Russell Westbrook Injury: Updates on Thunder Star's Hand and Return
Russell Westbrook joined Kevin Durant on the Thunder's list of long-term injuries after fracturing his hand against the Clippers on Oct. 30. The point guard is set to return on Friday against the New York Knicks.
Continue for updates.
Friday, Nov. 28
Westbrook Back vs. Knicks
Royce Young of ESPN.com has an update on Westbrook's status for Friday's game:
Monday, Nov. 24
Westbrook Participates In Practice
Darnell Mayberry and Anthony Slater of The Oklahoman provided head coach Scott Brooks' comments on Russell Westbrook's recovery:
Saturday, Nov. 22
Scott Brooks Speaks on Westbrook's Recovery After Practice
Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman provided Brooks' comments:
Friday, Nov. 21
Westbrook to Go Through Non-Contact Practice
Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News has the latest on Westbrook:
Saturday, Nov. 1
Thunder Issue Statement on Westbrook Injury
The Thunder released a statement on Russell Westbrook's hand on Saturday morning:
Friday, Oct. 31
Westbrook Fractures Hand
Once a pillar of consistency in the Oklahoma City Thunder's starting lineup, Westbrook has been bitten by the injury bug for the second season in a row.
After Thursday night's game against the Los Angeles Clippers, ESPN's J.A. Adande provided a discouraging update from Thunder coach Scott Brooks:
Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman provided more detail Friday:
"The early indication is that Russell Westbrook could miss four to six weeks after fracturing the second metacarpal in his right hand Thursday against the Los Angeles Clippers.
It could keep the Thunder's electric point guard sidelined through mid-December and add him to an already ridiculously long list of injured Oklahoma City players who are expected to miss the season's first month.
The projected recovery time would cost Westbrook 15 games on the low end and as many as 21 contests. He would rejoin the lineup between Nov. 28 and Dec. 12.
Westbrook is scheduled to undergo further tests Friday in Oklahoma City.
"
Mayberry later discussed surgery:
Adande described the scene during the game:
Westbrook exited at about the halfway point in the second quarter, hitting his hand against Kendrick Perkins’ elbow on a rebound attempt. He exited the game and stayed in the locker room for the remainder of the first half before being ruled out.
The Thunder went on to lose the game, 93-90.
With the Oklahoma City roster depleted by injuries, Westbrook's importance to the Thunder has never been greater. He was the singular offensive force propping up nondescript performances in Oklahoma City's season-opening loss to Portland, scoring 38 points and dropping six dimes. With Kevin Durant's absence due to a Jones fracture in his foot and Reggie Jackson's continued ankle problems, Westbrook would have been the most reliable shot-creator on the roster.
“He has to do another jump in the leadership category,” OKC coach Scott Brooks told the Tulsa World's Bill Haisten earlier this month.
Instead, Westbrook finds himself recovering from a fairly serious injury after suffering the same fate early last season.
During his first five years in the league, the All-Star point guard played in every one of the Thunder's regular-season games. His iron-man streak goes all the way back to his days at Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, California.
Then came the torn meniscus in his right knee during the 2013 playoffs. His injury all but derailed the Thunder's chances of winning an NBA title. A second surgery on the right knee cost him the first two games of the 2013-14 regular season. Westbrook had another surgery on the knee in December.
All told, Westbrook missed 36 games last year, which made Oklahoma City's second-place finish in the Western Conference all the more impressive.
There's little doubt that when he's on the court, the 25-year-old is unlike almost anyone else in the league. He averaged 25.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 2.2 steals per 36 minutes last season.
"I believe Russell is the best point guard in basketball," said Thunder head coach Scott Brooks in September 2014, per ESPN.com's Royce Young. "That's happened over time. I've seen Russell every practice, every game, every film session, and he's really put a lot of time into being the best point guard in basketball."
Westbrook certainly has his moments of madness when his confidence overrides his reasoning, but it's clear that the Thunder will need him fully healthy and firing on all cylinders to navigate through the formidable West and to a first NBA title in team history.
Note: All stats were courtesy of Basketball-Reference unless otherwise noted.
