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Varsity (Thunder) Blues

The football team at Oklahoma City’s Heritage Hall was wrapping up the kickoff coverage portion of practice on Wednesday afternoon when suddenly the coaching staff brought them in to take a knee. Hustling to the 20-yard line, the players plopped down and waited in anticipation of the message they were about to receive.

One hundred yards away, standing inside the director of athletics office, two new teammates were squeezing into jerseys, adjusting helmets and gearing up for action. When they were all situated, they hunched through the doorframe and walk out onto the sidewalk, then onto the track, dodging a runner making a lap and then onto the field.

It was clear to the Heritage Hall players that something was amiss as their new 7-foot and 6-foot-7 teammates sauntered over because the player wearing number one had on basketball sneakers, and the one wearing 77 wore flip flops with an Oklahoma City Thunder logo. By the time number 77’s long, curling locks became visible, the jig was up, and both Steven Adams and Andre Roberson ripped off their helmets, stirring a thrilled laugh from the football team.

The Heritage Hall coaching staff wasn’t just satisfied with the surprise; they thought it was a welcome sight for the Chargers considering the upcoming battle against Davis High School on Friday night. Immediately Roberson was thrust into action, but he played the part admirably. He once played running back as a youth, so the instincts rushed back quickly when he snagged a kickoff return.

It was Adams, the New Zealand native and avid rugby fan, who had the biggest adjustment as he stepped onto the field. He’s used to the general concept of American football, which shares some gross similarities to rugby, but when he got up close and saw the formations, the terminology and the precision, it left an impact.

“It was awesome. It was amazing,” Adams said. “Watching it is a lot different than being in it. It’s just weird seeing how technical it is. It’s really difficult. I’m a rugby guy, but I appreciate the game more now.”

Roberson was flanked out wide when Adams decided to try his hand at quarterback. In shotgun formation, Adams yelled out “Go,” received the snap, twisted the ball in his massive hand and fired a pass out to the flank. Popping out on the bubble screen, Roberson awaited the pass. Unfortunately, the ball dove into the ground about five feet short and took a chunk of grass with it. The next try was nearly a success, but Roberson couldn’t haul in a shoestring catch attempt.

It was a rusty start, but once both players got going, they started to catch a rhythm. Adams hit Roberson right on time and on target with the next pass, then practiced as the center and snapped the ball perfectly to the Chargers’ quarterback, who nailed Roberson in stride 30 yards downfield. The last objective was for Roberson to line up a field goal, and without hesitation, in basketball shoes and all, he drilled his first attempt.

“It was fun. It brought a little bit of the past out of me growing up,” Roberson said. “It was definitely a good time getting out here and experiencing it again and sharing it with the guys. It was special.”

The Thunder duo took photos with the team, joked with the players and gave words of encouragement, then got sent back to the director of athletics' office by the coaching staff. Their day on the field was done, and Baker calmly sat down both Adams and Roberson and told them as gingerly as possible that maybe they ought to stick to their day jobs.

Everyone in Thunder Nation agreed.

WATCH: Adams, Roberson Crash HS Football Practice