OKC Thunder In the news – Rookie Mitchell gets curtain call with Westbrook and OK3

Even NBA players are fans of someone, which is the onus for OKC Thunder In the news for December 24.

The OKC Thunder are riding a high into the Christmas Day game as they extended the win streak to four.  Tomorrow fans will organize their days to allow for viewing of the NBA special Christmas event.  The schedule has been prepped with a view to featuring existing stars and those on the rise.

There has been and will continue to be ample debate regarding specific team omissions vs. some  selections rooted in dollars and cents TV markets. Still, there is no denying there will be plenty of stars (current and future) to feast on tomorrow.

This brings me to the focus of In the news today. In just a little over a week the OKC Thunder have played two teams featuring young stars destined to become part of the top talent in the NBA.

The OK3 ended up interacting with both young players on and off court (in very different ways). The two examples showcase the broad spectrum of personalities, the manner in which the players navigate off court and tipped a hat to the fact even existing stars are fans of the game and it’s talents.

The ‘Process’ of becoming a star:

If you watched the triple overtime win by the OKC Thunder in Philadelphia it was clear there was no love lost between the squads. Joel Embiid and Russell Westbrook engaged in cross court waves at one another. Carmelo Anthony also had a heated exchange with the big man.

Embiid is a star, of that there is no doubt.  On court the big man defies logic by the skillset he exudes. Analysts have compared portions of his game to the Dream – Hakeem Olajuwon and Chris Weber. Off court, he may be this generation’s version of Charles Barkley. Larger than life gregarious, charming and captivating. He loves the attention and will say and do anything to attract attention.

Makes you wonder if perhaps some of the more established stars in the league are none too impressed by the big man Embiid and his penchant for talking.

As I watched Joel Embiid gingerly walk off the court Saturday something occurred to me. For as much as he is a uniquely gifted individual he has yet to prove he won’t be another Blake Griffin in terms of his ability to stay on the court. Drafted in 2014, Embiid has played a total of 55 games in his brief career.

Rookie Mitchell gets curtain call with OK3:

Any NBA player will tell you the verbal banter is part of the game. Thunder Nation are also fully aware Russell Westbrook is a serious competitor who doesn’t exchange courtesies at game start, preferring the old school method of keeping competitors at a distance.

Even post game exchanges are perfunctory at best. Rarely does Westbrook go out of his way to carry on a discussion. Last season there was the post game hug and exchange between James Harden and Westbrook as the two waged their MVP campaigns.

So, when Westbrook, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony and other members of the OKC Thunder took the time post game to go chat with Utah Jazz rookie phenom Donovan Mitchell it was a clear sign of respect form the OK3.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdEdmJwhR0V/

Clearly the trio have a genuine respect for how the Jazz rookie is performing and the manner in which he is doing it.

Recently, the Raptors backcourt of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan had a similar exchange with the Kings De’Aaron Fox following their game.

The two varying interactions brings to mind a simple question. Would you rather be adored by the masses or respected by your peers? Perhaps it’s not that simple of a question, and maybe the two things aren’t mutually exclusive. But, for Donovan Mitchell odds are he went to bed grinning from ear to ear.

The mini streak:

The OKC Thunder prepare for what should be a battle against the Rockets tomorrow. My cohort Tony Heim reflects on the mini 4-game streak and it’s timing.

"The Thunder’s current four-game winning streak has been an enlightening experience. Russell Westbrook suddenly re-discovered his offensive rhythm, but this goes beyond the reigning Most Valuable Player playing like an actual MVP. It has everything to do with a total team effort."

Ted Dower served up great analysis in the post game grades, check them out here.

That wraps up in the news for December 24.  Enjoy your Christmas Eve and make sure to check in with Thunderous Intentions daily as our talented team of scribes keeps you up to date and your favorite team and players.