Moving OKC Thunder tribute reminds why this team and community are special

On a night when the OKC Thunder won a tightly contested battle over the Orlando Magic the most moving moment occurred before the ball was tipped.

As part of the integration into the franchise, every new member of the OKC Thunder visits the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. Players, coaches, management all get to understand immediately that they haven’t just joined a new team they’ve become a member of the city and community.

It’s what separates OKC from the other 29 teams in the Association. There is a communal tie that can’t be replicated by large market organizations. And that’s not a slight to those markets — it’s simply the reality of the situation.

Each franchise has its own history and community stories. For example, New Orleans was devastated by Hurricane Katrina and consequently, that tragedy is why OKC got to house the Hornets during the rebuilding of the city.

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The success of that experience is ultimately why OKC was granted a franchise. The difference, however, is that it was a natural disaster. And, while New Orleans residents rallied together during the tragedy that incident isn’t something the team focuses on within their identity and framework.

This year will mark the 25th anniversary of the bombing and Tuesday evening the OKC Thunder paid homage to the victims and their families via one of the most touching moments we’re likely to ever witness in sports.

In a pregame ceremony, a video tribute played and at the conclusion, the focus moved to center court. A family member representing each of the 168 victims stood on the Chesapeake Energy Arena court. They all were holding City Edition jerseys with their family name on it

Putting into words how the moment resonated is virtually impossible. Although I don’t live in OKC I feel a kinship with the city and have close friends who do live there. My throat tightened and tears filled my eyes from the emotion of the moment.

It goes beyond the senseless act of Timothy McVeigh and the great loss of those 168 families and all of the residents in OKC. More than the sadness it is the sense of resiliency of the city and how everyone is tied intrinsically to each other — like the city has become one massive family unit.

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I can’t think of another situation to compare to it on this large of a scale. Sure tragedies happen and people rally in support of each other. Yet, this terrible event still resonates 25 years later where the community is stronger and closer because of the events of that fateful April 19th.

Although the game was ‘the event’ it felt like yet another part of the ceremony to honor the victim’s families and the city. That it was a defensive battle of the nth degree feels almost apropos for the night.

The OKC Thunder battled the defensive minded Orlando Magic and in the end, won based on their effort and resiliency. Just as each of the viewers was moved by the pregame ceremony so too were the Thunder players and it showed in their efforts to capture the victory.

They wanted to win the game for the team but also for everyone in attendance and for their city. As Chris Paul said pregame the Memorial “it allows everyone on the team to understand what they are playing for.”

It was a fitting ending to this night and for this amazing community who set the standard for what ‘togetherness’ and ‘family’ truly means.