On their way to the locker rooms at Chesapeake Energy Arena, most players stroll through the hall and nod politely to the gathering press or don't say anything at all.
Thunder forward Steve Novak has a pregame walk that looks a little different. It involves surprised smiles, long-time-no-see hugs and warm handshakes with out-of-towners from New York, Toronto and Houston.
It's not just that Novak is a pleasant guy. When you've played for eight teams in 10 years, you get to know an abundance of coaches, trainers and staff across the league.
Novak's been traded four times, including each of the last three seasons, so he's well-versed on the life that comes with being a NBA journeyman … and the anxiety of Thursday's 2 p.