Thunder Rumblings

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Four burning questions - Was the season a failure?

Sports | Updated: Sat, May 18, 2013 | Comment on this article

Thunder Rumblings Blog Posts

Rose Wins Rookie of the Year April 22, 2009 | Comment on this article

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Chicago’s Derrick Rose has won the 2008-09 Rookie of the Year award, the league announced today. Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook finished fourth behind Memphis’ O.J. Mayo and New Jersey’s Brook Lopez. Rose received 111 first-place votes (574 points) from a panel of 120 sportswriters and... Read More

Coaching Fires: 101 April 22, 2009 Did the Thunder blunder in its firing of P.J. Carlesimo? According to one writer it did. Kevin Sullivan, writing for Sports Business Journal, groups the management of the Carlesimo firing in with the New York Mets’ removal of manager Willie Randolph last June and the Oakland Raiders’ ugly dismissal of... Read More

Updating A Previous Post April 21, 2009 Just needed to make sure that readers are aware that the winner of the team’s Draft Lottery Challenge will NOT sit on stage at the Draft Lottery on May 19. The team sent out a press release today stating that “all fans 18 or older who are Oklahoma state residents are invited to submit a seven-word essay on... Read More

Wanna Rep OKC At The Draft Lottery? April 21, 2009 The Thunder announced Tuesday that one lucky fan will have the opportunity to attend the annual NBA Draft Lottery on May 19 when the league determines the draft order of the 14 non-playoff teams. The Thunder has launched a Draft Lottery Challenge, asking fans 18 and older who are Oklahoma residents to submit a... Read More

Thunder 126, Clippers 85 April 16, 2009 Observations, news and notes from Wednesday’s 126-85 win…….. * D.J. White finally showed how much of an impact he could have on the boards. His three blocked shots weren’t half bad either. * Earl Watson’s final three games were truly….(wait for it)…..amazing. OK, so I went to far. But I think his... Read More

Brooks Named Full-Time Coach April 15, 2009 LOS ANGELES – The Thunder has lifted the interim tag from coach Scott Brooks, naming him the full-time head coach on Wednesday afternoon. The exact terms of the contract are unclear, but the deal is a multi-year agreement. Thunder general manager Sam Presti had... Read More

Blazers 113, Thunder 83 April 13, 2009 Observations, news and notes from Monday’s 113-83 loss to the Blazers……. * You don’t know how bad I want to steal a line from Jay-Z for this entire entry and type simply, “What more can I say?” -DM- * Just from looking at the players before, during and after games you can tell that they’re past... Read More

Bucks 115, Thunder 98 April 11, 2009 Observations news and notes from Saturday’s game…. * At least the Thunder gave the home fans a good showing in the Ford Center finale. Tonight’s loss could be the start of an ugly three-game trip to end the season. * Couldn’t help but to picture Bucks guard Ramon Sessions in a Thunder... Read More

Nuggets 122, Thunder 112 April 08, 2009 Observations, news and notes from Wednesday’s game…… * What’s worse at this point? Playing with more energy but still being incapable of executing down the stretch like the Thunder has shown in its last two? Or not showing much fight whatsoever and losing by 35 and 18 on your home court as OKC did in... Read More

Making A ROY Case For Russell Westbrook April 07, 2009 The Thunder officially launched its campaign today for Russell Westbrook in the race for Rookie of the Year. But unlike several teams past and present, Oklahoma City officials didn’t put on the full-court press and woo voters through gifts or gimmicks. There are no gadgets. No clever or even cheesy... Read More

Spurs 99, Thunder 89 April 07, 2009 The question started off simple, a softball some would say. Nick Collison’s answer, however, was all-too revealing, one that explained a significant sore spot for the Thunder. “I think what you can learn from their team is when it comes down to big possessions they always get a good shot,” Collison... Read More

Who Needs Blake Griffin?

April 07, 2009 Now that Blake Griffin has declared for the NBA Draft, the next 1 1/2 months leading up to the May 19 Draft Lottery will be spent speculating where the Oklahoma forward and Player of the Year could end up. As of today, the Sacramento Kings have the best chance to land the No. 1 overall pick and select... Read More

Malik Rose: “I don’t think we’re” packing it in April 05, 2009 Malik Rose sat expressionless at his locker, staring across the Thunder’s dressing room while still in full uniform after many of his teammates had already showered, dressed and ducked out for the evening. His only hope after a 117-99 embarrassment to the Indiana Pacers was that his Oklahoma City... Read More

Malik Rose: "I don't think we're" packing it in April 05, 2009 Malik Rose sat expressionless at his locker, staring across the Thunder’s dressing room while still in full uniform after many of his teammates had already showered, dressed and ducked out for the evening. His only hope after a 117-99 embarrassment to the Indiana Pacers was that his Oklahoma City... Read More

Thunder-Pacers live blog, 6 p.m. April 05, 2009 Thunder-Pacers live blog Read More

Bulletin Board Material April 04, 2009 Never believe an athlete when you hear him or her say they don’t read the clippings. It’s not true. Sure, there are lots of players who don’t pick up the paper every day or wake up and search the Internet over their Cinnamon Toast Crunch. But if something disparaging is said or written, believe it... Read More

Blazers 107, Thunder 72 April 03, 2009 Observations, news and notes from Friday’s game….. * Your coach was not a happy camper tonight…… “We didn’t hit shots. We didn’t defend. We played soft basketball,” said Scott Brooks. ”These playoff teams that we’re playing, they play physical basketball. And 21 offensive rebounds, that... Read More

I've Got Derrick Rose Colored Glasses April 03, 2009 As I was sitting at my desk in the office today, an editor approached and delivered a package. It was a box from the Chicago Bulls. Inside was a silver square canister about the size of a 5 X 7 photo album. On the front is a red rose-colored shot of the United Center crowd in the... Read More

Thunder-Blazers Pre-game Notes April 03, 2009 The comparisons between the Thunder and the Blazers are never-ending. In today’s editions of The Oklahoman, Mike Baldwin, quoting ESPN’s Ric Bucher, became the latest to dissect the similarities between the two. It’s a natural link considering the young talent both teams possess.... Read More

I’ve Got Derrick Rose Colored Glasses April 03, 2009 As I was sitting at my desk in the office today, an editor approached and delivered a package. It was a box from the Chicago Bulls. Inside was a silver square canister about the size of a 5 X 7 photo album. On the front is a red rose-colored shot of the United Center crowd in the... Read More

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Thunder Rumblings Bloggers

Darnell Mayberry

OKC Thunder Senior Reporter

Darnell Mayberry grew up in Langston, Okla. and is now in his third stint in the Sooner state. After a year and a half at Bishop McGuinness High, he finished his prep years in Falls Church, Va., before graduating from Norfolk State University in 2004.

Mayberry joined The Oklahoman’s sports staff in 2005 after a year at the Akron Beacon Journal, where he covered the University of Akron men’s basketball team, high schools and recruiting. Since arriving at The Oklahoman, Mayberry has become the leading authority on the NBA as the only traveling media member and the only reporter to cover every NBA game ever played in Oklahoma City.

He served as the paper’s beat writer on the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets from 2005-07, broke the news of the Seattle SuperSonics’ settlement negotiations with the City of Seattle in the summer of 2008, a development that allowed the team to relocate to Oklahoma, and has covered the Thunder since the franchise’s inception.

Mayberry and his wife, Courtney, were married in 2010 and live in Oklahoma City.

John Rohde

Sports Senior Reporter

John Rohde joined The Oklahoman staff in January of 1987 as a sports columnist. He has covered all college sports, plus the Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans/OKC Hornets and professional golf. Rohde also has served as a beat writer for OU football and basketball and currently is covering the NBA and the OKC Thunder. Rohde is married, has a son, was raised in Boulder, Colo., and was a 1982 graduate from the University of Arizona.

Anthony Slater

Reporter

Anthony Slater has been NewsOK.com's lead sports blogger since the summer of 2012, covering Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Before that, he covered OSU athletics for The Daily O'Collegian, working as the sports editor and beat writer for football and men's basketball. Originally from Northern California, he has lived in Oklahoma the past three years.