ONE MOTHER IS TURNING HER GRIEF INTO A TEAM SPIRIT. TRIBUTE DRIVING THROUGH NICHOLS HILLS, YOU’LL SEE THESE BASKETBALLS ALL OVER PEOPLE’S LAWNS. ALSO SUPPORT THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER. IT’S THE MESSAGE ON THE FRONT LOVE STONE THAT’S GRABBING PEOPLE’S ATTENTION. A CAN’T MISS TRIBUTE BASKETBALLS LINING THE STREETS OF NICHOLS HILLS. A SIGN OF SUPPORT FOR THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER WITH DEEPER ROOTS. HE WAS A HUGE THUNDER FAN. HE WENT TO THE PLAYOFF GAMES. HE WENT TO A LOT OF GAMES. IT’S IN HONOR OF A THUNDER FAN WHO WON’T GET TO SEE THIS YEAR’S PLAYOFF RUN. KIMBERLY HIDDLESTON’S SON, STONE, DIED FROM A FENTANYL OVERDOSE LAST YEAR, DAYS AFTER THE THUNDER WON THEIR FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP. HE WAS MY OLDEST SON, HE GREW UP IN THIS HOUSE AND GREW UP DECORATING THIS YARD IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. WE’RE KNOWN FOR DECORATING FOR HALLOWEEN AND ALL KINDS OF HOLIDAYS. KIMBERLY SAYS SHE THOUGHT ABOUT SEVERING TIES WITH THE TRADITION. INSTEAD, SHE CHOSE TO PUSH FORWARD, TURNING GRIEF INTO ACTION, BUYING UP AND EVEN RECEIVING DONATED BASKETBALLS ACROSS OKLAHOMA CITY AND PLACING THEM ON LAWNS WITH TWO WORDS NINE LETTERS WRITTEN ACROSS THE FRONT. LOVE STONE. HER GOAL IS 500, AND SHE SAYS SHE MAY PASS IT. PEOPLE HAVE SAID IT’S LIKE CHRISTMAS MORNING. THEY GO OUT THERE AND THEY SEE THE BALLS AND IT’S BRINGING A LOT OF PLEASURE AS THE NEIGHBORHOOD DRIBBLES IN DRIVEWAYS AND CARRIES STONE’S MEMORY ON THEIR YARDS. BUT I JUST LOVE SEEING PEOPLE SMILE AND LOOK AT IT. THAT’S WHY I’M DOING IT. HIDDLESTON WILL BE WATCHING AND ROOTING FOR ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP. SHE SAYS IT’S BIGGER THAN ANOTHER RING. IT’S SHARING HIS TEAM’S SPIRIT WITH THE COMMUNITY THEY LOVE. THERE ISN’T A DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT STONE CAN SEE WHAT I’M DOING HERE. I MEAN, I KNOW THAT, AND IT’S EMPOWERING. I, I, I’M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO SUPPORT THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP WHEN THE FINAL BUZZER MARKS THE END OF THE SEASON, SHE’LL CONTINUE TO TELL STONE’S STORY, HOPING IT CAN SAVE SOMEONE’S LIFE. PEOPLE HAVE ASSUMPTIONS THAT SOMETHING’S GOT TO BE REALLY WRONG WITH SOMEONE IF THEY HAVE ADDICTION ISSUES. AND LET ME ASSURE YOU, IT THAT’S NOT THE CASE. STONE WAS LOVED. IF LOVE COULD HAVE SAVED HIM, BELIEVE ME, HE’D BE HERE DOING THIS WIT
‘Love Stone’: Mother places basketballs in yards across Nichols Hills to honor late son, Thunder fan
A Nichols Hills mother is honoring her late son, a devoted Oklahoma City Thunder fan, by placing basketballs with the message “Love Stone” on lawns across the community.
Updated: 10:15 PM CDT Apr 21, 2026
Basketballs with the message “Love Stone” are appearing on lawns across Nichols Hills as a tribute to a late Oklahoma City Thunder fan. Kimberly Hiddleston, whose son Stone died last year from a fentanyl overdose, is behind the display. Stone, a passionate Thunder fan, attended many games, including the playoff run that led to the team’s first NBA championship days before his death. “He was a huge Thunder fan. He went to the playoff games. He went to a lot of games,” Hiddleston said. >> Download the KOCO 5 App | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning NewsletterStone grew up in the Nichols Hills home, where he and his family were known for decorating their yard for various holidays. “He was my oldest son. He grew up in this house and grew up decorating this yard in many different ways. We’re known for decorating for Halloween and all kinds of holidays,” Hiddleston said. Initially considering stepping away from the tradition, Hiddleston instead chose to channel her grief into action. She purchased and received donated basketballs from across Oklahoma City, placing them on lawns with the words “Love Stone” written across the front. >> Video Below: Oklahoma girl challenges Chet Holmgren to sponsor basketball team if she gets 1M TikTok likesHer goal is 500 basketballs, though she believes she may surpass it. “People have said it’s like Christmas morning. They go out there and they see the balls, and it’s bringing a lot of pleasure,” Hiddleston said. As children play basketball in driveways and neighbors display the balls in their yards, Stone’s memory lives on in the community. “I just love seeing people smile and look at it. That’s why I’m doing it,” Hiddleston said. >> Video Below: OKC Thunder Head Coach Mark Daigneault talks big win against SunsWhile cheering for another Thunder championship, Hiddleston said the effort is about more than the team’s success. It’s about sharing Stone’s spirit with the community they love. “There isn’t a doubt in my mind that Stone can see what I’m doing here. I mean, I know that, and it’s empowering. I’m going to do everything possible to support the team so that we have another championship,” Hiddleston said. As the season comes to a close, Hiddleston plans to continue sharing Stone’s story, hoping it can make a difference in someone’s life. “People have assumptions that something’s got to be really wrong with someone if they have addiction issues, and let me assure you, that’s not the case. Stone was loved. If love could have saved him, believe me, he’d be here doing this with me right now,” Hiddleston said.Top Headlines Putnam City West transitions to virtual learning Tuesday after ‘serious incident’ on school grounds Do you qualify for a tariff refund? It depends on who or what you are Motorcyclist injured after crash involving pickup truck in northwest Oklahoma City Police TVI driver who took car being towed and sped through Moore church parking lot before chase Canadian killed, 6 Americans among injured in shooting at pyramids north of Mexico City
NICHOLS HILLS, Okla. —
Basketballs with the message “Love Stone” are appearing on lawns across Nichols Hills as a tribute to a late Oklahoma City Thunder fan.
Kimberly Hiddleston, whose son Stone died last year from a fentanyl overdose, is behind the display. Stone, a passionate Thunder fan, attended many games, including the playoff run that led to the team’s first NBA championship days before his death.
“He was a huge Thunder fan. He went to the playoff games. He went to a lot of games,” Hiddleston said.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter
Stone grew up in the Nichols Hills home, where he and his family were known for decorating their yard for various holidays.
“He was my oldest son. He grew up in this house and grew up decorating this yard in many different ways. We’re known for decorating for Halloween and all kinds of holidays,” Hiddleston said.
Initially considering stepping away from the tradition, Hiddleston instead chose to channel her grief into action. She purchased and received donated basketballs from across Oklahoma City, placing them on lawns with the words “Love Stone” written across the front.
>> Video Below: Oklahoma girl challenges Chet Holmgren to sponsor basketball team if she gets 1M TikTok likes
Her goal is 500 basketballs, though she believes she may surpass it.
“People have said it’s like Christmas morning. They go out there and they see the balls, and it’s bringing a lot of pleasure,” Hiddleston said.
As children play basketball in driveways and neighbors display the balls in their yards, Stone’s memory lives on in the community.
“I just love seeing people smile and look at it. That’s why I’m doing it,” Hiddleston said.
>> Video Below: OKC Thunder Head Coach Mark Daigneault talks big win against Suns
While cheering for another Thunder championship, Hiddleston said the effort is about more than the team’s success. It’s about sharing Stone’s spirit with the community they love.
“There isn’t a doubt in my mind that Stone can see what I’m doing here. I mean, I know that, and it’s empowering. I’m going to do everything possible to support the team so that we have another championship,” Hiddleston said.
As the season comes to a close, Hiddleston plans to continue sharing Stone’s story, hoping it can make a difference in someone’s life.
“People have assumptions that something’s got to be really wrong with someone if they have addiction issues, and let me assure you, that’s not the case. Stone was loved. If love could have saved him, believe me, he’d be here doing this with me right now,” Hiddleston said.
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