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Touting Experience And Versatility, Thunder Introduce Felton And Patterson

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Raymond Felton, left, smiles as forward Patrick Patterson, right, answers a question during a news conference to introduce the players in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, July 11, 2017.
AP
/
Sue Ogrocki
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Raymond Felton, left, smiles as forward Patrick Patterson, right, answers a question during a news conference to introduce the players in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, July 11, 2017.

The Oklahoma City Thunder introduced two of their newest players to the media Tuesday.

The team signed free agents Patrick Patterson and Raymond Felton during the offseason.

Felton is a 12-year veteran of the NBA who will primarily serve as Russell Westbrook’s backup point guard. He says he signed with Oklahoma City because he wants to compete for a championship.

“This organization has been one of the top for the last 10 years, since I can remember. They have a great team, like some of the things they were doing this summer, some of the pieces they were signing some of the guys that they traded for,” Felton said.

One of the players the Thunder traded for is four-time All Star Paul George. The team will formally introduce George at a press conference Wednesday evening.

The six-foot-nine Patterson is known as a versatile defender and three-point shooter. He spent the last four years playing for the Toronto Raptors. Patterson says he can help support Westbrook and George by passing, spacing the floor and making extra plays.

“Russ demands so much attention. Same things with PG. Two great guys on the offensive side of the ball. So just trying to do whatever I can to ease the pressure off them, moving the ball when they do trapped, just trying to distribute and find someone,” Patterson said.

 

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Jacob McCleland spent nine years as a reporter and host at public radio station KRCU in Cape Girardeau, Mo. His stories have appeared on NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered, Here & Now, Harvest Public Media and PRI’s The World. Jacob has reported on floods, disappearing languages, crop duster pilots, anvil shooters, Manuel Noriega, mule jumps and more.
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