The Oklahoma City Thunder just can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to injuries-and now, it’s not just the team feeling the impact. The NBA is taking notice too.
After a tough stretch that saw OKC field just eight healthy players-three of them on two-way contracts-for a nationally televised game against the San Antonio Spurs on February 4, the league is reportedly investigating the Thunder for the number of player absences in that matchup. It’s a rare move, but one that speaks to just how depleted this roster has become over the course of the 2025-26 season.
Thunder’s Injury Woes Continue
This isn’t a new problem for Oklahoma City. A year ago, they were already navigating a minefield of injuries.
Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, and Jaylin Williams all missed more than 20 games during the regular season. Fast-forward to this season, and the injury report has become just as crowded-if not more so.
Against the Spurs, the Thunder were without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain), Jalen Williams (hamstring strain), Holmgren (back spasms), Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain), Lu Dort (right patellofemoral joint inflammation), Hartenstein (corneal abrasion), and Caruso (right adductor management). That’s seven rotation-level players sidelined in one game-an almost unheard-of level of attrition for a team with playoff aspirations.
League Scrutiny Amid Legitimate Fatigue
The investigation centers around whether the Thunder may have sat players without sufficient cause, particularly in a high-visibility game. But when you take a step back and look at the bigger picture, it’s clear this isn’t about load management or clever roster manipulation. This is a team that’s been battered by legitimate injuries since day one.
Jalen Williams missed the first five weeks of the season recovering from wrist surgery. Isaiah Joe opened the year on the sideline with a knee contusion.
Caruso and Dort have been in and out of the lineup with nagging issues. And Gilgeous-Alexander, the team’s franchise cornerstone, is now expected to be out through the All-Star break with his abdominal injury.
The Thunder currently rank second in the league in total games lost to injury-a stat no team wants to lead. And it’s not just about who's out, but how often they’ve had to reshuffle the deck.
The San Antonio game was their third in four nights, in three different cities. That’s a brutal stretch even for a fully healthy squad, let alone one relying heavily on two-way players and end-of-bench depth.
Context Matters
It’s easy to raise eyebrows when a team trots out a skeleton crew on national TV. But context matters.
The Thunder didn’t rest stars for strategic purposes-they simply didn’t have bodies available. And while it’s the league’s job to ensure teams maintain competitive integrity, it’s also crucial to recognize the toll that a long season, travel demands, and real injuries can take on even the most resilient rosters.
This investigation may have made headlines, but it’s hard to imagine the league won’t see the reality once they dig into the details. Oklahoma City isn’t gaming the system-they’re just trying to stay afloat.
As fate would have it, this news dropped on the same day the Thunder were preparing to take the floor again-this time for another nationally televised game, this one against the Lakers. And once again, they’re doing it with a patchwork lineup, hoping to keep pace in a tough Western Conference while they wait for their stars to heal.
For now, it’s next man up in OKC. And with the way this season’s gone, that mantra might need to carry them all the way to spring.