Isaiah Hartenstein's visit to the Oklahoma City National Memorial profoundly impacted him, leading to the creation of a documentary titled 'The Oklahoma Standard.' This initiative highlights the community's resilience following the 1995 bombing and its spirit in overcoming adversity.
Key points
Isaiah Hartenstein produced a documentary titled 'The Oklahoma Standard.'
New Thunder players visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial.
The community's spirit emerged strongly after the 1995 bombing.
Oklahoma City has faced multiple tornadoes since the bombing.
Resilience is a core part of the local identity.
Mentioned in this story
Oklahoma City ThunderOklahoma City
Oklahoma City National Memorial and MuseumThe Oklahoma Standard
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) â Isaiah Hartenstein never expected a museum visit to be life-altering.
Before the 7-foot center even signed his free agent contract with Oklahoma City two years ago, Thunder general manager Sam Presti told him onboarding would include a trip to the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, the site where 168 people were killed on April 19, 1995.
Presti requires new players to go so they can understand what the locals endured as a result of the Oklahoma City bombing at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.
The bombing itself didnât stick with Hartenstein nearly as much as the aftermath. The community's collective spirit moved him so much that he produced a 14-minute documentary called âThe Oklahoma Standard.â Journalists and visiting first responders coined the phrase after being impressed with the way everyday people from the surrounding area aided the victims and rescue teams.
The mentality â to rise in the face of catastrophe, help collectively, rebuild, then do it all again if necessary â has carried the city through major tornadoes in 1999, 2003 and 2013. It's a major part of the way Okies define themselves.
âWe know when we put on the jersey what weâre playing for,â Hartenstein said. âI have a lot of respect for that.â
Presti has infused Oklahoma Cityâs first major professional sports team with a similar standard since it arrived from Seattle in 2008, from roster makeup to the franchise's emphasis on community service.
The Thunder have developed one of the most rabid fanbases in the league, with the upper bowl of the Paycom Center being affectionately known as âLoud City.â A sports community that might differ on backing Oklahoma or Oklahoma State in football finds common ground for the team that put their city in the spotlight. After Oklahoma City defeated Indiana to win the its first championship last season, thousands celebrated during the victory parade.
âThey work hard, they play hard,â longtime season ticketholder âThunder Robâ Shahan said of the players. âAs an Oklahoman, weâre not afraid to roll up our sleeves. Weâre not afraid to help our neighbor when they need help. And thatâs what the team embodies.â
Q&A
What is 'The Oklahoma Standard' documentary about?
'The Oklahoma Standard' documentary focuses on the resilience and collective spirit of the Oklahoma City community in the aftermath of the 1995 bombing.
Why do new Oklahoma City Thunder players visit the National Memorial?
New players visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial to understand the historical significance of the 1995 bombing and the community's response to it.
How did the Oklahoma City bombing affect the community's identity?
The Oklahoma City bombing shaped the community's identity by fostering a mentality of resilience, collective support, and a commitment to rebuilding after tragedies.
What events have tested Oklahoma City's resilience since the bombing?
Oklahoma City's resilience has been tested by major tornadoes in 1999, 2003, and 2013, which the community faced with the same spirit of unity and support.
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City and team have risen together since former mayor Mick Cornett and businessman Clay Bennett helped bring the Thunder to the city, which is now on the map as an NBA champion. In 2028, two Summer Olympic events â canoe slalom and softball â will be held here. That same year, the Thunder will get a new arena.
âWeâre rightfully proud of the way we responded to the bombing,â said David Holt, the current mayor. âBut you canât really build an identity on an act of terrorism, right? We were grateful that people helped us and we were thankful that people respected the way we responded, but we really ultimately needed a different word to follow Oklahoma City than bombing. And we found that word, and itâs the Thunder.â
Community connection
The bond goes much deeper than basketball.
NBA star Kevin Durant and the Thunder Cares Foundation each donated $1 million for disaster relief after the Moore tornado in 2013. The Thunder Community Foundation has installed or refurbished 31 basketball courts in 17 counties across the state.
Hartensteinâs choice to debut his documentary at Classen SAS Middle Schoolâs renovated auditorium is an example of intentional community connection. Eighth-grade drama students served as ushers at the April 11 event near downtown.
Sometimes, those kinds of acts have led to recognition. Russell Westbrook won the NBAâs Community Assist Award for the 2014-15 season. Hartenstein won the NBA Cares Award for community service during the 2025 offseason.
In turn, the fans have remained committed. They kept showing up after Durant left in free agency to join the Golden State Warriors in 2016 and again when the team went into full rebuilding mode after the 2020-2021 season.
Showing up
The franchise believes that loyalty comes with responsibility. After the deadly 2013 tornado that destroyed Briarwood and Plaza Towers elementary schools, the Thunder got to work.
âThere were Thunder players who came here and met with people and financially helped people,â recalled Leesa Kniffen, a season ticketholder who has taught at Briarwood for 25 years. âIt started way before there was any formal rebuilding going on. It started at a personal level.â
The connection remained after Briarwood re-opened in 2014. In the library is a large, Lego-like display of a boy with an Oklahoma City Thunder jersey draped over his chest. Outside is a basketball court the Thunder built a year after the tornado and came back to resurface last year.
The kids who were rescued from the rubble at Briarwood now are in their late teens and early 20s.
Hezekiah Darbon, who was 6 that year, now is 19 and he remembers meeting Durant at a camp and meeting Serge Ibaka when the Thunder built a court at the school in 2014.
âThey donât say âThunder Caresâ for nothing,â Darbon said. âAnd after going through that, honestly, it kind of feels more like âThunder Loves.ââ
New superstars and a possible dynasty
The Thunder had a woeful stretch, going 22-50 in 2020-21 and 24-58 a year later. There was a silver lining: The poor finish allowed the Thunder to select Holmgren No. 2 overall and Williams No. 12 in the 2022 draft. Both have become All-Stars. By 2024, the Thunder were the No. 1 seed in Western Conference and have been the past two years as well.
Rob Clay believes he has been a good luck charm for the team. His deep, husky voice has made him one of the most popular national anthem singers since the team arrived. He moved to Oklahoma City in 2001 and never imagined heâd see anything like the Michael Jordan-led Bulls teams he admired as a Chicago native.
âIf you are a true fan of basketball, if you are true analyst of basketball, you cannot deny that Oklahoma City -- they are next in line and have the opportunity to be the next dynasty,â he said. âAnd it happened authentically. We drafted our team and we picked up free agents. It wasnât something that was just put together to be a superteam.â
Indeed, the team was rebuilt internally, from the ground up â just like the city. The victory parade last year went right past the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. The playoff opener this year was coincidentally held on the 31-year anniversary of the bombing.
âFor us to represent the city and honor the victims and the families today with a home playoff game was a privilege for us," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "We donât take that lightly.â
