Exactly one Saturday before media-day-eve, Oklahoma City Thunder players both played and coached basketball.
Thunder forward-duo Jalen Williams and Jeremiah Robinson Earl spent time working with local youth at the Love's x YMCA Youth Media Day as surprise coaches, helping teach any kids in attendance different aspects of the game from a professional basketball player's perspective.
"This event is sort of our kickoff to year six of our partnership, we're introducing the new jerseys and giving the kids an opportunity to feel like a pro today," District Executive Director of YMCA OKC Chris Berry said.
The team-sanctioned event featured two of the Oklahoma City's partners, Love's Travel Stop and the YMCA Thunder League — both of which have worked with the team for many years.
The YMCA Thunder League aims to develop young athletes both on the court and personally, and Love's partnered with the league to give out 32 scholarships to play in the league to youth basketball athletes all around Oklahoma.
"We're just really excited in seeing our partnership with the Thunder and YMCA breaking barriers for access to sports for kids," Community Relations of Love's Travel Stops Courtney Franklin said.
In photos released by the Oklahoma City Thunder, Williams and Robinson-Earl were seen encouraging the young athletes and giving them high-fives.
"I was a YMCA kid as well, so it's cool to see them not have to try and figure out how to get into camps and have something to do after school. [It's] pretty special," Williams said.
Saturday's event may not have been the official kickoff to the Thunder's 2023-24 campaign, but it did give Robinson-Earl and Williams a chance to play some basketball, as lighthearted as it may have been.
The Thunder will hold its annual media day Monday, Oct. 2, one week prior to its first preseason game against the San Antonio Spurs. Tipoff for that contest is set for 7 p.m. CST.
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