OKC’s handshake ritual starts long before players hit the court

6:51 PM ET

Russell Westbrook plays like a man possessed. But before he can transform from NBA fashion plate into fire-breathing, triple-double machine, the Oklahoma City Thunder point guard takes part in an elaborate pregame ritual featuring ringmaster Cameron Payne, a rookie guard and all-around hype man.

“They were always doing handshakes and stuff,” Payne said. “I was like, ‘Well I gotta incorporate myself in some type of way.'”

“Cameron has kind of taken it to another level,” said Brian Davis, television voice of the Thunder, who has a front-row seat to the team’s handshake show, which starts in the tunnel and moves to the court.

“I remember Russell Westbrook talking about Cameron’s role and he said, ‘You know, he kind of insinuated himself into the thing. He wasn’t necessarily invited, he just sort of dove into it.'”

For this year’s playoffs, there has been an added level of showmanship, as Payne, the Thunder’s 2015 first-round pick, scours social media for the latest dances and moves, mainly on Instagram.

“I just scroll and scroll,” he said.

Oklahoma City rookie guard Cameron Payne performs a pregame ritual with Russell Westbrook. Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images

His mom, a former college majorette, even gives him advice. Not that he doesn’t draw …

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