THE SHOT I NEVER TOOK The MidFirst Bank half-court shot looks easy; getting there isn’t THUNDER PLAYER CARDS
Second set in series of detachable cards
THUNDER FAMILY TREE Tulsa 66ers roster has strong ties to its NBA affiliate
Delivering your News in a Whole neW Way the oklahoman Now AvAilAble For DowNloAD
Volume 3 Issue 2
magazine
THUNDER LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Professional Basketball Club, LLC
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Clayton I. Bennett
Board of Directors
Aubrey K. McClendon G. Jeffrey Records, Jr. Tom L. Ward William M. Cameron Robert E. Howard II Everett R. Dobson Jay Scaramucci
Oklahoma City Thunder 211 N. Robinson, Suite 300 Oklahoma City, OK 73102 Phone: 405.208.4800
THUNDER.NBA.COM
Executive Vice President & General Manager Sam Presti
Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer Danny Barth
Senior Vice President, Sales & MARKETING Brian M. Byrnes
Senior Vice President, Guest Relations Pete Winemiller
Vice President, Business Development John Croley
Vice President, Corporate Communications & Community Relations Dan Mahoney
Vice President, Human Resources Katy Semtner
VICE PRESIDENT, TICKET SALES, RETENTION & DATABASE OPERATIONS Scott Loft
Managing Editor Ron Matthews
Business Development
Wayne Guymon, Abby Morgan, Tim Whang, Regan Lynn, Stephanie Parrish, Geoff Sanders, Ryan O’Toole, Whitney Emde, Sean Heusel, Nick Colburn
Editorial Assistance
Brian Facchini, Michael Ravina, John Read, Phil Bacharach, Vicki Guerra, Roxanne Nguyen
Contributing Writers
Phil Bacharach, Greg Elwell, Chris Silva
T
ip-off is 40 minutes away, and the countdown clock reminds all that game time is approaching by the second. Thunder Head Coach Scott Brooks and Assistant Coach Rex Kalamian are the only two seated in the 12 front-row seats to the side of the basket, talking and watching as Thabo Sefolosha continues to run through his series of pregame drills. Without hesitation, a blonde-haired boy wearing a Kevin Durant AllStar jersey surveys that same row of courtside seats, ignores the four empty seats to his left and plops down next to Brooks. The two shake hands, and immediately engage in a conversation. Myself, an arena usher and several Thunder employees are watching this scene unfold. Each of us has the same question: Is that Coach Brooks’ son? It has to be, we agree, given the time showing on the clock. Yet Brooks remains seated, still in his workout clothes, engaged in an unscripted conversation. Minutes later, as Brooks and Kalamian head toward the locker room, I introduce myself to the boy and learn several things: No, Coach Brooks is not his dad; his name is Brycen, he’s 10 years old, his family are Season Ticket Members and, he tells me with great excitement, not only did he talk to the coach, he talked to Kevin Durant – KEVIN DURANT! – for 20 minutes. Brycen Logan’s Thunder experience is no doubt one he never will forget. Other fans, young and old, male and female, have similar My Brush With the Thunder stories. We know because we’re told about them, experience them or witness them. Thunder players are at the malls we all Brycen Logan watches as Kevin visit. They go to the same theaters, bowling Durant is about to his sign the alleys, restaurants, medical offices and more 10-year-old’s All-Star jersey. that you and I do. It’s the charm of this team in this market. Thunder players are, in fact, touchable. Thunder Basketball writer Chris Silva set out to chronicle the emotional ‘connection the Thunder has made with the community it calls home. He met with the Thunder Community Relations team to hear their stories and collect anecdotes from various events; he revisited those who have had Thunder players in their homes and schools; he talked with the players themselves. “It’s funny because nearly everyone I talked to for this story used the word ‘magical’ to describe their run-in with Thunder players,” Silva said. “And the other thing that stood out was that these people are so pleasantly surprised to learn just how down-to-earth the players are. There were some really touching stories out there.” The Thunder organization prides itself for its role in the community. But that pride isn’t as strong without players and coaches who see “giving back” as their responsibility, not their assignment.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, THUNDER FANS!
Photography
Richard A. Rowe, J.P. Wilson, Paul Wilson, OKC Thunder photos; Dustin Schmidt, Old Hat Creative
PHOTOGRAPHY EDITING Lacey Leach
Graphic Design & Layout
Old Hat Creative, Norman, OK
Printing
Southwestern Stationery & Bank Supply 4500 N. Santa Fe 73118 | P.O. Drawer 18697 Oklahoma City, OK 73154
Ron Matthews Director, Digital Media & Publications
30 COVER STORY There are countless stories from fans and even non-fans who have had chance bump-ins with Thunder players. From bowling alleys to movie theatres, from restaurants to medical offices, these experiences have created lifetime memories and much more. “It’s one of the coolest things about being able to play,” forward Nick Collison says, “the ability to affect other people.”
OPENING SHOTS 6 Five photos covering 10 pages, including one sequence of Kevin Durant taking flight for a Thunderous dunk that you must see.
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PLAYER CARDS 17 The second in a series of four detachable player cards designed to help you learn more about your 2010-11 Thunder players.
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TEAMMATES 24 Teamwork is a staple of the Thunder family. Our cameras captured that quality in a series of photos that underscore the importance of being a good, supportive teammate.
MY SHOT AT $20,000
TULSA 66ERS 46 The 2010-11 66ers roster is ripe with players who have various ties to the Thunder, be it through the NBA Draft, Summer League, training camp or are just regulars at the training facility during the offseason. Chris Silva constructs the Thunder family tree in Tulsa.
SCENE & SEEN 59 From the mayor to the voice of WWE; from halftime acts to Thunder entertainers; from fans to super fans; our cameras captured them cheering on the Thunder!
PARTING SHOT 64 “Hang Time” featuring teammates D.J. White and James Harden.
Sure, the MidFirst Bank $20,000 halfcourt shot looks easy from your seat in the OKC Arena. Standing on the court presents a whole new perspective.
LOOK INSIDE! … Second in a series of four detachable player cards for the 2010-11 Thunder.
The information contained in this publication was compiled by the Oklahoma City Thunder and is provided as a courtesy to its fans. Any commercial use of this information is prohibited without the prior written consent of the Oklahoma City Thunder. All NBA and team insignias depicted in this publication are the property of NBA Properties, Inc. and the respective teams of the NBA Properties Inc. and may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without the prior written consent of NBA Properties, Inc. © Copyright 2010 Oklahoma City Thunder
Commitment Runs Deep
Our vision for a better tomorrow
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LIGHTS, CAMERA ‌ THUNDER! The Oklahoma City Arena is a sea of colors as the show begins. With the visiting team introduced, the attention turns to the scoreboard and the Thunder introduction video. Rumble and the Thunder Girls will follow, setting the stage for Thunder players to be introduced. PHOTO BY RICHARD A. ROWE
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ALL HANDS IN D.J. White and Eric Maynor are front and center as the Thunder players meet up for their pre-game huddle. Other teammates pictured (left to right) include Nenad Krstic, Thabo Sefolosha, Serge Ibaka, Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook and Russell Westbrook. PHOTO BY RICHARD A. ROWE
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OFF AND RUNNING Guard Eric Maynor (6) looks up court as a Thunder fast break is about to begin against Minnesota. James Harden (13), Nick Collison (4) and Kevin Durant (35) also are pictured. PHOTO BY RICHARD A. ROWE
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AREN’T WE CUTE? Raindrops members (front row, left to right) Taylor, Karsyn, Summer and Katie are all smiles following the team’s performance on Sunday, Dec. 5. They weren’t the only ones smiling; Thunder fans gave them a standing ovation. The Raindrops are presented by Trochta’s. PHOTO BY J.P. WILSON
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PHOTOs BY RICHARD A. ROWE
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PhYSICIaN
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teChNOlOGY
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PrOCeDure
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COMMuNItY BeNefIt
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awareNeSS
More Care for More Oklahomans
MIND, BODY,
COMMuNItY-CeNtereD Care, StatewIDe At INTEGRIS Health, being the state’s largest healthcare provider is more than just a statement about our size. It’s a statement about our commitment to the communities – from the largest and busiest to the smallest and most rural – that are home to the great people of Oklahoma. That’s why the services of our 11 different Centers of excellence are offered statewide, based on the unique needs of its surrounding community – from weekly clinic visits by an INTEGRIS Heart specialist to 13 full-service hospitals. In fact, approximately six out of every 10 Oklahomans live within 30 miles of an INteGrIS facility or physician.
the CeNterS Of exCelleNCe At INTEGRIS Health, we believe in caring for the whole person, not just treating a condition. Our team of more than 2,500 physicians adds the healing human touch to each Center of Excellence; coming together to provide a full scope of care that includes specialization in cardiac care, fertility, physical rehabilitation, neuromuscular diseases, mental health, transplants, all types of cancer, burns, sleep disorders, stroke, and women’s and children’s services.
integrisOK.com 405-951-2277
Where Thunder Happens © Copyright 2010, Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores (and design) is a registered trademark of Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores. Any other logos are property of their respective owners.
Welcome to Love’s Loud City
Population: 7,631 Screaming Fans From Ada to Watonga your loyalty has made Love’s what it is today. For us it’s about community and what better way to bring it together. Your passion makes this arena one of the loudest in the NBA. Our mission is to make this THE loudest, craziest and most feared houses on any schedule. Not everybody can sit up here. It takes a certain kind of fan to become a Love’s Loud City citizen. This is the place where you bring the loud and maybe some earplugs too. Citizenship entitles you to special offers and giveaways not available elsewhere. Prepare to leave the rest of the world behind. This is the hometown of Loud. If your not yellin’ you better bring a doctor’s note. Get on your feet and prepare for the loudest 48 minutes of your life. It begins NOW.
Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores, is the Proud Sponsor and Official Convenience Store of the Oklahoma City THUNDER.
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All games broadcast in HD on Fox Sports Oklahoma and carried live on the statewide Thunder Radio Network. Check local listings.
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CALLING THE ACTION The Thunder Broadcast Team (left to right) Brian Davis, Kelly Crull, Grant Long and Matt Pinto bring the action on the court to your TV and radio. Catch Thunder Eleno Ornelas Basketball exclusively on FOX Sports Oklahoma (FSO) and the statewide Thunder Radio Network, led by WWLS, The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM). All Thunder home games are also broadcast in Spanish on WKY AM 930 in Oklahoma City, La Indomoble. Veteran broadcaster Eleno Ornelas calls the action.
THUNDER INSIDER
PRESENTED BY INTEGRIS HEALTH From game analysis to player features to the Thunder in the community, Thunder Insider is a weekly comprehensive TV look at your Thunder. Presented by INTEGRIS Health and hosted by Kelly Crull, the show also features Thunder broadcasters Brian Davis, Grant Long, Matt Pinto, Thunder Basketball writer Chris Silva and The Sports Animal’s Mike Steely, who offers a unique fan’s perspective. Thunder Insider airs several times each week on FOX Sports Oklahoma. Check thunder. nba.com for air dates and times. It will also be heard Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m. on WWLS, The Sports Animal and can be viewed on the Internet at thunder. nba.com, newsok.com and thesportsanimal.com.
SHOWof
SUPPORT
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TEAMWORK.
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Those eight letters form a key building block of Thunder Basketball. It plays out daily, both on and off the court. From high-fives to chest bumps, from picking up a teammate who has hit the floor to unwavering, towelwaving support from the bench, Thunder players are there for each other.
(1) Thabo Sefolosha and James Harden reach out to help Nick Collison get back to his feet.
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(2) D.J. White and Russell Westbrook reach out to slap hands with James Harden. (3) James Harden, D.J. White and Morris Peterson give a collective shout out to Kevin Durant. (4) Jeff Green and Thabo Sefolosha high-five one another. (5) Jeff Green and Serge Ibaka exchange a low-five.
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(6) The Thunder bench reacts in a collective celebration. (7) Nick Collison is met with extended hands as he heads to the bench. 7
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BIG CELEBRATIONS ARE ALL ABOUT THE marriot_condensed_medium_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ SMALLEST DETAILS. ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢∞§¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤≥÷ ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '"
Whatever your special occasion, the Four Diamond Waterford marriot_condensed_bold_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢∞§¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤≥÷ ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '"
Marriott, knows you want it to be just that: special. And we would not have it any other way. From the menu we create, to the place settings, centerpieces and ambiance, every detail is designed to ensure your event is as memorable as it is effortless. Our dedicated staff is always at your service so that you and your guests will have everything you need to have a wonderful time. To reserve your sleeping rooms or event space, call 405-858-2452 or visit Marriott.com/OKCWA
Waterford Marriott 6300 Waterford Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73118
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(1) Thabo Sefolosha and Jeff Green make sure this rebound stays with the Thunder. (2) Serge Ibaka and Thabo Sefolosha like what they see from their teammates on the floor. (3) The hands of James Harden and Kevin Durant meet. (4) Nenad Krstic and Nick Collison exchange a highfive. (5) Royal Ivey brings the group together before the game.
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What is the thunder Kids Club? A unique way for kids, ages 4-14, to be part of the Thunder experience 2010-11 MeMbership benefits • 2010-11 edition Rumble bobblehead • The Story of Rumble the Bison • Rumble hat • Thunder lunch bag • Membership card • Kids Club lanyard • Complimentary Thunder home game ticket • Invitation to the Thunder Kids Club spring event with player appearances
additional benefits • 20% on Rumble appearances, Thunder dance clinic and youth basketball camps • 10% discount on regularly priced youth merchandise at the Thunder Shop • Discounted admission at White Water Bay and Frontier City • Free admission at Science Museum Oklahoma EVERY Tuesday (*with a paid adult admission)
Send an e-mail to
kidsclub@thunder-nba.com for more information on purchasing your membership.
Limited memberships available.
thunder.nba.CoM
presented by
t H U N D e R Y O U t H B a s k e t B a l l H O l i D aY C a M p i N t H e O k C M e t R O DeC. 27-29 from 9am - 1Pm, $135 transformation fitness center 14701 north kelly avenue Edmond, ok 73013 includes Thunder YouTh BaskeTBall T-shirT and a TickeT To a n upcom ing Thu n der g a me
<<< thE camP day will bE ExtEndEd on dEc 28th to accommodatE thE schEdulEd aPPEaRancE by eRiC MaYNOR aND JaMes HaRDeN.
these camps will focus on the fundamentals of basketball, along with an emphasis on key character lessons of teamwork, sportsmanship and respect. *Rumble and the Thunder Girls are scheduled to appear.
R e g i s t e R at
tHUNDeR.NBa.COM
*
REcEivE a 20% d i s co u n t i f yo u aRE a sEason tickEt mEmbER oR a kids club mEmbER
Kevin Durant sits with Issac and his mother Tammy during a Make-A-Wish event that included the entire Thunder team at RedPin Bowling Lounge. The two shared more than smiles; they also shared the same lane.
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by Chris Silva | thunder.nba.com
Chance encounters with Thunder players create lasting memories for players and fans alike and underscore the charm of this team and its imact on this community.
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O
ne thing about living in Oklahoma City is you never know who you’ll run into on a given day. The Thunder typically has only 15 players on its roster, but listen to all of the random encounters fans have had with players in various spots across the area and only then does it hit you: “Hey, it can happen to me.”
It’s not just because Thunder players are out in the community so often, totaling more than 200 appearances annually at schools, parks, basketball camps and hospitals, to name a few. It’s because the Thunder players, like you and me, are regular people who like to do regularpeople things. They don’t live in seclusion; when they dine out, they’re not sitting in a sectionedoff part of the restaurant; when they bowl, either on their own or together, they bowl alongside whoever happens to be there. They’re good people with the disposition and high-character qualities with which the organization prides itself. There are countless stories that fans and even non-fans have about their chance run-ins with Thunder players, from the grandmother who reluctantly let the team inside her home to do a little refurbishing, to the local football team that invited the Thunder to come watch them play, to the teenager who had a random encounter and spiritual connection with his favorite player during a brief hospital stay. A lot of them captured the encounters with camera phones. Others reveled in the moment that will last a lifetime. And everyone came to agreement on one thing:
the Thunder’s got some pretty cool guys on its roster. Here are a few of their stories.
‘GRANDMA … I FEEL LIKE A STAR’ The new hardwood floors inside the home of Rugena Mothershed Blonner come in handy during the cold months, because the wood flooring that stood here before was so old and rickety and loose that the cool air would seep through the panels with ease, making the house crisp and cold no matter how high the heat was cranked up. Now, those days of needing to wear layered clothing indoors are gone. The living room is decorated with a brown couch and chair that still have a new feel to them. And now, if Rugena doesn’t want to look out of her window, or have any passersby look in, she can just pull down the white blinds for some privacy, a simple luxury she didn’t have before. Around the corner just before you get to the kitchen is the gem of the house,
Rugena Mothershed Blonner says the time she spent with Russell Westbrook and his Thunder teammates made her think of her sons. “It just made me feel good.”
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Kenyeah’s room, which stands out from the rest of the home because it is blue, bright, airy and welldecorated. On the wall above his computer desk are portraits of him smiling and posing with various Thunder players. In the left corner of the room hangs a Thunder banner; to the right, pinned to the wall, is a ticket stub to his first Thunder game. Outside, there’s some patio space that, during the warm months, Rugena gets to use with her new patio furniture, which to her initial surprise was folding furniture, and all the more easier to store during the winter. All of this – the floors, the furniture, the room – came courtesy of the Thunder and Rebuilding Together. A year later, it looks like they were just here. It’s important to know that all of this came awfully close to never happening. To put it kindly, Rugena had a lot of dislike for a lot of different people and organizations. The only house on her block, she says the city has been trying to get her to move out for some time now. She knew the city found value in her property, and she knew that more could be done to maintain the house. She just didn’t have the money. Several organizations came through offering assistance, but after what she says were few scams, she stopped letting people in her house. So Rugena was a bit skeptical when a friend told her of a request from Rebuilding Together, which offered to join with the Thunder to fix the house as best as possible. When she agreed to let them into her house, she said the first and only priority was to take care of her 10-year-old grandson, Kenyeah. Mission accomplished.
Jeff Green gets a helping hand from 10-year-old Kenyeah, whose room was decorated all-out Thunder. Later, Kenyeah was presented with a custom Thunder jersey that each of the players signed.
“I feel like what they did – I can’t speak for anybody else – but what they did, they boosted Kenyeah’s spirit,” Rugena says. This was the second year the Thunder teamed with Rebuilding Together. Rugena says it took a lot of praying to allow her to let the Thunder inside her home. She was worried the players were coming only for publicity. She was worried they’d take a look at her home and judge her. She thought because they had money, they’d be snobs. But when she saw the way the players interacted with Kenyeah, she knew she was the one who had prejudged. “The players, I fell in love with them,” she says. “They’re like my kids and I didn’t even know them.” Rugena remembers working in her home office as the players painted and brought in new furniture. She remembers hearing a lot of thumping and banging and horsing around, and she was worried Kenyeah was getting in everyone’s way.
The players, I fell in love with them. They’re like my kids and I didn’t even know them.” — Rugena Mothershed Blonner
“I come in here and they were all playing around and laughing and I’m standing there and looking at them and I’m thinking, these are just babies,” Rugena recalls. “They’re the age of my kids. And tears just started rolling out of my eyes because it made me think of my sons because my sons, they horseplayed a lot. And they were just laughing and joking and – my house felt like my home again. And it just, it just made me
feel good.” And it made her feel even better when she saw the impact they made on Kenyeah. “I just thought, you know, they could have come in, did what they had to do, got in their cars and left and that would have been it,” Rugena said. “But they didn’t. The ones that didn’t have to leave, they stayed an extra 20, 30 minutes and they got out there and played around with
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Serge Ibaka pays a surprise visit to Nick Van Stavern. When Ibaka walked through the door, Nick said: “Wow, that’s Serge Ibaka! That just doesn’t happen.”
him. That night, he said, ‘Grandma, this was the best day. I feel like a star.’ ”
A LASTING IMPRESSION
I think he recognized quality and character when he saw it. He saw it in Serge Ibaka and he saw it in the rest of the Thunder, too. He said, ‘They’re not like other NBA teams. They really like each other.’ ” — Phil Van Stavern, reflecting on his grandson Nick and his hospital visit with Serge Ibaka 34
Like so many others, the Van Stavern family considers themselves pretty big Thunder fans. Nick Van Stavern, who was supposed to be a freshman at Edmond North High this year, started following the NBA when the Hornets were temporarily relocated in Oklahoma City. So when the Thunder got to town, Nick had a team he could call his own. Of all the Thunder players, Nick had this connection with Serge Ibaka. Nick, like Serge, is a devout Christian. Nick was involved in his church youth group and read the Bible daily. When he heard that Ibaka read his French Bible daily, Nick thought that was pretty cool. He also liked how the Congolese forward played all-out all the time. “He loved how he could fly,” Nick’s grandfather, Phil Van Stavern, recalled. On one random day at INTEGRIS Health Baptist Hospital, during a stay for a procedure, Nick had the chance to tell that to Ibaka personally. When Phil went out into the reception area on his way to the rest room, he
couldn’t help but notice a group of very tall people. “And towering above all these itty bitty people was this very, very huge guy, very tall guy,” Phil recalled. “And I looked at him and I went, ‘That’s Serge Ibaka.’ I immediately went up to the entourage and told them if Serge doesn’t go into any of these rooms except that one right there, my grandson will be greatly disappointed.” A few minutes later, Ibaka was standing bedside with Nick. He told Serge that he was his favorite player. He told him how he prayed and read his Bible every day, just like Serge did. And then Nick asked if he could pray for him. The room grew silent. Nick held Serge’s hand, closed his eyes and prayed aloud. Lord, Thank you for Serge. And thank Serge for taking the time to come to the hospital to cheer up all the kids. Be with him as he takes to the court tomorrow. Help him to share Your Word with the team. He’s an amazing player and an amazing person. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Phil thinks that Ibaka had an impact on his grandson because the Thunder forward was a man of great character, coming from a large family with little money, and because he was a spiritual person. “He really thought that was something,” Phil said. “I think he recognized quality and character when he saw it and he saw it in Serge Ibaka and he saw it in the rest of the Thunder, too. He said, ‘They’re not like other NBA teams. They really like each other.’ ” A year later, Serge still remembers his encounter with Nick. “A good kid, a real good kid,” Ibaka recently recalled. “I remember he was a nice person. He liked church life and I was very impressed when I went there. I remember when I was there he was very excited and very happy and I was happy, too. To make people feel happy, I think that’s good. It’s something I like to do. I think when I was there he was very happy, and I was happy, too.” Soon after the visit, Nick attended his first Thunder game against the Golden State Warriors. Sitting alongside his father, grandfather and uncles, Nick, wearing his favorite Thunder hat, was basically walking on air. But that would be the final season Nick got to see the Thunder in person.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 37
What acting career hasn’t been boosted by a banana costume? The banana costume. It’s the go-to costume for every shy kid in town. It works hard to free spirits and cure stage fright. It’s seen a few accidents here and there, but it’s had a good run. We at SandRidge are giving scholarships to the Thelma Gaylord Academy so this banana costume, and many others, can continue to make every kid in OKC a star.
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The rising high school freshman died suddenly in an ATV accident over the summer, leaving behind a bright future and witty personality that led friends to dedicate a Facebook group page entitled, “Funny Memories From Nick Van Stavern.” Sometime this season, Phil Van Stavern, his son and son-in-laws plan to attend a Thunder game in Nick’s honor because they knew he’d want them to. While there, Phil said that each of them plan to wear Nick’s Thunder cap for a quarter each. “Like he was there,” Phil said.
HIGH-FIVES FOR ALL Imagine you are a high school football player, getting ready to play the biggest game of your season, in front of a packed house, looking to bounce back from a loss the week before, only then find out just moments before you take the field that the local NBA team would be greeting you as you ran through the tunnel. Sounds surreal, right? Well, it happened to the Yukon High football team earlier this season. To hear team co-captain and wide receiver Eric Granado talk about it, the brief encounter with the Thunder got everyone hyped – as if they really needed it. “We were trying to take it home and the Thunder players, they really motivated us and got us hyped up for the game to win,” Granado said of Yukon’s 35-17 win over Norman North that night. The Thunder was at Yukon High in early October for its annual Blue and White Scrimmage, which saw the school’s gym filled to capacity and a line of fans snake around the school. On the other side of the campus was the football field, which was hosting the big game later that Friday night. The Yukon football players knew the Thunder would be on its campus that evening, but they didn’t know the players would also find their way to the field. “They were standing right outside the tunnel so we could give them high-fives,” Granado recalled. “From what I know they were throwing passes before the game and from what I heard it was really funny watching them try to throw.” Being a team captain, Granado was hoping his coach would choose him to take the coin toss at midfield alongside
The entire Thunder roster, including (left to right) Serge Ibaka, Byron Mullens and Cole Aldrich, took the field with Yukon High players during the Millers’ game against Norman North. “They really motivated us,” Yukon captain Eric Granado said.
Kevin Durant. Wish granted. After the coin toss, the Yukon players had a few moments to small-talk some Thunder players. “Me and KD had a conversation,” Granado said. “I was asking him if I could wear the gold medal after the game. … I talked to Jeff and Russell and they were really cool guys, too. They were asking me what position I played. “They stayed for the first quarter. Just seeing them on the sidelines, it was a packed stadium. With the Thunder there, it was really good for our community, too.”
COLLISON, THUNDER A ‘BLESSING’ When Zackery Hardeman gets excited, he becomes quiet. Just soaks it all in. When Zack was 2, he developed viral meningitis and encephalitis. He was in a coma for a month and rehabilitation for a few months following, and in the end he was left with intellectual disabilities. So one could imagine his disposition when 11-year-old Zack, who’s been attending Special Care for a year now, saw Thunder players Nick Collison and
Morris Peterson pay the special needs children a visit one day in September. Zack was simply in awe of Collison, his favorite player. Zack learned a special handshake from the Thunder forward and got to follow him around the unit. “Zack, he loved it,” said his sister and legal guardian, Beth Richmond, 26. “He was very quiet, but he loved it and talked about it over and over and over. He repeats things, so he really enjoyed it.” With Collison’s birthday a week away, Special Care had a birthday cake prepared for him. They let Zack deliver it and lead the group in singing “Happy Birthday.” Collison said he’d never had that happen to him before. Toward the end of the visit, he got Richmond’s email address and has kept in touch in recent weeks, offering the family Thunder tickets whenever he can. And Collison didn’t just give them any tickets; he made sure that Zack and his family sat front and center in the lower level. “And if this tells you anything, a lot of special kids have problems with mascots or mascot figures, and Rumble came up and brought him a shirt,” Richmond recalled. “At first he was a little leery about it but then he finally reached out
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It’s one of the coolest things about being able to play, the ability to affect other people.” — Thunder forward Nick Collison Zack Hardeman shares quality time visiting with his favorite Thunder player, Nick Collison. The two developed a special handshake and lasting bond.
and took the shirt from Rumble and was like, ‘OK, he’s giving me something.’ And that brought him even further past that fear of mascots. Of everything he’s gotten, one of his favorite things was a face tattoo of the Thunder (logo) so he puts that on every time he goes. It’s really good for him and we’re so thankful that he gets to experience that.” Richmond became the legal guardian of her brother over the summer, after both of his parents passed away four months apart. To endure such extreme loss was hard on Zack, and Richmond said that the way the Thunder has come into his life has been a blessing. Collison, who is married with a young daughter, said he’s grateful for the opportunity to have an impact on a child. “Sometimes you forget that there’s little kids that look up to us as players,”
Collison said. “It’s one of the coolest things about being able to play, the ability to affect other people. Sometimes we get caught up in our jobs and I feel like this is normal what I do and it seems sometimes strange that someone would look up to me for what I do because it’s just my job, but the fact that it can make a kid happy for us to show up. It’s really a cool opportunity we have to affect a kid like that.”
BOWLING WITH THE THUNDER More than a year later, Robert Rhodes beams about his run-in with a few Thunder players as if it happened the CONTINUED ON PAGE 41
Share Your ‘Brush With the Thunder’ story Have a similar experience with Thunder players you would like to share? Send your story and/or photos to Chris Silva at csilva@thunder-nba.com. 38
Smile! The Rhodes family enjoyed their night of bowling even more when Thunder players (left to right) Jeff Green, James Harden and Serge Ibaka laced up next to them.
other day. The back story goes like this: During October of 2009, Robert and his family wanted to throw a going-away party for his brother, Mike, who was moving to Texas. Two weeks before the move, Robert decided to have it at Redpin Bowling Lounge. When he called for a reservation, the hostess informed him there could be some Thunder players in attendance. Robert is a huge Thunder fan. So the Rhodes family showed up in the early evening on that Friday night, got their lane and got to bowling. Thirty minutes went by, and go figure, Serge Ibaka, James Harden and Jeff Green strolled through the doors. Robert, of course, knew exactly who the tall young guys were. He wasted no time in saying hello and soon everyone was shaking hands and introducing one another. “Jeff said something like, ‘You ready to get your bowl on?’ ” Robert recalled. “We were already there having a good time and acting all crazy and goofy and all that. Man, just as goofy as we were acting, they were acting the same, kind of dancing around and all that good stuff, bowling backwards. It was just super cool. They were really nice, nice guys. We
were having a good time as it is, but then to have those guys show up just made our night.” Robert Rhodes called it a magical night. They were high-fiving, taking pictures and making small talk. Robert was a bit amazed that the players were right there, front and center, mingling with anyone in sight. They didn’t put up a wall or a front. They were just regular guys. Since that night, Robert has been to about five Thunder games and even got to sit courtside for a preseason game against CSKA Moscow. “You talk about being able to see the game from a totally different perspective,” he said. “And actually the players could hear you and all that. I got a picture of Jeff Green. I called his name while he was warming up and he looked at me and gave two thumbs up, so I got a picture of that. So Jeff Green, he’s my favorite player.” And to think: Robert could point to Green, Ibaka or Harden and say, “Yeah, I bowled with those guys.” “We actually shared a ball retriever,” Robert recalled. “We were right there next to the guys. We were sharing the same scorecard screen. It was really unbelievable. I could not believe how cool all the guys were.”
Jeff said something like, ‘You ready to get your bowl on?’ ... It was just super cool. They were really nice, nice guys. We were having a good time as it is, but then to have those guys show up just made our night.” — Robert Rhodes, talking about his family’s random night of bolwing with Jeff Green, James Harden and Serge Ibaka
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Kevin Durant chats up Brycen Logan, 10, before a game. The two talked for 20 minutes, during which time Durant signed Brycen’s No. 35 All-Star jersey.
BIRTHDAY SHOUT-OUT ON TWITTER Just like their favorite player, Kevin Durant, the Blackwell family has a game day ritual of their own. Ninety minutes before tip-off at each home game, as Durant is wrapping up his pregame workout, shooting from various spots along the perimeter, capping it with some free throws and heading to the bench for a little me-time, the Blackwells are already situated along the rail of Section 119 in the lower level, a dozen or so rows down from their season tickets, waiting to say what’s up to Durant and later Jeff Green. “This is a big ritual,” Stephanie Blackwell, 40, says. “We high-five, then eat.” Stephanie Blackwell’s 6-year-old son, Tyler, has gotten autographed sneakers from Durant and Nick Collison throughout the years, but it’s the one
You hear all the time about these wonderful personalities the Thunder brings in and how it’s a big part of their team. Well, I’ll tell you, to see that firsthand is just really, really cool – really cool.” — Kevin Logan, who witnessed his 10-year-old son enjoy an experience neither will forget
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or two minutes of chatter he has with Thunder players before each home game that mean the most to him. A brief visit to the Blackwells has become just as routine for Durant, who, after signing autographs along the opposite railing, heads over to say hello to Tyler and his parents. Recently, Tyler showed Durant his jersey – a new No. 35 jersey. The two slapped five, chatted and Durant went his way. Tyler didn’t need an autograph. All he wanted to do was have a moment. “That’s his big bro, as (Tyler) calls him,” Stephanie says. “And Kevin calls him by his name. And he gave him a shout-out last year for his birthday on Twitter. It’s pretty cool. It’s casual.” It’s a connection.
‘JUST REALLY REALLY COOL – REALLY COOL’ Brycen Logan and his dad, Kevin, have season tickets in Section 325. Together, they go to about 90 percent of home games each season, father and son, the game of basketball and the Thunder serving as a continual bonding experience. Brycen has a Kevin Durant All-Star jersey with most of the Thunder player’s autographs on it, and for some time he’s been trying to get the remaining three or four players to sign it. Lucky for him, their season ticket representative was able to get them into the building before the doors opened. No guarantees for autographs, and no asking were the rules, but hey, if it happens, it happens.
Brycen took a seat along the baseline, right where several Thunder players were going through their pre-game routine. Then Head Coach Scott Brooks strolled over, sat next to him and struck up a conversation. He scribbled a message on Brycen’s jersey before asking the kid who his favorite player was. “Kevin Durant,” Brycen said, and it just so happened that Durant was shooting baskets within earshot. Brooks called over to Durant, who walked over to Brycen and sat next to him to chat for the next 20 minutes. Brycen told Durant that he, too, wanted to be a basketball player and hoped to one day play for the Thunder as well. When Durant took notice of Brycen’s autographed jersey, the Thunder forward asked him whose signatures he was missing. “KD said, ‘you want me to take that jersey to the locker room and get those signatures for ya?’ ” recalled Kevin, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper. “Brycen was just taken aback. So KD took off running, ran to the locker room and got the rest of the team’s signatures for him.” It’s funny because only a day before his encounter with the Thunder, Brycen was sitting next to his dad at their local barber shop in Shawnee, when the lady cutting his hair asked what was on his Christmas wish list. Courtside seats to a Thunder game, Brycen said. Father told son at the dinner table later that evening how they’d get to sit courtside during pre-game for an up-close look at the Thunder. They didn’t go to the arena with any expectation, the least of which included an impromptu meet-andgreet with both Brooks and Durant. Funny how things worked out, how another night out at the arena turned into the unfathomable for a lucky boy who looks up to the players who play for the only professional sports team in town, one that’s been here for not even three years but has made small and large lifetime impacts on the lives of so many. “It’s just amazing to me,” Kevin Logan said. “You hear all the time about these wonderful personalities the Thunder brings in and how it’s a big part of their team. Well, I’ll tell you, to see that firsthand is just really, really cool – really cool.” Contact Chris Silva at csilva@thunder-nba.com.
Solution on page 63
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tulsa66ers.com
66ers Head Coach Nate Tibbetts talks with forward Larry Owens, left, as guard Zabian Dowdell listens in during a time out. Both players are in their second season with the Thunder’s D-League affiliate.
THUNDER TIES
CREATE 66ERS ROSTER Familiarity with OKC, Tulsa creates unique environment for players, coaches
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By CHRIS SILVA | THUNDER.NBA.COM The NBA D-League is in its second month of the 2010-11 regular season, and fans can construct a Thunder family tree with the majority of players who make up the Tulsa 66ers roster. Just about every player on the 10-man roster has some type of tie to the Thunder or longevity with the 66ers. The foundation for this season’s 66ers is ripe with players who were Thunder draft picks, members of the Thunder’s Summer League team, training camp invitees or just regulars at the team’s practice facility in Oklahoma City during the offseason. It’s that kind of relationship that has made the 66ers a true asset for the Thunder. “It makes it a lot easier,” 66ers Head Coach Nate Tibbetts said. “The familiarity, not only for us as coaches but them as players, we try to pride ourselves in getting good people and we feel like these guys are good prospects also, so it’s kind of a win-win situation for us.” Here’s a look at the players who have had ties to the Thunder or are in their second season with the 66ers.
FOR TICKETS CALL 918.585.8444 OR EMAIL TO info@tulsa66ers.com G ZABIAN DOWDELL 6-3, 190
F ELIJAH MILLSAP 6-6, 210
Thunder lineage: In his second season with the 66ers. Coach Tibbetts: “He’s a veteran point guard who really understands the pace of the game. He’s a guy that’s got a great midrange game, an NBA call-up type of player.”
F LARRY OWENS 6-7, 210 Thunder lineage: In his second season with the 66ers. Coach Tibbetts: “Larry’s a Third Team All D-League player and is as versatile as anybody in our league. He gives us a veteran presence and is a guy that does things the Thunder and 66er way.”
F LATAVIOUS WILLIAMS 6-8, 195 Thunder lineage: The first high school player drafted into the D-League, he was a secondround draft pick of the Miami Heat in the 2010 NBA Draft and immediately reacquired by the Thunder in a draft-night trade. Coach Tibbetts: “He’s a young prospect that we like in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. He’s a guy that’s got an unbelievable knack for rebounding the basketball and his best basketball is ahead of him.”
F MARCUS LEWIS 6-8, 245
Thunder lineage: After starring at Alabama-Birmingham, Millsap spent training camp with the Thunder before signing with the 66ers. Coach Tibbetts: “Elijah is a guy who’s got basketball in his blood. His brother’s an NBA player, been around it for a long time and he just brings a toughness on defense that we like.”
G JEROME DYSON 6-3, 180 Thunder lineage: After starring at the University of Connecticut, Dyson spent training camp with the Thunder before signing with the 66ers. Coach Tibbetts: “Jerome is just a tough guy. I would say he’s like a bulldog. He plays extremely hard on every possession and is really good in transition. This is going to be a great year for him to learn the pro game.”
G TWEETY CARTER 5-11, 185 Thunder lineage: After starring at Baylor, Carter spent training camp with the Thunder before signing with the 66ers. Coach Tibbetts: “Tweety’s a guy who can really make shots, can space the floor and he’s a guy that, again, this is a good year for him just to learn the pro game and he can play with speed.”
Rookie Cole Aldrich and second-year center Byron Mullens have both spent time with the Tulsa 66ers this season as a part of their continued development. At press time, Aldrich had averaged 7.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in five games with the 66ers. Mullens recorded 19 points, four rebounds, three assists and a block in one game with the 66ers.
Thunder lineage: Discovered at an open tryout in 2009, Lewis is in his second season with the 66ers after playing on the Thunder’s Summer League team. Coach Tibbetts: “Marcus Lewis is a guy that worked his way up. Nothing has been given to him. He understands that and that’s what makes him a guy you root for. He’s a guy that we’ve enjoyed to have around and he does things the right way.”
G ROBERT VADEN 6-5, 205 Thunder lineage: A 2009 second-round draft pick of the Thunder, Vaden spent two summers on Thunder Summer Leauge rosters and is now in his first season with the 66ers. Coach Tibbetts: “Robert is a big-time shooter, probably one of the premier shooters in our league. Rob has brought great leadership through being vocal and also just the way he approaches every day and it’s a pleasure to have him around every single day.”
F RYAN REID 6-8, 235 Thunder lineage: A 2010 second-round draft pick, Reid was acquired by the Thunder in a draft-day trade and is in his first season with the 66ers. Coach Tibbetts: “When I think of Ryan Reid, I think defender, toughness – he does all the right things. There’s a lot of talk about Nick Collison being a great teammate; I think this kid is a really good teammate, also.”
Contact Chris Silva at csilva@thunder-nba.com.
2010-11 TULSA 66ERS SEASON SCHEDULE Fri., Nov. 19 Sat., Nov. 20 Fri., Nov. 26 Sat., Nov. 27
Thu., Dec. 2 Sat., Dec. 4 Sun., Dec. 5 Fri., Dec. 10 Sat., Dec. 11 Tue., Dec. 14 Thu., Dec. 16 Fri., Dec. 17 Sun., Dec. 19
NOVEMBER @ Bakersfield @ Bakersfield Iowa Iowa DECEMBER Austin @ Texas Rio Grande Valley @ Sioux Falls @ Sioux Falls @ Texas Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Iowa
9 PM 9 PM 7 PM 7 PM
7 PM 7 PM 4 PM 7 PM 7 PM 7 PM 7 PM 7 PM 4 PM
Sun., Dec. 26 @ Idaho Tue., Dec. 28 @ Reno Thu., Dec. 30 @ Austin
Sat., Jan. 1 Sun., Jan. 2 Wed., Jan. 5 Fri., Jan. 7 Thu., Jan. 14 Sat., Jan. 8 Mon., Jan. 10
JANUARY @ Texas @ Austin Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Austin @ Texas Sioux Falls
8 PM 9 PM 7:30 PM
7 PM 5 PM 7 PM 7 PM 7 PM 7 PM 11 AM
South Padre Island Convention Center South Padre Island, TX
Wed., Jan. 12 @ Dakota
4:30 PM
South Padre Island Convention Center South Padre Island, TX
Fri., Jan. 14 Sat., Jan. 15 Thu., Jan. 20 Thu., Jan. 27 Sat., Jan. 22 Sat., Jan. 29 Sun., Jan. 30
@ New Mexico @ New Mexico Reno @ Springfield Texas @ Springfield @ Maine
8:30 PM 8:30 PM 7 PM 6 PM 7 PM 6 PM 4 PM
Fri., Feb.4 Sat., Feb. 5 Fri., Feb. 11 Sat., Feb. 12 Thu., Feb. 24 Sat., Feb. 26 Sun., Feb. 27
FEBRUARY Utah @ Texas Utah Utah Erie Texas Sioux Falls
7 PM 7 PM 7 PM 7 PM 7 PM 7 PM 4 PM
Fri., Mar. 4 Sat., Mar. 5 Fri., Mar. 11 Sat., Mar. 12 Mon., Mar. 14 Wed., Mar. 16 Sat., Mar. 19 Tue., Mar. 22 Fri., Mar. 25 Sat., Mar. 26
MARCH @ Erie 6 PM @ Erie 6 PM Sioux Falls 7 PM Sioux Falls 7 PM @ Utah 8 PM @ Idaho 8 PM @ New Mexico 8:30 PM Austin 7 PM Texas 7 PM Rio Grande Valley 7 PM
Fri., Apr. 1 Sat., Apr. 2
APRIL Dakota Dakota
7 PM 7 PM
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I was worried about my shoulder.
Standing off to the corner of the court, as Thunder Girls and Storm Chasers streamed past, I hopped up and down and tried to shake the kinks out of my aching body.
T
he Thunder was giving the San Antonio Spurs all they could handle, but I’d be lying if I said I could concentrate on the game. My shoulder still throbbed a bit from the unnatural amount of exercise I’d endured only a few days before. Unnatural because, well, I don’t exercise. And I wouldn’t have exercised at all except for this story you’re reading. So I rubbed at my right shoulder and stretched it out and went up for mock shots, standing there in the wings, waiting. And I worried about my shoulder. Turns out, I was worried about the wrong thing.
IN THE NAME OF CHARITY
“H
ow would you like to shoot for $20,000?” That was the bombshell my editor dropped on me a few weeks before that fateful night. Fans of the Thunder love the MidFirst Bank $20,000 halfcourt shot, a regular in-game feature at every Thunder home game. When the action of the game dies down and the teams are at their benches, talking over strategy with coaches during a timeout, the focus moves to an amateur -- just a random person from the crowd -- trying to make a lot of money on a very difficult shot. And the draw has to come from a bit of hubris. “I bet I could make that,” I’d said on more than one occasion. “At the very least, I bet I could hit the backboard and get the $100.” And 49
Our writer, Greg Elwell (second from right) reacts as Rumble’s coin flip to break a tie comes up heads. Elwell called ‘tails.’
it’s easy to say that because there’s no way I’d ever be picked to take that shot. No way at all. It’s like saying, “I bet I could walk on the moon. How hard could it be?” But then I was picked, in a way. My editor wanted me to write, from a firsthand perspective, what it’s like to go for the big one, with all those people watching and all of that money waiting to be won. Granted, the rules for me would be a little different. If, on the very off-chance I put the ball through the basket, I wouldn’t get to keep the money. It wouldn’t be fair for a plant to walk away with that cash, so the $20,000 would be donated, in my name, to the Thunder Community Foundation, which helps players and staff give back to Oklahoma City. Plus, I had another advantage -- I knew I was shooting. My competitor, Rick Holzberger, had no such warning. In fact, none of the contestants know they’re going on the court to shoot before the night of the game. “It really is random,” said Jason Quintero, senior manager of game presentation and entertainment for the Thunder. Basically, if it happens on the court, Quintero is the guy who makes it happen.
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Consider this — average attendance at a Thunder game is more than 18,000. Only two people are needed per game for the MidFirst shot. That puts an individual’s probability of being chosen at just about 0.000111111111. So ... not a lot.
IT HELPS TO BE EARLY
I
’d heard lots of theories on who gets to shoot for $20,000. I even had a few theories myself. “You’ve got to be a season ticket holder,” I heard. “You apply months in advance,” is another popular thought. CONTINUED ON PAGE 53
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Rumble T. Bison
Editor’s note: Since the author’s luck ran out and he didn’t get his chance to take the halfcourt shot, we sought out a few others who did. We asked for their advice for those who will attempt the shot in the future.
made BACKWARDS on 11/12 (Portland)
“No need to be nervous. If you miss, it’s only 18,000 screaming fans watching you!”
Matt Sparta
Michael Welch
“Take a couple steps back, take a deep breath and focus on hitting the rim.”
“Try to talk your way through it, chat with everybody and move around to keep from getting nervous, or shoot backwards so if you make it, it will be more spectacular and you’ll get more publicity!”
missed on 11/29 (Hornets)
Wrong and wrong. To take the shot requires the confluence of a few factors and a little luck. Consider this — average attendance at a Thunder game is more than 18,000. Only two people are needed per game for the MidFirst shot. That puts an individual’s probability of being chosen at just about 0.000111111111. So ... not a lot. There are things you can do to help those odds, though. Quintero said when his crew goes looking for shooters, they want people who can compete. That doesn’t mean you have to be in peak physical condition, but it does mean you have to be dressed for the occasion. “If you’re in high heels or in work boots, you probably won’t be chosen,” he said. “Partly because it’s hard to be mobile in those shoes and partly because those shoes are hard on the floor, and we have to consider there’s a basketball game
being played.” Dressing up in Thunder gear, like Rick Holzberger was that night, won’t hurt, either. “We want fans. We want enthusiasm,” Quintero said. “We’re definitely not trying to force people to go out there.” Other than that, it really is pretty random. The staff tries to get people from different arena levels and different sections each time. Loud City and courtside -- everybody has the same chance. But arriving to the arena early helps. “Along with enthusiasm, we also look to lock down our shooters early,” Quintero said. “We have so much to do before every game. It’s hectic trying to get everything in order, so we try to choose people to compete right away.” That’s what happened to Rick. And I know, because -- coincidence among
missed on 11/10 (76ers)
coincidences -- I walked into the OKC Arena right behind him.
WE’RE ON … AND I’M GETTING DIZZY
W
hen Rick and I met again, it was the third quarter. We’d both had more than half the game to stew over what was coming next. In the wings, emcee Joel Decker gave us instructions. Rick and I would walk out on either side of Joel, face the cameras and then go to our respective free-throw lines, where a rack of eight balls awaits each of us. It was all very precise, because there’s only so much time available during timeouts. As much as I had been focusing on the shot, the match between the Thunder and the Spurs was the main attraction
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court shot. Here’s the thing about the half-court shot. It’s not that it’s difficult because you have to aim. I mean, that’s part of it, but the more pressing concern is getting the ball in the vicinity of the basket so you can start worrying about aim. I was heaving and hurling and running and doing everything I could to get the ball down the court. And I wasn’t close most of the time. But then ... after about 100 attempts ... I did it. Swish. I made the half-court shot. At the YMCA. Three days before the game. And in doing so, I wrenched my shoulder but good.
I SHOULD HAVE CALLED ‘HEADS’
N Standing with Rumble at center court, Elwell is introduced to the crowd before heading to the foul line to shoot free throws in hopes of getting to take the big shot.
for everybody else. This shot was just a momentary diversion to the crowd. They were happy to cheer for us, but they also wanted to get back to the nail-biter they came to see. When the time came, we followed Joel out and I tried not to look around, but I couldn’t help it. From the stands, the court looks tiny. Even when you’re up close, you’re still removed from the action -- above it, so it seems smaller. So I expected, from the court, that the stands might look insignificant. I was wrong. It’s like being surrounded by four enormous walls of people. Waves of fans that could come crashing down on you at any moment. It made me a little dizzy, which is not what you want right before a test of skill. Heck, just writing about it now brings the feelings back. There’s a sudden heat around your head, like a miniature fever. Chills running up and down your spine. And when the heat and the chills meet at your neck, you sweat and feel like you want to
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have a lie down. Muscles tense up with sudden energy, but you feel limp like a noodle. It’s a contradiction on every level. When I was sent to my free-throw line, I tried (and failed) to block everything out. The pain in my shoulder was still there, but it was muted by the sheer terror of all these eyes on me. And why did my shoulder ache? Because I’d been practicing! That’s right. A friend took me to the Downtown YMCA to practice because it had been years -- YEARS -- since I’d played basketball in earnest. And what did I find? Not practicing for years makes your skills rusty. I had to re-learn how to shoot free throws. Only move the right arm. Just use the left as a guide. Gauge the distance in your mind. Keep your eye on the basket. Aim for the top of the square. And after about 30 or 40 shots, I started to get the hang of it. I could make two or three or sometimes five in a row. And when it seemed like I had a handle on free throws, I decided to practice the half-
ow, standing at the foul line, the music began and I started putting shots in the air. Clunk. Clang. Whiff. It was like fighting Batman in the ’60s. I had to remember not to use my left hand. I had to remember to aim for the top of the square. I had to remember to breathe. When the buzzer sounded, I had sunk one single shot in the 20-second time period. One. And my only saving grace was that Rick made only one of his shots in time. (He drained a second one after the buzzer.) Out came the over-sized Rumble coin to decide who would shoot. I chose tails. It came up heads. And so I shook Rick’s hand and took off running toward the waiting area where I’d stood before. I watched as Rick put up a valiant effort that hit the backboard but didn’t go in. I couldn’t have done any better, I don’t think. But I wish I’d gotten to try. My mouth was bone dry after that. My arms were lifeless. And my head was swimming with embarrassment and disappointment. One free throw made. Just one more and I could have taken that half-court shot. But in the midst of kicking myself, I realized something kind of amazing. I made one free throw in front of a crowd of 18,000-plus screaming Thunder fans. I shot from the same line that Thunder players and visiting NBA superstars shoot from. I was on the court during an NBA game. And it was awesome.
Greg Elwell is an Oklahoma City-based freelance writer.
A $20,000 SWISH!
On Dec. 12, Robert Yanders hit the shot that 96 previous competitors didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t and in doing so, walked away with a giant check, courtesy of MidFirst Bank.
See the full video online at thunder.nba.com 55
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SCENE Thunder games and events often are the place to be. And we have the pictures to prove it. From the grand opening of the official Thunder Shop to the games themselves; from the national halftime acts that perform in the arena to the celebrities in attendance; our photographers keep a lens (or two) on everything. Enjoy.
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(1) With Thunder Girls Jada (left) and Marisa, Rumble prepares to cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of the new Thunder Shop in the Oklahoma City Arena. (2) Thunder Girls (front to back) Riane, Ashley and Krystal strike a pose. (3) University of Oklahoma women’s basketball Coach Sherri Coale sits courtside and receives a warm welcome from Thunder fans. (4) You’re never too young to be a Thunder Fan! Like the song says, “Put Your Hands in the Air … ”
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(1) Rumble gets the sold-out crowd fired up moments before tip-off by waving his giant OKC flag atop a firework-inspired stand.
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(2) Former Thunder player and noted artist Desmond Mason is in the house! (3) Halftime performer David Garibaldi gives a shout out to the fans midway through his dramatic painting show. Garibaldi’s painting will be up for auction at a later date to benefit the Thunder Community Foundation. (4) Two fans smile for the camera during a break in the action.
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(5) Former Sooners running back Marcus Dupree, whose story was featured in the ESPN documentary “The Best that Never Was”, took in a Thunder game shortly after the film’s Nov. 9 debut. (6) Oklahoma State men’s basketball Coach Travis Ford checks out the Thunder. (7) Oklahoma City native and five-time Grammy-winning contemporary Christian singer Sandi Patty performs the national anthem. Patty was inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame in 2004.
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(1) Flaming Lips front man Wayne Coyne visits with Gov. Brad Henry. (2) Longtime NBA referee Dick Bavetta who started working NBA games in 1975, works a Thunder game. (3) Popular halftime act Christopher brought his lifesize puppets and high-energy act to Oklahoma City for his annual appearance. (4) The Voice of the WWE, Jim Ross, takes in a Thunder game.
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5 (5) Thunder Girls Brittany (left) and Kelsey pose with Australian newlyweds Andrew and Magda Bartucciotto, who came to Oklahoma City as part of their honeymoon to watch their favorite NBA team â&#x20AC;&#x201C; duh! The Thunder! -- play.
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(6) A Big League City has a Big League Fan in OKC Mayor Mick Cornett.
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The
of
University
OklahOma
Ranked in the top 10 public universities by the Princeton Review in terms of academic excellence and value to students. Number one in the nation in National Merit Scholars enrolled at a public university.
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(1) The adidas Storm Chasers slow down for a couple of seconds for their photo op. Not really; the group was hamming it up for the video cameras before launching dozens of their signature mini-balls into the stands. (2) Red Panda continues to wow crowds with her ability to flip multiple bowls on to her head while riding a unicycle. We warn: donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t try this at home.
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4 (3) The SkyRiders trampoline act go to great heights to entertain crowds throughout the NBA. (4) Gov. Brad Henry and First Lady Kim smile as cameras find them in the crowd. Later, they were part of the popular Kiss Cam, presented by Loveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. 7
Crossword Solution from page 44
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Thunder teammates D.J. White (left) and James Harden giving a new meaning to hang time as they meet in mid-air during player introductions. Photo BY RICHARD A. ROWE
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