Kierre “K.D.” Moore is a 6-4 guard/forward from Paris, Texas who signed with the Potawatomi Fire in the offseason. In 2022, he played with the Enid Outlaws alongside several new members of the Fire under head coach Mark Dannhoff. When Dannhoff made the move to the Fire from Enid last summer,, several players including Moore, Chuck Guy, Ricky Artis II and Darin Johnson followed and also made the switch. Moore and Guy have already played several games with the Fire in 2023 while Artis and Johnson will join their new team later in the spring. Moore averaged 15 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game with the Outlaws in 2022. His journey has taken him to Richland Junior College in the Dallas area and then to Oklahoma to play at D2 schools Northeastern State (Tahlequah, Okla.) and East Central (Ada, Okla.). He’s also played professionally in Mexico. Prior to the 2023 regular season tipping off, Moore sat down with Fire play-by-play man Chris Cox via Zoom for an interview.

Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
Hello everybody and welcome to another edition of this special offseason Coaches Corner. Again not joined by the coach of the Fire, Mark Dannhoff, instead joined by one of the newest members of the Potawatomi Fire, K.D. Moore. K.D., thanks for taking a few minutes to speak with me today.
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
Thank you for having me, sir.

Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
K.D. just kind of jumping right in there, you know last season, you played with the Enid Outlaws. You played against the Fire a bunch so you’re familiar with the team but you decided to take, to make the move about two hours east and go from Enid to Shawnee and play for the Fire this year. What went behind that decision to come to Shawnee and play for the Fire?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
It was a lot of personal for me. I have family in OKC, and so it just made a lot more sense to me. Also, I really love Coach Dannhoff and a couple of the guys that also transferred over. (That) group grew quite a bond over last year and it just made a lot of sense to follow where my heart was going.

Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
Talking with you and talking with Chuck (Guy) earlier in the offseason and then even some of the guys that have gotten to know Coach Dannhoff during this offseason, they all talk about that relationship that they can build with him. What is it about Coach Dannhoff that makes him so relatable to you guys as players? Some coaches aren’t that way but Mark Dannhoff seems to be that way.
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
Coach has a special way of stepping back and looking at it from not a coach’s point of view but from a man’s point of view. A lot of coaches don’t do that so they just look look at it as a coach. Sometimes as men, we need to talk to a man (because) we’re going through a lot of things through that season, not just basketball. But we have to do it with basketball, so he’s very good at stepping back and talking to us, man to man and knowing when to step in and be coach as well.

Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
Okay, I know one thing that he’s talked a lot about is just being relational and building relationships. So how has that gone for you this offseason, building relationships with some of your new teammates? Again you played with some of them during the FireLake Shootout back in October but how has it gone building those relationships?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
Actually, really good man. After that FireLake Tournament, a lot of the guys — we follow each other now, actually in contact with a few of them. We check on each other throughout the week. Of course, me and Chuck and Ricky (Artis II) and a few other guys check in but me and Tevin (Foster) are really close. We’re actually close. I talked to Deon (Lyle). I talked to a lot of the guys. It’s just (that) the basketball world finds a way to bring you close, no matter if you were enemies once or not.

Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
Right. Yeah and you know you mentioned that. How odd is it gonna be? Putting on another jersey and then you know, go up to Enid?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
It won’t be weird. It’ll be business.
Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
Okay all right. I know a lot of you guys too, between college and then whatever pro experience you’ve had have transferred, have moved teams a lot. So it’s just part of — it’s part of the game, right?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
Yes, very. It’s always a business at the end of the day, so you can’t necessarily put your emotions in play when you’re going to take care of your job.

Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
Right. Going back to the FireLake Shootout back in October, obviously you had played with Chuck before. But it was really your first time you got on the floor with guys like Deshawn Munson, Tevin Foster, TJ Maston and Paul Harrison. How was it getting to play with those guys? And how much of an advantage do you think that gives you all going into the season now since you played a little bit together?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
I can tell you one thing it’s fun. It’s (a lot more) fun playing with him (Munson) instead of guarding him! Makes the game a lot easier and it actually brought a new way of seeing things as far as just different points of (view), different points of the ball. Like Munson and Chuck play a lot different but they’re both looking for the same things. And so, it is like finding new things to work on in the offseason. It was fun for me. I love that cause now I know, I get to go in and build the bond with the MVP. Figure out how he plays and how we work off each other then. It’s gonna be great, man. I can’t see no problems.

Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
Last year, at least in my experience watching you play with Enid, you were, one of those energy guys … kind of the guy who does a little bit of the dirty work. Obviously you can score, but what has coach told you about your role on this team?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
We’re going into training camp and we are going to have that conversation with everybody and then we’ll figure that out from there.

Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
Okay. How do you think your game meshes with the other guys who are gonna be on the roster, at least the guys that we know of it, as of now?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
I think it meshes really well. I grew last season. Chuck taught me a lot, learning how to play off ball. So therefore now, knowing that I’ll have two not just one great point guards. But two? I mean, again it just makes the game easy. Now I get to float around, play off those guys (and) help other guys get open. And that always helps you get open and then it just comes down to knocking down shots.

Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
When I was talking with with Tevin — his interview should be up now by the time that we get done with this one — he mentioned playing with you and just the energy that you bring and how it really energizes him. How much you try to to kind of set the tone in terms of energy for your teams?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
I try to make that a point of emphasis every day. Energy is is a very powerful thing and if you let it slip in the midst of a game, you can go down like 30 and not see it not ever come back. And it’s hard, it’s hard. So, if you let that energy slip and transfer the wrong way, sometimes there just ain’t no coming back from it — no matter how great you are.

Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
What are some of the things that you do to make sure your energy doesn’t slip and your team’s energy doesn’t slip?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
To be honest with you, defense and rebounds. The small things that most guys want to take breaks on, are the things that can get you an extra possession. So, if I can go in and get an offensive rebound and kick it out to my shooter and we hit a three, now we just we just boosted our momentum, boosted our energy. Everybody’s running back on defense now instead of missing a shot and walking back or something like that. You know after you make a bucket, you typically play good defense.

Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
One thing talking with Coach Dannhoff that he, you know raves about you and a lot of the guys on this squad, is your versatility. You’re 6-4, 6-5, so you’re not the tallest guy in the world but you’re also not afraid to go down in the post and defend those guys that might be 5, 6 inches taller than you. Can you talk about the mentality that goes into doing something like that?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
Heart I mean, that I’ve always been taught and playing defense is about heart. The most skilled person can be stopped by the smallest person if that small person has a huge heart. That’s just how I look at the defensive end of the floor. So no matter who you are, no matter how good you are — I’m gonna just take the challenge and put my heart on the line. Either it pays off or it doesn’t. And then I know if I do feel I have guys behind me to back me up, so I’m never just on my own.

Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
Yeah, one of those guys behind you is gonna be Lyle Hexom, who was the TBL Defensive Player of the Year last year. Obviously we know Chuck plays good defense and we know that Tevin and Paul Harrison and Deshawn are great at playing defense as well. So how good defensively do you think this team can be?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
I think we can be literally the best defensive team from start to finish. We’re just gonna have to be in shape, and make sure we learn how to keep that intensity from start to finish. It’s hard to play from start to finish. You want to take breaks from time to time but we don’t have to learn how to go from start to finish and lock things down.

Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
Been talking a lot about defense with you, but you know, you got to score points to win games too. This offense seems to be seems to be stacked, just like on the defensive side. So with how good the defense can be, if the offense gets together, how good can this Fire team be, do you think?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
I think we can be the type of team where we have seven guys that can score 20. So that makes us extremely scary –you never know whose night it’s gonna be. We’re all unselfish so we want to see each other win. We want to see each other get 20. So you’re gonna see a lot of guys moving the ball, a lot of guys scoring. It’s gonna be fun and a lot of high numbers, is what we hope.

Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
In talking with Coach Dannhoff and a couple of the other players, you know, a lot of rosters at at all levels of basketball, you have, you know, seven, maybe eight guys who can be relied upon every single night. And then it gets a little thin at the back end of the bench. This roster is not shaping up that way. It’s shaping to be deep — 1 to 12 or 1 to 11, however many guys the season starts with. So it really seems like it’s gonna be … you know it could be anybody’s night on any game?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
Yes, sir. Coach Dannhoff told me something, before we, before we made the move. He told me iron sharpens iron. That was a quote I loved ’cause he’s right. Competition gonna make you better. Nobody great runs from competition.
Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
How intense, are you thinking and planning on practices being this season?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
I think we should bring cameras in there and record ’em. We could probably make a documentary.

Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
Well, we’ll see what we can do about that. We’ll see what we can do. Kind of switching gears a little bit, talk to me and tell me a little bit about your history with basketball. Where’d you grow up playing? Where’d you end up going to school and any pro experience that you’ve had?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
Yes, so, I’ve been playing basketball pretty much all my life — normal basketball story. I went to Paris High School where I graduated in 2013. Then I went to Richland Junior College, where I won a national championship. I transferred from there, and went to Northeastern State in Tahlequah, (Oklahoma) and then my last year, I transferred to play with my coach Ja Havens, who was at East Central in Ada, (Oklahoma). And then from there, I went to Mexico. And I got hurt in Mexico, came home and, then I went — once I healed (I had stress fractures in my legs) but once I healed, I came back to the TBL.
Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
Okay. So you played down at East Central. Obviously not too far from Shawnee, so a little bit familiar then with the area, right?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
Yes, sir.

Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
All right so kind of going a different way now, just a few rapid fire questions: What’s your pregame routine like?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
I love to get up early and get up some shots before we go in the gym and do our walkthrough. And then we do our walkthrough. Then from there, I love to get a quick bite and take a nap. I got to. I’m a nap person and if I don’t get ’em, my whole rhythm and day will be thrown off, especially on game day. It’s like, a spiritual thing almost.
Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
Okay. What are you getting for that bite to eat? Anything in particular?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
I try to stay as light as possible, staying away from fried. If I can get salad, or like a light pasta, I’ll try that. But I don’t like to eat sloppy or heavy on game days. I like to jump. I move way too much to feel sluck on the court.
Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
Okay. What about after a game? Anything you like to eat after a game, especially let’s say after a big win?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
Anything!
Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
(laughs) Yeah, at that point, you’re pretty hungry?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
Man, I give it my all also. I’ll be pretty gassed after that.
Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
Gotcha. I got you. What’s in your headphones, when you’re getting ready for a game?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
When I tell you it could vary, I listen to anything — from country to rap music to gospel to slow jams. It’s just all on how I’m feeling in the moment.
Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
What’s that mindset though, that you’re trying to get into since your music can vary?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
I’m actually trying to get into a, like an assassins mentality. Just something to calm the storm but yet keeps me focused on my target.
Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
Okay. When you’re not playing basketball, what are you doing for fun?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
If I’m not playing video games, I’m playing with my son. My son’s growing into loving basketball. Man and that’s the greatest thing ever! I got him a hoop and we’d be going at it.
Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
All right.
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
He doesn’t really like to let me win. So you know we get competitive in here.
Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
All right. How old is your son?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
He is six. He’ll be seven, February 29.
Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
All right. So I guess then, we’re gonna see him at some Fire games this year?
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
Yes, sir, you will. He was at the tournament. They love him so he’ll definitely be there.
Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
All right. Well K.D., thank you very much for your time. I appreciate it and I’m looking forward to what’s bound to be a really, really fun Potawatomi Fire season.
K.D. Moore (New Fire guard/forward)
Yes, sir. Thank you for having me and God bless.
Chris Cox (Fire Play-by-play)
That’s gonna do it for this edition of the Coaches Corner here on the Potawatomi Fire Broadcast Network. Make sure to visit the Potawatomi Fire website at potawatomifire.com. You can find the schedule. You can also find links for season tickets. Single game tickets should be on sale soon as well so go to potawatomifire.com. Check all of that out. Also make sure to follow the Fire on all of their social media channels. You’ll see all the links to that, down here at the bottom of the screen and you’ll be able to find out more information about the Fire. You’ll also see more of these videos that will be posted throughout the remainder of the offseason and of course, into the regular season as well. K.D., thanks again for taking a few minutes to speak with me today. That’s gonna do it for us here on the Potawatomi Fire Broadcast Network. I’m Chris Cox. Goodbye.