OKC Thunder 2013 - 2014

[OKVision4U]

I guess one of the frustrating things for me is our propensity for digging ourselves into a hole. Slow starts. Deficits. Lack of interest and intensity. Then, maybe, at some point, someone gets a sense of urgency, and steps up. What's really bothersome is that while we certain played to form in starting slow, I never got the impression we had any notion of getting the intensity necessary to even consider a run to catch up.

I'm naive: I keep thinking that the last game where that happened, or the last series where that happened, a light would go on and someone would say "Hey, we need to learn from this, come out firing from the opening tip," and I keep finding out I'm wrong. We continue to come out blah and somewhat disinterested. The Clips are good, obviously, but heavens, last night just makes you scratch your head and say "Whaaaat???"

Not throwing in the towel or giving up, but this game two tomorrow night is monstrous. Don't show up for that one and it may be the last home game of the season.

SD, that has to start with the coach.... Brooks. He has to be the one to recognize it and make adjustments and in real time too.

[SoonerDave]

SD, that has to start with the coach.... Brooks. He has to be the one to recognize it and make adjustments and in real time too.

Very much inclined to agree with you, there, OKVis. While I have no doubt that Durant, Westbrook, et al like Scott Brooks as their coach, good guy, pretty decent basketball X's and O's guy, I really wonder how much they respect him as a head coach. Sometimes, football players talk about coaches they'd "run through a wall for," and while I don't know if that analogy holds in basketball so much, I wonder (doubt?) the THunder have that same sentiment for Brooks...again, not that he's a bad guy at all, but not necessarily the type to light up everyone emotionally...

[Laramie]

Congratulations to Kevin Durant on winning the National Basketball Association's
2014 Most Valuable Player Award (MVP).

You're Number One!


Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder - 2014 NBA's Most Valuable Player

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[Pete]

Just gave an amazing acceptance speech, had the whole team on stage with him, called his mom "the real MVP", got a standing ovation.


Honest question: Has a community ever loved a pro athlete as much as OKC loves KD?

Bret Favre and Michael Jordan come to mind, but both ended up alienating a bunch of people at the end of their careers.

[SoonerDave]

Just gave an amazing acceptance speech, had the whole team on stage with him, called his mom "the real MVP", got a standing ovation.


Honest question: Has a community ever loved a pro athlete as much as OKC loves KD?

Bret Favre and Michael Jordan come to mind, but both ended up alienating a bunch of people at the end of their careers.

That had to be one of the most magnificent, yet humble, acceptance speeches from a professional athlete I've ever seen (well, heard on the radio). The authenticity was inescapable, the humility was palpable, the honesty almost overwhelming. As a friend of mine tweeted, "Athletes everywhere today got an example of what true leadership really is."

Just a hall-of-fame speech in every possible regard. Man, how can you not just be nuts about the kind of guy he is, and what he's about. Just awesome.

[OKVision4U]

KD is a man of charachter.

All the people of Oklahoma, ...we thank you KD.

[Anonymous.]

The speech addressing every single teammate and staff member? Damn....

That was powerful.

[Jake]

There's going to be a statue of him in the city one day.

[OkieHornet]

so what player is on the actual trophy? or is it a generic player? i know it's named after an old nba commissioner, right?

[kevinpate]

...
Bret Favre and Michael Jordan come to mind, but both ended up alienating a bunch of people at the end of their careers.

That means KD still has plenty of time to become a jerk if he had a mind to do so. Somehow, I don't think his mama would stand for it, and so it isn't likely to happen.
Ain't nothing like a boy who loves his mama.

[Laramie]

That had to be one of the most magnificent, yet humble, acceptance speeches from a professional athlete I've ever seen (well, heard on the radio). The authenticity was inescapable, the humility was palpable, the honesty almost overwhelming. As a friend of mine tweeted, "Athletes everywhere today got an example of what true leadership really is." Just a hall-of-fame speech in every possible regard. Man, how can you not just be nuts about the kind of guy he is, and what he's about. Just awesome.

A 'powerful & surreal' speech given by Kevin Durant televised live on KFOR - Oklahoma City. Truly a proud and historic moment for Oklahoma City!

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[OSUMom]

If anyone finds a video of the whole speech, please post it. The only ones I can find cut off when he's talking to Reggie.


Nevermind. I finally found this:

http://www.news9.com/story/25436827/...rant-named-mvp

[Pete]

That means KD still has plenty of time to become a jerk if he had a mind to do so. Somehow, I don't think his mama would stand for it, and so it isn't likely to happen.
Ain't nothing like a boy who loves his mama.

Pro athletes almost never play their entire career with one team.

In fact, I can't remember the last time that happened with a superstar... Maybe Cal Ripken?

Makes it very hard for a community to continue to love a player when they ultimately end up competing against your own team.

[Pete]

This is the full version of KD's speech:

MVP Award Presentation | THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

[Dustin]

He's not only my favorite player in the NBA, he is one of my favorite people in general. He never forgets where he came from and he doesn't shy away from his emotions. I love that dude.

He had my bawling like a baby here at my computer!

[BlackmoreRulz]

This is the full version of KD's speech:

MVP Award Presentation | THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

Man that sure was hard to watch, my monitor kept getting all blurry. What an amazingly humble man for someone that has accomplished so much

[AP]

Pro athletes almost never play their entire career with one team.

In fact, I can't remember the last time that happened with a superstar... Maybe Cal Ripken?

Makes it very hard for a community to continue to love a player when they ultimately end up competing against your own team.

Maybe not currently, but there are quite a few if you go back a little. I know for sure Barry Sanders played with the Lions his whole career.

[Dustin]

One person he didn't thank in his speech; his fiancé. I found that really strange.

Are they still together?

[Bellaboo]

One person he didn't thank in his speech; his fiancé. I found that really strange.

Are they still together?

I think they split just after the season started.

[Pete]

Maybe not currently, but there are quite a few if you go back a little. I know for sure Barry Sanders played with the Lions his whole career.

True, but that was only 10 seasons, where Ripken played 23.

KD has already played 7 and at 25 has many more ahead of him.

[Bellaboo]

Pro athletes almost never play their entire career with one team.

In fact, I can't remember the last time that happened with a superstar... Maybe Cal Ripken?

Makes it very hard for a community to continue to love a player when they ultimately end up competing against your own team.

Tim Duncan will and he's had an all star career.

[Pete]

Tim Duncan will and he's had an all star career.

Very true! Hopefully KD will follow his lead.

[Snowman]

They have what seems like the entire event uncut on the thunder website: MVP Award Presentation | THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

[dankrutka]

Very true! Hopefully KD will follow his lead.

There are a ton of NBA players who played, or are deep into their careers, playing only with one team (this is just players I remember from the 90s on when I started watching the NBA): Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli, & David Robinson of the Spurs (who is kind of a model franchise for the Thunder), Dirk Nowitzki, Kobe Bryant, Udonis Haslem, Nick Collison, Jameer Nelson, Anderson Varejao, John Stockton, Reggie Miller, Joe Dumars, Isiah Thomas, Kevin McHale, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, etc... And then there are a ton of players that played their entire career with one team until switching to chase a title or something of the like: Karl Malone, Paul Pierce, and many others.

The point is that there's quite a precedent for staying with one team your entire career, or at least the meaningful parts of it.

[Jersey Boss]

Pro athletes almost never play their entire career with one team.

In fact, I can't remember the last time that happened with a superstar... Maybe Cal Ripken?

Makes it very hard for a community to continue to love a player when they ultimately end up competing against your own team.

Derek Jeter, Tim Duncan.