More on Paint the Town
It was a good day for Thunder fans – Kevin Durant does OKC proud with his latest commercial for Nike (“Paint the Town”) and it looks like the boys will begin playing ball again around Christmas Day.
So what are we seeing in this commercial? It starts off with Durant driving northbound on Shields Boulevard just south of downtown, and we then see Durant arriving at the basketball courts attached to The Classen at NW 23 and Classen (as noted by one reader, however, because these courts are for residents only, it’s unusual to see anyone playing there. This conversation was followed by an invite by a resident and friend for my son and I to do just that).
The next stop in this commercial is an old wood frame church as captured in the photo above. I’d love to know where it’s located (my understanding is the whole commercial is shot in and around OKC). UPDATE: local filmmaker Clark Deal, who was on the crew for this ad, reports this was a barn near old Route 66 and County Line Road. The next scene is at an area school where seniors are gathered for some sort of night of board games and basketball. I suspect it’s Taft Middle School, but would love to get some confirmation (I can now report the outside shot was Taft and the inside was Olivet Baptist Church near NW 10 and Western)
It looks like the next game is played with Durant’s friend J. Cole, but the location of these courts, across from what appears to be an apartment complex, is a mystery to me (Deal says he has no recall of this shot either; don’t be surprised if it is not local). When we see Durant driving to his next destination, its on Broadway just south of NW 10 (the 1101 N Broadway Building can be seen in the shadows).
The next game is definitely in Oklahoma City. The First Presbyterian Church at NW 25 and Western Avenue is one of my favorite architectural gems, and one must be a huge hoops guy to have noticed the basketball court on the far side of the parking lot across the street. The next spot is a bit of a mystery to me as well – a Love’s Truck Stop – but I’m sure the folks who produced this commercial had no trouble finding a Love’s in Oklahoma City (I-40 and Council?). The final shot again shows the 50-story Devon tower and the downtown skyline in the foreground, only this time Durant is traveling north toward downtown on Robinson Avenue as it crosses the Oklahoma River.
This whole commercial, however, makes me think back to a post I wrote earlier this year on the lack of any public courts downtown – and how relatively inexpensive additions like this could really add to the quality of life in our urban core. Maybe now that he’s getting set to be paid again ole’ KD could team up with the team and make that happen?
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Comments
As a transplanted Hoosier, with hoops in my blood, I have spent time searching for places to play. I’ve shot around at 1st Pres, I’ve played on the oudoor court at Taft. I just can’t seem to find anyone else who will play…
This is not basketball country. I come from a twon where there is a hoop in every parking lot, and you can find a game nearly 24 hours a day if the weather is over 40 degrees.
Steve, part of this (I think the part in the indoor gym with the senior citizens) was filmed at the Olivet Baptist Church on 10th Street near Western:
http://www.olivetbaptistokc.com/
I was driving down 10th a month or so ago and saw the production crew in the parking lot, so went around the block and asked a police officer parked nearby what they were doing. Was told it was the filming of part of a Kevin Durant Nike commercial in the church’s gymnasium.
Hmmm, upon further review of the commercial, that certainly does look like Taft. Perhaps the footage they got at Olivet was left on the cutting room floor. Either that, or they interspersed the Olivet indoor gym footage with shots of the outdoor court at Taft.
Later that same evening, we also happened upon the production crew doing the nighttime footage south of downtown (Was it Shields, Steve, or actually Robinson? I was thinking it was Robinson, because I seem to remember it was the part that was still under construction, where you cross the new I-40/river.). There were tons of cops blocking off the roadway. At first, we thought maybe they were looking for somebody, but then we saw all the lights and other vehicles and stuff and realized it was part of the same production crew I had seen a few hours earlier.
Yep. A filmmaker on the job confirms the outside of the school was Taft, and the inside gym was at Olivet Baptist Church. The only scene that is suspect is the one in which Durant is playing alone with Cole – the filmmaker has no recollection of that shot or locale, and it’s very possible that was shot somewhere other OKC. Still, overall, a great representation of OKC.
Steve: Many moons ago (circa 1993-97), I lived in Mesta Park, and a basketball goal suddenly appeared in the park. Within two weeks, there were huge crowds gathered for all-night sessions. As soon as the crowds built up, the hoop disappeared. I’m not sure if this was a city-issued hoop, or if it was from the neighborhood association, but it was quite clear that the locals didn’t want this pole around for long. This is some history for your thoughts regarding outdoor court availability.
Steve,
Are there plans for public courts in the new Central Park? Also, I think SandRidge is planning to have rooftop courts on the the building adjacent to Couch/Kerr Park, but they will probably not be public. There is also an outdoor court at the jail….. that one is probably not public either. 
Sounds like a good project for DOKC.
Jane, there’s nothing concrete planned for the Core to Shore park, and that is years away from being finished, especially the south part of the park where the basketball courts were suggested as a concept. That’s not exactly in the downtown mix or in walking distance from Deep Deuce, MidTown or Automobile Alley residential areas.
Now, let me give my idea …
My understanding is the Greater OKC Chamber is not proceeding with plans for the triangle shaped lot across from the YMCA. At least not anytime soon. Why not just put up a basketball goal on the far east end of the parking lot?
Yes that would be a great spot to hoop. It is one of the larger greenspaces downtown. If I were building it, it would be a couple of concrete courts, with lights and a tall screened fence to keep the jumpers from having to fight the ever-present wind. The closest public courts to downtown I know of are at SW 9th and Western? and 50th and Classen
Fortunately, it sounds as though at least a half court will be installed at the renovated Emerson School complex at 6th/Walker as part of the next phase of Maps for Kids.
The kids in that area desperately need a court and the architects have said they are trying to work one in as designs progress.
But we still need more. Awesome commercial.
Jeff, I get the impression the folks at Downtown Oklahoma City Inc. share your sentiments and are eager to get something done.
The white barn location is just North of Highway 66 just East of Morgan Rd. It is the old Vaught place, I went to school with Sid at Yukon back in the 60′s.
Steve,
Regarding no public courts downtown… while not quite downtown (but still in the core), I’ve long felt that something could be done at Memorial Park (south of NW 36th between Western and Classen, basically behind the Boys and Girls club). There is 1 public basketball court, and FOUR public tennis courts. I never see anybody legitimately using the Tennis courts, and they are in disrepair (or were the last I looked closely) anyway. I’ve long thought it would be a good Thunder Cares type of project to go in and revitalize the existing court, as well as convert 2-3 of the tennis courts to basketball courts (and maybe revitalize the remaining tennis court[s] as well just to be fair).
Thoughts?
BTW, I’m also a Classen resident. Feel free to hit me up if you want to get access to the court there.
LOVE this commercial!