holmgren Out 8-10 Weeks
Chet Holmgren will miss 8-10 weeks after patellar tendon treatment, while Cason Wallace faces an indefinite recovery after shoulder surgery, adding to the Thunder's injury woes.
The Oklahoma City Thunder announced that rookie forward Chet Holmgren will be sidelined for the next two months after undergoing a biological treatment for a torn patellar tendon in his right knee. The team said Holmgren is expected to return in eight to ten weeks, marking his first extended absence since a pelvic fracture in November 2024.
In addition, guard Cason Wallace will miss an undetermined period following left shoulder surgery. The Thunder indicated Wallace will be re-evaluated before the end of the 2026-27 regular season.
Both players, along with forward Jalen Williams, last appeared on Oct. 25 against the Los Angeles Clippers. In that game, Wallace suffered the shoulder injury, while Williams endured a broken left fibula and a dislocated left ankle, prompting surgery to reconstruct ankle ligaments.
Holmgren, who averaged 12 points, 9.3 rebounds and three blocks per game before his procedure, had felt mild knee discomfort for the first time during the Clippers matchup. Wallace had been contributing 6.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game, and Williams was averaging 13.7 points and 4.7 rebounds.
The injuries qualify the Thunder for a hardship roster exception, allowing the recent signing of free-agent guard Ochai Agbaji without affecting the team's salary-cap situation. With only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Hartenstein remaining from the season-opening starting lineup, the team will need to adjust its rotation to compensate for the lost production and defense.