HoopsHype.com Rumors

Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook joined his teammates this morning as the team prepared for tonight’s Game 5 against the Houston Rockets. Westbrook attended the Thunder’s shootaround and was with the team during Tuesday’s scheduled practice. Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Injuries, Russell Westbrook 

“It’s always good to see him,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. “He is such an important part of what we do and an important fabric to who we are. And it’s just nice to see him. He has a way about him that makes you feel good about yourself and about the team. It’s unfortunate what happened, but it happened. And just having him around the last few days has been very nice.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Injuries, Russell Westbrook, Scott Brooks 

Russell Westbrook is known for his outrageous pre- and post-game fashion choices. In an apparent show of solidarity with their injured teammate, Oklahoma City Thunder players Kevin Durant and Hasheem Thabeet have chosen some, um, memorable shirts to wear before their game Monday night against the Houston Rockets. Durant went with a white button-up shirt with blue flowers, while Thabeet opted for a teal-and-gold snake motif. All they need are glasses without lenses and the Westbrook homage will be truly complete. For The Win

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Hasheem Thabeet 

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook underwent knee surgery Saturday to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee and will miss the rest of the playoffs. The team said Saturday that Westbrook would begin rehab immediately and that a timetable for his return to the court will be determined in the offseason. The surgery was performed at the Stedman Clinic in Vail, Colo. "Although we are of course disappointed that Russell will be unable to return to the floor with his teammates this season, the opportunity to repair the meniscus as opposed to remove it was the best possible scenario for Russell's long term health as a player and person," Thunder executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti said in a statement. "Russell's health and well being are obviously our number one priority through this process and today's procedure helped solidify our belief that Russell will have many productive years of basketball in his future." ESPN.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Injuries, Russell Westbrook 

U.S. Olympic teammate and Miami Heat star LeBron James called the injury "unfortunate." "It sucks," James said. "He's a guy who's never missed a game his whole life. We're not just talking about the NBA. He's never missed a game in high school, college or Little League. It's unfortunate, especially for a great player like him, seeing how hard he works, especially being with the Olympic team. It's unfortunate. Hopefully, he has a speedy recovery." ESPN.com

Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron James, Injuries, Russell Westbrook 

Royce Young: KD in the halftime interview: "First off, I love you Russ." Twitter @dailythunder

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook 

Ben Golliver: Thunder announce Saturday that Russell Westbrook has undergone surgery and will miss remainder of 2013 playoffs. Twitter @blazersedge

Oklahoma City Thunder, Injuries, Russell Westbrook 

“Although we are of course disappointed that Russell will be unable to return to the floor with his teammates this season, the opportunity to repair the meniscus as opposed to remove it was the best possible scenario for Russell's long term health as a player and person,” said Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. “Russell's health and well being are obviously our number one priority through this process and today's procedure helped solidify our belief that Russell will have many productive years of basketball in his future.” NBA.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Sam Presti, Injuries, Russell Westbrook 

Marc Stein: Scotty Brooks just confirmed the expected and says Reggie Jackson starts for Russell Westbrook in Game 3 tonight Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Oklahoma City Thunder, Injuries, Russell Westbrook, Reggie Jackson 

Darnell Mayberry: Brooks also says Russell Westbrook will have surgery today to repair his torn lateral meniscus. Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Oklahoma City Thunder, Injuries, Russell Westbrook 

Howard Chen: Scott Brooks say he's read the comments on the Beverley/Westbrook play, says, "That play wasn't dirty." KD agrees Bev/Russ play not dirty. Twitter @ho_chenCSN

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Injuries, Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley, Scott Brooks 

Darnell Mayberry: Parsons on KD: "Tonight's really his first time playing w/o (Russ); to prove to the whole world he's one of the best players in the world." Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Injuries, Russell Westbrook, Chandler Parsons 

Geier said Westbrook’s doctors at this point “probably don’t know” the extent of the injury. “The MRI is notoriously bad at predicting one or the other,” said Geier, an orthopedic surgeon and director of MUSC Sports Medicine in Charleston. He has served as orthopedic consultant for the U.S. women’s soccer team. Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Injuries, Russell Westbrook 

“As long as you’re not repairing, you can come back pretty quickly,” Griffin said. “But you’re a step slow. It takes a little bit to get that feeling back and to get the swelling completely out and all that.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Injuries, Russell Westbrook 

Russell Westbrook: Been a long day ,but want to thank everyone for phone calls, text messages ,and tweets during this tough time. I really appreciate it .. Twitter @russwest44

Oklahoma City Thunder, Injuries, Russell Westbrook 

Beverley plays fast and faster, plays forward with the desperation of an unmistakable truth that hangs over him like the basketball reaper: He doesn't want to go back. "I want to go against Russell Westbrook again and battle him again," Beverley told Yahoo! Sports by phone on Friday evening. "I didn't try to hurt him, but that play was something I've tried in the past, a play that worked against the Suns earlier in the season – and it's a play that I'm going to continue to try again." Yahoo! Sports

Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Injuries, Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley 

While both Raymond Felton and Pablo Prigioni expressed sympathy for Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, neither of the Knicks’ point guards felt his potentially season-ending knee injury was the result of a dirty play. Westbrook, the All-Star point guard for the top-seeded Thunder, suffered a torn meniscus when he collided with Houston's Patrick Beverley as Westbrook was attempting to call timeout. “He wasn't trying to hurt him,” Felton said. “It's unfortunate. He was just trying to make a play.” New York Daily News

New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Raymond Felton, Injuries, Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley 

Kendrick Perkins: Just landed it that Htown. I hate to lose Russ. We go get this win tomorrow night for the Lil homie. We got empty out the clip tomorrow. Twitter @KendrickPerkins

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kendrick Perkins, Russell Westbrook 

Steve Aschburner: Have heard 2 NBA coaches, asked about Westbrook & this yr's playoffs, say, "You know who he works out w. in summer, right? Derrick Rose." Twitter @AschNBA

Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder, Derrick Rose, Injuries, Russell Westbrook 

Kevin Arnovitz: Tayshaun Prince on the play that sidelined Westbrook: "I’m pretty sure the Oklahoma City fans will be pretty pissed off at Beverley." Twitter @kevinarnovitz

Oklahoma City Thunder, Injuries, Russell Westbrook, Tayshaun Prince