I meant to do this yesterday, but all the football around me this weekend derailed me getting this done on Saturday. So better late than never.
As I wrote on here last spring when the Thunder won the NBA championship… the three Thunder players I was most happy for were Shai, Lu Dort, and Kenrich. I still feel that way. Those three guys were the core nucleus of the team which was eventually put together from the tanking and the rebuild.
These three guys to me are the core culture of what Sam Presti built and is trying to maintain in Oklahoma City as an NBA franchise.
But Kenrich has probably been my favorite because his value to this team as a non-rotational player who doesn’t always get minutes is beyond the value of draft picks or trades or the other distractions of the NBA vernacular.
Kenrich is this Thunder team’s version of Nick Collison in my estimation. Kenny Hustle is the living, breathing, day to day example of what a professional basketball player or any team member in any team sport should bring to the table.
The other night in Memphis what Kenrich did is pure gold. His team is struggling right now and have been since the loss to the Spurs in the Emirates NBA Cup semis. Key players are hurt currently and even Shai missed the Memphis game on Friday.
The Thunder got down by 21 to Memphis on the road the other night and it appeared a third straight loss was on the horizon. But that is not what transpired. Instead, Kenrich lit a fire under his team with a 21 point, 8 rebound game which eventually turned the Thunder’s way late in the game.
I love Kenrich Williams. I do. I love what he stands for and contributes to this Thunder team which is trying to be the first NBA team in eight years to repeat.
So, for me on this Sunday morning before the Miami game tonight, I just wanted to take the time on my underground blog to be very clear what Mike J feels about Kenrich Williams and his role on this year’s Thunder basketball team.
Being where I’m at in my own Stage 4 journey, and where I’ve come from these past three years in that process…I hope its not corny for me to write that whenever I get down a little…I think to myself, “Mike J…suck it up and be like Kenrich.”
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every person we knew took care of their business like Kenrich.
We all need to ignore the noise around us and focus on our own personal virtue checklist everyday.
Moderation. Patience. Justice. Love. Kindness. Mercy. Grace. Humility. And charity.
But most of all…when we getted knocked down, we take a deep breath, exhale slowly, reset our center self, and find the inner strength to continue the journey.
Have a peaceful Sunday.
Thank you, Kenrich.
Mike J