Thunder News

Former Longhorn Kevin Durant wonders if there is any room for OU-Texas love this weekend
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October 6
The Oklahoman
 
"Kevin Durant is a Longhorn living in Soonerland. And he's loving every minute of it. The Thunder's young star is playing up the Red River Rivalry. A couple weeks ago when he was at Oklahoma for the TCU game, the former Texas standout added "Hook 'Em Horns" to every autograph and threw up the Horns hand sign in every photo."I just like to cause a little controversy," he said mischievously.Durant's arrival in Oklahoma adds a new chapter to the rivalry. Sooners and Longhorns have intermingled for decades, oftentimes peacefully but sometimes violently.Used to be, fans brawled on Commerce Street in Dallas the night before the game.A year ago, Scrotumgate became all the rage after an OU fan ..."
Records will be separate
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October 5
The Oklahoman
 
"Will Kevin Durant's rookie season become nothing more than a footnote in Thunder history? Most likely.Thunder officials will keep separate records. Points. Rebounds. Assists. Everything.In next year's media guide there will be a Thunder records section and a Sonics record section.It's the right thing to do.Does anyone in Oklahoma care the Sonics twice scored 154 points in the late 1980s? No. Thunder fans will prefer their own "team record."Same goes for individual records.Does it matter to local fans that Fred Brown scored 58 points for the Sonics 34 years ago? Or would they prefer the "team" record be the night Durant goes off for 40-plus points his second year in the league?It's doubtful ..."
Carlesimo: Swift is a "major problem"
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October 5
The Oklahoman
 
"The Thunder entered training camp with two of their three centers, Robert Swift and Mo Sene, hampered by injuries. On Saturday, the team lost its last healthy center when Johan Petro sustained a mild strain to his right hamstring. Team officials are listing Petro as day to day, but a prolonged absence will be a blow to the Thunder's frontline. Carlesimo said he's disappointed that Swift, who fractured his right hand in the offseason, is behind and likely will have a hard time catching up."Robert Swift is a major problem right now," Carlesimo said. "Everything's getting away from him. He needs to get on the floor.Sene, who is recovering from microfracture knee surgery is "way ahead" of ..."
OKC Thunder notebook
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October 4
The Oklahoman
 
"Practice moves downtownThe Thunder will practice today at the Ford Center. Players will be given Sunday off and practice Monday and Tuesday at the team's practice facility before opening the preseason schedule Wednesday night in Billings, Mont. "It won't be a regular practice (today)," said coach P.J. Carlesimo. "There will be a lot of up and down. We'll bring the refs in. We'll scrimmage as much as we're able to and try to go live a little and push them."Durant is a gym rat Kevin Durant was the last player to leave the court Friday. Durant said he tries to sink 8 of 10 shots from seven different spots on the floor each day after practice."When you analyze Kevin, and why he's so special, ..."
Warriors give Thunder his walking papers
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October 3
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist Ray Ratto
"Finally, after a thoroughly cruddy summer, the good news fairy arrived at 11th and Broadway in Oakland, and it came in the form of a layoff. The Warriors learned that, because of the staggering lack of originality displayed by the Oklahoma City franchise (formerly Seattle), they no longer can bring us the mute acrobatic stylings of Thunder. He's had to be let go, and on behalf of the entire sentient planet, let us offer our heartiest congratulations to the Warriors on this, the day of their deliverance from their least inspired moment since the Wilt Chamberlain trade. The Oklahoma City people, who in selecting the nickname Thunder showed the same gift for imagination and creativity one ..."
Warriors plan 'exit strategy' for mascot named Thunder
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October 2
USA Today
 
"With the Oklahoma City Thunder now part of the NBA lineup, the Golden State Warriors' mascot might be a goner. Thunder is his name.Thunder has been part of this franchise for some 12 years and his likeness is featured on the team's primary logo, though the team doesn't use that image much anymore. Warriors team president Robert Rowell is willing to make the switch for the benefit of the other Thunder, formerly the Seattle SuperSonics. When the timing's right, that is. "We're clearly going to do something to accommodate Oklahoma City and not have our mascot named Thunder," Rowell said. "For the sake of not making things confusing, we're going to do something. We just have to figure out a ..."
Kobe, Gasol could miss Thunder preseason game
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October 1
The Oklahoman
 
"News out of L.A. today says Lakers coach Phil Jackson is considering holding out Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol from a preseason game or two because the Olympics may have worn them down. The Thunder will travel to California to play the Lakers in what will be the final preseason game for both teams on Oct. 24. Will Bryant and Gasol sit out that game? We'll have to wait and see. "This week I'm just seeing how they feel, how's their energy level, and then we'll adjust," Jackson told NBA.com. "I was told not to say that I wasn't going to play Kobe in exhibition games. So I'm not going to say Kobe's not going to play in this exhibition game or that exhibition game. But there is a chance they may ..."
Practice facility crew hits buzzer-beater
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October 1
The Oklahoman
 
"Thunder general manager Sam Presti recently witnessed a thunderous finish to complete the team's temporary practice facility. "It was great exposure for me as to the work ethic of the people here,” Presti said Tuesday after the team's first official practice. "We're very fortunate to have this facility.” The Thunder ownership group purchased the 30,000-square-foot Performance Sports Center on North Lincoln Boulevard last July for $3.65 million. Those who saw the bare-boned building roughly two months ago are astounded the facility opened in time. "We looked around when it was empty and said, ‘This definitely used to be a roller-skating rink,' ” Presti said with a laugh. "It had a snack ..."