Fans became concerned when the OKC Thunder center randomly collapsed on the sideline during Wednesday’s game
- OKC Thunder center Bismack Biyombo collapsed on the sideline during the first quarter of the team’s game in Portland
- The NBA player needed help in the tunnel after falling at the Moda Center in Oregon
- Biyombo will receive “further evaluation” on Thursday
The Oklahoma City Thunder say center Bismack Biyombo is “fine” after the Congolese NBA player randomly crashed into a teammate on the sideline Wednesday, according to multiple reports.
The horrifying scene, broadcast by live cameras, unfolded during a first-quarter stoppage in the Thunder’s road game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center in Oregon.
The 31-year-old Biyombo, dressed in a warmup tracksuit, collapsed into a teammate just as he and Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander exchanged high-fives near the team’s bench.
Biyombo remained on the floor, surrounded by teammates and medical staff, for several moments before being helped back to the locker room.
The terrifying moment was captured on broadcast of the match, causing concern among fans who witnessed the seemingly random collapse.
Shortly after the incident, Thunder defeated Nick Gallo He said Blazers doctors have “cleared Biyombo of any serious medical issues,” but the team wanted to “be conservative and hold him out” until the end of Thursday’s game for “monitoring” and “further evaluation.”
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After the game, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said Biyombo was “fine” and was “laughing and joking in the locker room” at halftime, according to The Oklahoman reporter Justin Martinez.
The results of Thursday’s further evaluation have not yet been published.
Oklahoma City defeated Portland 128-120 on Wednesday and is now tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the best record in the Western Conference.
Bismack Biyombo #15 of the Oklahoma City Thunder smiles before the game against the Phoenix Suns on March 3, 2024 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty
Before Wednesday’s collapse, Biyombo received recognition from NBA fans for his foundation’s work to engage the Congolese community.
A post on X, formerly known as Twitter, from ML Basketball on Thursday celebrated Biyombo’s foundation for “promoting positive change in the Congo by providing support in sports, education and healthcare.” The post highlighted Biyombo’s donation of the entire 2022 NBA salary for the 2021-22 season. for building a hospital in his hometown after his father’s death in August 2021.
According to Spotrac, Biyomba’s contract with the Suns that season was worth $1.3 million.
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At the time, Biyombo explained, “I think after my dad passed away, the love for the game dropped a little bit because he was my everything — my friend, my business partner, my mentor and everything,” in a video shared by the YouTube channel his foundation.
“I told my agent that my salary this year will go to build a hospital at home to give hope to the hopeless at home and those individuals who can’t get their family members out,” Biyombo said in a February 2022 interview with Andscape.
“I want to provide them with better conditions so that they have some hope that their loved ones will live and see another day. I wanted to give them something that will continue to serve the people under his name,” Biyombo added.
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Source: HIS Education