Challenges Faced by Russell Westbrook: Obstacles and Turning Points
Life is full of challenges, and Russell Westbrook faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.
Russell Westbrook III is an American professional basketball player currently playing point guard for the Denver Nuggets in the NBA. He debuted in the NBA in 2008 and rose to prominence as a star with the Oklahoma City Thunder. During his career, he has played for six NBA teams, showcasing his talents across the league.
April 25, 2013: Knee Injury
On April 25, 2013, Russell Westbrook injured his right knee after a collision with Patrick Beverley, resulting in a slight tear in his right meniscus.
April 27, 2013: Knee Surgery
On April 27, 2013, Russell Westbrook underwent surgery on his right knee and was declared out for the remainder of the playoffs.
2013: Second Knee Surgery
Prior to the start of the 2013-14 season, Westbrook had a second surgery on his right knee, setting back his return to basketball.
2014: Thunder Miss Playoffs
In 2014-15, the Oklahoma City Thunder missed the playoffs, finishing ninth in the West with a 45-37 record.
2014: Fractured Hand
In the 2014-15 season, after scoring 38 points in the season opener, Russell Westbrook suffered a small fracture of the second metacarpal in his right hand.
2017: NBA Rule Change
In 2017, an NBA rule change affected Westbrook's free throw routine, causing his free throw percentage to drop from 82.3% to 68.5% as of January 2025.
September 2018: Westbrook Undergoes Knee Procedure
In September 2018, Russell Westbrook underwent a procedure to deal with inflammation in his right knee, causing him to miss the preseason and the first two regular-season games of the 2018-2019 season.
2019: Suspension of the NBA season
In 2019, the NBA season was suspended in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
2020: Criticism for play with the Lakers
As his first season with the Lakers progressed, Westbrook received criticism for his perceived poor quality of play during the 2020 season.
April 5, 2022: Lakers Eliminated from Playoff Berth
On April 5, 2022, the Lakers were defeated by the Phoenix Suns, eliminating them from obtaining a playoff berth. This marked Westbrook's third season missing the playoffs.
2023: Elimination from playoffs
In 2023 the Clippers were eliminated by the Phoenix Suns in five games.
April 26, 2024: Westbrook Ejected from Playoff Game
On April 26, 2024, Russell Westbrook was ejected after receiving two technical fouls during Game Three of the first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks.
January 2025: Free Throw Percentage Decline
As of January 2025, Westbrook's free throw percentage has declined to 68.5% since an NBA rule change implemented before the 2017-18 season.
January 2025: Criticism
As of January 2025, Westbrook's three-point shooting and turnovers are sometimes mentioned when pundits criticize his play.
