A timeline of Westbrook surgeries
Russell Westbrook played every game in his first five seasons in the NBA. Then, the 2013 playoffs happened.
Westbrook suffered a tear of the lateral meniscus in his right knee in a collision with Houston’s Patrick Beverley in the 2013 first round. For a year after, Westbrook battled back from numerous surgeries, then experienced an Ironman-like streak from late 2014 on — playing in 306 of 311 regular-season games.
April 27, 2013: Westbrook has his first surgery on his right knee to repair the torn lateral meniscus.
Result: Westbrook is ruled out for the rest of the playoffs. The Thunder beats Houston in six games in the first round, but loses to Memphis 4-1 in the second round. Westbrook had started 439 consecutive games in the regular season and playoffs, then the league’s longest active streak.
Oct. 1, 2013: Westbrook underdoes arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to remove a loose stich. Result: Westbrook was projected to miss the first four to six weeks of the regular season but only missed two games before returning Nov. 3.
Dec. 27, 2013: Westbrook undergoes arthroscopic surgery on his right knee after persistent swelling and an MRI. Result: Westbrook missed 27 games from Dec. 27 to Feb. 20, returning in the first game after the All-Star break. In Westbrook’s absence, the Thunder went 20-7 as Kevin Durant cemented his MVP season.
Nov. 2014: Westbrook has surgery on his right hand to repair a fractured second metacarpal.
Result: After playing in the Thunder’s first two games of the season, Westbrook missed the next 14 games from Nov. 11 to Nov. 26. With Durant also out (Jones fracture in his right foot), the Thunder went 4-10.
Feb. 28, 2015: Westbrook has surgery on his right cheekbone to repair a fractured zygomatic arch. Result: After Andre Roberson’s right knee collided with Westbrook's face late in a game against Portland, Westbrook missed only one game. He was fitted for a protective mask and returned four days later to carve up Philadelphia for 49 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists.
Sept. 12, 2018: Westbrook has arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.
Result: Unknown. Westbrook will be re-evaluated in four weeks, which would rule him out the entire preseason and bring him to within a week of opening night at Golden State.