Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was cleared on Wednesday, moving off a day-to-day designation that was not injury related. He is available for Oklahoma City's opener against the Bucks at 8 p.m. ET.
What happened
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was cleared by Oklahoma City's injury report on Wednesday at 6:54 p.m. ET, lifting the day-to-day tag he had carried since Monday. The Monday listing read day-to-day for reasons unrelated to injury, with no further detail given then or now. No expected return date has been announced, since none was needed once the cleared status went up a little over an hour before tipoff against the Bucks. The report included no additional comment on his status.
What it means for the Thunder
Oklahoma City opens its season Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET at home against the Bucks with its franchise guard available. Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 33.2 minutes a game last season across 68 appearances, numbers that put most of the shot creation back in his hands rather than in Chet Holmgren's, Jalen Williams' or Ajay Mitchell's, the three teammates who logged the most minutes in games he sat out. The Thunder have not played a game this season, so there is no record yet with or without him on the floor.
What to watch
The next injury report will show whether Gilgeous-Alexander stays off it entirely once the Thunder are into the regular season. No expected return timeline applies, since he carries no injury designation into opening night. Oklahoma City's broader report still lists four teammates as day-to-day: Thomas Sorber with a right knee and leg issue, Chet Holmgren resting, Jaylin Williams with a heel and leg issue, and Isaiah Hartenstein with an ankle and leg issue, all worth tracking in the days ahead.
Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing vs Bucks?
Yes. He was cleared Wednesday at 6:54 p.m. ET, less than two hours before Oklahoma City's 8 p.m. tipoff against Milwaukee, and carries no designation on the injury report.
When will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander be back?
He is already available. The day-to-day tag he carried since Monday, which was not injury related, was lifted Wednesday, and no expected return date was needed.