“I’m a bit superstitious about certain things, and for me, that’s one of the reasons why I’m here”. Holding her lucky card from Rajon Rondo in hand, carefully preserved in a case, Terance Mann has reason to be superstitious since he saw his dream come true by having had the chance to play with his idol.
Guest of the Podcast P co-hosted by teammate Paul George, the Clippers fullback was quickly asked about the legend that he still has that Kentucky-era Rajon Rondo card on him as a lucky charm. . He then took out his wallet, in which was the famous card.
Terance Mann’s Girlfriend Comes In
“I watched him play all the time. I’m from Massachusetts, so everyone was talking about the Celtics.” he said, he who moved to Massachusetts at the age of ten, and therefore began to follow the Celtics and their three-leaf clover. “I watched him and talked about him all the time. My girlfriend at the time, since she heard me talking about it all the time, gave me this card for my birthday. When she gave me that card, I made a 30-point game or something over the weekend in AAU. And then I said to myself that I will never remove this card from my wallet again”.
The sequel lived up to his expectations since not only did he continue to shine, to the point of joining the NBA in 2019, but above all, he had the opportunity to play alongside him at the end of the 2020-2021 season. .
“It was incredible. I told him and he was very enthusiastic. He told me it was crazy. I’ve really had it in my wallet since high school days. I put it in a case to preserve it,” he added.
Russell Westbrook, his other idol who became his teammate
The beautiful story did not stop there for Terance Mann. It turns out that he also had a great admiration for Russell Westbrook and therefore regularly followed the exploits of the young leader at OKC even before entering the NBA. And through an extraordinary combination of circumstances, he once again found himself playing with his other idol after arriving at the Clippers last February from the Lakers.
“It was amazing for me, because I also grew up watching him play a lot. I was a huge fan. Even today, when I open Facebook, I receive Thunder notifications, because I was a fan”he launched. “I’m really serious. I was following the OKC page because there was Russ’. So it was incredible to find myself then in the same team as him (…) I remember our first or second match together. He was replaced, but he remained standing, and coached me throughout the second quarter. From the end of the first quarter to halftime, he didn’t sit down once. He gave me directions, directed me. I have great respect for him”.
Paul George then listed the beautiful CVs that Terance Mann had the chance to rub shoulders with in the space of four years in the NBA, between him, Kawhi Leonard, Lou Williams, Russell Westbrook, Rajon Rondo, DeMarcus Cousins, Serge Ibaka, Eric Bledose, Pat Beverley or even John Wall…
“It’s been crazy the last few years, to be able to play with guys that you really admire, who have had a real impact in the league, and to be able to learn from them, different things from everyone. it’s just amazing,” concluded Terance Mann, who will therefore be able to continue to evolve with Russell Westbrook next season.
| Terance Mann | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2019-20 | LAKE | 41 | 9 | 46.8 | 35.0 | 66.7 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 2.4 |
| 2020-21 | LAKE | 67 | 19 | 50.9 | 41.8 | 83.0 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 7.0 |
| 2021-22 | LAKE | 81 | 29 | 48.4 | 36.5 | 78.0 | 1.3 | 4.0 | 5.3 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 10.8 |
| 2022-23 | LAKE | 81 | 23 | 51.9 | 38.9 | 78.0 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 8.8 |
| Total | 270 | 22 | 50.0 | 38.3 | 78.4 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 3.7 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 8.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
