As Lee Jenkins exits Sports Illustrated to take a front office position, TI revisits his best OKC Thunder articles paying homage to the talented writer.
After LeBron James chose Lee Jenkins to write his “I’m Coming Home” essay in July 2014, Jenkins essentially became a household name in the sports and NBA world. Jenkins was a stellar storyteller before he penned LeBron’s essay, but much like any occupation, one assignment changed Jenkins entire career.
Fast-forward four summers, Jenkins has accepted a role within the LA Clippers front office, it is not common to see a media member become a member of a sports franchises front office. However, it is not unheard of either. Take Heat chairman Pat Riley, although he is a former athlete, Riley was the Lakers broadcaster when their head coach was injured in a bicycle accident. The interim head coach named Riley an assistant, Riley later became coach of the Lakers, and the rest is history.
Now, Jenkins will embark on his new career path for a different NBA team based in Los Angeles, before he does, let’s relive his best stories about the OKC Thunder.
Happy Fourth Y’all
When Kevin Durant returned to the Peake for the first time after departing via free agency, fans taunted him by calling him a cupcake. Some fans dressed in cupcake t-shirts, one young Thunder fan dressed in a Shoppkins cupcake costume to further heckle KD.
From cupcakes to snakes, Thunder fans got creative for KD's return https://t.co/PwsrIY2PmM pic.twitter.com/el4B9Yzm3e
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 12, 2017
The nickname took off, faster than it burned out, but where did the nickname originate from? Technically former Thunder center Kendrick Perkins started it, he would call teammates a cupcake when he thought they were acting soft.
After Russell Westbrook signed his re-negotiated deal to remain with the Thunder, Jenkins penned a post about Westbrook and the Thunder. In an article, Jenkins dropped a tidbit revealing Russ’ true meaning behind a fourth of July post of an image of cupcakes with the caption that read; “Happy fourth Y’all”.
"When Kendrick Perkins played center for the Thunder, he called teammates “cupcake” if he thought they were acting a little soft. Westbrook and Durant adopted the term in jest. Westbrook posted a bittersweet pic on Instagram: three plates of cupcakes topped by red and blue stars and sprinkles."
One simple paragraph became so much more to Thunder fans looking for the perfect way to heckle Durant. Personally, it was fun the first time around, Thunder Nation let it drag on a little too long for my liking. With that said, no one will ever forget the cupcake chapter in OKC Thunder history.
Deep dive on the boy genius
Despite Sam Presti leading the Thunder as their president and general manager for over a decade, little is known about Presti personally. Unlike other GM’s around the league Sam does not routinely partake in interviews on TV, radio, or print. When Jenkins wrote an essay on the boy genius it peaked the interest of Thunder and NBA fans.
"But on that July 4 flight, only one cornerstone remained, and Presti opened the plastic folder he carries everywhere. Presti is an insatiable reader—when a book is recommended on the road he asks his assistant, Glenn Wong, to find the nearest store where it is sold; he prefers not to wait for Amazon Prime—and within the folder he keeps copies of passages that move him. Over time some documents are removed, others added. A packet of his favorite quotes has mushroomed to 55 pages."
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- Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder
The above quote reveals so much about Presti’s personality, during Paul George’s three-part ESPN documentary several were surprised when Presti quoted A Tribe Called Quest stating “Scared money don’t make none“. Due to the above tidbit from Jenkins Presti using the quote did not surprise me one bit.
Inside PG’s first OKC visit
One aspect which made Jenkins pieces so enjoyable and unique was the small details he would include in his story. Such as when George had his welcome party at the Jones Assembly, there was fruit gushers and sunflower seeds on hand because PG thoroughly enjoys both snacks. Or this snippet about what took place over the next 30 hours for the OKC Thunder forward:
"Over the next 30 hours, George rode ATVs with his extended family at 640–acre Arcadia Farms, casting off from a boathouse dock into one of the 13 ponds stocked with bluegill, catfish and bass. (“I’d like to live on a lake,” George told a friend, “and bring my speedboat.”) He toured the Oklahoma City National Memorial, flinching at the recorded sound of the 1995 bombing, and examining the shoes of the children who died in the explosion. (“That alone is enough to feel a part of this and understand the reasoning for the support here.”)"
At the time when this piece had been published the mention of “Arcadia Farms” is just a small detail. Flash forward one year and Westbrook held PG’s re-signing party at a house located in Arcadia.
*The two houses in Arcadia may or may not be the same property
In conclusion, SI lost one highly talented writer, and the Clippers gained a solid addition to their front office. TI and Thunder Nation wishes Lee Jenkins all the best on his journey into an NBA front office.
I encourage anyone and everyone to read all three pieces linked to in the entirety, because they still resonate to this day and check some of Jenkins other past post’s as well. Have a great Wednesday Thunder Nation.