Oklahoma City Thunder's Paul George and Russell Westbrook undergo surgeries
Wednesday 8 May 2019 08:10, UK
Paul George and Russell Westbrook have undergone surgeries, with the former expected to miss the start of Oklahoma City's preseason training camp.
The Thunder confirmed the surgeries in a press release, stating Westbrook is expected to return to full basketball activities in approximately three weeks after having a finger ligament in his left hand repaired and an elective arthroscopic procedure on his right knee.
Oklahoma added that George will have a procedure to fix a small tear in the labrum of his left shoulder "in the coming weeks".
During the Thunder's first-round playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers, George played with what he called a sore right shoulder, but he reportedly sustained the injury against the Denver Nuggets on February 26. He decided to play through it while receiving regular treatment.
After the injury, the Thunder went 11-11 as George averaged 26.1 points per game on 40.4 per cent shooting. This season, he averaged career highs in points (28.0, second in NBA), rebounds (8.2), assists (4.1) and steals (2.21, first in NBA).
"I think it came at a terrible time, especially the team was rolling," George said of his injury at his season-ending news conference.
"We were playing good. I was holding up pretty, pretty, pretty good. I just thought it came at the wrong time, honestly.
"But again, I've never made no excuses on it. I was dealing with it for a long time throughout the season. It just got worse and worse as it went on. Injuries are part of the game. I've missed a season being hurt."
George averaged 28.6 points and 8.6 rebounds in the series against the Trail Blazers, which the Thunder lost in five games.
"Shoulder's good," George said after Game 1 in April. "I'm pain-free. It's well enough now to throw out any injury problems (as an excuse)."
Westbrook played the final six weeks of the season with the torn ligament in the fourth metacarpal of his non-shooting hand. He was taping and getting treatment for the finger, but didn't disclose the injury to the public.
Westbrook, who averaged a triple-double for the third consecutive season (22.9 points, 11.1 rebounds and a league-leading 10.7 assists), averaged 22.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 10.6 assists in the five playoff games, shooting just 36 per cent from the field.
