If this is the case, then the team should be moved to either Seattle or Las Vegas as soon as the deal can be done for integrity of the game issues.
Tanking is one thing. Prolonged borderline consumer fraud in a small market where there’s only one major league franchise in any sport is another topic.
Again…unless you’re a little slow, this is what Sam Presti and Thunder ownership did in Seattle when they stripped their team of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis while doing everything possible to discourage Seattle fans from attending Sonic home games while that entire new arena fairytale/caper was being hashed out with David Stern presiding as judge and jury. Another words…Clay Bennet and Group had them a bought jury.
This part of the Thunder’s migration to Oklahoma City, much like the Donald Trump ascension to power caper, is not an aspirational story.
This is not a new play in Sam Presti’s playbook.
Despite my snarkiness at times for the Thunder…I don’t want them to leave because I enjoy being twenty minutes away from being able to see real NBA teams play in person with real NBA stars who are trying to win championships.
I’ll be right at seven or eight home games attended for this season. I have extremely enjoyed sitting behind the visitor’s bench and cheering for real NBA basketball teams.
Both Klay and Tyler Herro both actually gave me a thumbs-up when they were here in the cultural armpit of all NBA franchises.
If only I could sit next to Mike Gundy at a Thunder game, my Make-A-Wish Thunder game night would be complete this basketball season.
Josh is No. 2 on my ROY ballot and you’re telling me Sam Presti is going to deny his paying Thunder ticketholders this one singular thread of positivity from this season.
That’s total and complete bullshit. That’s borderline consumer fraud is what it is. That’s like paying to see Tony Bennett and you get Justin Bieber thrown out there at the end for the final third of the concert.
We’ll see how this goes with Josh being held out. I clearly have no sources with the Thunder. I’ve never been a paid whore like some in this market who in essence have always been on the Thunder’s payroll.
There’s some Putin the way the Thunder manipulate media relations.
I just hope for the kid and for the somewhat integrity of the NBA we don’t see Sam Presti benching a player who could very well be the NBA Rookie of the Year.
If they’re going to bench him…then maybe Joe C could work out a deal with the NCAA and Josh could be allowed to play for Porter Moser the rest of the season in Norman.
If you put a 6’8″ point forward like Josh on the Sooners’ they could be an Elite 8 team with the right draw.
I really feel for these Thunder fans who were stupid enough to pay full ticket prices this season. I never pay more than thirty cents on the dollar for my seats right behind the visitors’ bench. I even got Steve Kerr’s autograph when the Warriors were here.
Good luck, Josh.