10 Things You Need To Know About the Thunder's Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook is one of the NBA's hottest rising stars playing for the up-and-coming Oklahoma City Thunder.

This season, the high flying Westbrook is averaging 16.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game as the perfect complement to superstar Kevin Durant.

Here are 10 things you need to know about this exciting future All-Star:

10. Seattle's Last Lottery Pick

Born November 12, 1988, Russell Westbrook was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Seattle Supersonics.

This turned out to be the very last lottery pick by the Sonics before the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder.

Westbrook was considered a controversial pick at the time, having been selected ahead of touted college stars such as Arizona guard Jerryd Bayless, Stanford center Brook Lopez, Indiana guard Eric Gordon and fellow UCLA teammate, center Kevin Love.

However, the gamble paid off as Westbrook averaged an impressive 15.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists to finish fourth in Rookie of the Year voting behind Derrick Rose (Chicago), OJ Mayo (Memphis) and Brooke Lopez (New Jersey).

Westbrook was also named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for the months of December 2008 and February 2009.

9. Favorite Player

Even though Westbrook is primarily known for his athleticism and defensive prowess, having been born and bred in California, his favorite player growing up was Magic Johnson.

At 6'3" and 187 pounds, Westbrook is a completely different player than his childhood idol. However, this doesn't mean that Westbrook can't pass the ball like Magic.

While Westbrook still relies on his freakish 6'7 ¾" wingspan and 36-inch vertical to dominate opponents, he has shown promising passing abilities too. His 7.9 assists per game currently ranks seventh in the NBA this season.

Westbrook is a solid rebounder as well. His 5.1 boards per contest is second amongst NBA point guards (behind Jason Kidd).

8. Twitter Star

Off the basketball court, Russell Westbrook is a bona fide Twitter star.

As "russwest44," Westbrook currently has over 24,000 followers on the popular social networking website, with almost 1,400 tweets.

Westbrook's followers include the Grizzlies' Rudy Gay, Denver's Arron Afflalo and teammates Eric Maynor and Jeff Green.

Follow Westbrook at: http://twitter.com/russwest44

7. Family Guy

Some NBA players like to say their families mean a lot to them. In Russell Westbrook's case, this is actually true.

Westbrook is the quintessential family guy. His father, Russell Sr., put a lot of time and effort into nurturing his son all throughout high school and college to transform him into the basketball player he is today.

During the offseason at UCLA, Westbrook elevated his game by running sand dunes in Manhattan Beach with his younger brother, Raynard, in the mornings. Then he practiced jumpers with his father in the evenings, until it got too dark to see the rim.

In interviews, Westbrook has reiterated many times his love for his family. "I love my family to death," he boasts.

Unlike other young athletes with more money than they know what to do with, Westbrook enjoys hanging out with his little brother when he heads back home.

"My family’s always with me," Westbrook says, "and I’m always behind my family, as well."

6. Career Bests

With just under two years in the NBA, Russell Westbrook has already posted some impressive numbers.

Westbrook's career highs are fairly solid:

He scored 34 points in an overtime loss to Sacramento in February 2009, where he hit 20-of-22 free throws.

He dished out 15 assists twice (December 2009 and February 2010).

Career high in steals? Eight, against Golden State in February 2010.

Westbrook has also posted some jaw-dropping individual games, flirting with triple-doubles on an almost-nightly basis and recording two triple-doubles in his career.

On March 2, 2009, Westbrook had 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against the Dallas Mavericks. He becoming the first rookie to achieve the rare feat since Chris Paul in the 2005-06 season, and only the third player in Sonics/Thunder franchise history.

Most recently, on February 21, 2010, Westbrook racked up 22 points, 10 boards and 14 assists in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

For his efforts, Westbrook was named the Western Conference Player of the Week for games played February 1 through 7 in 2010. Leading Oklahoma City to a 3-0 week, Westbrook averaged 19.7 points, 9.7 assists, 8.0 rebounds and 3.3 steals.

5. Millionaire Student

Despite having made the jump to the NBA after his sophomore year, Russell Westbrook is still a college student.

During the NBA offseason, Westbrook attends summer school back at UCLA, where he takes English and history courses in pursuit of a degree in African American studies.

"Russ likes school," said his father, Russell Sr. "I've been working all my life. We're not in a big rush."

Unfortunately, being a millionaire and playing in the NBA does not provide Westbrook with star treatment on campus. As Westbrook explained, he walked in late to a history class and the teacher called him out.

"I had to walk all the way to the front and sit on the stage in front of the whole class the whole time," Westbrook said. "For two hours. I couldn’t go to sleep, couldn’t do nothing. For two hours."

4. Late Bloomer

Russell Westbrook's rise from unnoticed nobody to a rising NBA star is one of the most amazing I've ever come across.

Westbrook is a true late bloomer who, despite having over-sized hands and size 14 feet, entered his freshman year in high school at just 5'8" and 140 pounds. He didn't even crack his high school's starting five until his junior season. It wasn't until a growth spurt that saw Westbrook grow from 5'10" to 6'3" before his senior year that enabled him to become a star.

Westbrook averaged 25.1 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game as a senior for Leuzinger High. He recorded 14 double-doubles and eight games with 30 or more points, including a career high 51, leading little-known Leuzinger to the Division I-AA quarterfinals.

After contemplating several scholarship offers from colleges such as Kent State, Creighton and San Diego, Westbrook eventually signed with the UCLA Bruins. However, in a crowded back-court that included established guards such as Arron Afflalo, Darren Collison and Josh Shipp, Westbrook averaged only nine minutes and 3.4 points per game as a college freshman.

However, Westbrook's tireless worth ethic finally paid off in his sophomore year. Thanks in part to an injury to Collison, Westbrook established himself as a genuine NBA prospect, becoming UCLA’s fourth-leading scorer at 12.1 points per game, while also assuming the role of defensive stopper. The Bruins made it all the way to the Final Four before losing to Memphis.

Shortly thereafter, the kid who wasn't a starter in high school until his junior year, and only averaged 3.4 points per game as a college freshman, was selected with the fourth overall pick in the NBA draft.

3. All-Star Failure

What am I talking about? Russell Westbrook is an All-Star failure?

But yes, he has been. So far.

Westbrook has not played in any NBA All-Star games yet in his career, but he has been involved in All-Star Weekend over the last couple of years.

While Westbrook's performances have not been bad, he hasn't managed to find success.

Westbrook is one of a small handful of players (and the first since 2002) that has not won a game in the Rookie Challenge, as either a Rookie or a Sophomore.

In 2009, Westbrook had 12 points in 18 minutes as the Rookies fell short against the Sophomores, 122-116. Teammate Kevin Durant pouring in a record 46 points.

In 2010, Westbrook's Sophomores lost to the Rookies, 140-128. Tyreke Evans was named MVP despite Westbrook's 40-point outburst.

Further, in 2009, Westbrook had a chance to compete in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, but missed out after fan voting put Rudy Fernandez in the competition instead.

And let's not forget that Westbrook was a last-second replacement for an injured Derrick Rose in the 2010 Skills Challenge, and finished in a distant last place.

So yes, Russell Westbrook has not found success at All-Star Weekend thus far, though I have a feeling this trend will not last—not once he becomes a perennial All-Star.

2. Could Not Dunk Until 17

Do a search on Russell Westbrook on YouTube and all you'll see are highlights of his thunderous dunks. But did you know that Westbrook couldn't even dunk until he was a 17-year-old high school senior?

Of course, his late growth spurt may have had something to do with it, but Westbrook's 36-inch vertical was not all natural ability.

"To be honest," Westbrook explained, "I was never really jumping that high when I was younger. I had to work on it. I didn’t dunk for the first time until the last game of my senior year in high school. I didn’t really start dunking regularly until college. I just work on my legs and my core: Running the stairs, squats, working my hamstrings and quads. Then just sit-ups for my core."

As for what it was like to dunk for the first time?

"We were playing against a rival school of ours, packed house, you know. I got a steal and didn’t think I was going to make it actually. I just went up and jumped as high as I could. I was REALLY excited—I knew it would give our team momentum and get us going. The most important thing was that we won the game.”

1. Special Player

So Russell Westbrook is a late bloomer who could not dunk until age 17, an All-Star failure, a millionaire student, a Twitter star and loves hanging out with his family in his spare time.

Still don't believe that he is a special player?

Have a look at Westbrook's averages this season (so far): 16.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 7.9 assists. More importantly, he is just 21-years-old.

Do you know how many players in NBA history have recorded such impressive numbers before the age of 22?

Five.

Lebron James, Magic Johnson, Chris Paul, Isiah Thomas and Allen Iverson.

That's some pretty special company.

Given Westbrook's reputation as a notoriously late bloomer, just what is his ceiling as an NBA player?

We'll just have to wait and find out.