5:45 pm: Westbrook’s right hand surgery was to repair multiple ligament tears, according to the Nuggets, Bennett Durando of the Denver Post tweets. He underwent the procedure today, as expected.
11:37 am: Veteran guard Russell Westbrook is undergoing surgery on his right hand on Tuesday morning, he announced today in the latest installment of his personal newsletter (hat tip to Law Murray of The Athletic).
According to Westbrook, the procedure will repair two breaks in the hand that occurred during the season. The 36-year-old doesn’t provide information on any sort of formal recovery timeline, but says he’s optimistic about being back to 100% “soon.”
Hand injuries are nothing new for Westbrook, who had surgery to repair a fracture in his right hand in 2014 and underwent procedures on his left hand in 2019 and 2024 to address ligament damage and a fracture, respectively.
Westbrook played a major role in 2024/25 for the Nuggets after signing a two-year, minimum-salary contract that features a second-year player option. He averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 27.9 minutes per game across 75 appearances (36 starts), with a shooting line of .449/.323/.661.
The Nuggets had a better net rating with Westbrook off the court (+8.6) than on it (-0.6), but he received positive reviews in Denver due to the energy and leadership he provided off the bench, as well as his performance filling in for injured starters (including Aaron Gordon) over the course of the season.
Westbrook will have to make a decision in the coming weeks on his $3.47MM player option in the coming weeks. His projected minimum for 2025/26 as a free agent is $3.63MM, so even if he wants to return to Denver and is willing to settle for another minimum-salary deal, it might make sense for him to opt out in order to sign a new contract.
Seems already low pay for Westbrook with those stats, his energy & experience.
“those stats, his energy & experience” do not win you titles. He should retire, he stinks. He is the only reason why the Nuggets fell this year.
The only reason?
Tell everyone you don’t know anything about basketball without telling them you don’t know anything about basketball.
I know more about basketball than 99% of posters on here. If you hate what I say, you are self-reporting that it is you who does not know ball. Sorry to break to ya….
Westbrook is a CURSE. It’s simple as that. If they did not have him on the roster, they would likely make the WCF at minimum.
Warriors had 16 players play 30 gms or more this year. And only Wiggins, Butler, Kuminga, Curry avg more pts than Westbrook. And nobody avg more ast than Westbrook.
Davey J ——- A Warriors FankeStein doesn’t even know his own team. As we can clearly see how he consistently clowns himself on this board.
when will you learn clown. To respect the game is to respect yourself.
Sometimes I think he is trolling but he may believe his hot takes. Very close to my muted buddy Sullivan
Veteran chasing a ring at this point. He’ll have nights where he stuffs the stat sheet, but it comes with flaws. I lost count of how many times his poor shooting and turnover problems killed Denver’s momentum
He just likes to play. Whether you like him or not he’s not chasing anything but game.
Nuggets better not be cheap this off season!
Nuggets should sign Donte Exum and trade for Valencunas& Tre Lyles….
gotta be careful trading for Lyles if you’re Denver
I love how everyone is acting like Westbrook turned his career around.
He still can’t shoot or play defense and still turns the ball over at a high rate.
Westbrook doesn’t offer anything that the Nuggets need.
Russ was absolutely abysmal this year, pure riding Joker greatness and nothing more. If you sign Russ or Cp3 your team WILL NOT win the title. If you disagree you dont know ball.
Kevin Knox is cursed too. I hate to say it
First ballot HOFer and one of the best players in NBA history. He doesn’t have anything left to prove.
Any team could use those stats off the bench.
Love to have Westbrook in a Knicks uniform. Come retire here. If Knicks had Westbrook this year. This series would look different. Pacers Bench is a big plus against Knicks……
Get well Russ !!!!
We will look at this guy just like we look at Jerry Lucas, Anthony, Howard, LeBron, Harden and sad to say Wilt. Hey Steve (Adams) please let me get that rebound. Jerry Lucas running around to catch last second shots to get more rebounds numbers. Rodman in San Antonio, I only care about rebounds Rodman.
Should have stayed in OKC or one other place instead of this.
0 basketball IQ like LeBron
Fat Lever is better than this guy
I do appreciate his 100 percent effort all games