‣ Oklahoma City Thunder center Bismack Biyombo announced he will play in the game against the Miami Heat after collapsing on the court due to dehydration and has been fasting for 15 years.
‣ Biyombo has cleared all medical tests since the incident, attributing the collapse to “a little bit of dehydration” and expressing gratitude for the support and care received from people.
‣ Despite the incident, the Oklahoma City Thunder hold the fifth-best odds to win the championship according to some NBA betting sites, with better odds for the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers.
Feeling blessed & grateful for everyone's love & concern. A big thank you to my teammates for their understanding. 🙏🏾All good here, just a bit of dehydration, but ready for tomorrow's game! Fasting has been my spiritual journey for over 15 years, thankful for every lesson. #God🙏🏾
— Bismack Biyombo (@bismackbiyombo)
Details
So, Oklahoma City Thunder’s center, Bismack Biyombo, had a bit of a scare. On social media, he shared that he’d be back on the court for Friday night’s game against the Miami Heat. This comes after a worrying moment on Wednesday when he collapsed during a game. It was all due to dehydration.
Biyombo’s been fasting for 15 years, he says. And this was the first time something like this happened. He’s a 13-year veteran of the game, and thankfully, he’s passed all medical tests since that scary incident.
“We’ve done all the testing. I’m good,” Biyombo reassured everyone. He’s ready to get back to playing. Just a dehydration issue, nothing more.
Interestingly, some NBA betting sites think the Thunder have the fifth-best odds to win the championship. Better odds are being given to the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers, though.
Biyombo tweeted, feeling blessed and grateful for everyone’s concern and love. He thanked his teammates for their understanding. Despite the dehydration hiccup, he’s all set for the next game. Fasting, for him, is more than just a practice; it’s a spiritual journey he’s been on for over 15 years.
The incident happened in front of the Thunder bench during the second quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers. Biyombo fell as the team was heading to the sideline during a timeout. They brought out a wheelchair, but he didn’t use it. Instead, he was helped off to the locker room.
Biyombo has only played four games with the Thunder. Yet, he’s overwhelmed by the care and concern shown by people. “I’m so grateful,” he said, promising to see everyone on the court the next day.
Thunder’s coach, Mark Daigneault, downplayed the incident. According to him, Biyombo just fainted. By halftime, he was back, laughing and joking in the locker room. It wasn’t a serious medical condition, and although Biyombo didn’t return to the game, he’s fine now.
The Thunder announced a Thunder Friday Night, gearing up for the game against the Miami Heat. It’s going to be an exciting match-up, and Biyombo’s return is eagerly anticipated.
On Thursday, Biyombo shared another message, reiterating his gratitude and readiness for the game. His fasting and spiritual journey have taught him many lessons, for which he’s thankful.
Biyombo joined the Thunder on a minimum contract on Feb. 10. Since then, he’s appeared in four games. This season, across 34 games (27 starts), he’s averaged 4.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.0 block per game. Before joining the Thunder, he played his first 30 games with the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Thunder, with a record of 43-19, are hosting the Heat, who are at 35-27. The game is set for 8 p.m. ET. It’s going to be quite the showdown, folks.
