best of the west

P A G E 1 I O K C T H U N D E R I 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2 S E A S O N R E V I E W

O P U B C O C O M M U N I C A T I O N S G R O U P

BESTOF THE

BESTBESTWEST

OKLAHOMA CITYTHUNDER

PUBLISHED WITH STORIES AND PHOTOS FROM THE OKLAHOMANFREE

COMMUNICATIONS GROUP2012

THUNDERS H O T S

Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook dunks over Chica-go’s Omer Asik during an April 1 game between the Bulls and the Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Westbrook led the team with 27 points in the 92-78 victory.

PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN

OPUBCO COMMUNICATIONS GROUP

PRESIDENT, PUBLISHER OF THE OKLAHOMAN Christopher P. Reen

EDITOR, VICE PRESIDENT OF NEWS & INFORMATION Kelly Dyer Fry

VICE PRESIDENT ADVERTISING SALESPatti Hannan

DIRECTOR OF PRESENTATIONAND CUSTOM PUBLISHINGYvette Walker

SPORTS EDITOR Mike Sherman

ART DIRECTOR Todd Pendleton

PROJECT DESIGNERS Todd Pendleton, Chris Schoelen, David Downham

AUDIENCE SPONSORSHIP MANAGER Jerry Wagner

No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from OPUBCO Communications Group.

Copyright © 2012 OPUBCO

ON THE COVER: Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook react after West-brook’s three-pointer to seal the Thunder’s 115-104 win over Phoenix at Chesapeake Energy Arena on March 7, 2012.

PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER,

THE OKLAHOMAN



THUNDERS H O T S

Oklahoma City’s Kendrick Perkins dunks over Miami’s Dwyane Wade during a March 25 game. The Thunder won 103-87. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN

P A G E 6


Just West of the Metro in El Reno | www.DIFFEE.com | 405.262.4546

The 2013 Lincoln MKS

ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE

STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY

THE LUXURY YOU EXPECT

ONLY FROM LINCOLN

TEST DRIVE ONE TODAY

REINVENTING THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE



Sam Presti and Clay Ben-nett looked awfully som-ber on the night of June 7 in the Chesapeake Arena catacombs, considering they had just come from the pandemonium of the basketball floor. Their ballplayers were adorned in Western Conference champion-ship shirts and caps.

Their fans were shrieking like schoolgirls after the biggest sports night in Oklahoma City history. But Bennett and Presti were on a mission. Bennett, the Thunder chairman who once was the Spurs’ rep on the NBA board of governors, and Presti, the vice president/general manager who earned his wings in San Antonio, were pay-ing their respects to those they had conquered. They exchanged hugs and handshakes with Spurs general manager R.C. Buford and assis-tant GM Danny Ferry and coach/president Gregg Popovich. Popovich, in particu-lar, was magnanimous, patting the backs of the Thunder brass. And Presti walked away with red eyes and a lumpy throat.

My theory: Presti was emotional with his mentors, not because he felt so bad about beating them, but because he knew how monumental was the achieve-ment. Winning the NBA West is not for the faint. The NBA West is a closed society. An exclusive club. Only the stouthearted need apply. Between 1998 and this season, only three franchises had won the Western Conference. The Lakers (sev-en), the Spurs (four) and the Mavericks (two). Back East, they pass around the conference title. Nine franchises in those 13 years. Indy and Philly, New York and New Jersey, Cleveland and Miami, Detroit and Orlando and Boston. No franchise more than twice. But the West is not egalitarian. Which made the Thunder’s ascension to the NBA Finals even more special. And who the Thunder dis-patched to get there. The Mavs (still with franchise cornerstone Dirk Nowitzki). The Lakers (still with franchise corner-stone Kobe Bryant). The Spurs (still with franchise cornerstone Tim Duncan). That’s why Popovich mentioned the “great, great stuff” of the Thunder’s run. And Presti was clearly

moved by the achievement. “You have to embrace and respect these

opportunities when they are presented because there is nothing promised

or guaranteed,” Presti said. “Every season is unique, and you are not

entitled to anything other than the same number of days to

improve as the other 29 teams when camp starts

A N E W W E S T E R N P O W E R

C O U N T O K L A H O M A C I T Y I N T H E S A M E E L I T E G R O U P W I T H D A L L A S , L O S A N G E L E S A N D S A N A N T O N I O

Thunder.C O L U M N B Y B E R R Y T R A M E L , T H E O K L A H O M A N

Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant celebrates after a James Harden basket and foul during Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals on June 4, 2012.

PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN

Originally published June 8, 2012

2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2 S E A S O N R E V I E W | O K C T H U N D E R | P A G E 9


each season.” The West has been so stingy with its trophy because of stability. Its superstars tend to stay put. Back East, LeBron fled Cleveland. Dwight Howard appears ready to scram from Orlando. Allen Iverson wore out his welcome in Philadelphia. But the Lakers, Spurs and Mavs have remained solid with marquee talent and the core around it. Systems remain in place. A culture is established, be it the dogged professionalism in San Antone or the show-time feel in LA. Such stability and sustainability closes the door to worthy teams. The Rasheed Wallace Blazers. The Chris Webber Kings. The Kevin Garnett Timber-wolves. The Steve Nash Suns. The Deron Williams Jazz. The Carmelo Nuggets. All reached the West finals. None advanced. Until the Kevin Durant Thunder. Which is why Presti and Bennett weren’t the only emotional members of the franchise. Durant was particularly moved, and the end-of-se-ries embraces between the Spurs and Thunder seemed more than the standard pleasantries. Durant and Dun-can shared a moment together in what appeared to be a ceremonial bequeathing of the crown.

“He just told me congrats and good luck,” Durant said. “I respect Tim Duncan and the whole organiza-tion so much. You know, just their professionalism. They do things the right way. They play the game the right way. They’re a family, and that’s something that we kind of try to model here, as well. “It just felt good for somebody of that stature with that many championship rings to recognize us that way, and it also felt good to come out there and get a win against them.” Of course, the expected course is for the Thunder to get many more. Presti’s caution is well-noted, but the Thunder’s youth appears to signal a new era in the NBA West. “They’ve got a very bright future, really,” said Spurs statesman Manu Ginobili. “When your best three players are 22 and 23, it’s hard not to be optimistic about the future of this franchise. “They are great. They have so much talent, and they are so athletic, and they’ve got a great front office. I mean, we know Sam Presti. He’s a really sharp guy, and he pulled this basically out of nothing.” From nothing to West supremacy, which as history shows, is not easy to do.

Oklahoma City Thunder chairman Clay Bennett celebrates with the Western Conference Championship Trophy after the Thunder’s 107-99 win over the Spurs in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena on June 6, 2012.

CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN

P A G E 1 0 I O K C T H U N D E R I 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2 S E A S O N R E V I E W


THUNDERS H O T S

The Thunder’s Nazr Mohammed, left, and Eric Maynor, right, guard the Magic’s Dwight Howard in the first half of a Dec. 25, 2011, game.

PHOTO BY STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN



THUNDERS H O T S

Kevin Durant goes over the top of Hornets point guard Greivis Vasquez during a game on Jan. 25, 2012. The Thunder won 101-91.

PHOTO BY CHRIS LANSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN



THUNDERS H O T S

Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook shoots the ball over Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett at Chesapeake Energy Arena during a game on Feb. 22, 2012.

PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN



THUNDERS H O T S THUNDERS H O T S

Nick Collison, center, dunks in front of the Spurs’ DeJuan Blair, left, and Matt Bonner during a Jan. 8, 2012, game at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Thunder won 108-96.




I know some of the things that the TNT analyst has said and done in the past would lead you to believe otherwise. There was the whole “Oklahoma is noth-ing but vast wasteland” comment, then there was the promise to visit Oklahoma that went unfulfilled for six years.

Had the Thunder failed to make the Western Conference Finals, which is be-ing broadcast by TNT, I suspect we’d still be waiting on that visit from the net-work’s basketball blabbermouth.

But the Thunder made it.So did Chuck.And after spending four hours with him June 1, 2012,

on a tour of Oklahoma City, I can tell you with cer-tainty that he doesn’t hate our state or our city. Truth be told — you might want to brace yourself here — he is actually quite fond of them.

The reason?The people.

Wherever we went, you could see the love between Charles and Oklahomans. It started from the beginning when we walked into Cattlemen’s for lunch. People cheered, hollering greetings and snapping photos.

“Hello, hello,” Barkley said as he would many times Friday.

When people started gathering near our table with cameras or phones in hand, Barkley’s bodyguard held them off at first. He eventually approached Barkley, whispered something in his ear, then started allowing people to approach.

Ann Hussong was among the first.“I just want to say I shook your hand,” she told Bark-

ley. “My kids will be so impressed.”“What’s your name?” he asked.“Ann.”“Thanks for the hospitality.”“Oh, you’re enjoying it here?”“I’m having a blast. Everybody’s fantastic.”“We are.”Hussong lowered her voice a bit.

W H O L O V E S YA , O K L A H O M A?

Charles Barkley, that’s whoC O L U M N B Y J E N N I C A R L S O N , T H E O K L A H O M A N

Charles Barkley holds 14-month-old Ben Price while at Cattlemen’s Steakhouse on June 1, 2012. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN

Originally published June 2, 2012

2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2 S E A S O N R E V I E W | O K C T H U N D E R | P A G E 1 5


“We’re country,” she said.“I’m from the country,” Barkley said. “I’m from Ala-

bama.”Barkley grew up in Leeds, Ala., only about 10 minutes

from Birmingham. In truth, he was reared in a place that is not all that different from Oklahoma City by people who are not all that different from Oklahomans.

Barkley is a bit of a kindred spirit. He shakes every hand. He smiles for every photo. He signs every auto-graph.

He did it at Cattlemen’s, where he had a steak well done, by the way. He did it on an Oklahoma River Cruises ferry, where he stood inside the cabin among a bunch of kids and answered every question. He did it at the Oklahoma City bombing memorial, where he was visibly moved by the pictures and the mementos and the chairs. He did it inside the USRowing Oklahoma City Training Center, where a bunch of past, current and future Olympians put him through some of their paces.

Yep, Sir Charles got a bit of a workout.It started with a spin on one of the stationary kayak

machines, then moved to one of the stationary rowing machines. Barkley crammed his size 16 shoes into the straps and folded his 6-foot-5 frame onto the ma-chines.

“You think you can get down to 160?” Bryan Volpen-hein, one of the most decorated rowers in U.S. history, said of the racing weight goal for all rowers.

“If I’m dead,” Barkley quipped.Volpenhein and Co. pushed those bounds when they

put Barkley in their indoor propulsion tank. The set-up is meant to perfectly replicate a boat in the water, though I suspect it would’ve had difficulty had it actu-ally been in the water.

At first, Barkley was just out of sync with the other four guys in the boat.

But then, they increased the water flow.Other athletes around the tank hooted and hollered

as Barkley tried to keep up with the others. When the water finally stopped, his eyes were wide and his breathing was heavy. He even put his hand to his heart.

Here’s the truth — he could’ve taken a pass on the whole scene. A TNT camera crew was rolling on the whole scene for a package that ran during the June 2 pregame show. Our photo guy Nate Billings was snap-ping away on his camera.

But Barkley is comfortable in his own skin.“I don’t worry too much about how my personality

plays,” he said. “No matter what you say, half the peo-ple like it and half the people don’t like it.” He learned that early on in his playing career.

“I’m from a small town, a reporter would ask me questions, and I would try to be honest,” he said, remembering the complaints that would always flood in. “It doesn’t matter what you say. It could be on any subject. Half the people are going to agree, and half the

people are going to disagree.“So by my third or fourth year in the league, I made

up my mind, ‘You know what? I’m going to say what the hell I want to say. If they’re going to get mad either way ...’”

He shrugged.Barkley has been that way ever since. He is opinion-

ated, yes, but more than that, he’s honest.When we started talking about the time Barkley told

then-Oklahoma City Hornet point guard Chris Paul that he figured everyone here had chickens and cows in their backyards, I told him that I thought CP3 really liked it in Oklahoma.

“I think everybody likes it here,” he said. He was seri-ous, Oklahoma.

“As a player, I don’t think you can beat it. It inspires you to play in front of crowds every night.”

Told you he liked us.

Riding one of the Oklahoma Spirit trolleys as our tour wound down, Barkley pooh-poohed the idea that he ever hated Oklahoma City. Ditto for San Antonio, which he’s said a few not-so-nice things about, too.

“You know what’s funny about the whole Oklahoma City thing and San Antonio thing?” he said. “They’re both great cities, but I love joking around and making people laugh. Oklahoma City’s a very nice city, got a lot to do. The same thing about San Antonio. I just like giving them a hard time. It’s just about trying to make people enjoy watching basketball.

“The thing that’s cool about both cities — they’ve probably got the best fan bases in the NBA.”

Gosh, you’re making us blush, Charles.I don’t know about you, Oklahoma, but suddenly, he

doesn’t seem all that turrible.

Charles Barkley stands with Kari Watkins, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum executive director, during a visit to the memorial on June 1, 2012. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN



THUNDERS H O T S

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Rus-sell Westbrook, left, defends Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul, center, as Blake Griffin, right, looks on during a game at Chesapeake Energy Arena on March 21, 2012.



James Harden defends Memphis’ O.J. Mayo during a game between the Thunder and the Grizzlies at Chesapeake Energy Arena in an Feb. 3, 2012, game. The Thunder won 101-84.

PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN

Thanks for making Oklahoma City PROUD.

Visit us on , follow us on or stay a while at okstatefair.com

Congratulationson a Great Season

SEPTEMBER 13-23

Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook looks on during pre-game of the March 21, 2012 game between the Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers at Chesapeake Energy Arena.



P A G E 1 8 I O K C T H U N D E R

Derek Fisher arrived for his Oklahoma City introduction properly attired. Blue suit. Blue shirt. He is wearing Thun-der blue for lots of reasons. His profes-sionalism. His leader-ship. His experience. But make no mistake,

the Thunder didn’t sign the veteran point guard on Wednesday just because of his intangibles. “He brings a lot of those things in the locker room that we need,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks acknowl-edged before his team throttled the Clippers 114-91, on March 21, 2012, “but we still need him to play basketball.” Fisher is so well-known and well-respected for his intangibles that it’s easy to assume that’s why he’s in Oklahoma City. I mean, what he is bringing to this team is amazing. He’s been in the NBA for 15-plus seasons. He’s won five championships. He’s been to the playoffs 13 times. But despite all of that, he will be the first guy at the gym working on his game. (Well, actually, with this bunch, he might have to set his alarm a little earlier; these Thunder get to the arena hours and hours before tip.) Traded by the Lakers before the Thunder signed him, Fisher’s absence was felt in Los Angeles. Tuesday night, the Lakers imploded against the Rockets, blowing a double-digit lead. But the ugliness went beyond the loss. Andrew Bynum got ejected. Mike Brown got frustrated. It was the kind of thing Fisher always had an ability to quell. Everyone listened to him. Everyone fol-lowed him. Another sign of the respect that Fisher commands in this league — he’s the president of the NBA Play-ers Association. It’s a spot he’s held for six years, the longest tenure of any president in nearly two

decades, and it’s a position that he kept through this latest lockout. Fisher’s fellow players wanted him helping lead ne-gotiations with the league. No doubt Fisher brings an impressive resume to Oklahoma City. “He’s ... someone that I think will help all of our guys — not just the point guards but everybody — in terms of his experiences and things that he can share,” Thunder general managers Sam Presti said. But ... “Derek, first and foremost, he’s a player,” Presti said. “He’s going to help us on the court.” He did in his first game with the Thunder. Even though he’d been in Oklahoma City less than 24 hours and been through zero practices with the Thunder, he played 19 minutes against the Clippers. He scored five points, grabbed one rebound, dished one assist and even blocked one shot.

D E R E K F I S H E R T R A D E

Experience needed.C O L U M N B Y J E N N I C A R L S O N , T H E O K L A H O M A N

Derek Fisher signed with the Thunder in March 2012.


Originally published March 22, 2012


“He fit in well,” reserve center Nazr Moham-med said of Fisher’s time with the second unit. “It helped that they played a lot of zone, but he’s played a long time. All the sets are the same, just different names.” Still, if Fisher can play that well cold, imagine what he’ll do after a practice or two. He’s more of a set-up guy in the mold of a tra-ditional point guard, and that will be a lot easier once he has a chance to play a bit with these guys. “I think he’ll bring stability,” reserve forward Nick Collison said after one game with Fisher. “He’s good at handling pressure, at getting into offenses ... and being able to knock down open shots.” The Thunder hasn’t always received pressure-packed shots or excellent ball movement from its reserve point guard. After Eric Maynor injured his knee early in the season, the Thunder handed those duties to a rookie. A talented rookie. A promising rookie. But a rookie nonetheless. I’ve been one of the first people to stand up for Reggie Jackson. Near as I can tell, he hasn’t done anything to cost the Thunder a game — and he’s surely not to blame for the roller coaster that this team has been on lately — but if this team truly wants to contend for a championship, it needs more from that position. Fisher brings more. “He’s going to go out there and hit that open shot, be aggressive, cause problems on the de-fensive end,” Thunder star Kevin Durant said of what Fisher brings. “He can do a lot of differ-ent things.” Today, the Thunder is closer to being a championship team because of the different things that Fisher can do. Yes, he’s going to be a great locker room guy, a fantastic community ambassador. But more than anything, he’s an upgrade in talent. The Thunder made the deal and spent the money because it expects big things from him on the court. “He’s not going to be this guy that’s going to be sitting down with our young players and saying, ‘I remember when we did this,’” Brooks said. “He has to be able to get out on the court and play and be a big part of what we do.” Fisher needs to do more than look good in Thunder blue. He needs to make Thunder blue look good.

Derek Fisher, left, and Russell Westbrook, right, celebrate with Kevin Du-rant and other Thunder players after Game 1 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Thunder and the Dallas Mavericks.


Oklahoma City’s Thabo Sefolosha, Nick Collison and Eric Maynor, who were all out with injuries, watch the Thunder’s

Feb. 22, 2012 win over Boston.


2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2 S E A S O N R E V I E W


H I S T O R I C N I G H T

Triple play.S T O R Y B Y J O H N R O H D E , T H E O K L A H O M A N

It’s rare that a player scores 50-plus points in an NBA game. It’s rarer when a teammate scores 40-plus points in the same contest. Until the night of February 19, it was unprecedented that another teammate would have a triple-double on the very same night. The Thunder’s three-headed monster of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka made NBA history before another sellout crowd of 18,203 at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Durant had a career-high 51 points, Westbrook scored 40 of his own and Ibaka had a triple-dou-ble of 15 rebounds, 14 points and 11 blocked shots. Even more amazing is the Thunder needed every ounce of the history-making moment to post a 124-118 overtime victory over a depleted Denver squad that was using its 13th different starting lineup due to a slew of injuries. “The game of basketball can really be mean to you,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “Tonight,

we did our job and did it very well. ... To have a great player (Durant) take a game from you like that is heart-wrenching. It’s just the bounce of the ball.”

Serge Ibaka achieved the first triple-double with double-digit blocks in OKC/Seattle franchise history, which dates to 1967.

Kevin Durant and Russell West-brook set an all-time franchise high with 91 combined points. The previous high was 90 by Seattle’s Dale Ellis and Xavier McDaniel in 1989.

PHOTOS BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN


Originally published Feb. 20, 2012

THUNDERS H O T S

Serge Ibaka, left, goes up for a dunk beside Cleveland’s Antawn Jamison, right, and Ryan Hollins during the Thunder’s 96-90 loss to Cleveland on March 9, 2012 PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN


P A G E 2 2 I O K C T H U N D E R I 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2 S E A S O N

FANSTHUNDER

Jackson Johnson, 13, of Oklahoma City, waits for Game 1 against the L.A. Lakers at Chesapeake

Energy Arena on May 14, 2012.


Elijah Garcia, 4, of Okla-homa City shoots baskets at Thunder Alley before Game 2 against the Dallas Mavericks at Chesapeake Energy Arena on April 30, 2012.


Rumble the Bison hypes up the crowd during Game 1 against the Dallas Mavericks at Chesapeake Energy Arena on April 28, 2012.




Above: Fans gather in Thunder Alley before Game 5 against the L.A. Lakers at Chesapeake Energy Arena on May 21, 2012.


Right: Tyler Merkley, 12, shows off his Thunder spirit before Game 2 against the Dallas Mavericks at Chesapeake Energy Arena on April 30, 2012.


Below: Gary Nelsen waits outside the arena before Game 1 against the Dallas Mavericks at Chesapeake Energy Arena on April 28, 2012.




Sisters Morgan and Kylee Wells wait outside Chesapeake Energy Arena before Game 1 against the Miami Heat on June 12, 2012.


Below: Justin Jones and Candace Chalakee of Lawton wait for the start of Game 1 against the L.A. Lakers at Chesapeake Energy Arena on May 14, 2012.


Above: Richard Spurr waits outside Chesapeake Energy Arena before Game 2 against the L.A. Lakers on May 16, 2012.




THUNDER GIRLS

PHOTOS BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN



THUNDERS H O T S

Kevin Durant dunks the ball over Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett during the game between the Thunder and the Boston Celtics at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Feb. 22, 2012.




The impact of the vicious elbow Metta World Peace threw April 22, 2012, to the head of Thun-der sixth man James Harden could be felt into the NBA Playoff s. Under the NBA’s newly instituted concussion policy, Harden can return to the court only after passing a rigorous evaluation process that could take several days. Once he’s considered free of concussion symptoms, Harden must make it through increas-ing stages of exertion — from riding a stationary bike, to jogging, to agility work, to individual basketball skills — while ensuring the symptoms don’t return after each stage. If Harden passes each test the team then has to consult with Dr. Jeff rey Kutcher, the direc-

tor of the NBA’s concussion program, to determine when Harden can return. The NBA’s concussion policy went into eff ect at the start of training camps this season. Harden, who entered the Lakers game averaging 16.9 points, is considered the leading candidate for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award. World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest, threw his left elbow to the side of Harden’s head just after the

No Peace for HardenS T O R Y B Y D A R N E L L M A Y B E R R Y , T H E O K L A H O M A N

Originally published March 23, 2012Originally published March 23, 2012Originally published March 23, 2012


Metta World Peace, left, who went by the name Ron Artest injured the Thunder’s James Harden with a vicious elbow in a game late in the regular season.

PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS,THE OKLAHOMAN

two came into contact as the Lakers forward began a chest-beating celebration of his dunk late in the first half of the Lakers’ 114-106 double-overtime victory. The blow forced Harden to collapse to the court where he remained for quite a while before slowly walking off and immediately being taken to the locker room. A team spokesman said Harden passed league-mandated testing at halftime, and Harden originally was set to return to the game. But the team’s medical staff prevented Harden from returning because of concern with his condition, the spokesman said. Harden later was diagnosed with a concussion. He was not made available to the media following the game and was unresponsive to multiple attempts to gauge his health when seen outside of the locker room. Harden did fly back to Oklahoma City with the team. But concussions can be puzzling, making the timeline for Harden’s return a mystery to all. Kobe Bryant sustained a concussion during the All-Star Game when Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade delivered a hard foul to the Lakers star. With a two-day hiatus before the Lakers resumed their regular-season schedule, however, Bry-ant never missed a game. But for every speedy recovery like Bryant’s, there are cases where athletes endured lingering effects like Minnesota Twins catcher Justin Morneau and Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby. Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love is another example. Love hasn’t played since April 11 and has been shut down for the season after an elbow by Denver center JaVale McGee left him with a concussion. “It was a bad play,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks of World Peace. “There’s no way around it. It’s a dangerous play. It’s not a play that should be involved in basketball. And it’s unfortunate it happened. I know Ron, but unfortunately it did happen. You can’t do that. That’s unacceptable.” World Peace was ejected from the game after the officiating crew reviewed the incident and ruled it a Flagrant 2, which under league rules warrants an auto-matic ejection. World Peace attempted to explain his actions in a brief statement to reporters after the game, saying his elbow was an unintentional play. “During that play I just dunked on (Kevin) Durant and (Serge) Ibaka and I got really emotional and excited and it was unfortunate that James had to get hit with an unintentional elbow,” World Peace said. “I hope he’s OK. The Thunder, they’re playing for a championship this year, so I hope that he’s OK and I apolo-gize to the Thunder and to James Harden. You know, it was such a great game and it was unfortunate so much emotion was going on at that time. That’s it for today.” World Peace is expected to receive a sus-pension. According to NBA rules, in de-termining whether to impose a fine and/or suspension on any flagrant foul the league office will consider how hard the foul was, the outcome of the foul (whether it led to an altercation) and the level of the injury sus-tained by the player who was fouled. “Actions were taken,” said Thunder center Kendrick Perkins. “The consequences were there. It was a Flagrant 2 and he got thrown out of the game. It happens. Sometimes it’s an intense game. Metta World Peace, he’s a good dude so I know he wouldn’t try to hurt nobody.”

It was a bad play. There’s no way around it. It’s a dangerous play. It’s not a play that should be involved in basketball. And it’s unfortunate it happened. I know Ron, but unfortunately it did happen. You can’t do that. That’s unacceptable.”

“SCOTT BROOKS




They knew it wouldn’t be easy. They knew the defend-ing champs, with their backs against an historic wall, would deliver their best shot with the series on the line. But more than anything, Oklahoma City Thunder players knew they were good enough — good

enough to fi nish the job of overthrowing the Dallas Mavericks in dominant fashion. The Thunder closed out the Mavs with a 103-97 win inside American Airlines Center, completing its fi rst playoff sweep with a riveting fourth-quarter come-back that showed just how much this team has ma-tured in a matter of a year.

When these two teams met in last year’s Western Conference Finals, it was the Thunder that wilted down the stretch, with OKC struggling to hold onto late leads and close out games with any consistency. The Mavs pounced on those problems and marched to a 4-1 series win. This time, Oklahoma City fi ttingly erased a 13-point defi cit heading into the fourth quarter and outscored the Mavs 35-16 in the fi nal period to move on to the semifi nals for the second straight season. The Thunder would next face the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round. Oklahoma City lost 4-2 to the Lakers in the fi rst round two seasons ago. By sweeping Dallas, the Thunder made the Mavs just the fi fth defending champion in NBA history to fail to win a playoff game in its title defense. “They have a certain look in their eye right now,” said Mavs coach Rick Carlisle of the Thunder. “Not just that they belong but this could be their time.”

O K C V S . D A L L A S

Sweep revenge.S T O R Y B Y D A R N E L L M A Y B E R R Y , T H E O K L A H O M A N

Derek Fisher right, defends against Dallas’ Jason Kidd during Game 2 at Chesapeake Energy Arena, April 30, 2012.


N B A P L A Y O F F S

R O U N D

1


Originally published May 6, 2012Originally published May 6, 2012Originally published May 6, 2012



Kevin Durant takes the game-winning shot over Dallas’ Shawn Marion, center, and Ian Mahinmi during Game 1 at Chesapeake Energy Arena on April 28, 2012.


F i R S T R O u n dOKC vs. Dallas MavericksThunder 99, Mavericks 98Thunder 102, Mavericks 99Thunder 95,Mavericks 79Thunder 103, Mavericks 97OKC wins series 4-0



Russell Westbrook, right, celebrates with James Harden, back, and Nick Collison during Game 4 at American Airlines Arena on May 5, 2012.




Thabo Sefolosha, left, looks to get past Jason Kidd.


Serge Ibaka, right, blocks the shot of Dirk Nowitzki.


Kevin Durant celebrates his game-winning shot in Game 1.




In Oklahoma, we’ve been watching James Harden progress from promising rookie to court magician over his three seasons. But the Bearded One sometimes gets lost in the Kevin Durant/Russell Westbrook glare. Not the night of May 5. Not when the defending NBA champs were eliminated. Not when the Thunder swept the Dallas Mavericks with a stirring fourth-quarter rally. Down 13 points with less than 10 min-

utes left in the game, the Thunder stormed back. In the final 9 1/2 minutes, Harden had 16 points and two assists, and the Thunder won going away, 103-97. The Baby Boomers made Dallas look old, which it is. They also showed America that the Thunder is more than a two-headed monster. After the Thunder arrived in town Wednesday, USA Basketball announced that Harden had been added to its 20-man roster from which will come the Olympic team. Now everyone knows why. The Thunder spread the court down the stretch and let Harden use the pick-and-roll against whoever was guarding him. Delonte West, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Jason from “Friday the 13th,” the Mavs tried everyone. No one worked. Harden repeatedly and methodically worked his way to the basket for lay-ins. In that fourth quarter, Harden made six of nine shots in those 91/2 minutes and all three of his foul shots. “He beat us on individual drives, he beat us on the pick-and-roll, he beat us on double teams,” said Mav coach Rick Carlisle. “He got up a head of steam, and he was just great. “We tried everything. We probably had five or six different coverages going on. We had different guys on him. We had a guard guarding their big man so we could switch it. But it was more about how good he was.” The capper came after Dallas drew within 100-97 with 33 seconds left on two Dirk Nowitzki foul shots. Harden dribbled down the shot clock, with West guarding him, before attacking the basket with just five seconds left to shoot. Harden’s teammates spread the floor magnificently, and when Harden feigned his way past West, no Mav was in position to challenge quickly enough. Ballgame. Series. End of an era in Dallas, which will

remake its roster, and perhaps the start of a champi-onship run of its own for the Thunder. “James had an incredible game,” said Thunder coach Scotty Brooks. “He was making plays. He’s a play-maker.” This game showed that the Thunder can survive an off night from one of its superstars without the other superstar needing to go crazy. Westbrook made just three of 12 shots and scored only 12 points. Durant got hot in the fourth quarter, with two huge 3-pointers, but still managed just 24 points. But this stage belonged to Harden.

A star is born.C O L U M N B Y B E R R Y T R A M E L , T H E O K L A H O M A N

James Harden had a big fourth quarter in Game 4 to close out Dallas.




James Harden dunks the ball as Dallas’ Ian Mahinmi watches during Game 4.


LAKobe Bryant, second from right, shoots a layup as Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant and Nick Collison defend during Game 5.


OKC


O P U B C O C O M M U N I C A T I O N S G R O U P Originally published May 22, 2012

K evin Durant drilled a 3-pointer early in

the fourth quarter, and 32 seconds later he drilled

another. Drill is the proper word.

When you drill in Okla-homa, you’re going to

hit a gusher. The Thunder routed the Lakers 106-90 May 21 to close out

the NBA’s glamour franchise and send the Boomers to a Western Conference Finals that promises to take this city and state by storm.

Watch out, even you non-hoop fans. You’re about to bathe in Thunder crude. From the ear-shattering celebrations of every magi-cal play from Durant or Russell Westbrook, to the crazy Thunder Alley scene on Reno Avenue, to the sleep-deprived souls from Quapaw to Gotebo stay-ing up to watch this thrilling team, this state is going bonkers over this ball team. And who can blame it? The Thunder took out the Lakers, even with Kobe Bryant turning back time with 42 points in Game 5. The Thunder sent Metta World Peace home with nothing but memories of a flagrant foul, which might not have been deserved but was sort of a lifetime achievement award. The foul called in the final sec-onds of the first half gave Thabo Sefolosha two foul

Thunder nation gushing over its team.

W E S T E R NC O N F E R E N C E

S E M I -F I N A L S

Thunder players celebrate during Game 5 against the Los Angeles Lakers. PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN

C O L U M N B Y B E R R Y T R A M E L , T H E O K L A H O M A N



Serge Ibaka, right, blocks the shot of Los Angeles’ Kobe Bryant during Game 2 in the second round of the playoffs between the Thunder and L.A. Lakers at Chesapeake Energy Arena on May 16, 2012.




shots, Kevin Durant two foul shots off technicals when Metta and Kobe both argued, and Thabo a chance for a seven-point possession with a 3-pointer. He missed, which was a good thing, else the Chesa-peake roof might have blown away. “The emotion in the building and the energy was off the charts,” Scotty Brooks said after vanquishing the Lakers. “Our guys love it. We understand it’s a special place to play.” This is different from a year ago, when the Thunder reached the West finals but was mostly just glad to be there. This Thunder team is more championship-cali-ber. And Oklahomans are more connected than ever to this franchise. The Thunder is taking Oklahoma on a wild, unimaginable ride. “Fans have took us on a ride,” Westbrook countered. “They’ve been supporting us since Day One. We’ve got the best fans in the league. Tonight, they did it again.” Now, it’s going to get crazier. Beating the Lakers is a

boost in national stature, but winning this way, with great comebacks and blowout victories, is sending Thunder fans to delirium and recruiting new members every night. The only downer to the upcoming West finals is that the Thunder squandered the No. 1 seed with its late-season swoon, so the series opens in San Antonio. Can you imagine the craziness in Oklahoma City the rest of the week if this series was opening on the Riv-erwalk North instead of the Riverwalk South? But still, it’s going to be a wild West finals, and it was a crazy closeout of the Lakers. After those Durant 3-pointers, the Thunder led 91-77, and the final 10 minutes were just a parade. And the stately Lakers had to watch. “Tough,” said Kobe. “To say the least. This team is extremely explosive. It just takes a couple of posses-sions, and they go on an 8-0 run.” Gusher City is about to blow.

Russell Westbrook passes the ball during Game 5 at Chesapeake Energy Arena on May 21, 2012.




James Harden, right, tries to get past Los Angeles’ Metta World Peace during Game 1 at Chesapeake Energy Arena, May 14, 2012.


Right: Derek Fisher, center, and Los Angeles’ Steve Blake scramble for a loose ball during Game 4 in Los Angeles, May 19, 2012.

Above: Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant drives up court as Los Angeles’ Jordan Hill defends during Game 4 on May 19, 2012.

PHOTOS BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN



Kevin Durant shoots as Los Angeles’ Metta World Peace, right, and Andrew Bynum defend during Game 2 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City on May 14, 2012.


W E S T E R NC o N f E R E N C E S E m i f i N a l S

OKC vs. Los AngelesThunder 119, Lakers 90Thunder 77, Lakers 75Lakers 99, Thunder 96Thunder 103, Lakers 100Thunder 106, Lakers 90OKC wins series 4-1



Kendrick Perkins, right, fouls Los Angeles’ Pau Gasol during Game 5 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, May 21, 2012.


Sign up today for breaking news and in-depth analysis on the OKC Thunder from the award-winning OPUBCO Sports staff. It’s all delivered daily to your computer, mobile phone or tablet. Everywhere you want it, only from NewsOK.com.

Brought to you by

OKC THUNDER DAILY E-MAIL UPDATES!Sign up today

on NewsOK.com

P A G E 1 I O K C T H U N D E R

BELIEVEIT!

C O L U M N B Y B E R R Y T R A M E L , T H E O K L A H O M A N

Streamers fell from the rafters, and it was only fitting that something so soft and light crowned the guys in Thunder white. They had spent much of the night lugging around the weight of the world. In the previous 48 hours, hope and faith and even expectations had given way to arrival. The NBA world, not to mention our glorious red-dirt corner of Planet Earth, had crowned the Thunder. The Thunder’s time was now. Future and present all combined. That’s a massive burden for young psyches. And the Thunder played like it. Tony Parker kept floating in shots and making passes to open teammates, and the San Antonio lead kept growing, and murmurs spread throughout Chesapeake Energy Arena. What was supposed to be a magic night was going all horror show. The youthful Thunder was showing its age. And then the youthful Thunder showed its age. Strong legs and an unfettered spirit. A be-lief in a coach and a system and an organization. The Thunder beat the Spurs 107-99 on May 31, 2012, to win the Western Conference Finals. By game’s end, all those great expectations had been shoveled from the Thunder’s back to the Thunder’s heart.

O K C V S . S A N A N T O N I O

W E S T E R NC O N F E R E N C E

F I N A L S



The Thunder embraced the moment that threatened to slay it. “We started off a little slow,” Russell Westbrook said. “But guys stayed with it.” No kidding. Down 34-18 in the first quarter and 63-45 before Kevin Durant’s halftime buzzer beater, the Thunder roared with a third quarter that showed those coronation angles were spot on. Durant and Westbrook played like the all-stars they are. The Thunder defense hounded San Antonio stars Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili into an awful (six of 20 shooting) half. The Thunder made the big shots down the stretch. The Boomers didn’t shirk the expectations. They embraced them. Scotty Brooks’ halftime speech didn’t focus on defending the pick-and-roll or staying in front of the Spurs’ magicians, though no one could have blamed him if it had. “It had everything to do with who we are as men,” Brooks said. “Who we are as a team, the type of spirit that we want to show every time down the court.” Strange game. It didn’t turn. I defy someone to give me a turning point. Other than halftime. The Thunder just staged a 24-minute assault. OKC wiped out the Spurs’ lead before quarter’s end, then won go-ing away. Westbrook was great and Durant was better. Southpaws James Harden and Derek Fisher nailed backbreaking 3-pointers in the final moments. But the telling possession came with a minute left, and the Spurs within striking distance, 103-99. Some guy behind me had been yelling, “Why is Kendrick Perkins in the game!” Then Perk answered the question. He blocked a shot from Tim Duncan, still a force at age 36. Then Stephen Jackson, who at that had launched eight 3-pointers, making six and getting fouled on the other two for a 23-point night, finally missed. And Parker, his legs gone, missed, too. Durant passed to Perk for a dunk that exploded the noise to Okla-homa City decibel records and brought the streamers down. And the expectations up. Looks like these guys can handle it.

T h i n g s d i d n ’ T lo o k g o o d a f T e r T h e T h u n -d e r d r o p p e d i Ts f i r sT

T wo g a m e s To T h e s p u r s , a T e a m T h aT wa s

r i d i n g a 2 0 - g a m e w i n n i n g sT r e a k .

Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant reacts after San Antonio's Stephen Jackson made a basket during Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on May 27, 2012.

Photo by bryan terry, the oklahoman

James Harden shoots over San Antonio's Tiago Splitter during Game 3.

Photo by Sarah PhiPPS, the oklahoman

originally published June 7, 2012



Russell Westbrook goes up for a dunk next to San Antonio’s Tim Duncan during Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on June 6, 2012.


W E S T E R N C o N f E R E N C E f i N a l S

San Antonio vs. OKCSpurs 101, Thunder 98Spurs 120, Thunder 111Thunder 102, Spurs 82Thunder 109, Spurs 103Thunder 108, Spurs 103Thunder 107, Spurs 99OKC wins series 4-2


W hen Scott Brooks took his turn addressing the frenzied Thun-der faithful, following team chairman Clay Bennett and general

manager Sam Presti during the trophy presentation crowning the Thunder as Western Conference champions, the crowd in-

side Chesapeake Energy Arena showered the coach with cheers. On and on the ovation went, postponing impending questions

from emcee Ernie Johnson. As Brooks, misty-eyed and choked up, stood to the right of his team’s sparkling new championship trophy

he bit both his lips and dropped his head, letting the magnitude of the moment wash over him.

“I could let em go,” Johnson said. “But I think I do have to ask you a question.”

Brooks was willing to wait. “Keep going, keep going,” Brooks said, smiling and waving both his hands upward to spur more shouts. It’s taken four years for Brooks to be on the receiving end of that type of recognition. Until that very moment, Brooks had been one of the game’s most underappreciated head coaches, both locally and nationally. But that ovation ended all doubt about how the hometown fans feel about their coach. “That was a great feeling,” Brooks said Sunday, curt and careful to avoid feeding into a story line about him. One week prior to that trophy presentation, Brooks was rap-idly blossoming into the scapegoat. People far and wide were throwing him under the bus for the 2-0 series hole the Thun-der faced against San Antonio. Every decision Brooks made — from sitting Serge Ibaka for the entire fourth quarter in Game 1 to his insistence on playing Derek Fisher over Thabo Sefolosha — was being picked apart. Four wins later and Brooks is now be-loved. “It’s just kind of become part of our business these days,” said Thun-der veteran guard Derek Fisher when asked about the sudden swing in his coach’s perception. “Four days ago, Erik Spoelstra was the worst coach in the league and the Miami Heat didn’t have the will to win and the big three were going to get broken up. And now (they’re in the Finals). It just kind of comes with the territory unfortunate-ly. The smart ones just kind of respect it but tune it out and keep at it.” Brooks and Spoelstra have a lot in common in that sense. Both are young coaches whose reputations have yet to rise above criticism. The microscope on Spoelstra is signifi cantly more intense thanks to LeBron James’ “Decision.” While

Four not-so-easy steps.S T O R Y B Y D A R N E L L M A Y B E R R Y , T H E O K L A H O M A N

H O W B R O O K S W E N T F R O M S C A P E G O A T T O B E L O V E D

Thunder coach Scott Brooks.



Originally published June 11, 2012Originally published June 11, 2012Originally published June 11, 2012


Brooks has proven his coaching mettle to most by advancing to the NBA Finals, it seems Spoelstra must lead the Heat to the title for him to get his due. But Brooks isn’t bothered by the outside noise, whether good or bad. “I don’t focus on what people say,” Brooks said. “I know what I have to do. My job is to coach our guys. My job is not to coach our guys through the media. Everybody has an opinion. I respect the media mem-bers and I respect the guys that played the game that are talking about our team. And I respect the guys that don’t play the game that talk about our team. They have a job to do. “But my job is to coach the team and lead our guys to the best of my abilities. I’m not concerned whether they say I’m a good coach or a bad coach. I know I have a job to do and our players seem to respond and seem to get better.” Now fl ashback to the trophy presentation. Front and center when Brooks was summoned by Johnson stood Russell Westbrook. Immediately, the All-Star point guard unleashed two roars as Brooks sauntered over. Westbrook ignited the ovation, clap-ping his hands and stepping forward to pump his arms in the air so the crowd could give it up to his coach. Serge Ibaka stood in the background doing the same. Soon, 18,203 followed. It illustrated how the players really feel about Brooks, which is really all that matters. They’ve seen his

growth and they know his worth to the team. “I just think coach does a good job of sticking to what he believes in,” said center Kendrick Perkins, “and also we do a good job as players of backing him up and sup-porting him. We never put the pressure on coach to do anything because we’re all learning together.” And together, Brooks and his guys are now four wins away from the one thing that can silence all the critics. “As a coach, you have a lot of pressure on you,” Brooks said. “It’s so many di� erent dimensions that are coming at you that you have to be able to respond to. But I have a good position that I’m in. I have a group of guys that I love to lead. It’s a great job.”

Thunder head coach Scott Brooks, right, talks to , from left, Russell Westbrook,left, Kendrick Perkins, Serge Ibaka and Kevin Durant during Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena on May 31, 2012.


Free delivery in North OKC & Edmond On

Most Items

11110 N. Penn755-4000

Mon - Fri 8:30-7

Sat. 8:30-52 Blocks N. of

Hefner on Penn

Save with Instant Rebates!

SAMSUNG 3DActive Shutter Glasses

KIT

CH

ENA

ID •

WH

IRLP

OO

L • J

ENN

-AIR

• M

AYTA

G •

TH

ERM

AD

OR •

BO

SCH

• M

IELE

• V

IKIN

G

ZEPHYR • U-LINE • SCOTSMAN • GLADIATOR • KITCHENAID

WH

IRLP

OO

L • JEN

N-A

IR •

MAY

TAG

• TH

ERM

AD

OR •

BO

SCH

• M

IELE • V

IKIN

G •

ZEP

HY

R

U-LINE • SCOTSMAN • GLADIATOR • KITCHENAID • WHIRLPOOL

ExperienceSony 3D

CongratulationsThunder!



evin Durant wanted to celebrate with his

team. Not the team in home

white. Oh, the Thunder superstar

celebrated plenty with his teammates on after they

won the Western Con-ference fi nals But in

the waning seconds of a game like no

other Oklahoma City has ever seen, Durant wanted a moment with his other team. Team Durant. On a night that will leave Oklahoma City with plenty of memorable moments, none was more special than

his family’s group hug. Durant walked over to his mom and his brother and wrapped them in a big ol’ bear hug. Everyone was crying. “Then I thought, ‘I hope we didn’t celebrate too soon,’” Durant’s mom, Wanda Pratt, said. No worries. Thunder 107, Spurs 99. Those fi nal seconds punctuated an earsplitting comeback in Game 6 and an unbelievable rally in the Western Conference Finals. The Thunder is headed to the NBA Finals. Yet for Team Durant, it could’ve just as easily been a state title back in Kevin’s high school days at Montrose Christian. The family has celebrated together many times before. But nothing was quite like this. What did it mean to be there to see her son lead his

Team Durant.C O L U M N B Y J E N N I C A R L S O N , T H E O K L A H O M A N

KKevin Durant talks to his mom Wanda Pratt after the 107-99 win over San Antonio during Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena on June 6, 2012.


Originally published June 7, 2012Originally published June 7, 2012Originally published June 7, 2012



Kevin Durant reacts in the fi nal seconds of the 107-99 win over the Spurs in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on June 6, 2012.


team to the NBA Finals? Pratt nearly cried at the question. “After watching the guys work so hard, it’s not just about Kevin,” she said. “I know I cheer him on, but after watching the guys work so hard ... I’m so happy for them all.” Remember, Pratt has been there all along. She was there for the contentious 20-win season in Seat-tle. She was there for the 3-29 start in Oklahoma City. She was there when the struggles and the doubts would hit her son like a Kendrick Perkins screen. Seeing your kid hurt is tough for any mama. Pratt was no di� erent. Remember, these two are espe-cially tight. Pratt was a single mom for much of sons Tony and Kevin’s childhood. She worked multiple jobs. She struggled to make ends meet. It wasn’t easy. That shared struggle knit them together. And now, it makes this shared success all the sweeter. Pratt attends virtually every home game and has become a fi xture in her courtside seat across the home hardwood from the Thunder bench. She dances. She cheers. And after every game, she gets a kiss and a hug from her baby. She got those again, and this time



Kevin Durant holds the Western Conference Championship trophy after the 107-99 win over San Antonio in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on June 6, 2012.


around, the hug was longer than normal. And the tears? Those were a rarity. Then again, so is a Western Conference title. “I’m just proud of him,” Pratt said. “I’m just proud that he’s accomplished this goal. It’s one of the things he’s done in his career in such a short time. “I just want him to enjoy this moment.” He deserves it — Durant had one of his greatest games on the biggest stage. His stat line was unbe-lievable. Where to start? Would it be the game-high 34 points? Or the game-high 14 rebounds? Or the fi ve assists? Or the two blocked shots? What about the 48 minutes? Yep, Durant played every minute. “After ... the fi rst quarter, I went to the bench and told the coaches, ‘I can go all night, I can go 48,’”

Durant said. “I didn’t think they would let me do it, but they kept me in.” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said: “I wasn’t going to take him out. I was not going to take him out. I don’t care how many times he looked at me fa-tigued.” He shook his head. “I mean, it’s amazing,” Brooks said. “It’s an amaz-ing moment for him to play like this in this mo-ment, in this setting.” That his family could see it, enjoy it, revel in it meant the world. You could tell that in the smile that popped onto his face when he was asked after the game about that group hug. “For them to be here at the biggest stage in bas-ketball — the NBA — is just a blessing,” Durant said. He nodded his head. “I never want to take those moments for granted.”



Kevin Durant, right, and Nick Collison, center, defend San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard at Chesapeake Energy Arena on March 16, 2012.


Scott Brooks reacts after the Thunder's 107-99 win over the Spurs during Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals.


Before we go any further, Thunder fans, let’s get one thing straight. This is not a national championship. Listen, we understand that some of you have re-cently boarded the Thunder Bandwagon. You might not be a big sports fan. You might not know the dif-ference between a blockout and a blocked shot. But with the boys in blue getting ready to play in the NBA Finals, you are fired up. That’s great. The Bandwagon is open to anyone because, hey, all of us know that it’s difficult not to get swept up

by what’s happening around these parts. The excitement. The fun. The energy. It sucks you in like a defender on a James Harden drive to the basket. All of a sudden, you’ve found yourself plotting how to get tickets and talking about games with your co-workers. We encourage that behavior. But to help you along the way, we’ve put together some tidbits about this team. You can take them to the water cooler. You can impress your friends. We just want to make sure you know what you’re talking about. And the first thing to know is that the Thunder isn’t playing for a national cham-pionship. We’ve noticed over the past few days that plenty of folks have said as much, even our fair-haired governor. Yep, the honorable Mary Fallin is quoted in a USA Today story saying, “We’re going to take it all the way to the end and be the national champions.” The confusion is understandable. I mean, this has been a college-sports state for decades and decades. But this is different. For starters, the NBA has a team in Canada, the Toronto Raptors, so there’s no way this can be a national championship. Some folks like to call the winner of the NBA title “the world champion”, but that isn’t really right either. There are plenty of other basketball leagues around the world, so even though the NBA is the best of the best, how can you really say that the NBA champ is the world champ? So, if you want to sound smart and be correct, just say that the Thunder is playing for an NBA championship. That sounds plenty cool, doesn’t it?

Thunder bandwagon.C O L U M N B Y J E N N I C A R L S O N , T H E O K L A H O M A N

Fans cheer as Kevin Durant is introduced before Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Miami Heat at Chesapeake Energy Arena on June 12, 2012.




Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka and Miami's Chris Bosh leap for the ball during the tipoff for Game 2 of the NBA Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena on June 14, 2012.




Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook reacts after a dunk as Miami’s LeBron James, left, and Shane Battier, right, watch during Game 4 of the NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena on June 19, 2012.




It started with so much promise. How soon it all went south. It seems no one saw it coming. The Oklahoma City Thunder cer-tainly could not have been prepared for how painful it would be. “It hurts,” said Kevin Durant, shortly after collapsing into his mother’s arms and crying on her shoulder. “It hurts, man.” In its first trip to the NBA Finals, the Thunder suffered

a 4-1 series loss to the Miami Heat. The series clincher, a 121-106 decision, came Thursday night inside American Air-lines Arena. It was the haymaker in a fight that the Heat had under control from nearly start to finish. Oklahoma City

O K C V S . M I A M I

Painful loss ends series, seasonS T O R Y B Y D A R N E L L M A Y B E R R Y , T H E O K L A H O M A N

Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant fouls Miami's LeBron James late in the fourth quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena on June 17, 2012.

Photos by bryan terry, the oklahoman

N B A F i N A l sOKC vs. Miami Heat Thunder 105, Heat 94Heat 100, Thunder 96Heat 91, Thunder 85Heat 104, Thunder 98Heat 121, Thunder 106Miami wins series 4-1



trailed by as many as 27 points Thursday, as Miami removed all doubt that this title belonged on South Beach. “They beat us fair and square,” said coach Scott Brooks. “They were the better team in this series, and like I told our guys, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. They gave everything they had. It just wasn’t enough this year.” Miami made quick work of the Thunder after OKC took a 1-0 series lead. The Heat won the next four, exposing the Thunder’s inexperience more and more each step of the way. In winning Games 3, 4 and 5, the Heat became only the third home team since the NBA Finals adopted the 2-3-2 format in 1985 to sweep all three middle games. The Heat also did it in 2006. The 2004 Pistons were the only other team to do so. “We worked so hard and we had an amazing sea-son from start to finish,” said James Harden. “Just a couple of possessions, a couple of games short of our goal.” Immediately, the Thunder had learned a lesson. “I think now we know that every possession in the Finals matters,” Harden said. “It counts.” Those possessions piled up and cost the Thunder the championship. This series shifted only because of a handful of troubling trends that the Thunder simply couldn’t overcome. Oklahoma City suffered from slow starts, including a back-breaking 18-2 hole in Game 2. Mental lapses littered this matchup, mostly by the Thunder, which fouled 3-point shooters in the act, missed a mountain

of free throws and had untimely turnovers. “Our effort was there, but things just didn’t go our way,” said Kendrick Perkins. Harden, the league’s Sixth Man of the Year, didn’t show up to the series, which plagued the Thunder and its perceived depth advantage. Harden averaged just 12.4 points on 37.5 percent shooting. Along the way, Durant was fantastic but in Games 3 and 4 couldn’t quite be the closer that we’ve known him to be. Both those games went Miami’s way. After scoring a combined 33 points on 11-for-19 shooting in the fourth quarters of Games 1 and 2, Durant scored only 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting with four turn-overs in Games 3 and 4. Above all, LeBron James happened. The regular-season MVP was phenomenal all series, atoning for his vanishing act on this stage a year ago by torching the Thunder like no one else has this postseason. James averaged 28.6 points on 47.2 percent shooting along with 10.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists en route to Finals MVP honors. In his final act, he posted a triple-double with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists. “He played extremely well. ...You could just tell he was very focused from the beginning of the season,” Durant said. “It was a storybook season for him.” Not so much for the Thunder, however fun this ride might have been. “We made it to the Finals, which was cool for us,” Durant said. “But we didn’t want to just make it there.”

above: Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant tries to get past Miami's LeBron James during Game 5 of the NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena on June 21, 2012.

right: Miami's Shane Battier ,right, takes a charge from Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, center, as Chris Bosh helps defend during Game 5 of the NBA Finals on June 21, 2012.



Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka shoots over Miami's Chris Bosh during Game 4 of the NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena, in Miami, on June 19, 2012.




Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant takes a last-second shot as Mi-ami's LeBron James watches during Game 2 of the NBA Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena on June 14, 2012.

Photo by sarah PhiPPs, the oklahoman



A day of homecomingS T O R Y B Y R J Y O U N G , T H E O K L A H O M A N

The Thunder lost the NBA championship to the Miami Heat, but the team has the respect and ado-ration of Oklahoma City and the state.

Will Rogers World Airport was inundated with an estimated 4,000 people, there to welcome Oklaho-ma City’s NBA team home Friday afternoon.

The Thunder’s season ended Thursday night with a 121-106 loss in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, giving the Heat a 4-1 series victory and the 2012 NBA title.

The team arrived to a grass patch bathed in Thun-

der blue and fans yelling chants of “O-K-C, O-K-C.” Thunder players stepped off a bus in street clothes and made their way to a makeshift stage.

The Thunder’s Kevin Durant had to use a microphone to address the raucous crowd.

“Last night was one of the toughest times we’ve had as a group,” Durant said. “But we knew we’d get to see you guys in the morning.”

Thunder center Kendrick Perkins was moved by the Oklahomans who came to show their appreciation. Perkins, who previously played for the Celtics, is one of only three players on Oklahoma City’s roster who has won an NBA title.

“When I played in Boston for eight years, I thought they had the best fans,” Perkins said. “After I came to OKC, now I really know what it’s like to have the best

Fans cheer as the Thunder leaves a welcome home rally for the Oklahoma City Thunder in a fi eld at Will Rogers World Airport on June 22, 2012.

Photo by nate billinGs, the oklahoman

originally published June 23, 2012originally published June 23, 2012originally published June 23, 2012



fans in the world.”Thunder General Manager Sam Presti watched from

behind the platform as many of the players expressed their gratitude for their fans.

“It’s a tremendous civic pride that exists in this city,” he said. “It’s humbling. It’s a special thing to be a part of. We’re just grateful for the support that we get, and we try to reciprocate that by immersing ourselves in the community.

“These people support us day in and day out, and we want to be partners with everybody here.”

Fans arrived two hours before the Thunder touched down at the airport about 2 p.m.

They were greeted by a tractor-trailer filled with 24-ounce bottles of cold water, which was paid for by the Thunder organization.

But some fans were unable to endure the 90-degree temperature. Emergency Medical Services Author-ity spokeswoman Lara O’Leary said five people were treated for heat exhaustion, but none were taken to the hospital.

Kevin Durant’s mother, Wanda Pratt, attended the homecoming and was taken aback by the city’s show of love and support.

“This is really, really nice of them,” she said. “I’m so grateful, as I know the team is. It was an unfortunate loss for us, but we’re here. So, we’re all here together, going through it together.”

Oklahoma City resident Barbara Yeary, 39, believes

the Thunder has changed the culture of the city and, in doing so, unified it.

“Before when you heard about Oklahoma City on the news, it was a tornado, it was a bombing — it was something bad, made us look bad,” she said. “The team has brought pride back.”

Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks greets Mason Kalamian, 10, son of coach Rex Kalamian, during a welcome home rally for the Thunder at a field near Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City onJune 22, 2012.

Photo by Garett Fisbeck, the oklahoman

Kevin Durant, left, and Russell Westbrook address fans during a wel-come home rally on June 22, 2012, for the Oklahoma City Thunder in a field at Will Rogers World Airport after the team's loss to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.

Photo by nate billinGs, the oklahoman



THUNDERS H O T S

Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant, left, Serge Ibaka, and Russell Westbrook stand by the trophy after Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals between the Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs at Chesapeake Energy Arena on June 6, 2012. Oklahoma City won 107-99 to win the Western Conference title.




Thanks for a thrilling season!

Official Bank of the Oklahoma City Thunder

Member FDIC

Thunder_Thanks_For_A_Thriling_Season_Full_Pg_Ad.indd 1 7/18/12 12:34 PM



* * * * * *

**

***

** * * * *

**

***

*

**

* **

*

*****

****

DISCOUNTS!

HAILHAILDISCOUNTS!

******** ******* *

**

HAILHAILHAILDISCOUNTS!DISCOUNTS!DISCOUNTS!DISCOUNTS!DISCOUNTS!

best of the west

Documents

e wo p u b c o c o

s o n r e v

t i o n s g r o u p

c t h u n d e r

chesapeake energy arena

thunder chairman

thunder brass

chesapeake arena catacombs