Photographer Layne Murdoch shows Kevin Durant a photo during media day for the Thunder at the Skirvin Hilton hotel in Oklahoma City in 2008. BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN.

Layne Murdoch Sr., who photographed the Thunder from its first days in Oklahoma City as well as the Oklahoma City/New Orleans Pelicans for the NBA, died on Friday.

Murdoch announced July 9 on his Instagram page that he discovered he had cancer following the loss of his mother to cancer the previous week.

On Sunday morning, the Thunder honored Murdoch with a Facebook post and a gallery of some of his most memorable images.

“We’ve lost a friend and special member of the Thunder family,” the post reads. “Layne was among the best in the business and a fixture on the Thunder baseline for the first ten seasons. The images he captured at our games and events provide a vivid archive of our team and organization. Beyond his skills as a photographer, Layne’s smile, sense of humor and engaging personality connected him with anyone he met. He had a deep passion for his craft, our team and our city.