Russell Westbrook is no longer preparing for another NBA season, but his influence on younger players has not disappeared. One of those players isJared McCain, who has known Westbrook since his days playing for the former MVP’s Team Why Not program.
McCain is now an NBA player himself, but he still sees Westbrook as more than a former star he once played around. Their relationship has stayed personal, even as both men have moved into very different stages of their basketball lives.
Jared McCain Still Has Russell Westbrook In His Corner
McCain recently explained what Westbrook meant to him during their time together. The connection became especially clear at Peach Jam, where Westbrook was not simply attached to the team by name. He was there working directly with the young players.
“…when he came to Peach Jam, he was out there coaching me,” McCain said.
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That memory matters because McCain was still years away from entering the NBA. He was playing for Team Why Not while building his reputation as one of the top young guards in the country. He later committed to Duke and became the 16th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Westbrook’s presence gave McCain something beyond basketball instruction. He also became someone McCain could reach when the cameras were gone.
Russell Westbrook Never Became A Distant Mentor
The former MVP could have remained a familiar name from McCain’s early basketball years. Instead, McCain said Westbrook stayed accessible despite the demands that came with being an NBA star.
“Playing for an NBA superstar and their team, you never know or expect if they’re going to be around much because they got busy lifestyles,” McCain said.
Then came the part that still stands out to him.
“I can hit him anytime, I know he’ll respond,” McCain said.
That connection kept going even after Westbrook left the NBA. When he retired in August after 18 seasons, he walked away with 209 triple-doubles, which is the all-time record.
That’s a whole new kind of legacy for Westbrook. His days on the court are over, but he can still mentor younger players away from the big league spotlight.
Jared McCain Is Carrying That Connection Into The NBA
McCain entered Oklahoma City in February after the Thunder acquired him from Philadelphia. He joined a team with championship expectations after spending his rookie season with the 76ers.
Westbrook spent most of his own career in Oklahoma City, and that shared connection makes McCain’s story even more fitting. The younger guard is now building his own NBA career in the same organization where Westbrook became a franchise icon.
Russell Westbrook can no longer coach McCain between NBA games. He can still answer the phone, and for McCain, that may be the part that matters most.
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