The MidFirst Bank caravan thing had a stop today and gave fans a chance to get to meet the Thunder’s three new guys. And for your info, James Harden will wear No. 13, B.J. Byron Mullens will wear No. 23 and Robert Vaden No. 30.
(Thanks to Jacob Thompson again for the incredible picture.)
And here’s Sam Presti with James Harden today at the caravan:
Also, Sam Presti was on Tirico and Van Pelt yesterday and here’s that interview for your listening pleasure (h/t to J.G.).
Jeff has those guys dying from laughing. I don't really think it's a fake laugh either b/c the strength and conditioning guy is losing it and somehow I don't see those guys as sycophants.
daniel :
They also have some good pics from the press conference inside the bank. Including some of our current players lurking around!
Yay! Jeff Green:
http://www.nba.com/media/thunder/presser1_gallery_090627.jpg
Who is Kyle shaking hands with?
http://www.nba.com/media/thunder/presser14_gallery_090627.jpg
D.J., Kyle, Jeff, and … (is that Kevin hiding behind DJ?)
http://www.nba.com/media/thunder/presser15_gallery_090627.jpg
I wish those guy had come out and waived to the crowd. I guess though, that would have spoiled what is supposed to be the new guys’ moment in the sun.
Ok, finally just watched the press conference from yesterday. So, to answer my own question, the mystery fourth man in those pics was Serge Ibaka.
sorry i missed it. I was in Dallas for the weekend with friends watching the Rangers play. Cool pix, bros.
GAP :
Hey where can I post my pix from the caravan? I got one with coach Brooks, Mullens and even Barry Tramel(really nice in person….oh and Grant Long(really funny in person).
Find a free online photo server and create an account. I used photobucket.com, which is easy to create, but a bit annoying to use. Tapdog72 used facebook. There's flikr.com too. And other sites, I'm sure.
So what funny things did Grant say?
@Chas
@daniel
@Joe
Thanx Thunder bros,I really enjoyed myself yesterday. As a matter of fact Joe,Vaden did look taller than Harden who woulda guessed.
It must be said that, besides the suns scorching rays, it was a beautiful day. Clear blue sky, not a hind of a cloud. The surrounding scenery was nice with a backdrop of nicely manicured lawns and landscaping (yes, there's some money in Nichols Hills). Had it been about 20 degrees less with a light cool breeze, it would have been heaven - could have stayed out there all day. As it was, after about an hour and a half in the sun, I had to cruise my red skin back home.
I like DJ's shirt. Used to have one almost exactly like that.
They also have some good pics from the press conference inside the bank. Including some of our current players lurking around!
Yay! Jeff Green:
http://www.nba.com/media/thunder/presser1_gallery_090627.jpg
Who is Kyle shaking hands with?
http://www.nba.com/media/thunder/presser14_gallery_090627.jpg
D.J., Kyle, Jeff, and ... (is that Kevin hiding behind DJ?)
http://www.nba.com/media/thunder/presser15_gallery_090627.jpg
I wish those guy had come out and waived to the crowd. I guess though, that would have spoiled what is supposed to be the new guys' moment in the sun.
The official Thunder site has some real good player shots in the Caravan gallery. Here's my favorite one they took of Harden:
http://www.nba.com/media/thunder/caravan18_gallery_090627.jpg
Another fun item. After the kids finished, the new guys got to shoot a few. Grant Long said that he was putting them on the spot and their directions were to hit it with nothing but net.
Vaden shot first. It rimmed off. The crowd went 'ahhhh' and then laughed. Grant Long joked and said something like "Robert didn't listen to my instructions too well. I said nothing but net, but he did nothing but rim".
Harden shot second. It went in with a swish. Crowd cheers. Grant says "now see, James listened to what I said. He followed the instructions".
Mullens shot third. His shot went WAY up in the air - a huge, tall arc - and came back down in with a swish, nothing but net.
So there you have it: of the three of them, Vaden just can't shoot!
Just kiddin, of course.
Funny, but the crowd was most animated after the player introductions were over. Sure they cheered and clapped as the new guys came out. But when they finished and brought out the kids for the drill thingy, that's when it got lighthearted and relaxed.
Everybody was cheering when a shot went in, and then going 'ahhhh' when it missed. The players and fans alike enjoyed watching those tiny little dudes run around and loft up the shots. And dang if they didn't make a whole lot of them. Grant Long was joking about having some future Thunder players in there. Don't know who they were. They had little matching uniforms. Anybody know those kids were?
For those who wonder about how hot it was at the Caravan, consider this. I arrived, a white man. I left, a red man.
(yowza, why didn't I think to put on some sun screen beforehand?)
:(
but it's all good in the end
:)
Nice job GAP/Greg! You spoke well for us. And I'm glad you did, cuz when I see guys with mic's in their hand, I head the opposite direction -- don't wanna be interviewed at all, heh.
@Royce
have you seen him post-ncaa season? he's pretty frigging ripped. as far as nba-ready, his body is good to go
Very cool. That was you huh GAP, or should I say Greg? I thought it was interesting when all three were standing up at the end, Vaden looks taller than Harden, who is a legit 6-5 in shoes.
Very cool. Mullens does look goofy though, haha
ok, got a couple of links for my Thunder Caravan pics:
MidFirst_Jun27_Event (a couple of videos)
and
MidFirst_Jun27_Pics (pics)
The videos are a bit raw, and cut in and out at awkward points. But hey, there ya go. Most of the pics turned out fine for location and crowd shots, but not so good for getting a look at the players. :(
Is that you in the hat?! I was right next to you begging for an autograph. You did a great job, he put you right on the spot. I would have completely froze.
Or make that 56 sec mark.
Hey I finally got my 15 mins of fame at the Thunder Caravan!! Yay!!
I'm at bout the 54 sec mark.
http://www.nba.com/thunder/video/2009/06/27/caravan_090657.thunder/index.html
@Royce
Thanks! Giving back where I can. :)
Hey where can I post my pix from the caravan? I got one with coach Brooks, Mullens and even Barry Tramel(really nice in person....oh and Grant Long(really funny in person).
To anyone that was there, or anyone who may know, any mention of the summer league? I know it starts 10 July, but did they say who'd be on the roster? Is Ibaka coming over for sure? I'm assuming Harden, Mullen & Vaden will all be on the squad as well... Info?
@Tapdog72
good God that person in the... buffalo, maybe, suit?!?! i bet he was frying
@Tapdog72
Awesome pictures! Thanks for sharing.
@Joe
in a word: pimpin'
@Tapdog72
Nice pics! Your shot of Harden walking out as his name was called is a clearer shot than any I managed.
Went to the Thunder caravan. Pictures at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=126452&id=697848331&l=38b93cfadf. They say that's a public link, so I hope it works.
AD :
I wonder what Harden is going to do about wearing a T-shirt under his jersey… being that the NBA doesnt allow it
He'll have to start working on those guns a little more.
I'm sorting thru the pics I took. It was so bright outside I couldn't see the view screen very well, so it was point, click, and pray. Just hoping that some of them would turn out halfway decent. So far, it looks like they did.
It may take awhile before I post them. Crowd or general event shots are fine, but most of the Harden pics have him too far back (should have made more use of my zoom, dangit). But I can close in with software and maybe eek out a few good face shots.
Oh, and Harden looked... just like his pic. Friendly, down-to-earth looking guy. I know, I'm just a hopeless Thunder partisan, but he just seemed cool as hell. Welcome, James, to (fry-your-brain-hot) OKC!
I was walking around the side to get some cash from the ATM and KYLE WEAVER walked right by me! It was pretty cool but I always freeze and didn't have anything for him to sign. Ah well...
Joe :
If it’s so dang hot in OKC, what’s Harden doing wearing that sweater-vest thingy under his sportcoat?
Yea, well he wasn't wearing anything like that at the outdoor greet. He was wearing shorts, tee-shirt, and, after a while, a towel over his head. Dude, it was freakin' hot out there, I'm telling ya.
Got back from MidFirst bank a little bit ago. Trying to cool off now, heh.
It was fun. It was fairly brief (the meeting-the-players part, that is). It was HOT!
I'll take a stab and say the attendance was around two hundred. Wished it had been more, but I salute all the hearty souls who braved the mid-day rays to sweat their support for the team.
I'll post more comments about the event ahead. Oh, and did I mention... it was HOT!!!!
I wonder what Harden is going to do about wearing a T-shirt under his jersey... being that the NBA doesnt allow it
If it's so dang hot in OKC, what's Harden doing wearing that sweater-vest thingy under his sportcoat?
Boo Byron. I hate it when random nobodies use twenty-three.
76! damn, that's freezing compared to the metro right now...
Driving through western Kansas and thinking how much I would have rather been at the caravan. The temperature is 76, so I guess that's some consolation.
ooohh... i can't wait to get one of those #13 harden jerseys!