![\"KOCO](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769787952_390_koco.png\")
<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tONE MOTHER IS TURNING HER GRIEF INTO A TEAM SPIRIT. TRIBUTE DRIVING THROUGH NICHOLS HILLS, YOU\u2019LL SEE THESE BASKETBALLS ALL OVER PEOPLE\u2019S LAWNS. ALSO SUPPORT THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER. IT\u2019S THE MESSAGE ON THE FRONT LOVE STONE THAT\u2019S GRABBING PEOPLE\u2019S ATTENTION. A CAN\u2019T 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\u2019S IN HONOR OF A THUNDER FAN WHO WON\u2019T GET TO SEE THIS YEAR\u2019S PLAYOFF RUN. KIMBERLY HIDDLESTON\u2019S 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\u2019RE 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\u2019S LIKE CHRISTMAS MORNING. THEY GO OUT THERE AND THEY SEE THE BALLS AND IT\u2019S BRINGING A LOT OF PLEASURE AS THE NEIGHBORHOOD DRIBBLES IN DRIVEWAYS AND CARRIES STONE\u2019S MEMORY ON THEIR YARDS. BUT I JUST LOVE SEEING PEOPLE SMILE AND LOOK AT IT. THAT\u2019S WHY I\u2019M DOING IT. HIDDLESTON WILL BE WATCHING AND ROOTING FOR ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP. SHE SAYS IT\u2019S BIGGER THAN ANOTHER RING. IT\u2019S SHARING HIS TEAM\u2019S SPIRIT WITH THE COMMUNITY THEY LOVE. THERE ISN\u2019T A DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT STONE CAN SEE WHAT I\u2019M DOING HERE. I MEAN, I KNOW THAT, AND IT\u2019S EMPOWERING. I, I, I\u2019M 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\u2019LL CONTINUE TO TELL STONE\u2019S STORY, HOPING IT CAN SAVE SOMEONE\u2019S LIFE. PEOPLE HAVE ASSUMPTIONS THAT SOMETHING\u2019S GOT TO BE REALLY WRONG WITH SOMEONE IF THEY HAVE ADDICTION ISSUES. AND LET ME ASSURE YOU, IT THAT\u2019S NOT THE CASE. STONE WAS LOVED. IF LOVE COULD HAVE SAVED HIM, BELIEVE ME, HE\u2019D BE HERE DOING THIS WIT\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
‘Love Stone’: Mother places basketballs in yards across Nichols Hills to honor late son, Thunder fan<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\tUpdated: 10:15 PM CDT Apr 21, 2026\n\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\tEditorial Standards \u24d8<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t 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\u2019s 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\u2019s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019s success. It\u2019s about sharing Stone\u2019s 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\u2019s story, hoping it can make a difference in someone\u2019s 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\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tNICHOLS HILLS, Okla. \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Basketballs with the message “Love Stone” are appearing on lawns across Nichols Hills as a tribute to a late Oklahoma City Thunder fan. <\/p>\n 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\u2019s first NBA championship days before his death. <\/p>\n “He was a huge Thunder fan. He went to the playoff games. He went to a lot of games,” Hiddleston said. <\/p>\n >> Download the KOCO 5 App<\/a> | Subscribe to KOCO 5\u2019s YouTube channel<\/a> | Sign up for KOCO 5\u2019s Morning Newsletter<\/a><\/p>\n Stone grew up in the Nichols Hills home, where he and his family were known for decorating their yard for various holidays. <\/p>\n “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. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n >> Video Below: Oklahoma girl challenges Chet Holmgren to sponsor basketball team if she gets 1M TikTok likes<\/p>\n Her goal is 500 basketballs, though she believes she may surpass it. <\/p>\n “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. <\/p>\n As children play basketball in driveways and neighbors display the balls in their yards, Stone\u2019s memory lives on in the community. <\/p>\n “I just love seeing people smile and look at it. That’s why I’m doing it,” Hiddleston said. <\/p>\n >> Video Below: OKC Thunder Head Coach Mark Daigneault talks big win against Suns<\/p>\n While cheering for another Thunder championship, Hiddleston said the effort is about more than the team\u2019s success. It\u2019s about sharing Stone\u2019s spirit with the community they love. <\/p>\n “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. <\/p>\n As the season comes to a close, Hiddleston plans to continue sharing Stone\u2019s story, hoping it can make a difference in someone\u2019s life. <\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n Top Headlines<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"ONE MOTHER IS TURNING HER GRIEF INTO A TEAM SPIRIT. 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