LA Clippers Guard Followed Thunder Growing Up 'Because of Russ'

Former Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook inspired the youth during his time with the team, including his current Los Angles Clippers teammate.

The Oklahoma City Thunder took the NBA by storm in their early days in the league. The young core centered around Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook rapidly improved and became a serious contender on a consistent basis.

Westbrook, arguably the greatest Thunder player of all time, played in such a style that turned heads. His explosive play with game-changing, emphatic dunks was hard to stay away from.

Now, current players in the NBA are the age where they grew up watching Westbrook. They're actively competing against a player they grew up idolizing, with the latest example being Westbrook's current Los Angeles Clippers teammate Terrence Mann. 

Mann appeared on former Thunder Paul George's Podcast P show, where he explained how it is to be Westbrook's teammate in Los Angeles.

“I follow OKC on Facebook to this day, I used to follow it because of Russ. So it’s crazy being on the same team as him," Mann said on the podcast. 

Westbrook's reach was able to attract plenty of attention to a small-market team in Oklahoma City. Now, there are plenty of young players coming out and speaking about Westbrook being among their favorite players growing up.

Mann and Westbrook share the guard position for the Clippers, and there's plenty of Thunder history on that squad with George having spent two seasons with Oklahoma City. 

Another player that was in the mix of that era is James Harden, who is being rumored to be traded to the Clippers. There's a chance even more Thunder history is taking Los Angeles by storm, but that would be at the expense of Mann, who would likely be a part of the potential trade.

As time has moved on and the once-young Thunder core is producing for other teams, it's unique to get to see current NBA players having grown up following the Thunder since they were so new at the time.

The team is no longer one of the newer franchises that weren't around when NBA players grew up. 

Moving forward, the Thunder will have more young stars that will take that role for the next generation and wave of young players. 

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