Oklahoma City Thunder facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oklahoma City Thunder
Conference	Western
Division	Northwest
Founded	1967
History	Seattle SuperSonics 1967–2008 Oklahoma City Thunder 2008–present
Arena	Paycom Center
Location	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Team colors	Thunder blue, sunset, yellow, dark blue
Main sponsor	Love's
General manager	Sam Presti
Head coach	Mark Daigneault
Ownership	Professional Basketball Club LLC (Clay Bennett, Chairman)
Affiliation(s)	Oklahoma City Blue
Championships	2 (1979, 2025)
Conference titles	5 (1978, 1979, 1996, 2012, 2025)
Division titles	13 (1979, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2024, 2025)
Retired numbers	7 (1, 4, 10, 19, 24, 32, 43)
Association Icon Statement

The Oklahoma City Thunder is a professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as part of the Western Conference's Northwest Division. The team's home games are held at Paycom Center.

The Thunder also own the Oklahoma City Blue, their team in the NBA G League. The Thunder is the only major professional sports team located in Oklahoma. Before the Thunder, Oklahoma City hosted the New Orleans Hornets for two seasons after Hurricane Katrina damaged New Orleans.

The team started as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1967. They moved from Seattle to Oklahoma City in July 2008. This happened after a deal was made between the team's owners and Seattle lawmakers. While in Seattle, the SuperSonics made it to the NBA playoffs 22 times and won the 1979 NBA championship.

As the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team reached the playoffs for the first time in the 2009–10 season. They won their first division title as the Thunder in 2010–11. In 2011–12, they won their first Western Conference championship and played in the NBA Finals. They returned to the NBA Finals in 2025 and won their second NBA championship, defeating the Indiana Pacers.

Team History

Seattle SuperSonics Era (1967–2008)

The team began as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1967. During their 41 seasons in Seattle, the SuperSonics had a strong record. They won three Western Conference championships (in 1978, 1979, and 1996). They also won one NBA title in 1979. In their last season in Seattle, they drafted Kevin Durant, who became a key player for the team's future success.

Durant and Westbrook Years (2008–2016)

Moving to Oklahoma City (2008–2009)

In 2006, the SuperSonics were sold to a group of investors from Oklahoma City. This group was led by Clay Bennett. In 2007, Bennett announced that the team would move to Oklahoma City.

Paycom Center became the home of the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008.

In June 2008, Seattle sued Bennett to keep the team. However, they reached a settlement. The team agreed to leave the SuperSonics name, logo, colors, and records in Seattle. These items could be used by a future NBA team in Seattle. On September 3, 2008, the team's new name, "Thunder," was announced. This name was chosen because Oklahoma is in "Tornado Alley." The team also drafted Russell Westbrook in 2008, who became another important player.

The Thunder played their first game in Oklahoma City on October 14, 2008. Their first regular season home game was against the Milwaukee Bucks. On November 2, they won their first game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After a tough start, the team improved. They fired their coach, P. J. Carlesimo, and Scott Brooks took over. The team finished the season with a 23–59 record, which was better than their last season in Seattle.

Rising to the Top (2009–2012)

Russell Westbrook

James Harden

Kevin Durant

Serge Ibaka

Westbrook, Harden, Durant, and Ibaka were key players for the Thunder.

The Thunder aimed to improve in their second season. They drafted James Harden in the 2009 NBA draft. The team showed great teamwork and leadership from Kevin Durant. Young players like Westbrook and Harden also grew stronger. The 2009–10 season included wins against many top NBA teams. Kevin Durant became the youngest player to win the scoring title, averaging 30.1 points per game.

The Thunder finished the season with a 50–32 record, more than double their wins from the previous year. They made it to the 2010 NBA playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference. They won their first playoff game in Oklahoma City against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers eventually won the series 4–2.

In the 2010–11 season, the Thunder finished with a 55–27 record. They won their first division title since moving to Oklahoma City. In the playoffs, they defeated the Denver Nuggets and the Memphis Grizzlies. This led them to the Western Conference finals against the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks won the series 4–1.

The 2011–12 season saw the Thunder continue to shine. Durant, Westbrook, and Harden were all selected for the 2012 All-Star Game. Coach Scott Brooks was named the head coach for the Western Conference All-Star team. In the 2012 NBA playoffs, the Thunder swept the defending champion Dallas Mavericks. They then beat the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs to reach the 2012 NBA Finals. In the Finals, they faced the Miami Heat. The Thunder won the first game but lost the series 4–1.

After the Finals (2012–2016)

2012–2013 Season

Before the 2012–13 season, the Thunder traded James Harden to the Houston Rockets. This trade brought Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb to the team. The Thunder finished the season with a 60–22 record, winning their division and the top spot in the Western Conference. In the playoffs, they faced the Houston Rockets. However, Russell Westbrook got injured in Game 2 and missed the rest of the playoffs. Without him, the Thunder lost to the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round.

2013–2014 Season

The Thunder drafted Steven Adams in the 2013 NBA draft.

In the 2013 NBA draft, the Thunder drafted Steven Adams. The team finished second in the Western Conference with a 59–23 record. They met the Memphis Grizzlies again in the playoffs, winning a tough seven-game series. They then defeated the Los Angeles Clippers but lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the conference finals.

2014–2016 Seasons

The 2014–15 season was challenging due to injuries to both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Despite Westbrook's strong performance, the Thunder missed the playoffs. After the season, Scott Brooks was fired as head coach, and Billy Donovan was hired. In the 2015–16 season, the Thunder won their division and reached the conference finals. They had a 3–1 lead against the Golden State Warriors but lost the series in seven games.

Russell Westbrook Era (2016–2019)

Durant Leaves, Westbrook Shines (2016–2017)

On July 4, 2016, Kevin Durant announced he was joining the Golden State Warriors. This was a big change for the Thunder. On August 4, 2016, Russell Westbrook signed an extension to stay with the team.

Westbrook had an amazing 2016–17 season. He became only the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double (double digits in points, rebounds, and assists) for an entire season. He also broke Oscar Robertson's record for most triple-doubles in a single season with 42. Westbrook was named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) after the season. The Thunder lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Houston Rockets.

Adding Paul George (2017–2019)

To make the team stronger, the Thunder traded for four-time All-Star Paul George in July 2017. They also added veteran players Raymond Felton and Patrick Patterson. In September 2017, the Thunder acquired ten-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony. Russell Westbrook also signed a five-year contract extension. The Thunder finished the 2017–18 season with a 48–34 record but lost to the Utah Jazz in the first round of the playoffs.

In July 2018, Paul George re-signed with the Thunder. The team also traded Carmelo Anthony and acquired Dennis Schröder and Nerlens Noel. The Thunder made the playoffs in 2019 but lost in the first round.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Era (2019–Present)

Chris Paul's Season (2019–2020)

General manager Sam Presti made big changes in July 2019. He traded Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers for Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and many future draft picks. Then, Russell Westbrook was traded to the Houston Rockets for Chris Paul and more draft picks.

Chris Paul was selected for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game. The Thunder made it to the NBA Bubble after the season was paused. They were eliminated in seven games by the Houston Rockets.

Building a Young Team (2020–2023)

After the 2019–20 season, coach Billy Donovan left the team. Mark Daigneault was promoted to head coach in November 2020. The Thunder continued to trade veteran players like Chris Paul, Steven Adams, and Dennis Schröder for more draft picks. By summer 2021, the Thunder had collected 36 draft picks for the next seven years.

In the 2021 NBA draft, the Thunder drafted Josh Giddey and Tre Mann. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signed a large contract extension in August 2021. The team had some tough losses during this period, including the largest loss in NBA history by 73 points in December 2021.

In the 2022 NBA draft, the Thunder drafted Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. Holmgren missed the entire 2022–23 NBA season due to an injury. In the 2022–23 season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became a superstar, averaging 31.1 points per game. The Thunder made it to the play-in tournament but did not qualify for the playoffs.

Return to Contention (2023–Present)

In the 2023–24 season, Chet Holmgren returned from injury and played very well. Jalen Williams also improved a lot. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made his second All-Star team and finished second in MVP voting. On March 31, 2024, the Thunder officially made the playoffs for the first time since 2020. They finished with a 57–25 record, earning the top seed in the Western Conference. Mark Daigneault won the Coach Of The Year Award. The Thunder swept the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round, becoming the youngest team to win a playoff series. However, they lost to the Dallas Mavericks in six games in the conference semifinals.

Their first move in the 2024 off-season was trading Josh Giddey for Alex Caruso. They also signed Isaiah Hartenstein. The Thunder had high hopes for the 2024–25 season. After 10 games, Holmgren suffered a hip injury and missed several weeks. Even without Holmgren, the Thunder reached the NBA Cup finals but lost to the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Thunder then achieved their longest win streak in franchise history with 15 consecutive wins. Mark Daigneault was chosen as an All-Star Game head coach. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was selected for his third straight All-Star Game, and Jalen Williams made his first All-Star team. On March 27, 2025, the Thunder set a franchise record for total wins in a season with 61. They finished the season with the best record in the league, 68 wins. In May 2025, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named NBA's Most Valuable Player. 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.

Season Records

Here are the results for the last five seasons. For a full list, see List of Oklahoma City Thunder seasons.

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, W–L% = Winning percentage

Team Achievements

Single Game Records

• Points: 58 (2 times), by Fred Brown (1974) and Russell Westbrook (2017)
• Rebounds: 30, Jim Fox (1973)
• Assists: 25, by Nate McMillan (1987)
• Steals: 10 (2 times), by Gus Williams (1978) and Fred Brown (1976)
• Blocks: 11, by Serge Ibaka (2012)

Home Arenas

Note: All arenas used before 2008 were used by the Seattle SuperSonics.

• Seattle Center Coliseum (1967–1978, 1985–1994)
• Kingdome (1978–1985)
• Tacoma Dome (1994–1995)
• KeyArena (1995–2008)

Paycom Center (2008–Present)

The Paycom Center opened in 2002 as the Ford Center. It was designed to be improved if a professional sports team moved in. In 2008, Oklahoma City voters approved a sales tax to fund $101 million in improvements for the arena.

The arena's seating capacity is 18,203 for NBA games. In July 2021, Paycom bought the naming rights for the arena for 15 years, renaming it Paycom Center.

New Arena Plans

On September 12, 2023, Oklahoma City announced plans to build a new downtown arena for the Thunder. It is expected to cost at least $900 million and open around 2029. The team's owner asked the city to pay most of the construction costs. In December 2023, Oklahoma City voters approved paying at least $850 million for the new stadium.

Team Mascots

• Wheedle, 1978–1985 (Seattle SuperSonics)
• Squatch, 1993–2008 (Seattle SuperSonics)

Rumble the Bison

Rumble the Bison became the Oklahoma City Thunder mascot on February 17, 2009. Rumble won the 2008–2009 NBA Mascot of the Year award.

Fan Support

The Oklahoma City Thunder has a very dedicated fan base. Sportswriter Bill Simmons noted in 2012 that the team means a lot to the city. He observed the fans' strong enthusiasm and devotion.

The team's general manager, Sam Presti, encourages new players to visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial. This helps players understand the city's history and the resilience of its people. The fact that the Thunder is the only major professional sports team in Oklahoma also adds to the city's strong support.

A popular slogan for the team and its fans is "Thunder Up!" This phrase was often seen on T-shirts during the 2012 playoffs.

Team Personnel

Current Roster

Former Players

Individual Awards

Retired Numbers

The Thunder has officially retired one jersey number since moving to Oklahoma City. On March 20, 2019, they retired number 4 for Nick Collison, who played for the team from 2003 to 2018.

The Seattle SuperSonics also retired six numbers and honored broadcaster Bob Blackburn.

Oklahoma City Thunder retired numbers
No.	Player	Position	Tenure	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
	Bob Blackburn	Broadcaster	1967–1992

Notes:

• ¹ Also served as head coach (2000–2005).
• ² Also served as head coach (1969–1972; 1977–1985).
• The NBA retired Bill Russell's No. 6 for all its teams on August 11, 2022.

Basketball Hall of Famers

Staff

General Managers

• 2008–present: Sam Presti

Head Coaches

Logos and Uniforms

The Oklahoma City Thunder showed their first logo on September 3, 2008. The logo uses elements from other Oklahoma sports teams. The team's uniform design was revealed on September 29, 2008.

Over the years, the Thunder have introduced different uniforms:

• An alternate navy blue and white uniform was unveiled in 2012.
• A white uniform with sleeves, featuring the Thunder logo, was shown in 2015.
• A sunset-colored uniform with "OKC" on the front was also unveiled in 2015.

When the NBA switched to Nike uniforms in 2017, the Thunder kept their main white ("Association") and blue ("Icon") uniforms. They also added a new "Statement" uniform with "OKC" in sunset orange.

The Thunder also create special "City" edition uniforms each year. These uniforms celebrate local culture or team history. For example, the 2018–19 "City" uniform was turquoise and honored Oklahoma's Native American heritage. The 2019–20 "City" uniform was black and gold, remembering the 25th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing.

New uniforms were introduced for the 2019–20 season. The white uniform now has the city name on the front. The blue uniform has the team name. The sunset orange "Earned" uniform became their new "Statement" uniform. The "City" uniform for 2020–21 was black with "Oklahoma" on the front.

The 2021–22 "City" uniform combined elements from past uniforms. The 2022–23 "City" uniform was black with blue letters and red, orange, and white accents, honoring the people of Oklahoma. The 2023–24 "City" uniform was black and blue with orange "OKC" lettering, celebrating the city's growth. The 2024–25 "City" uniform was black with blue stripes and gold letters, featuring the state name "Oklahoma" on the front.

Television and Radio

Radio

All Thunder games are broadcast on the Thunder Radio Network. The main stations are WWLS-FM (98.1) and KWPN (640 AM) in Oklahoma City. Matt Pinto is the radio announcer for the Thunder.

Television

For their first two seasons, Thunder games were shown on Fox Sports Oklahoma and KSBI (channel 52). In August 2010, the Thunder signed a new deal with Fox Sports Oklahoma (now Bally Sports Oklahoma). This made Bally Sports Oklahoma the only place to watch most Thunder games.

Brian Davis was the play-by-play announcer, and Michael Cage was the color commentator. Chris Fisher replaced Brian Davis in 2018.

In January 2024, the Thunder made a deal with Griffin Media to show some Friday night games on local TV stations. This happened because of financial issues with Bally Sports' parent company. These games are shown on KSBI/Oklahoma City and KOTV-DT3/Tulsa, and other stations across the region.

See also

In Spanish: Oklahoma City Thunder para niños