Los Angeles Clippers have lost 26K Instagram followers since trading Russell Westbrook

Key Highlights:

• The Los Angeles Clippers have not lost nearly as many Instagram followers as the number that has been circulating on Twitter (1.4 million followers).
• According to the website Social Blade, the Los Angeles Clippers have lost nearly 26,000 followers on Instagram since Russell Westbrook was traded to the Utah Jazz.
• The Los Angeles Clippers have lost over six times as many followers after trading Russell Westbrook than they did when they lost Paul George.

On July 18, 2024, it was announced that the signing of free agent Kris Dunn by the Los Angeles Clippers was actually a sign-and-trade that involved sending Russell Westbrook to the Utah Jazz. Of course, the Jazz later waived Westbrook, leaving the door open for him to sign with the Denver Nuggets.

Clippers’ Instagram Takes A Hit, But Not The One That Everyone Thinks

Shortly after all this was made public, Twitter started blowing up with screenshots that suggested that the Clippers have lost over one million followers since parting ways with Westbrook.

However, as the tweet the screenshot is quote tweeting suggests, the hit their social media has taken since Westbrook was traded is way overblown. According to the website Social Blade, the Clippers’ Instagram account has lost nearly 26,000 followers (25,757, to be exact) since July 18. So, while the Clippers have lost a great deal of followers, it isn’t nearly the amount that was matriculating on Twitter (I refuse to call it “X”).

Bigger Loss Than When They Lost Paul George

While 26,000 isn’t the same as 1.4 million, the loss of Westbrook hit the Clippers’ Instagram harder than when it was official that they let Paul George walk for nothing and sign with the Philadelphia 76ers.

It was reported that George was joining the 76ers on July 1, 2024. From July 1 to July 5 (the same amount of time that has passed between the Westbrook news and now), the Clippers lost 4,040 followers on Instagram. That is over six times less than what they have lost from trading away Westbrook, despite Westbrook not being nearly the caliber of player that George is at this point in time.

This is the first month since November 2020 that the Clippers have lost more followers than they’ve gained. In November 2020, they lost 4,923 followers.

It just goes to show how much Clippers Nation fell in love with Westbrook and just how much his aura will be missed by the organization.