Oklahoma City Thunder's forward Jalen Williams revealed the extraordinary lengths he went to in order to play through a debilitating wrist injury during the team's championship-winning playoff run. Williams disclosed that he received nearly 30 painkilling injections in his wrist, including lidocaine and cortisone shots, to manage the injury. Despite shooting struggles and dealing with constant pain, Williams stayed resilient, drawing motivation from basketball legend Kobe Bryant's legacy of playing through injuries.
With his hand feeling like it was "on fire" after a collision with Devin Booker, Williams had to alter his shooting form and power through several shooting slumps, particularly against the Denver Nuggets. Despite criticisms of his performance, Williams kept his injury under wraps to avoid giving opponents an advantage. His determination paid off with standout performances in crucial playoff games, including a 40-point explosion in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. Thunder president Sam Presti lauded Williams for his mental toughness and refusal to make excuses, highlighting his exceptional contribution to the team's championship triumph.