Russell Westbrook undergoes hand surgery, mulls player option

May 27, 2025 6:31 PM

Russell Westbrook has announced that he is undergoing surgery on his right hand on Tuesday morning, sharing the news in the latest edition of his newsletter.

The update, as highlighted by Law Murray of The Athletic, reveals that the procedure will address two fractures in Westbrook’s hand sustained during the 2024–25 NBA season.

Although the player didn’t specify a formal recovery timeline, he expressed confidence in a full recovery, stating that he expects to be “back to 100% soon.”

This isn’t the first time Westbrook has dealt with hand-related issues throughout his career.

The veteran guard previously underwent surgery on his right hand in 2014 to fix a fracture, and he had additional procedures on his left hand in 2019 and again in 2024 for ligament damage and another fracture, respectively.

Now 36 years old, Westbrook played a meaningful role for the Denver Nuggets this past season after joining the team on a two-year, minimum-salary contract that includes a player option for 2025–26.

In 75 games, including 36 starts, Westbrook averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals over 27.9 minutes per game. He shot 44.9% from the field, 32.3% from three-point range, and 66.1% from the free throw line.

Despite the Nuggets posting a stronger net rating with Westbrook off the court (+8.6) than with him on it (-0.6), the former MVP earned praise from teammates and coaches for his leadership, hustle, and veteran presence particularly in a bench role and during stretches where he stepped up to fill in for injured starters such as Aaron Gordon.

Looking ahead, Westbrook faces a decision regarding his $3.47 million player option for next season.

While his projected veteran minimum salary for 2025–26 stands at $3.63 million, opting out of his current deal could still make financial and strategic sense, even if he plans to re-sign with Denver.

By becoming a free agent, Westbrook could potentially negotiate a new deal with better terms or explore other opportunities depending on his role and market interest.

With the hand surgery on the horizon and offseason decisions looming, Westbrook’s summer will be pivotal in shaping the next phase of his storied NBA career.