In a significant blow to the Oklahoma City Thunder, star player and reigning Kia MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is set to be sidelined due to an abdominal strain. The team announced this news on Wednesday, stating that he will undergo further evaluation following the All-Star break.
Gilgeous-Alexander will not participate in the upcoming road matchup against the San Antonio Spurs, scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, and will also miss the Thunder's next four games leading up to the All-Star festivities. Notably, this means he will be absent from the 2026 All-Star Game where he was slated to play for Team World, according to ESPN.
The Thunder's next opportunity to compete after the All-Star break will be on February 20 against the Brooklyn Nets, making this absence particularly impactful as they strive to maintain their impressive performance. Currently, they hold the best record in the league at 40 wins and 11 losses, underscoring just how critical Gilgeous-Alexander has been to their success.
As the league’s second-highest scorer with an astonishing average of 31.8 points per game, his presence on the court is irreplaceable. He has been on a remarkable streak, scoring at least 20 points in 121 consecutive games, which stands as the second-longest in NBA history—trailing only Wilt Chamberlain’s legendary streak of 126 games. This past Tuesday, Gilgeous-Alexander narrowly extended his streak, finishing with exactly 20 points before resting in the fourth quarter.
This season seems to be his most outstanding yet, as he also boasts an impressive shooting percentage of 55.4%, ranking 14th in the league, alongside averaging 6.4 assists per game, placing him 15th overall.
Unfortunately, Gilgeous-Alexander's injury adds to a growing list of health issues plaguing the Thunder. In the recent victory over the Orlando Magic, the team was already without Jalen Williams, who has missed eight consecutive games due to a hamstring injury, and Ajay Mitchell, who has sat out six games because of his own abdominal strain. Notably, Williams was an All-Star in 2025, and Mitchell has emerged as one of the most improved players in his second NBA season.
The Thunder's injury report for Wednesday reveals that several key players will be absent. Alongside Williams and Mitchell, All-Star Chet Holmgren (who is dealing with lower back spasms), starting guard Lu Dort (suffering from knee inflammation), starting center Isaiah Hartenstein (with an eye abrasion), and reserve player Alex Caruso (right adductor issue) are all listed as unavailable. Hartenstein had only just returned from injury when he achieved his first career triple-double during Tuesday's game.
This situation raises intriguing questions for fans: How will the Thunder adapt without their star player? Will other team members step up in Gilgeous-Alexander's absence? And what impact could this have on their playoff aspirations? As the season progresses, the Thunder must navigate these challenges carefully. What do you think about the depth of the Thunder's roster and their chances moving forward?
