In the basketball sense, the Thunder looked good on the court again on Tuesday, but it also showcased a special jersey to further connect the team with its community.
To honor those affected by the May tornadoes in Oklahoma, the Thunder donned a new uniform during its game against the Detroit Pistons. The white Adidas jersey featured sleeves in addition to an outline of the state of Oklahoma, filled in blue with a Thunder logo in the center. Players like Oklahoma native Daniel Orton and third year guard Reggie Jackson were proud to wear the jerseys to pay tribute to their fellow Oklahomans.
“It’s definitely a tribute to the people,” Jackson said. “The community makes this team go. You work as one. It’s all for them. I’m happy to be here and it’s a great chance to play for a great community and a great team.”
As a member of the Oklahoma City community, the Thunder has not only felt a duty, but a desire to be extremely active in the recovery effort from the tragic events of May. With a $1 million donation from the organization in addition to donations and visits by players and staff since the storms hit, the Thunder has offered its support and care. General Manager Sam Presti understands the important ties the community and the Thunder share, and that by working collectively, the entire state can recover together.
“Our team has a very special bond with the community and the state as a whole,” Presti said during a halftime interview with NBAtv. “Oklahoma is incredible tight-knit as a whole. Anytime something like this happens, the Oklahoma standard is to come together, drop what you’re doing and help people in need. We’re proud as an organization to do that.”
During the NBAtv broadcast of Tuesday's game, announcers brought viewers details of the recovery effort and offered wasy the public can assist local recovery organizations with donations via THUNDER.NBA.COM.
“I think we were all uplifted as we interacted by the people that were affected, just their optimism and perspective on things,” Presti continued. “It’s our job as a team in a smaller market to be there when these things happen. These people support us and we’re certainly not done supporting them.”
In Chesapeake Energy Arena, in the Oklahoma City area and wherever it travels throughout the country and the world during the season, the Thunder will be representing its home state. The commemorative jerseys are a way to show that support, but players like Jackson also enjoyed them aesthetically.
“If you’re a kid you have to like those jerseys,” Jackson said. A t-shirt version of the jersey is on sale at nbathundershop.com. All proceeds from the sale of the t-shirt go to the Thunder Cares Foundation to assist with local tornado recovery efforts.