Carlson: Meet Thunder photographer behind 'one of the most iconic pictures' in OKC history

Jimmy Do planted his feet on the double yellow line running down the middle of the street, then watched as the double-decker bus turned the corner and headed straight toward him.He knew he was in the right spot.Would he get the right shot?Maybe even the perfect shot?The Thunder photographer had no way of knowing that as he stood in the middle of NW 5th Street during Oklahoma Citys championship parade.

But what Do captured June 24 has been hailed as a photo for the ages, an image of Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander standing at the front of the bus deck, his back to the camera, his arms spread wide and one of the Gates of Time at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum providing the backdrop.One of the most iconic pictures in the history of the city, Oklahoma City mayor David Holt told The Oklahoman.A handful of images tell the story of the citys most significant moments.

There are the yellowed black-and-white tintypes from the Land Run, one of hopeful settlers on streaking horses, another of buildings that sprang up in Oklahoma City on the day the land was opened.

There are the heartbreaking images after the bombing of the Alfred P.

Murrah Federal Building, one from above of the decimated and collapsing building, another of little Miss Baylee Almon cradled in a firefighters arms.And now, there is Shai and the Gate.Its the visual combination of Oklahoma City bookends.

The greatest tragedy and the greatest triumph.

The darkest day and the brightest hour.

The resilience that took root after the bombing and the champion that bloomed 30 years later.OKC Memorial president and CEO Kari Watkins has already said the photo will soon have a spot in the museum while some have mused it deserves to be nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.Honestly, its just unreal, Do said of the reaction during an interview with The Oklahoman.

Just extremely humbled by it, and its a tremendous honor to capture such a shot that has touched so many people.

Im just proud that I happened to be at the right place at the right time to document such a significant moment in Oklahoma state history.How did Do happen to be there?It wasnt by accident.Pre-order our new book on the Thunder's road to NBA FinalsMore: Nikola Topic, Ajay Mitchell shine for OKC Thunder in NBA Summer League loss vs GrizzliesKnowing the weight of the bombing, the impact of the MemorialJimmy Do didnt grow up in Tulsa wanting to be a photographer.

Didnt go to college for photography either.I have a masters in human relations, he said with a chuckle.But when Do started thinking about careers and jobs, he had one goal.The only thing I wanted to do really is be part of the action, he said.That led him to a job as coordinator of special projects at OUs student recreation center, where there was always something going on.

Classes.

Games.

Leagues.

And when the rec center needed to do some marketing and tell the story of what happened there, Do grabbed a camera and started snapping photos.He was hooked.And then it just kind of snowballed from there, he said.

I started just really getting into the graphic design, video editing, video capturing, photography.And when he had a chance in 2014 to work for the Thunder doing those things, Do jumped at the opportunity.

Even though there was no NBA team in Oklahoma when he was a kid, he grew up loving the league after watching Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls on WGN.

Sure, he loved the college sports scene in his home state, but the NBA was his jam.He even adopted a Western Conference team to pair with his Eastern Conference Bulls: the Seattle SuperSonics.My first jersey I bought was the Champions Shawn Kemp jersey that I wore in middle school, he said.Do was in eighth grade when the bombing happened in Oklahoma City.

Even though he lived in Tulsa, his family would make regular trips to OKC, so he was familiar with the city.

He didnt feel removed from the tragedy.

It hit him hard.He still feels the weight of it when he goes to the Memorial to take photos for the Thunder, which has a deep connection to the Memorial.

The franchise takes every new player there.

Every high school student who is part of its fellows program, too.So when Do was assigned to capture the vibe of the parade, the enormity of the day with 20 photographers and videographers on the ground and three drones in the sky, the Thunder captured the victory celebration from every angle Do knew an image that incorporated the Memorial was a high priority.He devised a plan.But planning for what happened?Impossible.More: NBA Summer League 2025: OKC Thunder roster, schedule and everything else to knowMake a plan, then 'let it go and see what happens'Jimmy Do always likes to be early.Not knowing how hard it would be to maneuver around the parade route, he left the team rally at Paycom Center early.

He hopped on one of the golf carts available to Thunder employees and had the driver drop him off about two blocks south of the Memorial.

He had to convince a few police officers with his credentials and gear that he was allowed inside the barricades, but he eventually made his way onto NW 5th just west of the Memorial and the 9:03 Gate of Time.

He spent nearly an hour scouting the perfect spot.

How far away should he be?What lens should he use?How should he frame the shot?Finally, Do figured out all the details and readied his Canon EOS R6 Mark II.

After flatbeds carrying Thunder staffers, entertainers and dignitaries passed by, the first double-decker bus with players approached the intersection at NW 5th and Harvey.

And as soon as I saw them make that turn, Do said, I started firing away.He had done all the prep to get a good shot, but getting a great shot? A perfect shot?That was out of his hands.I was technically in what settings I needed to be, in what position I needed to be, Do said.

I was pretty confident in that, so at that point, you just let it go and see what happens.As the first bus wrapped in Thunder blue rolled slowly toward him, the person standing at the front of the upper deck and looking back toward the Memorial stretched out his arms.That person happened to be Gilgeous-Alexander, MVP of the league, face of the franchise.Anything could have happened.

Could have been a staffer.

Could have been anybody on the bus, Do said.

But it was Shai doing that at that moment, which is wild.When Do saw those arms out, then saw it was Gilgeous-Alexander, Do felt like he had the shot that he needed.

He gathered his gear and headed to other spots along the route, needing to get some shots for the Thunders marketing team.Only when Do returned to the arena and started looking more closely at the images hed captured did he realize just what he had.Oh, wow, he thought as he looked at Shai and the Gate.

OK, thats a cool shot.

Thats better than expected.He loved it technically.I just love how that photo is as symmetrical as you can get.

If youre shooting something like that, I like everything to be perfectly symmetrical.

Cant be off one way or the other.

It has to be perfect down the middle.He loved it emotionally.That picture is symbolic of just the resilience of the city.

Its the greatest tragedy kind of meeting the greatest triumph rolled up into one awesome shot.But Do had no idea how much everyone else would love it.More: OKC Thunder NBA free agency 2025: Tracking latest trade rumors, updates around NBA'It just exceeded my expectations'Jimmy Do hadnt even shared the photo when he saw it for the first time on social media.

The Thunder had posted it, and when he saw the kind of things people were saying about it using words like iconic and historic he almost couldnt believe it.Theres a million cameras out there, and theres a lot of pictures out there, he said, so I just would never have thought that my picture would be what everybody focused on.But even a week later, it was still being talked about.Monday morning, Thunder general manager Sam Presti held his annual end-of-season press conference.

He was asked about the parade route going past the Memorial, and he spoke for a bit about how meaningful it was.Then Presti pivoted.That one photo of Shai with his arms out, he said, that one is going to be around forever.Jimmy Do has looked at that image numerous times since the parade, and every time, he notices something different.

The sky as blue as Thunder.

A police officer on the street.

A fan behind the barricade.But he often goes back to the man with his arms spread wide.The fact that Shais arms went out right at that moment was just ...

Do said, pausing, it just exceeded my expectations.

I had an idea, you just want to give yourself a chance, and the fact that he did that?Im now just getting used to the fact that its such a powerful photo.More: Thunder GM Sam Presti says Nikola Topic 'made great strides' ahead of NBA Summer LeagueJenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at [email protected].

Like her at facebook.com/JenniCarlsonOK, follow her at @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social and twitter.com/jennicarlson_ok, and support her work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Meet the Thunder photographer behind 'iconic' NBA title parade photo.

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