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“Made of Steel”; “Heals Like Wolverine”: Fans in Utter Disbelief With Russell Westbrook Return News

Published 03/22/2024, 7:10 PM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

The Los Angeles Clippers are in the final stretch of their regular season. With only 14 games remaining, Kawhi Leonard and Co. are looking to make a decent run to secure a higher seed in the playoffs. Amid the heated playoff race, the Clippers have received encouraging news as their superstar sixth man, Russell Westbrook, is expected to return from injury quite soon.

Westbrook has been out for 10 consecutive games, recovering from a fractured left hand. According to NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the former MVP will likely make a comeback on Monday against the Indiana Pacers. The news comes as a shock, considering Westbrook underwent surgery to repair his fractured hand only three weeks ago.

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Russ suffered the injury while trying to steal the ball from Jordan Poole during the Clippers vs. Wizards game on March 1. He has not suited up for the Clippers since, and fans expected him to be out for a much longer period. So, the news of the former MVP’s early return has left the NBA World in utter disbelief. They took to X to appreciate Westbrook’s durability.

A hand fracture surgery is often expected to take around 4-6 weeks to recover. Thus, considering Russell Westbrook’s update in 3 weeks, one of the fans claimed he was “made of steel,” observing the relisience.

One of the fans then compared the Clippers star to the beloved Marvel character Wolverine, who is known to have incredible healing abilities.

The disbelief remained prominent as one of the fans was left wondering how a fracture can heal in just three weeks.

Some fans even compared Westbrook’s speedy recovery to other injured NBA stars. They were stunned at how he was able to return before Trae Young and Scottie Barnes, who suffered their injuries on the same night or before him.

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Although the NBA World was surprised by the news, they were, nonetheless elated that Russell Westbrook would be back on the court soon. And more so, as Clippers vie for a spot in the playoffs.

Clippers await Russell Westbrook’s aiding presence

Russell Westbrook’s return could make the Clippers more lethal in the playoffs. While the Clippers were struggling early in the season, Russ sacrificed his starting role and moved to the bench. And that kickstarted the Clippers’ dominant run in the second half of the season. Russ has shined in his new 6th man role, averaging 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists this season. Although these numbers are significantly less than Westbrook’s career average, they are crucial for the team’s success.

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Westbrook averaged 9.3 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.7 rebounds in his last 10 appearances before fracturing his hand. He was unable to finish his last game due to the injury and left after playing 10 minutes. Westbrook finished that game with 6 points and 1 assist. Hopefully, Russell Westbrook’s miraculous early return will prove beneficial for the Clippers as they look to make a run for the Championship.

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Written by:

Rohan Bhaunt

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Rohan Singh Bhaunt, an NBA Writer at EssentiallySports, boasts a background as a divisional basketball player and an NBA enthusiast spanning over a decade. His extensive knowledge of the sport enables him to intricately explore its nuances, presenting a fresh outlook. Rohan's dive into the NBA newsdesk at ES commenced with witnessing LeBron James secure his inaugural championship in Miami.
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Edited by:

Shivatmika Manvi