Oklahoma City Thunder#Retired numbers
{{Short description|National Basketball Association team in Oklahoma}}
{{For|the American football team|Oklahoma Thunder}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox basketball club
| name = Oklahoma City Thunder
| current = 2025–26 Oklahoma City Thunder season
| logo = Oklahoma City Thunder.svg
| imagesize = 200px
| conference = Western
| division = Northwest
| founded = 1967
| history = Seattle SuperSonics
1967–2008
Oklahoma City Thunder
2008–present{{cite web |title=Franchise History–NBA Advanced Stats |url=https://www.nba.com/stats/history |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |website=NBA.com |access-date=May 13, 2024}}{{cite web |title=NBA.com/Stats–Oklahoma City Thunder seasons |url=https://www.nba.com/stats/team/1610612760/seasons |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |website=Stats.NBA.com |access-date=December 2, 2022 |archive-date=December 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202035956/https://www.nba.com/stats/team/1610612760/seasons |url-status=live}}
| arena = Paycom Center
| location = Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| colors = Thunder blue, sunset, yellow, dark blue{{cite news |title=Thunder Unveils New Uniform in Partnership with Oklahoma City National Memorial |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release-uniforms-190723 |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |website=OKCThunder.com |date=July 23, 2019 |access-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-date=April 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430112914/https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release-uniforms-190723 |url-status=live}}{{cite book |chapter=General Information |chapter-url=https://cdn.nba.com/teams/uploads/sites/1610612760/2024/10/2024-25-Thunder-Media-Guide.pdf#page=3 |title=2024–25 Oklahoma City Thunder Media Guide |url=https://cdn.nba.com/teams/uploads/sites/1610612760/2024/10/2024-25-Thunder-Media-Guide.pdf |publisher=NBA Properties, Inc. |date=October 18, 2024 |access-date=March 1, 2025 }}{{cite web |title=Oklahoma City Thunder Reproduction and Usage Guideline Sheet |url=https://cdn-assets-us.frontify.com/s3/frontify-enterprise-files-us/eyJwYXRoIjoibmJhXC9maWxlXC94MjhqYXpKNlROcWVneHhrYnJUbi5wZGYifQ:nba:6wYpopJxhh3DH3U-UAC5dmaCzQzJNBJcVF1JxsDq2Y8 |publisher=NBA Properties, Inc. |access-date=March 1, 2025 }}
{{color box|#007AC1}} {{color box|#EF3B24}} {{color box|#FDBB30}} {{color box|#002D62}}
| sponsor = Love's{{cite press release |title=The Heart of OKC: Thunder, Love's Expand Partnership to Include Prominent Placement on Thunder Jersey |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release-loves-190315 |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |website=OKCThunder.com |date=March 15, 2019 |access-date=March 15, 2019 |archive-date=February 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206012136/https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release-loves-190315 |url-status=live}}
| gm = Sam Presti
| coach = Mark Daigneault
| owner = Professional Basketball Club LLC (Clay Bennett, Chairman){{cite web |title=The Professional Basketball Club, LLC |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/ownership |website=NBA.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |access-date=April 22, 2017 |archive-date=April 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423073507/http://www.nba.com/thunder/ownership |url-status=live}}
| affiliation = Oklahoma City Blue
| league_champs = 2 (1979, 2025)
| conf_champs = 5 (1978, 1979, 1996, 2012, 2025)
| div_champs = 13 (1979, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2024, 2025)
| ret_nums = 7 (1, 4, 10, 19, 24, 32, 43)
| website = {{URL|nba.com/thunder}}
| 1_title = Association
| 1_pattern_b = _okcthunder_association
| 1_pattern_s = _okcthunder_association
| 2_title = Icon
| 2_pattern_b = _okcthunder_icon
| 2_pattern_s = _okcthunder_icon
| 3_title = Statement
| 3_pattern_b = _okcthunder_statement
| 3_pattern_s = _okcthunder_statement
}}
The Oklahoma City Thunder are an American professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City. The Thunder compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference.{{cite web |title=NBA Teams & Rosters |url=https://www.nba.com/teams |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |website=NBA.com |access-date=May 2, 2022 |archive-date=June 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621040048/https://www.nba.com/teams |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Mayberry |first=Darnell |title=Sonics will stay in division League officials believe structure will work well with OKC |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/college/2008/04/21/sonics-stay-divisionbrspan-classhl2league-officials-believe-structure-will-work-well-with-okcspan/61603591007/ |newspaper=The Oklahoman |date=April 21, 2008 |access-date=July 3, 2008 |archive-date=December 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201003627/https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/college/2008/04/21/sonics-stay-divisionbrspan-classhl2league-officials-believe-structure-will-work-well-with-okcspan/61603591007/ |url-status=live}} The team plays its home games at Paycom Center.{{cite press release |title=Welcome to Paycom Center |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/release/welcome-to-paycom-center-211003 |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |website=OKCThunder.com |date=October 3, 2021 |access-date=May 2, 2022 |archive-date=May 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502203522/https://www.nba.com/thunder/release/welcome-to-paycom-center-211003 |url-status=live}}
The Thunder's NBA G League affiliate is the Oklahoma City Blue, which it owns.{{cite book |chapter=Oklahoma City Blue |chapter-url=https://cdn.nba.com/teams/uploads/sites/1610612760/2023/10/mediaguide-2324.pdf#page=32 |title=2023–24 Oklahoma City Thunder Media Guide |url=https://cdn.nba.com/teams/uploads/sites/1610612760/2023/10/mediaguide-2324.pdf |publisher=NBA Properties, Inc. |access-date=December 10, 2023 |archive-date=November 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104020536/https://cdn.nba.com/teams/uploads/sites/1610612760/2023/10/mediaguide-2324.pdf |url-status=live}} The Thunder are the only team in the major professional North American sports leagues based in the state of Oklahoma.{{cite news |title=The Thunder Hits Oklahoma City Wednesday |url=http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/okcthunder_081027.html |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |website=OKCThunder.com |date=October 27, 2008 |access-date=September 26, 2015 |archive-date=December 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151219170750/http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/okcthunder_081027.html |url-status=live}} Oklahoma City previously hosted the New Orleans Hornets for two seasons following devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.{{Cite web |date=November 10, 2005 |title=Stern: Oklahoma City top candidate if team moves |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2219124 |access-date=October 31, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |archive-date=October 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031144939/https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2219124 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=October 1, 2005 |title=HORNETS: Hornets to Play in Oklahoma City |website=NBA.com |url=http://www.nba.com/hornets/multimedia/ok_city_050921.html |access-date=October 31, 2022 |archive-date=October 1, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051001181604/http://www.nba.com/hornets/multimedia/ok_city_050921.html |url-status=bot: unknown}}
The team was originally established as the Seattle SuperSonics, an expansion team that joined the NBA for the 1967–68 season{{cite news|last=McKechnie|first=John|title=Oklahoma City Thunder's NBA Championships|url=https://www.nba.com/news/oklahoma-city-thunders-nba-championships|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=May 5, 2025|access-date=May 28, 2025|quote=The Thunder franchise began in the 1968 season in Seattle where they were the SuperSonics until moving to Oklahoma City ahead of the 2008-2009 campaign.}} The SuperSonics relocated from Seattle to Oklahoma City on July 3, 2008, after a settlement was reached between the ownership group led by Clay Bennett and lawmakers in Seattle following a lawsuit.{{cite web |title=This Date in the NBA: July |url=https://www.nba.com/news/history-this-date-in-nba-july |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |website=NBA.com |date=September 13, 2021 |access-date=June 5, 2023 |quote=July 2, 2008–Professional Basketball Club LLC (PBC), led by Clay Bennett, reached a settlement agreement in the lawsuit filed by the city of Seattle, finalizing the move of the Seattle SuperSonics to the Oklahoma City Thunder. |archive-date=June 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605005159/https://www.nba.com/news/history-this-date-in-nba-july |url-status=live}} In Seattle, the SuperSonics qualified for the NBA playoffs 22 times, won their division six times, advanced to three NBA Finals, and won the 1979 NBA championship.
In Oklahoma City, the Thunder qualified for their first playoff berth during the 2009–10 season. They won their first division title as the Thunder in the 2010–11 season and their first Western Conference championship as the Thunder in the 2011–12 season, appearing in the NBA Finals for the fourth time in franchise history and first time since 1996, when the team was based in Seattle. The Thunder lost the series to the Miami Heat, 4–1. They returned to the NBA Finals in 2025 and defeated the Indiana Pacers in seven games to win their first NBA championship since moving to Oklahoma City.{{Cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Becky |date=2025-06-22 |title=After a thrilling 7-game series, the Oklahoma City Thunder are finally NBA champions |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/06/22/nx-s1-5441761/oklahoma-city-thunder-wins-title-nba-finals-indiana-pacers |access-date=2025-06-22 |work=NPR |language=en}}{{Cite magazine |last=Stiles |first=Rylan |date=2025-06-22 |title=OKC Thunder Clinches First NBA Championship With Game 7 Win |url=https://www.si.com/nba/thunder/news/okc-thunder-clinches-first-nba-championship-with-game-7-win |access-date=2025-06-22 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=O’Connell |first=Robert |title=The Oklahoma City Thunder Just Won the NBA Title—and They're About to Get a Whole Lot Better |url=https://www.wsj.com/sports/basketball/okc-thunder-indiana-pacers-nba-finals-game-7-championship-3fadea4a |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}}
History
=1967–2008: Seattle SuperSonics=
{{Main|Seattle SuperSonics}}
The Thunder's previous incarnation, the Seattle SuperSonics, were formed in 1967. In their 41 seasons in Seattle, the SuperSonics compiled a {{Win–loss record|w=1,745|l=1,585}} ({{winpct|1745|1585}}) win–loss record in the regular season and went {{Win–loss record|w=107|l=110}} ({{winpct|107|110}}) in the playoffs. The franchise's titles include three Western Conference championships (1978, 1979 and 1996) and one NBA title in 1979. In their last season, they drafted franchise player Kevin Durant, setting up the Thunder for success.
=2008–2016: Durant and Westbrook era=
==2008–2009: Relocation to Oklahoma City and inaugural season==
{{Main|Seattle SuperSonics relocation to Oklahoma City|2008–09 Oklahoma City Thunder season}}
In 2006, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz sold the SuperSonics and its Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) sister franchise, the Seattle Storm, for $350 million to the Professional Basketball Club LLC, a group of Oklahoma City investors led by Clay Bennett.{{cite news |title=Basketball Club of Seattle Announces Sale of Sonics & Storm |url=http://www.nba.com/sonics/news/sale_060718.html |website=SuperSonics.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=July 18, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060719194751/http://www.nba.com/sonics/news/sale_060718.html |archive-date=July 19, 2006 |access-date=May 7, 2016}} The sale of the SuperSonics and Storm was approved by NBA owners the following October.{{cite news |last=Allen |first=Percy |title=NBA board approves sale of Sonics, Storm |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/nba-board-approves-sale-of-sonics-storm/ |work=The Seattle Times |date=October 24, 2006 |access-date=October 24, 2006 |archive-date=May 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522074506/http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/nba-board-approves-sale-of-sonics-storm/ |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=NBA approves sale of Sonics, Storm |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2637335 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ESPN |date=October 24, 2006 |access-date=October 18, 2023 |archive-date=December 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226083243/https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2637335 |url-status=live}} In 2007, Bennett announced that the franchise would move to Oklahoma City as soon as the lease with KeyArena expired.{{cite news |last=Johns |first=Greg |title=Bennett says Sonics going to Oklahoma |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/basketball/337871_arena03.html |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=November 2, 2007 |access-date=April 2, 2008}}
File:Paycom Center.jpg began hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008.]]
In June 2008, a lawsuit brought by the city of Seattle against Bennett due to his attempts to break the final two years of the Sonics' lease at KeyArena went to federal court. Nearly a month later, the two sides reached a settlement agreement.{{cite press release |title=THE PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL CLUB, LLC AND CITY OF SEATTLE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT |url=http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/CityAttorney/Reports/2008SonicsSettlementAgreement.pdf |website=Seattle.gov |publisher=City of Seattle, Washington |date=July 2, 2008 |access-date=May 6, 2016 |archive-date=March 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302070856/http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/CityAttorney/Reports/2008SonicsSettlementAgreement.pdf |url-status=live}} The terms awarded the city $45 million to get out of the remaining lease at KeyArena, and would have provided an additional $30 million payment to Seattle in 2013 if certain conditions had been met. The owners agreed to leave the SuperSonics name, logo, colors, banners, trophies, and records in Seattle for a possible future NBA franchise;{{cite web |title=SuperSonics, Seattle reach last-minute settlement |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3471503 |publisher=ESPN |date=July 2, 2008 |access-date=October 18, 2023 |archive-date=December 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226083247/https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3471503 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |date=September 17, 2024 |title=NBA expansion FAQ: Cities, draft, teams and the league's future |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/41286389/nba-expansion-cities-draft-teams-leagues-line |access-date=September 17, 2024 |work=ESPN.com |quote=If a team were to return to Seattle, the Thunder would cede the Seattle history back to the SuperSonics.}} however, the items would remain the property of the Oklahoma City team along with other "assets", including championship banners and trophies until a new Seattle team arrives.{{cite web |last=Allen |first=Percy |title=Seattle and Oklahoma City will share the Sonics' franchise history |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/nba/seattle-and-oklahoma-city-will-share-the-sonics-franchise-history/ |website=The Seattle Times |access-date=April 9, 2019 |date=July 6, 2008 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806013837/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/nba/seattle-and-oklahoma-city-will-share-the-sonics-franchise-history/ |url-status=live}} On September 3, 2008, the team name, logo and colors for the Oklahoma City franchise were revealed to the public. The name "Thunder" was chosen in reference to Oklahoma's location in Tornado Alley and Oklahoma City as the home of the U.S. Army's 45th Infantry Division, the Thunderbirds.{{cite news |title=Oklahoma City will be named Thunder, wear blue, orange, yellow |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3568051 |publisher=ESPN |date=September 4, 2008 |access-date=September 4, 2008 |archive-date=February 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209073805/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3568051 |url-status=live}}{{cite press release |title=Thunder Rolls Into Oklahoma City |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/thunderolls_080903.html |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=September 3, 2008 |access-date=April 21, 2018 |archive-date=December 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220230244/https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/thunderolls_080903.html |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=This Date in the NBA: September |url=https://www.nba.com/news/history-this-date-in-nba-sept |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |website=NBA.com |date=September 13, 2021 |access-date=June 5, 2023 |quote=September 3, 2008–Oklahoma City team officials unveil the team’s new name and logo. The former Seattle SuperSonics franchise is now known as the Oklahoma City Thunder. |archive-date=June 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605005200/https://www.nba.com/news/history-this-date-in-nba-sept |url-status=live}} The SuperSonics' final NBA draft was in 2008, and they used the fourth overall pick to select Russell Westbrook, a young point guard from UCLA, who would become the team's franchise player.
The Thunder participated in the Orlando Pro Summer League featuring their second-year players, potential free agents and rookies. The players wore generic black and white jerseys reading "OKC-NBA" against an outline of a basketball. The Thunder's temporary practice facility was the Sawyer Center at Southern Nazarene University, which had been used by the New Orleans Hornets when they relocated to Oklahoma City after Hurricane Katrina.{{cite web |title=Sawyer Center |url=http://www.snuathletics.com/sports/2010/12/1/GEN_1201100916.aspx?id=5 |publisher=Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm |date=December 1, 2010 |access-date=December 1, 2010 |archive-date=July 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719222800/http://www.snuathletics.com/sports/2010/12/1/GEN_1201100916.aspx?id=5 |url-status=live}}
The Thunder played several preseason games before the 2008–09 regular season, but only one of those games was in Oklahoma City. The Thunder made their first appearance in Billings, Montana on October 8, 2008, in an 88–82 preseason loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves.{{Cite web |title=Oklahoma City Thunder vs Minnesota Timberwolves Oct 8, 2008 Game Summary |url=https://www.nba.com/game/0010800015 |access-date=March 3, 2022 |website=nba.com |archive-date=March 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303010039/https://www.nba.com/game/0010800015 |url-status=live}} The Thunder played their first Ford Center game on October 14 against the Los Angeles Clippers.{{cite news |last=Mayberry |first=Darnell |title=Oklahoma City NBA team to face hectic pace in preseason |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/article/3282760 |newspaper=The Oklahoman |date=August 13, 2008 |access-date=August 13, 2008}}{{Dead link|date=June 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}
In their regular season home opener, the Thunder faced (and lost to) the Milwaukee Bucks. Earl Watson scored the first points of the season with a layup. Three nights later on November 2, the Thunder won their first game by defeating the Timberwolves, improving their record to 1–3. The team then went on a 10-game losing streak before deciding on November 22 to fire head coach P. J. Carlesimo and assistant Paul Westhead. Assistant coach Scott Brooks then took over on an interim basis.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3718961 |title=Carlesimo fired; Brooks to take over Thunder in interim |last=Sheridan |first=Chris |publisher=ESPN |date=November 22, 2008 |access-date=November 22, 2008 |archive-date=August 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811142840/http://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3718961 |url-status=live}} Oklahoma City lost its next four games to tie the franchise losing streak of 14 set in Seattle the previous season. But the team managed to prevent history by winning their next game on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies.{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2008-11-29-thunder-grizzlies_N.htm?csp=34 |title=Thunder snap 14-game losing streak behind Durant's 30 |agency=Associated Press |work=USA Today |date=November 22, 2008 |access-date=November 22, 2008 |archive-date=December 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202153531/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2008-11-29-thunder-grizzlies_N.htm?csp=34 |url-status=live}}
As the season continued, the Thunder began to improve. After starting 3–29, the Thunder finished the regular season 20–30 for the remaining fifty games. Not only were they winning more often, they played much more competitively than in the first part of the season. The team brought their record to 23–59 and improved upon their record of 20–62 from the team's final season in Seattle. The late-season successes of the Thunder contributed to the signing of Scott Brooks as the team's official head coach.
After moving to Oklahoma City from Seattle, the team's operating situation improved markedly. In December 2008, Forbes magazine estimated the team's franchise value at $300 million—a 12 percent increase from the previous year's $268 million, when the club was located in Seattle.{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/32/nba08_NBA-Team-Valuations_Rank.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205160837/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/32/nba08_NBA-Team-Valuations_Rank.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 5, 2008 |title=NBA Team Valuations |work=Forbes |date=December 3, 2008 |access-date=May 12, 2010}} Forbes also noted an increase in percentage of available tickets sold, from 78 percent in the team's last season in Seattle to 100 percent in 2008–09.{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/32/nba08_Oklahoma-City-Thunder_329710.html |title=Oklahoma City Thunder |work=Forbes |date=December 3, 2008 |access-date=May 12, 2010 |archive-date=March 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308211907/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/32/nba08_Oklahoma-City-Thunder_329710.html |url-status=live}}
==2009–2012: Rise to contention and first Finals appearance==
{{Main|2009–10 Oklahoma City Thunder season|2011–12 Oklahoma City Thunder season}}
{{multiple image
| perrow = 2
| total_width = 250
| image1 = Russell Westbrook.jpg
| caption1 = Russell Westbrook
| image2 = James Harden 2.jpg
| caption2 = James Harden
| image3 = Kevin Durant 2.jpg
| caption3 = Kevin Durant
| image4 = Serge Ibaka Feb 2014.jpg
| caption4 = Serge Ibaka
| footer = Westbrook, Harden, Durant and Ibaka were the main players in Thunder's revived contention for an NBA title
}}
After an inaugural season filled with many adjustments, the Thunder hoped to improve during their second season in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City did not make any major moves in the off-season, other than drafting James Harden from Arizona State University with the third overall pick in the NBA draft. The Thunder selected Rodrigue Beaubois with the 25th pick in the 2009 draft before immediately trading him to the Dallas Mavericks for the 24th pick, center Byron Mullens from Ohio State University. The team then added veteran center Etan Thomas and guard Kevin Ollie. The last major change to their roster occurred on December 22, 2009, when the team traded for Eric Maynor from the Utah Jazz. Maynor immediately supplanted Ollie as the backup point guard.
From the outset the young team looked determined and cohesive. The increasing leadership of Kevin Durant, along with the growing experience of the Thunder's younger players, including future MVPs Westbrook and Harden, were signs of the Thunder's improvement. The 2009–10 season included several victories over the NBA's elite teams, including a 28-point win over the Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic and a 16-point win over the reigning NBA champion, the Los Angeles Lakers. Road victories over the San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks further enhanced their reputation. Though they hovered around .500 for the first half of the season, they went on a 9-game winning streak that sent them into serious playoff contention. Kevin Durant became the youngest player in league history to win the scoring title, averaging 30.1 points per game while playing in all 82 games.
The Thunder finished 50–32, more than doubling their win total from the previous season. The 50–32 record tied the 2008 Denver Nuggets for the most wins by an 8th seed in the modern playoffs era. The Oklahoma City Thunder also had the same record as the Boston Celtics in this season.{{cite web |last=Pimentel |first=Roger |title=NBA Playoffs in Numbers: Eight Statistics You Weren't Expecting |url=http://howtowatchsports.com/2010/04/nba-playoffs-in-numbers-eight-statistics-you-werent-expecting/ |publisher=How To Watch Sports |access-date=March 22, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708212243/http://howtowatchsports.com/2010/04/nba-playoffs-in-numbers-eight-statistics-you-werent-expecting/ |archive-date=July 8, 2012}} They finished fourth in the Northwest Division and eighth in the Western Conference playoff standings, and earned a spot in the 2010 NBA playoffs. On April 22, the team secured their first playoff win in Oklahoma City when they defeated the defending-champion Los Angeles Lakers 101–96. This was also the Thunder's first playoff win at the Ford Center. The Thunder would go on to tie the series at two games each, but the Lakers won the last two games in the series to win it 4–2.
Oklahoma City ranked twelfth in overall attendance in the NBA, and seventh in percentage of available seats occupied (98.9 percent, including 28 sellouts in 41 home games).{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/attendance/_/year/2010/sort/homeTotal |title=2009–2010 NBA Attendance |publisher=ESPN |access-date=October 18, 2023 |archive-date=October 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020040030/https://www.espn.com/nba/attendance/_/year/2010/sort/homeTotal |url-status=live}} The team's operating situation also continued to improve in 2009–10. Forbes magazine estimated the team's franchise value at $310 million (an increase of $10 million over the prior year) with an estimated operating profit of $12.7 million (the first operating profit in years for the franchise).{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/32/basketball-values-09_NBA-Team-Valuations_Rank.html |title=NBA Team Valuations |date=December 9, 2009 |access-date=May 12, 2010 |work=Forbes |publisher=Forbes.com Mobile |archive-date=May 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529215447/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/32/basketball-values-09_NBA-Team-Valuations_Rank.html |url-status=live}}
Financially, the Thunder organization continued to build on the positive returns experienced from relocating from Seattle to Oklahoma City. In January 2011, Forbes magazine estimated the franchise's worth at $329 million, up six percent from 2009 to 2010 and ranking No. 18 in the NBA.{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/32/basketball-valuations-11_Oklahoma-City-Thunder_329710.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129232634/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/32/basketball-valuations-11_Oklahoma-City-Thunder_329710.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 29, 2011 |title=#18 Oklahoma City Thunder |work=Forbes |publisher=Forbes.com Mobile |date=January 27, 2011 |access-date=January 27, 2011}} The magazine also estimated the franchise's revenue at $118 million and operating profit at $22.6 million—up 6.3 percent and 78 percent, respectively, from the previous year. The Thunder finished the 2010–2011 season with a 55–27 record, a five-win increase from their breakout season the previous year. The team also captured their first division title since moving to Oklahoma City, and seventh in franchise history.{{Cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/thunder-beat-clippers-to-clinch-division-title/ |title=Thunder Beat Clippers To Clinch Division Title |work=CBS Sports |date=April 6, 2011 |access-date=February 2, 2023 |agency=Associated Press |location=Oklahoma City |archive-date=February 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202132607/https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/thunder-beat-clippers-to-clinch-division-title/ |url-status=live}}
In the wake of a fourth-seed versus fifth-seed match-up against the Denver Nuggets, Kevin Durant scored 41 points in game 1 to set a new career playoff high. In the final game of the series, he again scored 41 and forward Serge Ibaka nearly tied the record for most blocks in a playoff game (10, set by Mark Eaton, Hakeem Olajuwon and Andrew Bynum) with nine blocks.{{cite web |last=Young |first=Royce |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/14999143/durants-epic-performance-in-game-5-is-what-legends-are-made-of |title=Durant's epic performance in Game 5 is what legends are made of |work=CBS Sports |date=April 28, 2011 |access-date=October 15, 2012 |archive-date=December 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222055001/http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/14999143/durants-epic-performance-in-game-5-is-what-legends-are-made-of |url-status=live}} The Thunder won the series four games to one and were set to face off against the Memphis Grizzlies who achieved an eight-seed upset over the San Antonio Spurs just days before. The Thunder advanced to the Western Conference finals with a seven-game series triumph over the Grizzlies. Durant was again the star, scoring 39 points in the clinching game 7, while Russell Westbrook also had a triple-double. Despite hard-fought battles with the eventual NBA champs, the Thunder fell to the Dallas Mavericks 4–1 in the conference finals. The Thunder had a chance to tie the series in game 4, but they were unable to hold a 15-point lead with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. They ended up losing in overtime, 112–105.
During the extended lockout, Thunder players played in exhibition games and even local pickup games to stay in shape.{{cite news |last=Torres |first=Adry |title=Kevin Durant scores 66 at Rucker Park |date=August 2, 2011 |work=ESPN.com |url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/6826522 |access-date=October 18, 2023 |archive-date=October 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020040028/https://www.espn.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/6826522 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=McMenamin |first=Dave |title=Lockout added water to grass roots |url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/7074191 |work=ESPN.com |date=October 10, 2011 |access-date=October 18, 2023 |archive-date=October 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020040031/https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/7074191 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Kevin Durant, Washington win city battle |date=August 21, 2011 |publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/6881555 |access-date=October 18, 2023 |archive-date=October 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020040030/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/6881555 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Weidie |first=Kyle |title=Drew-Goodman game lives up to hype |url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/6881638 |work=ESPN.com |date=August 21, 2011 |access-date=October 18, 2023 |archive-date=October 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020040029/https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/6881638 |url-status=live}} When the abbreviated training camp began, Oklahoma City started with an intact roster and all players, except for Russell Westbrook. In addition, Kendrick Perkins lost more than 30 pounds during the lockout. The Thunder made their two preseason appearances, after the lockout, against the Dallas Mavericks, winning both games. They won their first regular season game against Orlando at home and went on a five-game winning streak. Kevin Durant became the sixth player to score 30 or more points in four consecutive games at the start of a season. In addition, the Thunder was the first to sweep their back-to-back-to-back games, winning a home-and-home series with the Houston Rockets, then routing the San Antonio Spurs. Thunder players Durant, Westbrook, Harden, Perkins and Ibaka made it onto the 2012 All-Star ballots. After the Thunder's win over the Utah Jazz on February 11, 2012, Scott Brooks was named as the head coach for the Western Conference All-Star squad for the NBA All-Star Game.
In the 2012 NBA playoffs, the Thunder swept the defending champion Dallas Mavericks in the first round to advance and face off against their first-round foes from 2010, the Los Angeles Lakers. They defeated the Lakers in five games and advanced to play the San Antonio Spurs in the conference finals. The Thunder lost the first two games against the Spurs but won the next three including a game 5 road win, to take a commanding 3–2 game lead in the series. In game 6, the Thunder defeated the Spurs 107–99 and advanced to the 2012 NBA Finals. Durant led the way with 34 points, playing all of regulation time in the game. In the 2012 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, the Thunder won the first game at home but then lost four in a row losing the series in five games.
==2012–2016: Post-Finals appearance years and Harden's departure==
===2012–13 season===
{{Main|2012–13 Oklahoma City Thunder season}}
In the 2012 NBA draft, the Thunder selected Baylor University forward Perry Jones III with the 28th overall pick. The Thunder also signed free agents Hasheem Thabeet and Daniel Orton, and signed guards Andy Rautins and DeAndre Liggins. They re-signed forward Serge Ibaka to a four-year, $48 million extension. After failing to sign James Harden to an extension that was reportedly worth four years and $52 million, the team decided to trade Harden rather than having to pay the luxury tax penalty. On October 27, 2012, the Thunder traded Harden along with center Cole Aldrich and forwards Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward to the Houston Rockets for Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, first-round draft picks from Toronto and Dallas, and one second-round draft pick. Martin took over Harden's sixth-man role for the season. The Thunder finished with a 60–22 regular season, taking both the Northwest division title and top seed of the Western Conference. In the first round of the playoffs, they faced the 8th-seeded Houston Rockets, featuring former team member James Harden. In game two of the series, Russell Westbrook was struck by Rockets point guard Patrick Beverley, and fell down with an injury and missed the rest of the playoffs after having knee surgery. Without the team's second-leading scorer, the Thunder, who had a 3–0 lead, lost the next two games to bring the series to 3–2. In game 6, the Thunder defeated the Rockets to advance to the second round, facing a rematch of the 2011 second round, with the Memphis Grizzlies. The Thunder lost the series 4–1, losing four straight games after winning game 1 at home.
===2013–14 season===
{{Main|2013–14 Oklahoma City Thunder season}}
File:Steven Adams (32049572304).jpg as the 12th pick in the 2013 NBA draft.]]
In the 2013 NBA draft, the Thunder selected 12th pick Steven Adams, traded for the 26th pick André Roberson, and selected 47th pick Grant Jerrett. Kevin Martin was not re-signed, and he opted to join the Timberwolves, while the team were only able to add free agent Ryan Gomes and re-sign Derek Fisher to conclude their off-season movements. The team finished second in the Western conference with a 59–23 record. They met the Memphis Grizzlies for the third time in the playoffs, which set a record for most consecutive overtimes in a playoff series, with four. Oklahoma City prevailed in seven games to play the Los Angeles Clippers in the semifinals, whom they defeated in six games. Their final playoff opponent, in the conference finals, was the San Antonio Spurs in a rematch of the 2012 conference finals, this time with the Spurs winning, 4–2.
===2014–2016===
{{Main|2014–15 Oklahoma City Thunder season|2015–16 Oklahoma City Thunder season}}
With the 21st and 29th picks in the 2014 NBA draft, the Thunder selected Mitch McGary from Michigan and Josh Huestis from Stanford. "He brings energy, passion, and great basketball IQ and toughness what we value" said Presti on drafting McGary.{{Cite web |title=McGary Thankful for U-M following NBA Draft; Excited to Join OKC |url=https://mgoblue.com/news/2014/6/29/McGary_Thankful_for_U_M_following_NBA_Draft_Excited_to_Join_OKC |access-date=March 3, 2022 |website=University of Michigan Athletics |archive-date=March 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303010039/https://mgoblue.com/news/2014/6/29/McGary_Thankful_for_U_M_following_NBA_Draft_Excited_to_Join_OKC |url-status=live}} Oklahoma City also signed Semaj Christon after acquiring his draft rights from the Charlotte Hornets.{{Cite web |title=Thunder Acquires Mitch McGary, Josh Huestis and Draft Rights to Semaj Christon in the 2014 Draft |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release_draft_140626 |access-date=March 3, 2022 |website=nba.com |archive-date=March 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303010038/https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release_draft_140626 |url-status=live}} On July 3, the Thunder signed Sebastian Telfair. But they lost shooting guard Thabo Sefolosha as his contract expired and he agreed to a three-year, $12 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks. Several weeks before the season started, the Thunder suffered a setback as Durant was diagnosed with a Jones fracture in his right foot and missed the first 17 games of the season. During the opening game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Westbrook scored 38 points, but found himself sidelined due to a small fracture in his right hand. He missed 16 games, during which Oklahoma City went 4–12. During the middle of the season Westbrook and Durant both came back, and similarly suffered more injuries. Durant was ruled out of the rest of the season in March, deciding to have foot surgery. Westbrook also had to undergo surgery in early March, to repair a fracture in the zygomatic arch bone of his right cheek. Several days later he returned and recorded several triple-doubles on his way to Western Conference Player of the Month honors from February to April. He also won the 2014–2015 NBA scoring title. However, despite the effort, the Thunder missed the playoffs due to a tiebreaker with the New Orleans Pelicans, and Westbrook fell short of the MVP award, finishing fourth in voting. They finished with a 45–37 record. On April 22, 2015, Scott Brooks was fired as the Thunder head coach. Billy Donovan was hired on April 30, 2015. This was Donovan's first major NBA coaching job, after he initially accepted and then left the Orlando Magic job in 2007.{{cite press release |title=Thunder Names Billy Donovan Head Coach |url=http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release_donovan_150430 |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=April 30, 2015 |access-date=May 14, 2015 |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502222410/http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release_donovan_150430 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Young |first=Royce |title=Thunder hire Billy Donovan as coach |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/12793263 |publisher=ESPN |date=May 1, 2015 |access-date=October 18, 2023 |archive-date=October 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020040029/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/12793263 |url-status=live}} With the 14th and the 48th picks in the 2015 NBA draft, the Thunder selected Cameron Payne from Murray State and Dakari Johnson from Kentucky. With Billy Donovan as the team's head coach the Thunder won the Northwest Division and clinched the third seed in the Western Conference. The team reached the conference finals for the fourth time in a span of six seasons, but was eliminated by the Golden State Warriors in seven games, after blowing a 3–1 series lead.
=2016–2019: Russell Westbrook era=
==2016–2017: Durant's departure and Westbrook's MVP season==
{{Main|2016–17 Oklahoma City Thunder season}}
After much speculation on the future of free agent superstar Kevin Durant, he announced on July 4, 2016, that he was joining the Warriors. The move to join the 73-win team from last season was heavily criticized by the public and sports media, with many comparing the move to LeBron James' 2010 off-season departure from Cleveland to the Miami Heat.{{cite news |last=Leonard |first=Pat |title=Kevin Durant's move to leave Thunder for Warriors is worse than LeBron James' 'Decision': That's Debatable |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/worse-durant-chapter-lebron-decision-article-1.2702517 |work=Daily News |location=New York |date=July 7, 2016 |access-date=July 7, 2016 |archive-date=July 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160707173729/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/worse-durant-chapter-lebron-decision-article-1.2702517 |url-status=live}} On July 7, Durant was officially introduced by the Warriors organization{{cite news |title=Warriors Sign Free Agent Forward Kevin Durant |url=http://www.nba.com/warriors/news/kevin-durant-signing-20160707 |website=Warriors.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=July 7, 2016 |access-date=July 7, 2016 |archive-date=July 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709120915/http://www.nba.com/warriors/news/kevin-durant-signing-20160707/ |url-status=live}} and signed a two-year, $54.3 million contract,{{cite news |title=Kevin Durant to sign with Warriors |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/16759826 |publisher=ESPN |date=July 4, 2016 |access-date=October 18, 2023 |archive-date=October 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020040029/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/16759826 |url-status=live}} with a player option after the first year.{{cite news |last=McCauley |first=Janie |title=Splash! Kevin Durant finalizes two-year deal with Warriors |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/splash-kevin-durant-finalizes-two-deal-warriors-202520675--nba.html |publisher=Yahoo! |date=July 7, 2016 |access-date=July 7, 2016 |archive-date=July 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160711215157/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/splash-kevin-durant-finalizes-two-deal-warriors-202520675--nba.html |url-status=dead}}
On August 4, 2016, Westbrook agreed to a three-year extension to remain with the Thunder.{{Cite web |url=http://www.todaysfastbreak.com/fastbreak-news/russell-westbrook-reportedly-working-toward-contract-extension/ |title=Russell Westbrook Reportedly Agrees to Contract Extension |access-date=August 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805190106/http://www.todaysfastbreak.com/fastbreak-news/russell-westbrook-reportedly-working-toward-contract-extension/ |archive-date=August 5, 2016 |url-status=dead}}
With an average of 31.6 points, 10.4 assists and 10.7 rebounds, Westbrook became the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double for an entire NBA regular season, and only the second in NBA history (the other being Robertson). On April 2, 2017, Westbrook tied Oscar Robertson's record for most triple-doubles in an NBA season (41); he broke the record on April 9 against the Denver Nuggets, marking his 42nd triple-double of the season. Westbrook, in that game, also hit the game-winning buzzer beater from 36 feet, ending the Nuggets' playoffs hopes and securing the Thunder's third-seed matchup with the Houston Rockets in the NBA playoffs. Oklahoma City lost the playoff series in the first round to the Rockets 4–1. Despite the team's loss, Westbrook averaged a +14 while on the court and a triple-double during the series and was named league MVP after the season.
==2017–2019: Arrival of Paul George==
{{Main|2017–18 Oklahoma City Thunder season| 2018–19 Oklahoma City Thunder season}}
In the 2017 NBA draft, the Thunder selected guard Terrance Ferguson with the 21st pick, and signed him to a four-year rookie-scale contract.{{cite news |last=Belzer |first=Jason |title=2017 NBA Draft 1st Round Rookie Salary Projections |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonbelzer/2017/06/23/2017-nba-draft-1st-round-rookie-salary-projections/ |magazine=Forbes |date=June 23, 2017 |access-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-date=July 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716105411/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonbelzer/2017/06/23/2017-nba-draft-1st-round-rookie-salary-projections/ |url-status=live}}
To further bolster the roster and improve Westbrook's supporting cast, the Thunder's front office made a series of aggressive moves to reshape the team. On July 6, 2017, the Thunder acquired four-time All-Star forward Paul George in a trade with the Indiana Pacers in exchange for guard Victor Oladipo and forward Domantas Sabonis.{{cite news |title=Thunder Acquires All-Star Forward Paul George |url=http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/george-170706 |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=July 6, 2017 |access-date=July 6, 2017 |archive-date=July 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707232933/http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/george-170706 |url-status=live}} The team then signed veteran point guard Raymond Felton and sharp-shooting power forward Patrick Patterson in free agency on July 10.{{cite news |title=Thunder Signs Raymond Felton |url=http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/raymond-felton-170710 |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=July 10, 2017 |access-date=July 10, 2017 |archive-date=August 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811123556/http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/raymond-felton-170710 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Thunder Signs Patrick Patterson |url=http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/patrick-patterson-170710 |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=July 10, 2017 |access-date=April 21, 2018 |archive-date=July 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723002136/http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/patrick-patterson-170710 |url-status=live}} Finally, on September 25, the Thunder acquired ten-time All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony from the New York Knicks in exchange for center Enes Kanter, forward Doug McDermott, and a 2018 second-round draft pick they had previously acquired from the Chicago Bulls in the Cameron Payne trade.{{cite news |title=Thunder Acquires All-Star Forward Carmelo Anthony |url=http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/carmelo-anthony-170925 |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |access-date=September 25, 2017 |date=September 25, 2017 |archive-date=September 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925231405/http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/carmelo-anthony-170925 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Bulls acquire Payne, Morrow, and Lauvergne from Thunder |url=http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/bulls-acquire-payne-morrow-and-lauvergne-thunder |website=Bulls.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=February 23, 2017 |access-date=February 23, 2017 |archive-date=February 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224134931/http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/bulls-acquire-payne-morrow-and-lauvergne-thunder |url-status=live}} On September 29, 2017, the Thunder signed its star point guard Russell Westbrook to a five-year extension.{{cite news |last=Brunt |first=Cliff |title=Russell Westbrook decides he will never leave Oklahoma City Thunder, signs five-year extension |url=http://www.nba.com/article/2017/09/29/report-russell-westbrook-accepts-five-year-extension-oklahoma-city-thunder |agency=Associated Press |website=NBA.com |date=September 27, 2017 |access-date=October 28, 2018 |archive-date=October 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028152159/http://www.nba.com/article/2017/09/29/report-russell-westbrook-accepts-five-year-extension-oklahoma-city-thunder |url-status=live}} The Thunder finished the 2017–18 season with a 48–34 record and lost to the Utah Jazz 4–2 in the first round of the playoffs.
In the 2018 NBA draft, the Thunder selected guard Devon Hall with the 53rd pick and forward Kevin Hervey with the 57th pick.{{cite news |title=Thunder Selects Devon Hall and Kevin Hervey in 2018 NBA Draft |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/draft-180621 |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=June 21, 2018 |access-date=October 28, 2018 |archive-date=October 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028190608/https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/draft-180621 |url-status=live}} Hall did not sign with the Thunder, instead signing with the Cairns Taipans of the Australian National Basketball League.{{cite news |last=Horne |first=Erik |title=Thunder second-rounder Devon Hall signs with Australia's National Basketball League |url=https://newsok.com/article/5604469/thunder-second-rounder-devon-hall-signs-with-australias-national-basketball-league |newspaper=The Oklahoman |date=August 11, 2018 |access-date=October 28, 2018 |archive-date=November 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112204807/https://newsok.com/article/5604469/thunder-second-rounder-devon-hall-signs-with-australias-national-basketball-league |url-status=live}} Hervey signed with the Thunder's NBA G League affiliate, Oklahoma City Blue.{{cite news |last=Afseth |first=Grant |title=Thunder draft pick Kevin Hervey will play this season for the OKC Blue |url=https://okcthunderwire.usatoday.com/2018/10/05/oklahoma-city-thunder-draft-pick-kevin-hervey-okc-blue-g-league/ |newspaper=USA Today |date=October 5, 2018 |access-date=October 28, 2018 |archive-date=October 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022035402/https://okcthunderwire.usatoday.com/2018/10/05/oklahoma-city-thunder-draft-pick-kevin-hervey-okc-blue-g-league/ |url-status=live}} Additionally, the Thunder traded a 2019 second-round pick to acquire Hamidou Diallo, who had been selected by the Brooklyn Nets with the 45th pick.{{cite news |title=Thunder Acquires Hamidou Diallo |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/diallo-180706 |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=July 6, 2018 |access-date=October 28, 2018 |archive-date=June 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627034854/https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/diallo-180706 |url-status=live}} Diallo signed a three-year contract with the Thunder.{{cite news |last=Dang |first=Kenny |title=Thunder signed rookie Hamidou Diallo to a three year/$4M deal |url=https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/2018/7/26/17617378/thunder-rookie-hamidou-diallo-contract |website=WelcomeToLoudCity.com |publisher=SB Nation |date=July 26, 2018 |access-date=October 28, 2018 |archive-date=October 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028225745/https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/2018/7/26/17617378/thunder-rookie-hamidou-diallo-contract |url-status=dead}}
On July 6, 2018, Paul George re-signed with the Thunder.{{cite news |title=Thunder Signs Paul George to Multi-Year Contract |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/george-180706 |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=July 6, 2018 |access-date=August 31, 2018 |archive-date=September 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928213339/https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/george-180706 |url-status=live}} In July 2018, the Thunder traded forward Carmelo Anthony and a 2022 protected first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-way trade. In the trade, the Thunder acquired guard Dennis Schröder from the Hawks and forward Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot from the Philadelphia 76ers.{{cite news |last=Wojnarowski |first=Adrian |author-link=Adrian Wojnarowski |date=July 20, 2018 |title=Sources: Melo headed to Hawks, will be waived |publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/24141942 |access-date=October 18, 2023 |archive-date=October 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020040029/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/24141942 |url-status=live}} The Thunder also acquired guard Deonte Burton, signing him to a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Blue.{{cite tweet |user=KeithSmithNBA |author=Keith Smith |number=1015652897910976513 |date=July 7, 2018 |title=The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed guard Deonte Burton to a two-way contract.}} Additionally, the Thunder acquired center Nerlens Noel in free agency,{{cite web |last=Wells |first=Adam |title=Nerlens Noel Reportedly Agrees to Contract with Thunder in Free Agency |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2755755-nerlens-noel-reportedly-agrees-to-contract-with-thunder-in-free-agency |website=Bleacher Report |date=July 3, 2018 |access-date=October 28, 2018 |archive-date=October 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028225716/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2755755-nerlens-noel-reportedly-agrees-to-contract-with-thunder-in-free-agency |url-status=live}} and traded for Abdel Nader from the Boston Celtics.{{cite news |title=NBA notebook: OKC gets forward Abdel Nader from Celtics for guard Rodney Purvis |url=https://newsok.com/article/5602355/nowitzki-re-signs-with-mavericks-for-record-21st-season |newspaper=The Oklahoman |date=July 23, 2018 |access-date=October 28, 2018}}
=2019–present: The Shai Gilgeous-Alexander era=
==2019–2020: Chris Paul year==
General manager Sam Presti traded Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers on July 10, 2019. In return, they received Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and a record collection of future first-round draft picks. It was reported after the trade was announced that George had privately requested the trade to the Clippers as a result of superstar free agent Kawhi Leonard convincing George to team up with him on the Clippers.{{cite news |title=L.A. Clippers Acquire Six-Time NBA All-Star Paul George |url=https://www.nba.com/clippers/clippers-acquire-six-time-nba-all-star-paul-george |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |website=Clippers.com |date=July 10, 2019 |access-date=April 23, 2020 |archive-date=January 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130045004/https://www.nba.com/clippers/clippers-acquire-six-time-nba-all-star-paul-george |url-status=live}} They also traded forward Jerami Grant to the Denver Nuggets for a 2020 protected first-round pick.
After the George trade, general manager Presti sensed that the future of the franchise was in jeopardy as the team could not seriously contend with Westbrook as the lone star. On July 16, the Thunder traded Westbrook to the Houston Rockets. In exchange, the Thunder received Chris Paul, two future first-round draft picks, and the rights to two future pick swaps with the Rockets.{{cite news |title=Oklahoma City Acquires Chris Paul, Two First-Round Draft Picks and the Right to Two Swap Picks |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/transaction-190716 |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |website=OKCThunder.com |date=July 16, 2019 |access-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-date=November 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211107142548/https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/transaction-190716 |url-status=live}}
Paul made the 2020 NBA All-Star Game as a reserve, making it his 10th selection, and his first since 2015–16.
Following the suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season, the Thunder were one of the 22 teams invited to the NBA Bubble to participate in the final eight games of the regular season.{{cite press release |title=NBA Board of Governors approves competitive format to restart 2019-20 season with 22 teams returning to play |url=https://www.nba.com/article/2020/06/04/board-of-governors-approves-nba-return-official-release |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |website=NBA.com |date=June 4, 2020 |access-date=May 15, 2021 |archive-date=June 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612050333/https://www.nba.com/article/2020/06/04/board-of-governors-approves-nba-return-official-release |url-status=live}} The Thunder were eliminated in 7 games vs Paul's former team, the Houston Rockets.
==2020–23: Young core rebuild==
Following the season, Billy Donovan's contract was not renewed, and both sides agreed to mutually part ways.{{cite press release |title=OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER AND BILLY DONOVAN AGREE TO MUTUALLY PART WAYS |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/donovan-200908 |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |website=OKCThunder.com |date=September 8, 2020 |access-date=May 15, 2021 |archive-date=November 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122062726/https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/donovan-200908 |url-status=live}} On November 11, 2020, Mark Daigneault was promoted from the assistant coach position to become the new head coach.{{cite web |title=Thunder Names Mark Daigneault Head Coach |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/daigneault-201111 |website=NBA.com |access-date=June 30, 2021 |date=November 11, 2020 |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124044501/https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/daigneault-201111 |url-status=live}}
Before the start of the 2020–21 NBA season, Chris Paul was traded to the Phoenix Suns for Kelly Oubre Jr., Ricky Rubio, two additional players and a 2022 first-round draft pick.{{cite web |publisher=NBA |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/acquisitions-201116 |title=Thunder Acquires Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque, Kelly Oubre Jr., Ricky Rubio and 2022 First-Round Draft Pick |date=November 16, 2020 |access-date=June 30, 2021 |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222021757/https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/acquisitions-201116 |url-status=live}} Oubre, Rubio and several Thunder veterans from the 2019–20 season, such as Steven Adams, Dennis Schröder and Danilo Gallinari, were traded away in the next several days as well, with Thunder receiving draft picks as part of compensation in most of those transactions. Overall, Thunder executed 14 separate trades after the end of the 2019–20 season and before the 2021 trade deadline.
File:Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - Thunder vs. Wizards.png in a game in 2022]]
Five-time NBA All-Star Al Horford was one of the players acquired before the season.{{cite web |publisher=NBA |url=https://www.nba.com/news/thunder-officially-complete-trade-for-al-horford |title=Thunder officially complete trade for Al Horford |date=December 8, 2020 |access-date=June 30, 2021 |archive-date=June 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623095205/https://www.nba.com/news/thunder-officially-complete-trade-for-al-horford |url-status=live}} After one season, he was also traded for four-time All-Star Kemba Walker,{{cite web |publisher=NBA |url=https://www.nba.com/news/celtics-trade-kemba-walker-picks-to-thunder |title=Celtics trade Kemba Walker, picks to Thunder |date=June 18, 2021 |access-date=June 30, 2021 |archive-date=June 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623064535/https://www.nba.com/news/celtics-trade-kemba-walker-picks-to-thunder |url-status=live}} with Thunder acquiring first-round draft picks as well in both transactions.
By the summer of 2021, Thunder accumulated 36 total draft picks over the next seven years, 18 in the first round and 18 in the second.{{cite web |publisher=NBA Canada |url=https://ca.nba.com/news/oklahoma-city-thunder-a-complete-guide-to-the-franchises-future-nba-draft-picks/1kawi5xe61qvl1lylxqz1aqwop |title=Oklahoma City Thunder: A complete guide to the franchise's future NBA Draft picks |date=June 22, 2021 |access-date=June 30, 2021 |archive-date=June 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630173948/https://ca.nba.com/news/oklahoma-city-thunder-a-complete-guide-to-the-franchises-future-nba-draft-picks/1kawi5xe61qvl1lylxqz1aqwop |url-status=live}} In the 2021 NBA draft, Thunder drafted Josh Giddey, Alperen Şengün and Tre Mann with their first-round picks, Şengün was then traded for two future draft picks. On August 6, 2021, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signed a 5-year maximum contract extension worth $172 million.{{cite web |publisher=NBA |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/release/sga-contract-extension-210806 |title=Thunder Signs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Multi-Year Contract Extension |date=August 6, 2021 |access-date=August 24, 2021 |archive-date=May 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521161526/https://www.nba.com/thunder/release/sga-contract-extension-210806 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31945995 |title=Shai Gilgeous-Alexander agrees to 5-year, $172 million maximum rookie contract extension with Oklahoma City Thunder |date=August 3, 2021 |access-date=October 18, 2023 |archive-date=October 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020040030/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31945995 |url-status=live}} On the same day, Thunder waived Kemba Walker after he agreed to a buy-out.{{cite web |publisher=NBA |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/release/walker-210806 |title=Thunder Waives Kemba Walker |date=August 6, 2021 |access-date=August 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105115720/https://www.nba.com/thunder/release/walker-210806 |url-status=live}}
On May 1, 2021, the Thunder lost at home to the Indiana Pacers by 57 points, 152–95, the largest regular season home loss in NBA history and one point less than the record-holding New Orleans Hornets home playoff loss in 2009.{{cite web |title=2009 NBA Western Conference First Round Game 4: Denver Nuggets at New Orleans Hornets Box Score |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200904270NOH.html |website=basketball-reference.com |access-date=November 25, 2023 |archive-date=August 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829140309/https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200904270NOH.html |url-status=live}} During the next season, on December 2, 2021, the Thunder lost on the road to the Memphis Grizzlies by 73 points, 79–152, the largest loss in NBA history.{{cite web |title=Grizzlies set NBA record with 73-point victory over Thunder |url=https://www.nba.com/news/grizzlies-set-nba-record-with-73-point-victory-over-thunder |website=NBA.com |access-date=December 3, 2021 |date=December 2, 2021 |archive-date=December 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203043801/https://www.nba.com/news/grizzlies-set-nba-record-with-73-point-victory-over-thunder |url-status=live}}
At the 2022 NBA draft, the Thunder used their second overall pick to select Chet Holmgren and the twelfth pick to select Jalen Williams.{{cite news |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/nba/thunder/2022/06/23/nba-draft-2022-okc-thunder-selects-gonzaga-chet-holmgren-no-2/7711327001/ |title=NBA Draft 2022: OKC Thunder selects Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren with No. 2 overall pick |work=The Oklahoman |first=Joe |last=Mussatto |date=June 23, 2022 |access-date=June 25, 2022 |archive-date=October 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027071206/https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/nba/thunder/2022/06/23/nba-draft-2022-okc-thunder-selects-gonzaga-chet-holmgren-no-2/7711327001/ |url-status=live}} On August 25, 2022, it was announced that Holmgren would miss the entire 2022–23 NBA season due to a Lisfranc injury in his foot that occurred during a Pro-am game.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34457655 |title=Holmgren to miss '22-23 season with foot injury |date=August 25, 2022 |access-date=August 31, 2022 |archive-date=November 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105211255/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34457655 |url-status=live}} In the 2022–23 season, the Thunder finished regular season with the 10th-best record in the Western conference, qualifying for the play-in-tournament. After defeating the New Orleans Pelicans in their first play-in game,{{cite news |publisher=ESPN |first=Andrew |last=Lopez |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/36174697 |title=Thunder oust Pelicans in play-in, to face Wolves for 8-seed |date=April 13, 2023 |access-date=April 19, 2023 |archive-date=April 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422005500/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/36174697 |url-status=live}} the Thunder lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves and did not qualify for the playoffs despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's leap to superstardom, averaging 31.1 points per game.{{cite news |publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/401539676 |title=Wolves go big to beat Thunder in play-in game, get 8th seed |date=April 15, 2023 |access-date=April 19, 2023 |archive-date=April 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419040409/https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/401539676 |url-status=live}}
==2023–present: Return to championship contention==
In the 2023–24 season, the Thunder acquired former All-Star Gordon Hayward. Chet Holmgren returned from injury and made an immediate impact as a rookie, Jalen Williams improved and Gilgeous-Alexander made his second All Star team and would later place second in MVP voting. On March 31, 2024, against the New York Knicks, the Thunder officially clinched a playoff berth with a 113–112 victory – their first playoff berth since the 2019–20 season. The Thunder finished with a record of 57 wins and 25 losses, clinching the top seed in the Western Conference for the first time since 2012–13. Mark Daigneault won the Coach Of The Year Award as the Thunder swept the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round becoming the youngest team to ever win a playoff series at an average age of 25 years old, but would lose to Luka Dončić's Dallas Mavericks in six games, even though they were up 17 points at one point in the series-deciding game 6.
Their first move in the off-season was trading starting guard Josh Giddey for the Chicago Bulls' guard Alex Caruso. Isaiah Hartenstein was also signed as a backup to Chet Holmgren who was now entering his sophomore year. The Thunder signed Nikola Topić, Dillon Jones and Ajay Mitchell to rookie contracts{{Cite web |date=October 8, 2024 |title=Thunder Rookie Voted one of the 2024 NBA Draft's 'Biggest Steals' |url=https://www.si.com/nba/thunder/news/okc-thunder-rookie-voted-one-of-the-2024-nba-draft-s-biggest-steals |access-date=October 9, 2024 |website=SI.com}} as the Thunder went into the 2024–25 season with high expectations.{{Cite web |last=Crain |first=Nick |title=Predicting The OKC Thunder's 2024-25 Record |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholascrain/2024/09/27/predicting-the-okc-thunders-2024-25-record/ |access-date=October 9, 2024 |website=Forbes}}
After 10 games of good play, Holmgren went down with a rare hip injury and was announced to miss at least eight weeks leaving the Thunder short-handed with Hartenstein also being out.{{Cite web |title=OKC's Holmgren has pelvic fracture after hard fall |url=https://www.espn.com.au/nba/story/_/id/42317818/thunder-chet-holmgren-exits-vs-warriors-hip-injury |access-date=November 13, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |date=November 11, 2024}} After missing the first 15 games of the season, Hartenstein returned on November 20, 2024.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}
Even without Holmgren, the Thunder beat the Houston Rockets to advance to the NBA Cup finals. They faced the Milwaukee Bucks, but lost the game 97–81.{{Cite web |title=2024 NBA Cup: Bucks claim title, Giannis wins MVP |url=https://www.espn.com.au/nba/story/_/id/40544747/2024-nba-season-tournament-format-schedule-groups |access-date=December 23, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |date=December 18, 2024}} Despite this loss, the Thunder achieved their longest win streak in franchise history, setting a record at 15 consecutive wins.{{cite magazine |title=OKC Thunder vs. New York Knicks: Game Preview, Betting Odds, How to Watch |url=https://www.si.com/nba/thunder/news/okc-thunder-vs-new-york-knicks-game-preview-betting-odds-how-to-watch-jan-3 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=January 3, 2025}} The streak ended when they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who themselves were on a 10-game winning streak. It was the first time that a team on a 15-game winning streak had played a team on a 10-game winning streak in NBA history.{{Cite web |title=A Finals preview? What we learned from this epic Cavs-Thunder game |url=https://www.espn.com.au/nba/story/_/id/43338041/takeaways-cavaliers-thunder-game-year-nba |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=ESPN.com |date=2025-01-09}} Mark Daigneault was chosen as the head coach of one of the teams in the 2025 NBA All-Star Game.{{Cite web |title=Thunder's Daigneault earns All-Star coach nod |url=https://www.espn.com.au/nba/story/_/id/43486423/thunder-mark-daigneault-coach-1-nba-all-star-game-4-teams |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=ESPN.com |date=2025-01-20}} Gilgeous-Alexander was selected for his third straight All-Star Game and second start in a row and Jalen Williams made his first All-Star team as a reserve.{{Cite web |title=NBA All-Star rosters 2025: Full list of starters, voting results from Eastern and Western Conference |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/nba/news/nba-all-star-rosters-voting-results-2025-eastern-western/385babe378b735bf4df36633 |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=sportingnews.com|date=2025-01-24}} On March 27, 2025, in a 125–104 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, the Thunder set a franchise record for total wins in a season at 61, beating the previous record of 60 wins set in the 2012–13 season on a 37-point outing from Gilgeous-Alexander and a double-double from Hartenstein.{{Cite web |title=Thunder 125-104 Grizzlies (Mar 27, 2025) Final Score|url= https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401705630/grizzlies-thunder |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=ESPN.com |date=2025-03-27}} They finished the season with the top spot in the league with 68 wins. On May 8, the Thunder scored 87 points, breaking the record for most points in first half of an NBA playoff game. The previous record of 86 points was held by the Cleveland Cavaliers, set during the 2017 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors.{{Cite web |title=Record Breaking Oklahoma City Thunder Cruise Past Denver Nuggets In Game 2 |url=https://ussportingnews.com/record-breaking-oklahoma-city-thunder-cruise-past-denver-nuggets-in-game-2 |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=ussportingnews.com |date=2025-05-08}} In May 2025, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named NBA's most valuable player, becoming the third player in franchise history to receive the award,{{cite web |title=Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named 2024-25 Kia NBA MVP |url=https://www.nba.com/news/kia-nba-most-valuable-player-award-2024-25-shai-gilgeous-alexander |website=NBA |access-date=May 24, 2025 |date=May 21, 2025}} and was also named to All-NBA first team, while Jalen Williams made the All-NBA third team.{{cite web |title=Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo anchor 2024-25 Kia All-NBA Team |url=https://www.nba.com/news/2024-25-all-nba-teams-announced |website=NBA.com |access-date=May 24, 2025 |date=May 23, 2025}} The Thunder advanced to the NBA Finals and defeated the Indiana Pacers in seven games to win their first NBA championship since moving to Oklahoma City.{{Cite news |last=Kram|first=Zach|date=2025-06-22 |title=NBA Finals 2025: SGA's legacy after Thunder's historic title run
|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45539190/nba-finals-2025-thunder-sga-legacy-historic-title-run |access-date=2025-06-22 |work=ESPN|language=en}}
Season-by-season record
List of the last five seasons completed by the Thunder. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Oklahoma City Thunder seasons.
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, W–L% = Winning percentage
class="wikitable" | ||||||
style="font-weight:bold; {{NBA color cell|Oklahoma City Thunder}};"
| Season | GP | W | L | W–L% | Finish | Playoffs |
2020–21 | 72 | 22 | 50 | {{Winning percentage|22|50}} | 5th, Northwest | Did not qualify |
2021–22 | 82 | 24 | 58 | {{Winning percentage|24|58}} | 5th, Northwest | Did not qualify |
2022–23 | 82 | 40 | 42 | {{Winning percentage|40|42}} | 3rd, Northwest | Did not qualify |
2023–24 | 82 | 57 | 25 | {{winning percentage|57|25}} | 1st, Northwest | Lost in conference semifinals, 2–4 (Mavericks) |
style="font-weight:bold;"
| 2024–25 | 82 | 68 | 14 | {{winning percentage|68|14}} | 1st, Northwest | NBA champions, 4–3 (Pacers) |
Franchise accomplishments
{{Main|Oklahoma City Thunder accomplishments and records|Seattle SuperSonics#High points}}
=Single game records=
- Points: 58 (2 times), by Fred Brown vs. Golden State Warriors, March 23, 1974, and Russell Westbrook vs. Portland Trail Blazers, March 8, 2017{{cite book |chapter=Individual Records |chapter-url=http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.element/media/2.0/teamsites/thunder/ThunderMediaGuide1516.pdf#page=124 |title=2015–16 Oklahoma City Thunder Media Guide |url=http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.element/media/2.0/teamsites/thunder/ThunderMediaGuide1516.pdf |publisher=NBA Properties, Inc. |date=October 26, 2015 |access-date=May 7, 2016 |archive-date=January 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123041404/http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.element/media/2.0/teamsites/thunder/ThunderMediaGuide1516.pdf |url-status=dead}}
- Rebounds: 30, Jim Fox vs. Los Angeles Lakers, December 26, 1973
- Assists: 25, by Nate McMillan vs. Los Angeles Clippers, February 23, 1987
- Steals: 10 (2 times), by Gus Williams vs. New Jersey Nets, February 22, 1978, and Fred Brown vs. Philadelphia 76ers, December 3, 1976
- Blocks: 11, by Serge Ibaka vs. Denver Nuggets, February 19, 2012
Home arenas
Note: All arenas used before 2008 were used by the defunct Seattle SuperSonics franchise.
Seattle arenas had hosted two NBA All-Star Games; the 1974 game in Seattle Center Coliseum and the 1987 game in the Kingdome, where SuperSonics forward Tom Chambers grabbed MVP honors.
- Seattle Center Coliseum 1967–1978 (occasionally used during the Kingdome years when the latter was unavailable due to either Seattle Mariners or Seattle Seahawks games)
- Kingdome 1978–1985
- Seattle Center Coliseum 1985–1994
- Tacoma Dome 1994–1995 (During Seattle Center Coliseum renovation)
- KeyArena (the remodeled and renamed Seattle Center Coliseum) 1995–2008
=Paycom Center (2008–present)=
{{main|Paycom Center}}
Opened on June 8, 2002, as the Ford Center, Paycom Center was built without luxury accommodations but designed to accommodate luxury "buildouts" should a professional sports franchise make the Paycom Center their home arena. It was finished at a cost of $89.2 million.{{cite web |title=About the Arena |url=http://www.chesapeakearena.com/about-the-arena/overview |website=ChesapeakeArena.com |access-date=November 10, 2020 |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125184434/http://www.chesapeakearena.com/about-the-arena/overview |url-status=live}}
A plan for such build-out improvements began in 2007. It came in the wake of the acquisition of the Seattle SuperSonics by an Oklahoma City-based ownership group the previous October. A city ballot initiative approved by a 62 percent margin on March 4, 2008, extended a prior one-cent city sales tax for a period of 15 months in order to fund $101 million in budgeted improvements to the arena and a separate $20 million practice facility for a relocated franchise.{{cite web |url=http://okc.about.com/od/politicalparties/a/fordcentervote.htm |title=Ford Center Arena Improvement Plan |last=Knapp |first=Adam |access-date=November 17, 2010 |publisher=About.com |archive-date=September 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924022705/http://okc.about.com/od/politicalparties/a/fordcentervote.htm |url-status=dead}}
Renovation work on the arena was delayed by a sales tax-receipts shortfall during the 2008–10 economic crisis.{{cite web |url=http://www.okc.gov/agendapub/cache/2/xo5hufii3c1njdqg3sqfuw55/98900111172010122518933.PDF |title=MAPS 3 Citizens Advisory Board Presentation |date=August 24, 2010 |work=City of Oklahoma City |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411001503/http://www.okc.gov/agendapub/cache/2/xo5hufii3c1njdqg3sqfuw55/98900111172010122518933.PDF |archive-date=April 11, 2016}} Revised plans limited the size of a new glass entryway and eliminated a practice court to accommodate the shortfall.{{cite web |last=Rohde |first=John |title=Ford Center practice gym eliminated from renovations |url=http://www.newsok.com/article/3483508 |work=The Oklahoman |date=August 8, 2010 |access-date=November 17, 2010 |archive-date=June 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614035040/http://www.newsok.com/article/3483508 |url-status=dead}} Major construction work on the arena expansion was also delayed from the summer of 2010 to the summer of 2011. Seating capacity of the stadium is 18,203 for professional NBA basketball games.
Similar revisions were made to the plans for the Thunder's separate practice facility, for a total savings of approximately $14 million.{{cite web |url=http://www.newsok.com/article/3474044 |title=Oklahoma City might save as much as $14 million on Ford Center renovations, practice facility |work=The Oklahoman |date=July 7, 2010 |access-date=November 17, 2010 |archive-date=March 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302185413/http://www.newsok.com/article/3474044 |url-status=dead}} The Thunder's practice facility completion date was pushed back to approximately March 2011.{{cite web |last=Rohde |first=John |title=Thunder practice facility set for March completion |url=http://newsok.com/thunder-practice-facility-set-for-march-completion/article/3515264 |work=The Oklahoman |date=November 16, 2010 |access-date=November 17, 2010 |archive-date=January 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121180616/http://newsok.com/thunder-practice-facility-set-for-march-completion/article/3515264 |url-status=live}} Chesapeake Energy, which had naming rights after 2011 filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy on June 28, 2020, with a debt of $9 billion, with the effect on the arena's naming rights not yet known at that time.{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29380797 |title=Chesapeake Energy Corporation, company with ties to Thunder, files for bankruptcy |last=Young |first=Royce |date=March 28, 2020 |work=ESPN.com |access-date=June 30, 2020 |archive-date=May 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502203200/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29380797 |url-status=live}} However, on April 20, 2021, the company terminated the deal as part of its corporate restructuring. The arena retained its name during the Thunder's search for a new sponsor.{{cite news |title=Thunder Plans Transition to New Arena Naming Rights Partner |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/corporatenews/naming-rights-210420 |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |website=OKCThunder.com |date=April 20, 2021 |access-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420143552/https://www.nba.com/thunder/corporatenews/naming-rights-210420 |url-status=live}}
On July 27, 2021, it was announced that Paycom will acquire the naming rights for the arena for a 15-year period, renaming it Paycom Center.{{cite press release |title=Thunder, Paycom Announce 15-Year Arena Naming Rights Agreement |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release-paycom-210727 |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |website=OKCThunder.com |date=July 27, 2021 |access-date=July 30, 2021 |archive-date=July 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730025937/https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release-paycom-210727 |url-status=live}}
=New Arena=
On September 12, 2023, Oklahoma City announced they were planning on building a new downtown arena for the Thunder at the cost of at least $900 million and with an estimated 2029 opening.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/38388729 |title=OKC unveils plan for new arena to keep Thunder through 2050 |work=ESPN.com |access-date=September 18, 2023 |date=September 12, 2023 |archive-date=October 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020040028/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/38388729 |url-status=live}} The team's owner requested that Oklahoma City provide most of the funding for the stadium construction cost. Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, an avid supporter of the stadium subsidy, stated that he was confident that the team would leave Oklahoma City unless the city paid for the new stadium.{{Cite web |date=September 28, 2023 |title=OKC Mayor confident Thunder team would leave if new arena vote doesn't pass |url=https://kfor.com/news/local/okc-mayor-confident-thunder-team-would-leave-if-new-arena-vote-doesnt-pass/ |website=KFOR.com Oklahoma City |access-date=December 13, 2023 |archive-date=December 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213121402/https://kfor.com/news/local/okc-mayor-confident-thunder-team-would-leave-if-new-arena-vote-doesnt-pass/ |url-status=live}} In a December 2023 referendum, Oklahoma City voters voted to pay for at least $850 million of the cost of the stadium while the team, valued at $3 billion, would pay $50 million.{{Cite web |date=December 10, 2023 |title=OKC voters mull sales tax to fund $900M arena |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39083237/oklahoma-city-voters-mull-tax-build-1b-arena-thunder |website=ESPN.com |access-date=December 13, 2023 |archive-date=December 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213121402/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39083237/oklahoma-city-voters-mull-tax-build-1b-arena-thunder |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Mussatto: OKC voters 'get game ball' after approving funding of new Thunder arena |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/nba/thunder/2023/12/12/okc-thunder-nba-david-holt-oklahoma-city-new-arena-vote/71902024007/ |website=The Oklahoman |access-date=December 13, 2023 |archive-date=December 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213121402/https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/nba/thunder/2023/12/12/okc-thunder-nba-david-holt-oklahoma-city-new-arena-vote/71902024007/ |url-status=live}} Economics professor J.C. Bradbury, who specializes in the study of stadium subsidies, wrote of the agreement, "It is by far the worst stadium deal I've ever seen negotiated from a public standpoint."
Mascots
=Rumble the Bison=
{{main|Rumble the Bison}}
On February 17, 2009, Rumble the Bison was introduced as the Oklahoma City Thunder mascot during halftime of a game against the New Orleans Hornets.{{cite news |title=Rumble the Bison Debuts as Thunder Mascot |url=http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/rumbledebuts_090217.html |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=February 17, 2009 |access-date=May 27, 2016 |archive-date=November 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104173943/http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/rumbledebuts_090217.html |url-status=live}} Rumble was the winner of the 2008–2009 NBA Mascot of the Year.{{cite press release |title=Rumble the Bison Named NBA Mascot of the Year |url=http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release_090813.html |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=August 13, 2009 |access-date=August 26, 2009 |archive-date=April 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411001514/http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release_090813.html |url-status=live}}
Fanbase
During the 2012 NBA Finals, sportswriter Bill Simmons published a piece on the team's fan base in his ESPN-sponsored Web outlet, Grantland.com, in which he noted the unusual enthusiasm of the city for its team:
{{cquote|With the possible exception of Portland, no NBA team means more to its city. This goes beyond having the loudest fans. There's genuine devotion here. These people arrived a good 45 minutes early for last night's Game 1—and by "these people" I mean "everyone with a ticket"—then clapped their way through pregame warm-ups with such infectious enthusiasm that I remember saying to a friend, "No way these yahoos keep this up for three hours, they're going to burn out." Wrong. You know what burned out? My eardrums. My head is still ringing.{{cite web |last=Simmons |first=Bill |author-link=Bill Simmons |title=Thunder Family Values |url=https://grantland.com/features/thunder-family-values |work=Grantland.com |date=June 13, 2012 |access-date=October 18, 2023 |archive-date=October 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022171638/https://grantland.com/features/thunder-family-values/ |url-status=live}}
}}
Simmons speculated that the Oklahoma City bombing played a major part in the team's culture, noting that Thunder general manager Sam Presti has every new Thunder player visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial, and encourages players to look into the stands and consider that many of the team's fans were personally affected by the event. He also noted, however, that the fact that the Thunder is the only team from Oklahoma City (or indeed the state of Oklahoma) in one of the nation's four major leagues contributes mightily to the city's devotion.
Thunder fans are also reportedly much more likely to attend major home games than most other NBA fanbases. According to a source in the ticket industry, only five percent of tickets to the 2012 NBA conference finals listed for sale on secondary market sites such as StubHub were for Thunder home games, and for every ticket listed for a Thunder home game in the 2012 NBA Finals, 10 tickets for Heat home games were listed.
The team and its fanbase regularly use the slogan "Thunder Up!" which was prominently displayed on T-shirts during the 2012 playoffs.
In the 2023–24 season, the Thunder ranked 23rd out of 30 teams in per-game attendance while filling under 96% of their arena on average.{{Cite web |title=2023-2024 NBA Attendance - National Basketball Association - ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/attendance/_/year/2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216234257/https://www.espn.com/nba/attendance/_/year/2024 |archive-date=February 16, 2025 |access-date=February 28, 2025}}
Personnel
=Current roster=
{{Oklahoma City Thunder roster}}
=Former players=
{{For|the complete list of players|Seattle SuperSonics all-time roster|Oklahoma City Thunder all-time roster}}
=Retained draft rights=
The Thunder hold the draft rights to the following unsigned draft picks who have been playing outside the NBA. A drafted player, either an international draftee or a college draftee who is not signed by the team that drafted him, is allowed to sign with any non-NBA teams. In this case, the team retains the player's draft rights in the NBA until one year after the player's contract with the non-NBA team ends.{{cite web |url=http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm |title=NBA Salary Cap FAQ – 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement |quote=If the player is already under contract to, or signs a contract with a non-NBA team, the team retains the player's draft rights for one year after the player's obligation to the non-NBA team ends. Essentially, the clock stops as long as the player plays pro ball outside the NBA. |first=Larry |last=Coon |author-link=Larry Coon |access-date=April 13, 2014 |archive-date=May 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527075033/http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm |url-status=live}} This list includes draft rights that were acquired from trades with other teams.
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%;"
! style="{{NBA color cell|Oklahoma City Thunder}};"|Draft ! style="{{NBA color cell|Oklahoma City Thunder}};"|Round ! style="{{NBA color cell|Oklahoma City Thunder}};"|Pick ! style="{{NBA color cell|Oklahoma City Thunder}};"|Player ! style="{{NBA color cell|Oklahoma City Thunder}};"|Pos. ! style="{{NBA color cell|Oklahoma City Thunder}};"|Nationality ! style="{{NBA color cell|Oklahoma City Thunder}};"|Current team ! style="{{NBA color cell|Oklahoma City Thunder}};"|Note(s) ! class="unsortable" style="{{NBA color cell|Oklahoma City Thunder}};"|Ref |
=Individual awards=
For details on Seattle SuperSonics history, see Seattle SuperSonics records.
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
- Kevin Durant – 2014
- Russell Westbrook – 2017
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — 2025
NBA Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — 2025
NBA Finals Most Valuable Player
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — 2025
- Scott Brooks – 2012, 2014
- Mark Daigneault – 2025
- Scott Brooks – 2010
- Mark Daigneault – 2024
- James Harden – 2012
- Russell Westbrook – 2015
- Kevin Durant – 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014
- Russell Westbrook – 2015, 2017
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 2025
- Russell Westbrook – 2018, 2019
- Serge Ibaka – 2012, 2013
- Kevin Durant – 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
- Russell Westbrook – 2016, 2017
- Paul George – 2019
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 2023, 2024, 2025
- Russell Westbrook – 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018
- Kevin Durant – 2016
- Chris Paul – 2020
- Paul George – 2018
- Russell Westbrook – 2019
- Jalen Williams – 2025
- Serge Ibaka – 2012, 2013, 2014
- Paul George – 2019
- Luguentz Dort – 2025
- Thabo Sefolosha – 2010
- André Roberson – 2017
- Jalen Williams – 2025
{{Col-break}}
- Russell Westbrook – 2009
- Jalen Williams – 2023
- Chet Holmgren – 2024
- James Harden – 2010
- Steven Adams – 2014
- Josh Giddey – 2022
- Cason Wallace – 2024
- Kevin Durant – 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
- Russell Westbrook – 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
- Paul George – 2018, 2019
- Chris Paul – 2020
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 2023, 2024, 2025
- Jalen Williams – 2025
NBA All Star Game Most Valuable Player
- Kevin Durant – 2012
- Russell Westbrook – 2015, 2016
- Hamidou Diallo – 2019
- Kevin Durant – 2009
- Kevin Durant – 2009
- Jeff Green – 2009
- Russell Westbrook – 2009, 2010
- James Harden – 2010, 2011
- Serge Ibaka – 2011
- Steven Adams – 2014, 2015
- Alex Abrines – 2017
- Domantas Sabonis – 2017
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 2020
- Luguentz Dort – 2021
- Théo Maledon – 2021
- Josh Giddey – 2022, 2023
- Jalen Williams – 2023, 2024
- Chet Holmgren – 2024
- Cason Wallace – 2024{{col-end}}
=Retired numbers=
Since relocating from Seattle to Oklahoma City, the Thunder have officially retired one jersey number. On March 20, 2019, the club officially retired number 4 in honor of Nick Collison, who played for the team from 2003 to 2018.{{cite press release |title=Thunder Set to Retire Nick Collison's No. 4 |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/collison-190112 |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |website=OKCThunder.com |date=January 12, 2019 |access-date=November 19, 2019 |archive-date=December 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211080914/https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/collison-190112 |url-status=live}}
As the Thunder's original iteration, the Seattle SuperSonics had retired six numbers. In addition, the SuperSonics awarded an honorary microphone to longtime broadcaster Bob Blackburn, who had called the majority of the team's games from 1967 through 1992.{{cite web |title=Hanging From the Rafters |url=http://www.nba.com/history/retired_numbers.html |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=August 9, 2015 |access-date=August 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102231917/http://www.nba.com/history/retired_numbers.html |archive-date=November 2, 2012 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |last=Raley |first=Dan |title=Where Are They Now? Blackburn gave Sonics a voice |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Where-Are-They-Now-Blackburn-gave-Sonics-a-voice-1195822.php |newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=February 14, 2006 |access-date=August 9, 2015 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924143211/http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Where-Are-They-Now-Blackburn-gave-Sonics-a-voice-1195822.php |url-status=live}}
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
| colspan="5" style="{{NBA color cell|Oklahoma City Thunder}};"|Oklahoma City Thunder retired numbers | ||||
style="{{NBA color cell2|Oklahoma City Thunder}};"|No.
! style="{{NBA color cell2|Oklahoma City Thunder}};"|Player ! style="{{NBA color cell2|Oklahoma City Thunder}};"|Position ! style="{{NBA color cell2|Oklahoma City Thunder}};"|Tenure ! style="{{NBA color cell2|Oklahoma City Thunder}};"|Date | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gus Williams | G | 1977–1984 | March 26, 2004 |
4 | Nick Collison | F | 2003–2018 | March 20, 2019 |
10 | Nate McMillan | G | 1986–1998 1 | March 24, 1999 |
19 | Lenny Wilkens | G | 1968–1972 2 | October 19, 1979 |
24 | Spencer Haywood | F | 1970–1975 | February 26, 2007 |
32 | Fred Brown | G | 1971–1984 | November 6, 1986 |
43 | Jack Sikma | C | 1977–1986 | November 21, 1992 |
40px | Bob Blackburn | Broadcaster | 1967–1992 |
Notes:
- 1 Served as head coach (2000–2005).
- 2 Served as head coach (1969–1972; 1977–1985).
- The NBA retired Bill Russell's No. 6 for all its member teams on August 11, 2022.{{cite web |title=Bill Russell's No. 6 jersey to be retired throughout NBA |url=https://www.nba.com/news/bill-russells-no-6-jersey-to-be-retired-throughout-nba |website=NBA.com |access-date=August 24, 2022 |date=August 11, 2022 |archive-date=August 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817080803/https://www.nba.com/news/bill-russells-no-6-jersey-to-be-retired-throughout-nba |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Golliver |first=Ben |title=NBA permanently retires Bill Russell's No. 6 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/08/11/bill-russell-nba-jersey-retirement/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=August 24, 2022 |date=August 11, 2022 |archive-date=November 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107143239/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/08/11/bill-russell-nba-jersey-retirement/ |url-status=live}}
=Basketball Hall of Famers=
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||
colspan="5" style="{{NBA color cell|Oklahoma City Thunder}};"|Oklahoma City Thunder Hall of Famers | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
colspan="5" style="text-align:center; {{NBA color cell2|Oklahoma City Thunder}};"|Players | ||||
No. | Name | Position | Tenure | Inducted |
7 | Carmelo Anthony | F | 2017–2018 | 2025 |
colspan="5" style="text-align:center; {{NBA color cell2|Oklahoma City Thunder}};"|Coaches | ||||
colspan="2"|Name || Position || Tenure || Inducted | ||||
colspan="2"|Billy Donovan | Head coach | 2015–2020 | 2025 |
Staff
=General managers=
{{For|complete list of Seattle SuperSonics general managers|Seattle SuperSonics#General managers}}
- 2008–present: Sam Presti
Head coaches
{{Main|List of Oklahoma City Thunder head coaches}}
Logos and uniforms
The Oklahoma City Thunder unveiled their first logo on September 3, 2008. According to majority owner Clay Bennett, the team's logo takes several of its elements from other Oklahoma sports teams, such as the Oklahoma Sooners and Oklahoma State Cowboys and Cowgirls.{{cite web |title=Defining Moments: 10 Years of Thunder Basketball |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/10/definingmoments |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=July 2, 2018 |access-date=December 20, 2018 |archive-date=December 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220231210/https://www.nba.com/thunder/10/definingmoments |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Baldwin |first=Mike |title=Sky blue will be the color |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/2008/09/04/sky-blue-will-be-the-color/61545043007/ |newspaper=The Oklahoman |date=September 4, 2008 |access-date=May 20, 2016 |archive-date=December 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201005024/https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/2008/09/04/sky-blue-will-be-the-color/61545043007/ |url-status=live}} The uniform design was unveiled on September 29, 2008.{{cite press release |title=Thunder Jerseys Available for Presale |url=http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/jerseys_080930.html |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=September 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091202095222/http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/jerseys_080930.html |archive-date=December 2, 2009 |access-date=May 20, 2016}}{{cite news |last=Baldwin |first=Mike |title=The uniform: Thunder players turn models |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/college/2008/09/30/the-uniform-thunder-players-turn-models/61532056007/ |newspaper=The Oklahoman |date=September 30, 2008 |access-date=May 20, 2016 |archive-date=December 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201000819/https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/college/2008/09/30/the-uniform-thunder-players-turn-models/61532056007/ |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Thunder 'flashes' new uniforms |url=https://www.news9.com/story/5e35b8a583eff40362bf3be3/thunder-flashes-new-uniforms |publisher=KWTV-DT |date=September 22, 2008 |access-date=October 2, 2008 |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125144006/https://www.news9.com/story/5e35b8a583eff40362bf3be3/thunder-flashes-new-uniforms |url-status=live}}
An alternate uniform was unveiled on November 8, 2012, featuring only navy blue and white colors. Unlike their regular uniforms, the wordmarks on the alternate are written vertically.{{cite news |last=Dwyer |first=Kelly |title=The Oklahoma City Thunder unveil alternate uniforms, to mild local acclaim |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/oklahoma-city-thunder-unveil-alternate-uniforms-mild-local-152303049--nba.html |work=Yahoo! Sports |date=November 9, 2012 |access-date=November 10, 2012 |archive-date=November 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112195430/http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/oklahoma-city-thunder-unveil-alternate-uniforms-mild-local-152303049--nba.html |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Thunder Alternate Uniform, November 9, 2012 |url=http://www.nba.com/thunder/features/uniform_inspiration |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=November 9, 2012 |access-date=November 9, 2012 |archive-date=November 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110232821/http://www.nba.com/thunder/features/uniform_inspiration |url-status=live}}
A second alternate uniform was unveiled on March 1, 2015. A white uniform with sleeves, it features the Thunder partial logo in the center of the chest, and the shorts showcase bolts in light blue and sunset colors.{{cite press release |title=New Thunder Uniform Reflects Hometown Spirit |url=http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release_pridejersey_150301 |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=March 1, 2015 |access-date=March 1, 2015 |archive-date=March 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303034220/http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release_pridejersey_150301 |url-status=live}}
A third alternate uniform was unveiled on September 25, 2015. A sunset-colored uniform, it features the Oklahoma City abbreviation "OKC" in navy block letters trimmed in white. On the back of the jersey, player names sit below the numbers. The shorts display a sunset base with navy panels down the side showcasing the Thunder partial logo on each leg. The Thunder wore the sunset alternates for 18 games in the 2015–2016 season, including all 13 of its Sunday games.{{cite press release |title=Thunder Unveils New Alternate Uniform for 2015-16 |url=http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release_sunset_uniforms_150925 |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=September 25, 2015 |access-date=September 26, 2015 |archive-date=September 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925224452/http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release_sunset_uniforms_150925 |url-status=live}}
Moving to Nike in 2017, the Thunder kept their existing white ("Association") and blue ("Icon") uniforms almost intact with the exception of the "OKC" abbreviation on the beltline and truncated shoulder stripes.{{cite press release |title=New Technology Helps Nike Build Thunder Uniforms |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/nike-uniforms-170726 |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=July 27, 2017 |access-date=December 26, 2018 |archive-date=December 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226192933/https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/nike-uniforms-170726 |url-status=live}} The team also released a new alternate "Statement" uniform with an italicized "OKC" lettering in sunset orange and a navy base with blue gradients that evoke sound waves generated from the team's fan base.{{cite press release |title=New Thunder Alternate Uniform Makes a Statement |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/statement-uniform-170915 |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=September 15, 2017 |access-date=December 26, 2018 |archive-date=December 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226203000/https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/statement-uniform-170915 |url-status=live}}
The Thunder also collaborated with Nike to produce annual "City" edition uniforms that intend to pay tribute to local cultures or team traditions. The 2017–18 "City" uniform featured a grey base with sunset orange and blue lines that were inspired by the Thunder's uptempo style.{{cite press release |title=Nike NBA City Edition Uniform |url=https://news.nike.com/news/nike-nba-city-edition-uniform |website=Nike.com |publisher=Nike, Inc. |date=December 27, 2017 |access-date=December 26, 2018 |archive-date=December 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228005007/https://news.nike.com/news/nike-nba-city-edition-uniform |url-status=live}} For 2018–19, the Thunder's "City" uniform featured a turquoise base and bold white lettering with navy and sunset orange trim; the uniform was inspired by Oklahoma's Native American heritage.{{cite press release |title=Thunder Unveils New Turquoise Uniform Honoring Oklahoma's Native American Heritage |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/corporate-news/native-heritage-uniforms-181101 |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=November 1, 2018 |access-date=December 26, 2018 |archive-date=December 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226202955/https://www.nba.com/thunder/corporate-news/native-heritage-uniforms-181101 |url-status=live}}
Nike also released an "Earned" uniform starting with the 2018–19 season and were only given to the 16 teams who qualified in the 2018 NBA playoffs. The Thunder's "Earned" uniform was a basic palette swap of the team's "Statement" uniforms, featuring a sunset orange base and navy letters.{{cite press release |title=Teams unveil Earned Edition uniforms for 2018-19 season |url=http://www.nba.com/article/2018/12/12/nba-unveils-earned-edition-uniforms |website=NBA.com |date=December 12, 2018 |access-date=December 26, 2018 |archive-date=December 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212210203/http://www.nba.com/article/2018/12/12/nba-unveils-earned-edition-uniforms |url-status=live}}
Beginning with the 2019–20 season, the Thunder unveiled new uniforms. The white "Association" uniform now featured the city name in front along with the outline of the state of Oklahoma on the beltline. The front of the blue "Icon" uniform now reads the team name in front while keeping the OKC acronym on the beltline. Their sunset orange "Earned" uniforms from the previous season became the basis of their new "Statement" uniform, albeit with lighter blue lettering. A new "City" uniform for the season commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing and it featured a black and gold palette.{{cite press release |title=Thunder unveil new uniform in partnership with Oklahoma City National Memorial |url=https://www.nba.com/news/thunder-unveil-city-edition-uniform-okc-memorial-official-release |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |website=NBA.com |date=July 23, 2019 |access-date=May 6, 2024}}
The "City" uniform for 2020–21 contained a black base along with the Thunder's signature blue and orange colors splashed throughout. The uniform featured the state name "Oklahoma" in front as homage to the state itself.{{cite press release |title=Thunder reveal new state-inspired City Edition uniforms |url=https://www.nba.com/news/thunder-reveal-new-state-inspired-city-edition-uniforms |website=NBA.com |date=November 16, 2020 |access-date=November 21, 2020 |archive-date=November 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121034444/https://www.nba.com/news/thunder-reveal-new-state-inspired-city-edition-uniforms |url-status=live}} As in 2019, the Thunder's appearance in the 2020 NBA playoffs gave them an "Earned" uniform for the 2021 season. The uniform featured a navy blue base with "Thunder" written in white with light blue drop shadows. Orange was noticeably absent on the uniform.{{cite press release |title=Nike Earned Edition Jersey: Oklahoma City Thunder |url=https://www.nba.com/news/nike-earned-edition-jersey-oklahoma-city-thunder |website=NBA.com |date=March 7, 2021 |access-date=March 28, 2021 |archive-date=March 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325214712/https://www.nba.com/news/nike-earned-edition-jersey-oklahoma-city-thunder |url-status=live}}
The Thunder's 2021–22 "City" uniform mixed various elements from their previous and current uniforms. The white and gray uniform featured the vertically arranged "OKC" lettering on the right chest (taken from the 2012–16 navy alternates), the white and gray patterns within the "OKC" lettering (taken from the 2017–19 "Statement" uniforms), the white and gray sash on the left leg (taken from the 2018–19 "City" uniforms), and the generic logo the Thunder first used in 2008 on the waist.{{citation |title=Thunder 2021–22 City edition |url=https://okcthunder.com/city/ |website=NBA.com |access-date=November 6, 2021 |archive-date=November 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106074951/https://okcthunder.com/city/ |url-status=live}}
For the Thunder's 2022–23 "City" uniform, they went with a black base, blue letters and red, orange and white accents in honor of the people of Oklahoma.{{cite news |title=Oklahoma City Thunder 22/23 City Edition Uniform: Unity |url=https://www.nba.com/news/oklahoma-city-thunder-city-edition |website=NBA.com |date=November 10, 2022 |access-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114054447/https://www.nba.com/news/oklahoma-city-thunder-city-edition |url-status=live}}
The "City" uniform for the 2023–24 season is a black and blue base with orange "OKC" lettering and gold numbers. The uniform also featured sublimated images of various Thunder logos and wordmarks, and were meant to pay tribute to the city's renaissance.{{cite news |title=Oklahoma City Thunder 2023-24 City Edition Uniform: OKC's Renaissance |url=https://www.nba.com/news/oklahoma-city-thunder-2023-24-city-edition-uniform-okcs-renaissance |website=NBA.com |date=November 2, 2023 |access-date=February 2, 2024 |archive-date=February 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203020114/https://www.nba.com/news/oklahoma-city-thunder-2023-24-city-edition-uniform-okcs-renaissance |url-status=live}} This look was further developed for the 2024–25 "City" uniform, which like the 2022–23 "City" uniform, featured just the state name of "Oklahoma" in front. The black-based uniform had blue stripes with sublimated Thunder logos, along with gold letters.{{cite news |title=Thunder Unveils 2024-25 Nike NBA City Edition Uniform |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release-cityedition-241112 |website=NBA.com |date=November 12, 2024 |access-date=November 14, 2024}}
Television and radio
=Radio=
{{Main|Thunder Radio Network}}
All Thunder games are broadcast on the Thunder Radio Network, fronted by flagship stations WWLS-FM (98.1) and KWPN (640 AM) in Oklahoma City. Matt Pinto is the radio voice of the Thunder.{{cite news |title=Thunder Radio Network |url=http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/thunder_radio_network |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=March 7, 2015 |access-date=March 7, 2015 |archive-date=March 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313164551/http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/thunder_radio_network |url-status=live}}
=Television=
For their first two seasons, the Thunder's TV broadcasts were split between Fox Sports Oklahoma (a regional fork of Fox Sports Southwest), which broadcast most of the games, and independent station KSBI (channel 52), with around 65 Thunder games airing during the season and more than half of the games available in HD on Fox Sports Oklahoma, along with other team-related programming such as pre-game shows. Around 15 to 20 regular season games were broadcast over the air on KSBI, which had a network of re-broadcasters spanning the entire state. All televised games are called by Brian Davis on play-by-play and Michael Cage as color commentator.{{cite news |last=Bracht |first=Mel |title=FS Oklahoma to air Thunder games |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/2008/09/29/fs-oklahoma-to-air-thunder-games/61532101007/ |newspaper=The Oklahoman |date=September 29, 2008 |access-date=September 29, 2008 |archive-date=November 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130233612/https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/2008/09/29/fs-oklahoma-to-air-thunder-games/61532101007/ |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Bracht |first=Mel |title=KSBI to air Thunder games |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/article/3306605/ksbi-to-air-thunder-games |newspaper=The Oklahoman |date=October 3, 2008 |access-date=December 20, 2018}} During the 2009–10 season, KSBI telecast all Thunder games it aired in high definition (KSBI had previously aired in HD the first regular season game played at the Ford Center—against the Milwaukee Bucks on October 29, 2008—while all other games during the 2008–09 season were telecast on KSBI in standard definition).
On August 3, 2010, the Thunder signed a new exclusive multi-year agreement with Fox Sports Oklahoma (since rebranded as Bally Sports Oklahoma as of 2021), beginning with the 2010–11 season, ending the team's broadcasts on KSBI.{{cite news |title=Thunder Signs Exclusive Television Agreement with FOX Sports Southwest |url=http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/thunder_signs_tvFXSW_100803.html |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=August 3, 2010 |access-date=January 25, 2015 |archive-date=August 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820121608/http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/thunder_signs_tvFXSW_100803.html |url-status=live}} On October 22, 2012, the Thunder announced that Lesley McCaslin would be the new Thunder sideline reporter.{{cite news |last=Bracht |first=Mel |title=OKC Thunder: Lesley McCaslin named team's courtside reporter |url=http://newsok.com/lesley-mccaslin-named-okc-thunders-courtside-reporter/article/3721328 |newspaper=The Oklahoman |date=October 22, 2012 |access-date=October 27, 2012 |archive-date=February 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226122128/http://newsok.com/lesley-mccaslin-named-okc-thunders-courtside-reporter/article/3721328 |url-status=live}} On July 21, 2014, the Thunder announced that Long would not return to be its TV color commentator on Fox Sports Oklahoma.{{cite news |last=Mayberry |first=Darnell |title=Oklahoma City Thunder TV analyst Grant Long resigns from position |url=http://newsok.com/thunder-tv-analyst-grant-long-resigns-from-position/article/5011724 |newspaper=The Oklahoman |date=July 21, 2014 |access-date=January 25, 2015 |archive-date=November 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110094156/http://newsok.com/thunder-tv-analyst-grant-long-resigns-from-position/article/5011724 |url-status=live}} On September 17, 2014, the Oklahoma City Thunder announced that 15-year NBA veteran Michael Cage would be the new color analyst, joining Brian Davis on television and Matt Pinto on the radio when the game is exclusive to a national television broadcast.{{cite news |title=Michael Cage to Join Thunder Broadcast Team |url=http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release_cage_140917 |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=September 17, 2014 |access-date=January 25, 2015 |archive-date=December 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223024335/http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release_cage_140917 |url-status=live}} Davis was replaced as the television play-by-play announcer by Chris Fisher prior to the 2018–19 season.{{cite news |title=Chris Fisher Joins Thunder Broadcast Team on Fox Sports Oklahoma |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release-fisher-180924 |website=OKCThunder.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=September 24, 2018 |access-date=December 26, 2018 |archive-date=December 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226185941/https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release-fisher-180924 |url-status=live}}
As a result of the bankruptcy of Bally Sports parent company Diamond Sports Group, in January 2024, the Thunder reached an agreement with Griffin Media to air a package of eight Friday night games on local over-the-air stations within the team's territory during the remainder of the 2023–24 NBA season.{{Cite news |last=Mussatto |first=Joe |date=January 9, 2024 |title=OKC Thunder, Griffin Media agree to broadcast remaining 2023-24 Friday games locally |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/nba/thunder/2024/01/09/okc-thunder-griffin-media-broadcast-2023-24-friday-games-ksbi-news-on-6-now-bally-sports-nba/72157714007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109200720/https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/nba/thunder/2024/01/09/okc-thunder-griffin-media-broadcast-2023-24-friday-games-ksbi-news-on-6-now-bally-sports-nba/72157714007/ |archive-date=January 9, 2024 |access-date=January 9, 2024 |work=The Oklahoman}} Games will air on Griffin-owned KSBI/Oklahoma City and KOTV-DT3/Tulsa, and syndicated to stations owned by Gray Television (KSWO-DT3/Lawton and KSCW-DT/Wichita) and Morgan Murphy Media (KOAM-TV–KFJX–KFJX-DT3/Joplin–Pittsburg).{{cite news |title=Thunder Friday Nights |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/watchlocal |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |website=OKCThunder.com |access-date=January 9, 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Oklahoma City Thunder}}
- {{Official website}}
{{Oklahoma City Thunder}}
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Category:Sports in Oklahoma City
Category:Basketball teams established in 1967
Category:Basketball teams established in 2008