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Daniel Orton gets the question all the time. “What did your mother die from?” Lupus, he tells inquiring minds. “Well, what's that?” they'll ask. Each time, Orton offers a brief explanation of the acute and chronic autoimmune disease that more than two million Americans and approximately 50,000 Oklahomans are living with. “Not a lot of people know about it,” said Orton, the former Bishop McGuinness star who now plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder. On Saturday, Orton will help raise awareness for the disease as the ambassador of the Oklahoma Walk & 5K Run to End Lupus Now. The event, which will be held at the Oklahoma City Zoo, is Oklahoma's largest lupus fundraising event. Its goal is to raise money for lupus research and education programs while increasing awareness of lupus and rallying public support for those who suffer from the debilitating disease. Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Daniel Orton 

Family members decided they needed to bring in Daniel. If Carolyn couldn't recognize her baby, they would have to get her to a hospital. “So then I walked in and she said ‘Well, who are you?'” Orton remembers. “That's one thing I heard at a young age, and I was dying when she said that to me. It just kind of threw me off. It threw me for a loop. I was upset that my mother might not ever know who I was again.” Carolyn's mind soon recovered, but her immune system suddenly weakened. She tired quickly. She couldn't eat much. She got sick easily. Cold temperatures were cruelest to her condition. “The toughest time was probably at the end,” Orton said, “when she was passing.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Daniel Orton 

Carolyn's condition had deteriorated to the point that the family for which she used to be the backbone now had to make one grave decision: keep her on life support or set her free. It was Orton who had to make the call. He had based his decision solely on his mother's request, one that he relayed to members of his family. It was a desire by Carolyn that Daniel learned of while watching Lifetime movies with his mom. The two sat through a similar televised scene once. “She said if it ever gets to that point, if it ever comes down to me living on life support, then just pull the plug because if God wants to take me then God's going to take me,” Orton said. “That's one thing I'll never forget that she said to me.” Daniel was only 18 when he gave the order. “It was by far the hardest choice I've ever had to make so far,” said Orton, now 22. “I think it's the hardest choice I'll ever have to make in my life. That's what it feels like.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Daniel Orton 

Thunder center Daniel Orton will serve as the walk ambassador for this year's Lupus Walk and 5K run to End Lupus NOW on June 1 in Oklahoma City. Orton will be walking in memory of his mother, Carolyn, who lost her battle with lupus in February 2009. She was 52. “I lost a lot when I lost my mother my senior year in high school,” Orton said. “She was not only my mother but my best friend.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Daniel Orton 

Darnell Mayberry: Jeremy Lamb, Perry Jones, Daniel Orton, DeAndre Liggins and, if they let him play, Reggie Jackson all will compete at summer league. Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Oklahoma City Thunder, Daniel Orton, Summer League, Perry Jones, Jeremy Lamb, Reggie Jackson, DeAndre Liggins 

The Oklahoma City Thunder has assigned guard DeAndre Liggins and center Daniel Orton to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. Liggins has appeared in 37 games (one start) this season with the Thunder while recording averages of 1.5 points and 1.4 rebounds in 7.3 minutes per game. NBA.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Daniel Orton, Sam Presti, D-League, DeAndre Liggins 

The Oklahoma City Thunder has recalled guard Jeremy Lamb, guard DeAndre Liggins and center Daniel Orton from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. NBA.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Daniel Orton, D-League, Jeremy Lamb, DeAndre Liggins 

The Oklahoma City Thunder have reassigned DeAndre Liggins and Daniel Orton to the Tulsa 66ers, the Thunder’s NBA Development League affiliate. Liggins (6-6, 209, Kentucky) has played in 34 games this season for Oklahoma City, averaging 1.6 points, 1.4 rebounds and 7.8 minutes. During his previous assignments to Tulsa, he appeared in eight games, averaging 9.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.2 steals and 35.3 minutes. RealGM

Oklahoma City Thunder, Daniel Orton, D-League, DeAndre Liggins 

The Thunder on Monday recalled guard Jeremy Lamb and center Daniel Orton from the Tulsa 66ers. Lamb has appeared in 14 games with Tulsa and averaged an NBA D-League-leading 21.1 points along with 5.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 33.4 minutes. Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Daniel Orton, D-League, Jeremy Lamb 

The Oklahoma City Thunder has assigned guard Jeremy Lamb and center Daniel Orton to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. Lamb has appeared in 16 games this season with the Thunder averaging 1.7 points in 4.0 minutes per game. NBA.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Daniel Orton, D-League, Jeremy Lamb 

The Oklahoma City Thunder has recalled guard Jeremy Lamb and forward Daniel Orton from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League. Lamb has appeared in seven games (all starts) with the 66ers this season, averaging 23.0 points (2nd in the D-League), 4.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.1 blocks in 35.9 minutes. RealGM

Oklahoma City Thunder, Daniel Orton, D-League, Jeremy Lamb 

The Oklahoma City Thunder has recalled guard Jeremy Lamb and forward Daniel Orton from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. Lamb has appeared in five games (all starts) with the 66ers this season, averaging 22.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.4 blocks in 37.8 minutes. NBA.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Daniel Orton, D-League, Jeremy Lamb 

Darnell Mayberry: Jeremy Lamb and Daniel Orton sent back to the Tulsa 66ers. Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Oklahoma City Thunder, Daniel Orton, D-League, Jeremy Lamb 

Royce Young: DeAndre Liggins and Daniel Orton have been assigned to the Tulsa 66ers. Twitter @dailythunder

Oklahoma City Thunder, Daniel Orton, D-League, DeAndre Liggins 

Center Daniel Orton has rejoined the Oklahoma City Thunder, four days after being cut by the team following training camp. NBA.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Daniel Orton 

Marc Stein: Hearing OKC Thunder, now possessing two open roster spots after Harden trade, will be bringing back previously waived big man Daniel Orton. Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Oklahoma City Thunder, Free Agency, Daniel Orton 

The Thunder still has one available roster spot after it reclaimed center Daniel Orton on Wednesday morning, and that spot presumably will remain open. OKC is just below this season’s NBA tax level and can remain there by sticking with a 14-man roster. The NBA roster maximum is 15 players and the minimum is 13. This season’s tax level is $70.307 million. The Thunder’s team salary now stands at $69.296 million. OKC has yet to pay tax since the franchise began in 2008-09. Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Free Agency, Daniel Orton 

Matt Moore: Thunder D-League team 66ers sign Daniel Orton, Hollis Thompson, and Andy Rautins, they'll likely get pulled up for open roster spots. Twitter @HPbasketball

Oklahoma City Thunder, Daniel Orton, D-League, Andy Rautins, Hollis Thompson 

Darnell Mayberry: Don't expect OKC to fill the 15th spot. OKC is dangerously close to the tax threshold, and the spot adds flexibility at the trade deadline. Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Oklahoma City Thunder, Daniel Orton, D-League, Andy Rautins, Hollis Thompson 

The Thunder announced Saturday they have waived non-guaranteed players Andy Rautins, Daniel Orton and Hollis Thompson, meaning Liggins won the final roster spot. If the three players aren’t signed by another NBA team, it’s likely they will join the Tulsa 66ers and remain part of the Thunder organization. Liggins came into camp as a longshot, seen mostly as a guy to just fill out the preseason roster. But he obviously won over Scott Brooks, playing extremely hard, doing little things, hustling everywhere and making plays. He earned that 15th spot. Liggins not only played well enough to win the spot, but he’s even opened the door for thoughts to if he could be a contributor down the line. DailyThunder.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Daniel Orton, Andy Rautins, Hollis Thompson