The late September summer sun pounded down from overhead, but ice-cold lemonades were flowing and the smell of funnel cake was in the air. With sweat soaking through T-shirts, it was a classic day at the Oklahoma State Fair on Tuesday afternoon.
Thunder players Andre Roberson, Josh Huestis and Domantas Sabonis crashed the fair in the late afternoon to check out the sights, play a few games, indulge on some fair treats and interact with fans.
Roberson made a pit stop to sample a fried Oreo before humming down the row of attractions, pausing intermittently to take photos with fans. Whenever he won a game, most notably by shooting a mini basketball into a small hoop, he would snag the stuffed animal from his victory and immediately hand it to the nearest young child. On the final competition of the day, however, at the water shooting challenge against this humbled reporter, Roberson won by a nose. This time, he hung onto the massive stuffed puppy dog that he earned.
“I’m a big kid, I guess you could say,” he said.
As he made his way up and down the walkways, it was clear that Roberson, heading into his fourth season in the NBA, is certain of himself and confident in his place in Oklahoma City. Years ago in his rookie year, he attended the fair for the first time and marveled at the glimpse of an Oklahoma pastime he got that day.
“I didn’t know what to expect. It was my first time going to a state fair,” Roberson said of his initial visit, which ensured he’d be a repeat customer. “It was just cool and unique. There’s a lot of people interacting. It’s genuine and cool to be around people and the rides give it that fun feel.”
Fast forward a few years and the jovial Roberson was hugging fans, signing autographs and embracing the moment. Being able to touch the lives of fans who were seeing a Thunder player for the first time in their lives was something Roberson didn’t take lightly.
“Sometimes they don’t get a chance to go to the games, so being out here gives them that home feel of being a part of the Thunder,” Roberson said.
That human interaction is also something that Fair Spokesperson Scott Munz appreciates greatly, especially given his history with Thunder leadership.
“It’s nice to know that celebrities in town like the Thunder are interested in coming out and integrating with the fans out here,” Munz said. “I think that whole company mantra comes down all the way from the top, Chairman Clay Bennett. He was a chairman out here for 14 years.”
WATCH: Thunder Trio Goes to the State Fair
For Huestis and Sabonis, who dropped by the Fair about an hour earlier than Roberson, the experience was a tale of contrasts. Huestis grew up in Montana, in the same town where the state fair was held every year. Sabonis is from Lithuania, and spent his formative teenage years in Spain. For their portion of the afternoon, Huestis served as the tour guide for his rookie forward.
After spending time taking pictures and autographing memorabilia for Thunder fans, Huestis and Sabonis took turns throwing darts at balloons and playing skee ball. As they turned the corner, one item became crucial to finish off their day – a turkey leg. With the hunk of fried poultry in one hand and a massive lemonade in the other, Huestis and Sabonis grinned at one another. In a few days they’ll be in the midst of training camp. For an afternoon, they were simply Oklahomans.
“It’s part of the Oklahoma City culture,” Munz said. “We’re proud to host them.”