Last month, hundreds of basketballs appeared across Nichols Hills in honor of a Thunder fan who died last year. While the Thunder’s playoff run ended, those basketballs are finding a new home in the hands of children across the Oklahoma City area. Thousands of basketballs that say “Love, Stone” are getting new life after spending weeks in the lawns of Nichols Hills homes. “This is what it’s all about,” said Kimberly Hiddleston, whose son Stone died last year. During the Oklahoma City Thunder’s playoff run, Hiddleston started a tribute to her son, Stone. He was a devoted fan who died of a fentanyl overdose just days after the Thunder’s 2025 NBA Championship parade. >> Video Below: ‘Love Stone’: Mother places basketballs in yards across Nichols Hills to honor late sonHiddleston wrote “Love, Stone” on the basketballs and placed them on lawns. She watched the tribute spread across the state. Now, thousands of those balls are headed to young athletes. “You can just imagine the faces of all the children that are going to have balls all summer long,” Hiddleston said. Trunks were filled with basketballs, and a caravan formed up the road for another dropoff at Cleats for Kids on Monday. The youth sports nonprofit puts new and gently used equipment in the hands of children for free. “It is going to really, truly change children’s lives,” Stacy McDaniel, executive director of Cleats for Kids, said. McDaniel said with basketball being their most in-demand sport, these dropoffs ensure they don’t have to turn any child away who wants to play. Every time they dribble or dunk, they will think of Stone and learn his story. “You can’t help but ask, what does ‘Love, Stone’ mean? And what is ‘Love, Stone?’ And then for people to be able to inquire about that and learn — and learn about the dangers of fentanyl — and just raise that awareness,” McDaniel said.

NICHOLS HILLS, Okla. —

Last month, hundreds of basketballs appeared across Nichols Hills in honor of a Thunder fan who died last year. While the Thunder’s playoff run ended, those basketballs are finding a new home in the hands of children across the Oklahoma City area.

Thousands of basketballs that say “Love, Stone” are getting new life after spending weeks in the lawns of Nichols Hills homes.

“This is what it’s all about,” said Kimberly Hiddleston, whose son Stone died last year.

During the Oklahoma City Thunder’s playoff run, Hiddleston started a tribute to her son, Stone. He was a devoted fan who died of a fentanyl overdose just days after the Thunder’s 2025 NBA Championship parade.

>> Video Below: ‘Love Stone’: Mother places basketballs in yards across Nichols Hills to honor late son

Hiddleston wrote “Love, Stone” on the basketballs and placed them on lawns. She watched the tribute spread across the state.

Now, thousands of those balls are headed to young athletes.

“You can just imagine the faces of all the children that are going to have balls all summer long,” Hiddleston said.

Trunks were filled with basketballs, and a caravan formed up the road for another dropoff at Cleats for Kids on Monday. The youth sports nonprofit puts new and gently used equipment in the hands of children for free.

“It is going to really, truly change children’s lives,” Stacy McDaniel, executive director of Cleats for Kids, said.

McDaniel said with basketball being their most in-demand sport, these dropoffs ensure they don’t have to turn any child away who wants to play. Every time they dribble or dunk, they will think of Stone and learn his story.

“You can’t help but ask, what does ‘Love, Stone’ mean? And what is ‘Love, Stone?’ And then for people to be able to inquire about that and learn — and learn about the dangers of fentanyl — and just raise that awareness,” McDaniel said.