Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, the 2017 NBA Most Valuable Player, will miss the next four weeks recovering from arthroscopic right knee surgery, the team announced on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old American, a two-time NBA scoring champion and seven-time NBA All-Star, will be re-evaluated in about four weeks — or less than a week before the Thunder visits defending champion Golden State for an October 16 opening-night game.
“The Thunder, Westbrook and his representation determined after he experienced inflammation in his knee this past weekend that the best course of action was the proactive procedure,” a statement from the Thunder said. The operation was performed by Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles with Thunder medical personnel present. Westbrook suffered a right knee injury in the 2013 playoffs and underwent three operations on the knee that year. He has missed only 20 games over the past four regular seasons.
The Thunder are expected to turn to German guard Dennis Schroder to replace Westbrook in training camp, which begins September 24, and the pre-season schedule. Schroder was traded from Atlanta to Oklahoma City in July.
Westbrook averaged a triple-double for the second consecutive campaign — an unprecedented NBA feat — with 25.4 points, an NBA-best 10.3 assists and 10.1 rebounds last season. Westbrook, the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, averaged career highs of 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists last season. In 10 NBA campaigns, all with the Thunder, he has averaged 23.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists a game. The Thunder landed swingman Paul George in the off-season while parting ways with Carmelo Anthony.
Nowitzki impressed with Doncic after scrimmages
Dirk Nowitzki said he sees a huge upside in No. 3 overall pick Luka Doncic after watching him in Dallas Mavericks scrimmages this week. Doncic, 19, did not suit up for summer league but his work this week impressed Nowitzki, who knows a bit about entering the league as a young foreign star with high expectations.
“He’s been here now for a week, scrimmaged every day, works hard and I really like what I see,” said Nowitzki, who was just six months older when he entered the NBA from Germany.”He’s really incredible with the ball for a big guy, and he’s a legit 6-8.
“He’s unbelievable in the pick-and-roll. He does, like, over-the-head and between-the-leg passes to cutters,” said Nowitzki, who made his comments on Tuesday in a radio interview in Dallas. “The savviness he brings, the court vision — I couldn’t believe what I saw for a 19-, 20-year-old. Unbelievable. He’s a good shooter when he has time. I think he’s going to be great for us for a long, long time.”
The Mavericks acquired Doncic — whom team owner Mark Cuban said was the top prospect on their board and “it wasn’t even close” — from the Atlanta Hawks for the rights to fifth overall pick Trae Young and a future first-round pick.
Doncic, who signed his rookie deal in July, will make a bit more than $5.4mn in 2018-19. Last year’s third overall pick, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, signed a four-year, $30mn deal with club options in the third and fourth seasons.
Nowitzki signed on for a 21st season this summer and will make $5 mn in 2018-19. Doncic helped lead Real Madrid to the Liga ACB championship and EuroLeague title last season.
The latter competition ended less than a week before the NBA draft on June 21. Between all of his commitments to teams in Europe, Doncic has appeared in more than 150 games over the past two seasons.
Doncic will wear No. 77 for the Mavericks, a number he wore for the Slovenian national team. He wore No. 7 with Real Madrid.
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