'So many great memories': Thunder Legacy Weekend gathers ex-players like Nenad Krstic, Steven Hill

Steven Hill likes to tell people he was the most efficient player in NBA history.

“I was in for two and a half minutes,” Hill said, “and I scored two points with three rebounds.”

They were the only NBA minutes Hill ever logged. Hill played in one game, and it came with the Thunder on Nov. 12, 2008, against the Magic. On Dec. 30, Hill, an undrafted rookie, was waived so the Thunder could open up a roster spot for a more established center, Nenad Krstic, who signed with OKC one day later on New Year’s Eve.

Krstic and Hill met Friday in a Paycom Center suite filled with Thunder alums. Krstic joked that he owed Hill an apology, which was about 13 years too late. Krstic’s arrival directly led to Hill’s departure, but Hill laughs about it. He has no hard feelings.

Lots of Thunder fans remember Krstic, a 7-foot Serbian who played parts of three seasons in Oklahoma City. But good luck finding a Thunder fan who remembers Hill, a burly center from Arkansas who once sported long hair and a scruffy beard.

Bringing guys like that together is the point of the Thunder Legacy Network.

The organization dreamt up the idea two years ago to reconnect with former players, no matter if they suited up for one game or 1,000 with the Thunder.

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Friday was the first of a three-day Thunder Legacy weekend. Ex-Thunders watched the Pistons game together from a second-level suite, and there are events planned throughout the weekend.

The players will receive free health screenings, they’ll help conduct a basketball clinic for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma and the former players will meet the current players and staff.

Other former players in town include Andre Roberson, Daequan Cook, Cole Aldrich, Kyle Weaver, Mustafa Shakur, Chris Wilcox, Johan Petro, Reggie Williams and Lazar Hayward.

Former players Eric Maynor and Mike Wilks, who are now on the Thunder coaching staff, will also participate in the events as well as Nick Collison and Nazr Mohammed, who work in the Thunder’s front office.

Krstic, his wife and two of their four kids flew in from Serbia, where Krstic is involved with the country’s national basketball team. Hill and his family of five drove in from Bentonville, Arkansas, where Hill works an eight-to-five job for a transport company.

The first Thunder Legacy Weekend was planned for two seasons ago, but it got pushed back due to the pandemic.

Hill couldn’t believe he got an invite.

Collison, who helped organize the event, found Hill’s number and shot him a text.

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“I was very shocked, having been a guy who was on the roster for two months,” Hill said. “It was really cool, really out of the blue, but I feel honored to be a part of this stuff.”

For Krstic, this weekend is like stepping back in time.

His daughter, Elena, was born in Oklahoma City when Krstic played for the Thunder. She’s 11 now, and she’s visiting the place of her birth for the first time.

“She has some pride,” Krstic said, “like, ‘Hey, I was born here.’”

Krstic took his family to a few familiar spots, including Bricktown and Penn Square Mall, but Krstic has also seen how much the city has changed.

He’s staying at the Omni Hotel, which didn’t exist when he lived here. He and his family walked around Scissortail Park, which has also sprouted up since Krstic left.

“So many great memories for me,” Krstic said of coming back.

“I respect this organization a lot,” he added. “I respect this city. I always thought that the Thunder organization was one of the best, maybe the best, in the NBA. For me personally, and for my family, it means a lot."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder Legacy Weekend reunites Nenad Krstic, Steven Hill