Cut six days into camp with his first tryout with the Philadelphia 76ers, Thunder coach Scott Brooks said he always will be grateful to former Sixers coach Jimmy Lynam for giving him his first NBA roster spot the following year (1988-89).
"I have a tremendous amount of respect for that organization, the city, but particularly coach Lynam," Brooks said. "He gave me my first shot. If he didn't believe in me, I probably wouldn't be a head coach right now." ON THE ROAD
With the Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament in the Ford Center this week, the Thunder is spending the week on the road. After playing Tuesday in Sacramento and Wednesday in Denver, the team will spend three nights in Phoenix before playing the Suns on Saturday night.
"We've been fortunate schedule-wise, probably because we're so centrally located," Brooks said. "Our longest flights are 2 1/2 hours. That's not bad."
As for spending a week on the road, Brooks said: "Our guys like each other, so they don't mind going out on the road."
Knicks MISS ROSE'S LEADERSHIP
A story in Sunday's editions of the New York Daily News reported that the Knicks miss Malik Rose's locker room presence and no longer have a veteran player capable of offering positive directives.
Much of the reason the Thunder traded Chris Wilcox to the Knicks for Rose was because of his veteran leadership.
"He gets us going," said Thunder rookie Kyle Weaver. "Especially now with guys being down."
SEFOLOSHA RETURNS FROM MCL SPRAIN
Thabo Sefolosha returned from a one-game absence caused by a sprained MCL to his left knee and played Sunday against Philadelphia.
"It's OK," said Sefolosha, who thinks he sustained the injury last Wednesday when a Washington Wizards player fell into his leg. "It's just pretty sore still."
FAST BREAK...
Center Robert Swift was not with the team for the second straight game due to personal reasons. He is expected to join the team in Sacramento. ... OU football coach Bob Stoops was in attendance and received an ovation when he was shown on the scoreboard. ... Doctors are uncertain how long Thunder sideline reporter Brent Weber must wear a cast while recovering from a broken right wrist he sustained in an open media practice last week.
