Decades ago, professional basketball in Oklahoma City was just a dream. Decades before that, the hope of the first African-Americans to play in the NBA was realized, kindling the aspirations of current NBA players to compete professionally in the game they love.
During this month of February, NBA players around the league have been donning t-shirts honoring Black History Month during pregame warmups as a reminder each game about the importance of honoring and reflecting on African-American history in the United States.
On its own, the Thunder is hosting its ninth-annual Black History Heroes Challenge, presented by Sprite, which involves an essay, poem and visual arts contest for Oklahoma students from kindergarten through 12th grade to portray an outstanding person from African-American history.