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During the 2008 draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder selected UCLA standout Russell Westbrook in hopes of forming one of the best duos in the NBA together with their rising star at that time, Kevin Durant.
The two went on to have multiple appearances in the playoffs, even reaching the NBA Finals in 2012. Now, the Los Angeles Lakers are using the same formula the Thunder tried years back on their young core with the likes Jordan Clarkson, D'Angelo Russell, and Julius Randle in tow.
Durant recently spoke about how much he sees his former team in the Lakers' young guns and also discussed what Luke Walton has brought to them.
Article Continues Below“You can tell they enjoy playing with each other. You can tell Luke Walton has come over there and changed the culture a bit. I’ve been on a team like that. You’re young and just want to go out there and have fun with the game with no expectations. You’re just playing.”
“They got great management, ownership and that seeps through the organization,” Durant said of the Lakers. “It falls down to Luke Walton. Being here now, you can tell the atmosphere they have and how it’s the same. A lot of stuff we run, they run. A lot of things we do, they do over there with the Lakers. It starts with being in an environment where it’s about the players and it’s about wanting them to get better.”
Westbrook also shared his thoughts about the new-look Lakers squad and commended the management for making the right moves.
“The organization does a great job in having the right people, right teammates, right personnel, right people in every aspect of it to make you a successful basketball player. Not only on the floor but to do different things off the floor as well.”
“They’ve been playing well.”
With the young players overachieving this season, it only gives them more confidence in their abilities and will only help grow together as a team. They can look at the Thunder's story and target what they have achieved and even surpass it. They certainly have the personnel to make it happen, and it's just a matter of time before they can become contenders in the NBA once again.
