Sources tell ESPN that Patrick Williams, Chicago Bulls forward, will have surgery to fix a dislocated left hand. He is likely to miss the remainder of the regular season.
According to a source, Williams fell out of the air after a flagrant foul was committed by Mitchell Robinson in New York. He landed on his left wrist and suffered a severe injury.
A source said that Williams could return to the playoffs if there is a timeline. The Bulls have a 4-1 record this season thanks to their new look.
Chicago has been counting on Williams as its No. The 4th overall pick in 2020 NBA draft will play a major role this season. Williams was injured and missed the majority of the preseason.
After practice on Friday, Bulls coach Billy Donovan stated that "it's going to challenge, there's not any question about it." We're smaller at that position than we have played there before... but losing a player like Patrick, who can defend many different positions and has the strength and size necessary to handle post-up players like Patrick, is a huge loss.
Williams, who was a freshman at Florida State, showed promise in his first season, but struggled to maintain consistency. The Bulls were hopeful that Williams, along with Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan, could make significant progress in this season's NBA summer league.
He worked hard over the summer and really focused on his game. His body was also improved. Vucevic stated that it was difficult to have to miss significant amounts of time. You want to play, especially for young players. It is important to feel part of the team and be recognized in this league. It is very difficult to handle. We will be there to support and keep him company. He is a key part of the team, and of the team's future.
