By Nick Gallo | Broadcast Reporter and Digital Editor | okcthunder.com
Photography by Alex Dawson, Bree Maxwell and Zach Beeker
Thunder Fellows Tour White House
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s braids grazed the bottom of a decades-old chandelier. Mike Muscala ducked underneath a 6-foot door frame, touching the original outer wall of the White House on his way through an underground passage. In front of the famous South Lawn, however, players’ necks craned upwards to get a full look at “the People’s House”.
Kicking off the Thunder’s trip this week to Washington, D.C., the traveling party – including the players and coaches – made a visit to the White House on Tuesday. Joining the team were 14-year-old Nzinga Collins and 15-year-old Reece Robinson, two of the Thunder Fellows highlighted in “Seeds of Greenwood,” a June 2022 film produced by OKC Thunder Films that documented the first year of the team’s innovative after-school program in Tulsa.
A century after the Tulsa Race Massacre, the film explores how today’s generation of Black high school students in Tulsa is being planted and nurtured within the fertile soil of the historic Greenwood District. The program’s curriculum includes data science and coding with networking opportunities in the sports and entertainment industries. The film follows the birth of Thunder Fellows, and the inspirational journeys of students in the inaugural class.
“They (Collins and Robinson) are great representatives and ambassadors of that program,” said Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault. “We’re incredibly proud of the program and especially proud of the kids that represent it and for them to be on site with us today was awesome.”
On Tuesday, Collins and Robinson were a part of a partial screening of the film that was attended by Thunder players and White House staff. Afterwards, there was discussion of the film and a variety of policy issues between the players, Fellows and White House staff that ranged from education to healthcare to criminal justice.
“We always talk about growth as basketball players, but the best growth in life is as human beings. To see those kids transform themselves in such a short amount of time is special,” said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had plenty to learn as a Canadian national. “They have bright futures and I’m glad to be a small part of that program.”
“It was really cool to get our voices heard and be able to have an open discussion about different things we see,” added rookie guard Jalen Williams. “It was cool that they were willing to hear us and it was cool we were able to give our opinion as well.”
Before the screening and discussion, the Thunder moved about the East Wing of the White House on a history-laden tour, passing the hallways that presidents and first families have used since the wing was constructed in 1902. The East Wing traditionally hosts social gatherings like the Easter Egg Roll, Fourth of July festivities, state dinners and championship celebrations.
The Thunder’s visit began in the White House Family Theater, which was converted from a cloakroom in 1942. There the team was briefed on countless features of the White House by a few Secret Service staff who are a part of the 200-plus member team that serves the 55,000-square-foot premises. The president, first lady and their children and grandchildren all have Secret Service details, and the same goes for the vice president and their family. On Tuesday, the Thunder had its own detail too.
“It’s definitely astonishing. I never thought I would be here at the White House,” said Collins with a grin. “I would like to be the president, so vote for me in 2044.”
While the Thunder waited for a “movement” by the Secret Service of First Lady Jill Biden from one part of the White House to another, Thunder forward Kenrich Williams, who likes to stay off social media and out of the limelight, asked a very…