Thunder Players Take Part in Several Outreach Programs

Originally Published: Mar 27, 2010 9:17 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Members of the Oklahoma City Thunder spread across the city to take part in numerous separate community outreach events Saturday.

Russell Westbrook, Thabo Sefolosha and James Harden started the day at Science Museum Oklahoma, where they met members of the Thunder Kids Club.

“It’s a great thing to be out here with the kids, having fun,” Harden said. “I really enjoy it. It’s just a great thing being out here having fun with them.”

Serge Ibaka stayed busy all day with visits to three different locations. He started by meeting local refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of the Congo, where he was born. A long-standing conflict remains ongoing in both neighboring Congolese republics, resulting in more than 100,000 refugees fleeing from the area that has been deemed unsafe by the United Nations.

Ibaka also visited pediatric patients at INTEGRIS Health Center before going to Incredible Pizza Company for a party with the children of Calm Waters, a group that provides counseling to children affected by death or divorce.

After his start at Science Museum Oklahoma with the Thunder Kids Club, Russell Westbrook hosted his own celebrity bowling tournament at Windsor Lanes.

Westbrook was joined by several teammates, Rumble the Bison, the Thunder Girls, and Indianapolis Colts players Reggie Wayne and Cato June. The tournament was held to help raise money for a youth scholarship.

The Thunder’s community service efforts come sandwiched between two important games. OKC convincingly defeated the Los Angeles Lakers Friday, and will host the Portland Trailblazers Sunday. The Lakers have the best record in the Western Conference, and the Blazers hold the final playoff spot in the West and are only 1.5 games behind the Thunder.