Suns super fan Mr. ORNG 'blessed' for role in 'Family Dinner on NBA Lane' promo of Christmas games

Patrick Battillo found himself in between Baron Davis and Shawn Marion at a dinner table with a rapper, Hall of Famers, a mascot and puppets.

That's how they're celebrating the holidays on 75th Street and NBA Lane.

Battillo, aka Mr. ORNG, represented his Phoenix Suns in the "Family Dinner on NBA Lane" video promoting the five NBA games on Christmas Day.

"It is a blessing and honor to have been involved with this project," Battillo said in DM interview on Twitter. "I feel proud to represent my family, the Suns, the Valley, and the entire NBA with this experience."

The Suns super fan is dressed in his full orange ensemble as Mr. ORNG in the video.

Bright painted face, jersey, headband, hair and all.

"It was exciting and fun," continued Battillo, who will turn 35 years old this month. "The entire experience from the first email, to the travel, to the trailer prep getting dressed and ready, to getting on set and interacting with the entire NBA team and other talent involved, to finally seeing it all finished. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

The Suns play the third nationally televised game on Christmas, at 3 p.m. against the Warriors at Footprint Center. The full slate:

• Atlanta Hawks at New York Knicks (10 p.m., ESPN).

• Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks (12:30 p.m., ABC).

• Golden State Warriors at Phoenix Suns (3 p.m., ABC).

• Brooklyn Nets at Los Angeles Lakers (6 p.m., ABC/ESPN).

• Dallas Mavericks at Utah Jazz (8:30 p.m., ESPN).

"I will be at the Christmas game," Battillo said.

The NBA contacted Battillo, a teacher and head boys basketball coach at Peoria High, Nov. 13 to participate in the video.

"At first when I received the email before opening it, I thought it was spam," Battillo said. "Once opening the email and seeing the request and details I realized it was a genuine request and email. I was honored and humbled to be considered for such an historic season and commercial."

Battillo said he flew Nov. 16 to Los Angeles and found himself on set the next day surrounded by a distinctive collection of individuals, and an inflatable, representing the teams.

• Hawks: Quavo (rapper), Dominique Wilkins (Hall of Famer).

• Nets: BKN: Naiya (“Sam”, the fan featured in the original “NBA Lane” film).

• Celtics: Robert Parish (Hall of Famer).

• Mavericks: Shawn Marion (NBA champion).

• Warriors: Baron Davis (two-time All-Star).

• Lakers: Pau Gasol (two-time NBA champion).

• Bucks:: Bango the Buck (Mascot).

• Knicks: Desus Nice and That Kid Mero (Showtime’s Desus and Mero).

• Suns:: Mr. ORNG (Phoenix Suns superfan).

• Jazz: Jazz Bear (The Inflatable).

Sue Bird of WNBA's Seattle Storm and actor Billy Crystal are in the video as well as the Nike MVP commercial puppets, LeBron & Lil Dez.

"I had conversations with each one of the others that were on set and included," Battillo said. "It was just over a 12-hour day on set for me. Everyone was extremely down to earth."

Between the filming on set, Battillo had even deeper conversations with the basketball co-stars.

"Sue Bird and I had about a 45-minute 1-on-1 conversation between our times on set together," Battillo said. "We spoke about life, her career, DT, WNBA, NBA, and the future."

DT is Mercury's Diana Taurasi for those wondering.

"It was great getting to know her more personally," Battillo continued. "She did not know exactly who I was at first, but once I explained it, she took a few pictures with me and sent them to DT."

Battillo also chopped it up with Gasol about those Suns-Lakers battles, shared a moment with Crystal, but being a fan of rap music, he also connected with Quavo.

"My student-athletes were excited that I spent some time with Quavo," Battillo said. "He did not know who I was, but was interested in what I do at the games and in the community. Can't wait to get to ATL to catch a game and link up with him."

Marion remembered Battillo, but not the way one might expect considering he played his first eight full seasons in Phoenix starting in 1999-2000.

"The Matrix recognized me, not from his time here, but from following after he left us," said Battillo as the Suns traded Marion and Marcus Banks to Miami for Shaquille O'Neal in February 2008.

Battillo is in "Year 12 as superfan Mr. ORNG," and "20" as a season ticket holder.

Davis arrived on set wondering who was this guy going to be sitting beside him at the dinner table, but it all clicked once he met Battillo.

"Baron Davis and I had great conversations throughout," Battillo said. "He had no idea who I was when we received our scripts and information ahead of time, but when we met he understood. I FaceTimed with his son while we had some down time. He gave me a 'Black Santa' sweater that is part of the business he is launching."

The Black Santa Company "celebrates diversity in storytelling through engaging content and high quality products" such as t-shirts, hats, hoodies and sweatpants.

When the cameras were rolling, Battillo found himself in between Davis and Marion in what is perhaps the funniest part of the dinner table scene in the commercial.

After a highlight of Stephen Curry hitting a 3, Davis opens up his jacket to reveal a 'We Believe" sweatshirt from the 2007 Warriors in the face of Super fan, who is eating a cookie while wearing a No. 6 orange jersey.

Sitting on the other side of Super fan wearing a Dallas Mavericks scarf, Marion responds and passes Davis a bowl and says, "Give this man some chips."

In the middle, the Sun super fan pointed inside the bowl.

"Ooooh."

Marion won a championship with the Mavs while Davis retired without an NBA title.

The next highlight after that is of Booker handling the ball against the Lakers as Marion playfully pokes at Davis with Suns super fan in the middle laughing.

Battillo remembers doing about "10 to 12 different takes" of that scene as he had a speaking part that didn't make the video.

"Some included me in the conversation and some that you see in the final piece," he said. "Curry hits a 3 and I said 'Matrix can you believe that?' Then Baron says, 'Believe That' with his shirt. Marion said a few things like he loved his time in Phoenix but got the 'ship in Dallas. Then since Baron didn't get a chip, Marion picks those up to rub it in after his 'Believe That' comment and flex."

The trash talking continued when the cameras stopped rolling.

"One of the best parts of the entire experience was listening to the stories for about four hours between Wilkins and Parish mainly," Battillo said. "The Matrix, Pau, and Baron also had stories that were great to hear, but just soaking it all in was awesome."

There were several more Suns recognizable names in the commercial that will breeze by if one blinks.

11-second mark: Picture of Charles Barkley holding the championship trophy from the 1993 McDonald's Open in Munich.

19-second mark: Barkley Christmas tree ornament with Kevin McHale (Celtics) and LeBron James (Lakers).

35-second mark: Suns Christmas stocking.

There's also a bowl of a Jae Crowder Chowder on the dinner table as well as Stephon Cranberry sauce for former Suns point guard Stephon Marbury.

So Battillo had to feel at home in that environment, but he's been going through a challenging time as his father, Bob, has been battling for his life after being in a car accident on the same day Phoenix opened the 2021-22 season Oct. 20 at home against Denver.

"My dad is at day 52 in the hospital since his crash," Battillo said Friday "As of last Saturday, he finally started opening his eyes and responding to commands. He has now begun weaning off the ventilator and that is going well so things are looking up and positive."

On Monday, he posted an update on Twitter saying his father had shown improvement.

Battillo said doctors gave his 63-year-old dad 5% percent chance to live two weeks into his time in the hospital.

The elder Battillo has experienced multi-organ failure, brain trauma and four surgeries, but is now responding to commands.

"He's is well on his way," Patrick Battillo said. "Long way to go but the hospital change has been great and faith in God and all the prayers have helped us get through this."

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns super fan Mr. ORNG 'blessed' for role in 'Family Dinner on NBA Lane' promo of Christmas games