Nuggets star Russell Westbrook undergoing surgery
The 36-year-old struggled with injury during the Denver Nuggets’ playoff run and is finally able to receive proper treatment.
The Denver Nuggets’ veteran point guard Russell Westbrook has announced that he is undergoing surgery to repair a troublesome injury to his right hand.
Throughout the Nuggets’ playoff run, Westbrook played with his fingers heavily taped to avoid further damage. The 36-year-old is now headed into unrestricted free agency and he’s taking the offseason to help mend the damaged fingers.
“This morning, I’m undergoing surgery on my right hand to fix two breaks that happened during the season,” Westbrook wrote in his ‘Word of Westbrook’ newsletter. “I’m grateful for everyone’s support all year and I can’t wait to be back out there at 100% soon. The comeback is already in motion. #WhyNot”
The 2024/25 NBA season was Westbrook’s first in Denver and he made an impressive return to form. He average 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists, his best stats line in years.
The Nuggets would likely want him to re-sign for the 2025/26 season but the contract contains a player opt-in. His salary for next season would be $3.3 million, likely less than he could command elsewhere.
Westbrook had looked like he was drifting from relevance in the NBA but an impressive spell with the Nuggets has renewed faith in the nine-time All-Star. Teams may wish to see how whether the hand surgery is successful before making him an improved offer but his time in the league is certainly not over yet.
“Russ is Russ,” Nuggets head coach David Adelman said after playoff win against the LA Clippers. “Defensively, he was absolutely incredible. He was playing free safety out there. I thought a lot of the reasons why the [Clippers’ 20] turnovers happened, even if it wasn’t him forcing it, just the way he was roaming around and impacting the game, it was great for us.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.