Regardless that it was a fast cease, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder made the journey to face Charlotte Frelons all about Aaron Wiggins. The North Carolina native loved his annual return residence.
The 25-year-old had his highschool jersey retired on Friday. He was then given the beginning and put in considered one of his finest performances this season in a victory 106-94 on the Charlotte Frelons. He had 17 factors and 5 rebounds.
Within the presence of household and pals, Wiggins launched himself. He scored 10 factors within the first quarter and was 3 of seven from 3. It was virtually an ideal comeback journey for him. The one factor lacking was combating Tre Mann.
Wiggins’ jersey retirement ceremony was crammed along with his Thunder teammates. The lone exception was Mann, who spent almost three seasons with OKC from 2021 to 2024. He was traded to the Hornets as a part of a package deal for Gordon Hayward ultimately yr’s commerce deadline.
Mann and Wiggins shaped a detailed friendship on the Thunder. Each have been a part of OKC’s four-player draft in 2021. When Mann was dealt to Charlotte, Wiggins wore his observe jersey the following day to commemorate his former teammate.
With the Hornets, Mann took benefit of his alternative. He’s reaching profession highs throughout the board in a sixth-man scoring function. He missed time as a result of accidents and was restricted to 13 video games. He missed his likelihood to play in opposition to Wiggins as a result of a disc irritation.
Possibly they will get an opportunity to face off later when the Hornets go to OKC. Within the meantime, Wiggins opened up about her relationship with Mann and revealed the origin of their friendship.
“He is considered one of my canines. They have been initially drafted collectively. We first met in the course of the NBA draft whereas we have been being examined on the hospital for x-rays, scans and all of that,” Wiggins mentioned. “He is been my boy for the 4 years we have identified one another. These relationships outdoors of basketball are enormous, too. Basketball offers you the chance to journey the world and meet new individuals.”
The NBA is a brotherhood. Solely round 450 gamers are within the league at any given time. It is an unique membership the place gamers can really perceive one another and their state of affairs. The bond grew even stronger after they had been teammates for 3 years and traveled in every single place collectively for 9 months.
Wiggins and Mann are an instance of this closeness. The 2 have stayed in contact although they have not been teammates for nearly a yr now.
“He’s a kind of guys that I can have a look at as greater than only a teammate or a man that I can play with,” Wiggins mentioned. “He’s like a brother to me.”
This text was initially printed on OKC Thunder Wire: Aaron Wiggins opens up about his shut friendship with Tre Mann
