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	14 (1979, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2024, 2025, 2026)
Retired numbers	7 (1, 4, 10, 19, 24, 32, 43)
Association Icon Statement

The Oklahoma City Thunder is a professional basketball team located in Oklahoma City, USA. 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 owns the Oklahoma City Blue, their team in the NBA G League. The Thunder is the only major professional sports team in the state of Oklahoma. Before the Thunder arrived, Oklahoma City hosted the New Orleans Hornets for two seasons after a big storm in New Orleans.

The team started as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1967. In July 2008, the SuperSonics moved from Seattle to Oklahoma City. This happened after an agreement was reached between the team's owners and Seattle lawmakers. While in Seattle, the SuperSonics made it to the NBA playoffs 22 times. They won their division six times and reached the NBA Finals three times, winning the NBA championship in 1979.

As the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team first made the playoffs in the 2009–10 season. They won their first division title as the Thunder in 2010–11. In the 2011–12 season, they won their first Western Conference championship. This led them to the 2012 NBA Finals, their fourth Finals appearance in franchise history. They lost that series to the Miami Heat. In the 2025 NBA Finals, the Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers in seven games. This brought them their first NBA championship since moving to Oklahoma City.

Team History

The Seattle SuperSonics Years (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, a player who would become a future star.

Moving to Oklahoma City and the Durant-Westbrook Era (2008–2016)

The First Season in Oklahoma City (2008–2009)

In 2006, a group of investors from Oklahoma City bought the SuperSonics. They were led by Clay Bennett. In 2007, Bennett announced the team would move to Oklahoma City. This happened after their stadium lease in Seattle ended.

Paycom Center began hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008, then known as the Ford Center.

In June 2008, there was a disagreement about the team's stadium lease. The city of Seattle and the team owners reached an agreement. The owners agreed to leave the SuperSonics name, logo, and history in Seattle. These items could be used by a future NBA team in Seattle. On September 3, 2008, the new team name, "Thunder," was announced. It was chosen because Oklahoma is in "Tornado Alley." The team also drafted Russell Westbrook, who became another key player.

The Thunder played their first regular season home game in Oklahoma City against the Milwaukee Bucks. On November 2, 2008, they won their first game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After a tough start, the team improved. They finished the season with a 23–59 record. This was better than their last season in Seattle.

Rising to Become a Top Team (2009–2012)

Russell Westbrook

James Harden

Kevin Durant

Serge Ibaka

Westbrook, Harden, Durant, and Ibaka were key players in the Thunder's rise.

The Thunder continued to get better in their second season. They drafted James Harden in 2009. The team, led by Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Harden, showed great teamwork. Durant became the youngest player to win the NBA scoring title.

The Thunder finished the 2009–10 season with 50 wins and 32 losses. They made the 2010 NBA playoffs as the eighth seed. 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 won 55 games. They also won their first division title since moving to Oklahoma City. They advanced to the Western Conference finals but lost to the Dallas Mavericks.

The 2011–12 season saw the Thunder continue their success. They swept the defending champion Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2012 NBA playoffs. 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 and lost the series 4–1.

After the Finals Appearance (2012–2016)

Before the 2012–13 season, the Thunder traded James Harden to the Houston Rockets. They finished the season with 60 wins and were the top team in the Western Conference. However, Russell Westbrook got injured in the playoffs. The Thunder lost in the second round to the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Thunder selected Steven Adams as the 12th pick in the 2013 NBA draft.

In the 2013–14 season, the team finished second in the Western Conference. They again met the Memphis Grizzlies in the playoffs and won in seven games. They then defeated the Los Angeles Clippers but lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the conference finals.

The 2014–15 season was challenging due to injuries to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Despite Westbrook winning the scoring title, the Thunder missed the playoffs. After the season, coach Scott Brooks was replaced by Billy Donovan. In the 2015–16 season, the Thunder reached the conference finals again. They lost to the Golden State Warriors in seven games, even after leading the series 3–1.

The Russell Westbrook Era (2016–2019)

Durant Leaves and Westbrook's MVP Season (2016–2017)

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

Westbrook had an incredible 2016–17 season. He became only the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season. He also set a new 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 help Westbrook, the Thunder made some big trades. In July 2017, they acquired four-time All-Star Paul George from the Indiana Pacers. They also added Carmelo Anthony from the New York Knicks. Westbrook signed a five-year contract extension. The Thunder finished the 2017–18 season with 48 wins 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 traded Carmelo Anthony and acquired Dennis Schröder. The Thunder made the playoffs again in 2019 but lost in the first round.

The Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Era (2019–Present)

The Chris Paul Season (2019–2020)

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

Chris Paul led the team to a strong season. He was selected for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game. The Thunder made it to the NBA Bubble playoffs. They lost a close seven-game series to the Houston Rockets.

Building a Young Team (2020–2023)

After the 2019–20 season, coach Billy Donovan left the team. Mark Daigneault became the new head coach. The Thunder continued to trade veteran players like Chris Paul and Steven Adams for more draft picks. This helped them build a team with many young talents.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in a game in 2022

By 2021, the Thunder had gathered 36 draft picks for the next seven years. They drafted Josh Giddey and Chet Holmgren with high picks. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signed a long-term contract. In the 2022–23 season, Gilgeous-Alexander became a superstar, averaging 31.1 points per game. The team made the play-in tournament but did not qualify for the playoffs.

Championship Contention and Victory (2023–Present)

In the 2023–24 season, Chet Holmgren returned from injury and played very well. Jalen Williams also improved, and Gilgeous-Alexander was an All-Star again. The Thunder clinched a playoff spot and finished as the top team in the Western Conference. Mark Daigneault won the Coach Of The Year Award. The Thunder swept the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round. They were the youngest team ever to win a playoff series. However, they lost to the Dallas Mavericks in six games in the conference semifinals.

The Thunder made a trade in the off-season, acquiring Alex Caruso. They also signed Isaiah Hartenstein and rookies Nikola Topić, Dillon Jones, and Ajay Mitchell for the 2024–25 season. Even with Holmgren out due to injury for part of the season, the Thunder played well. They reached the NBA Cup finals but lost to the Milwaukee Bucks. The team set a franchise record with 15 consecutive wins. Mark Daigneault was chosen as a head coach for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game. Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams were also selected as All-Stars.

On March 27, 2025, the Thunder set a new franchise record for wins in a season with 61. They finished the 2024–25 season with the best record in the league, 68 wins. In May 2025, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player. He also made the All-NBA First Team, and Jalen Williams made the All-NBA Third Team. The Thunder advanced to the 2025 NBA Finals and defeated the Indiana Pacers in seven games. This brought them their first NBA championship since moving to Oklahoma City.

The Thunder continued their strong play in the 2025–26 NBA season. They held the best record in the Western Conference at the All-Star break. Sam Presti added Jared McCain to the team. On April 9, 2026, the Thunder secured the first seed in the Western Conference for the third year in a row.

Team Rivalries

San Antonio Spurs

The rivalry between the Spurs and Thunder began in the 2010s. It featured stars like Tim Duncan, Kevin Durant, and Tony Parker. They met three times in the playoffs, with the Thunder winning two of those series.

In the 2020s, the rivalry grew stronger. Young stars like Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander now lead their teams. Their games are often very exciting.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks and Thunder had a big rivalry in the early 2010s. They had important playoff games in 2011 and 2012. The Mavericks beat the Thunder in the 2011 Western Conference Finals. The Thunder then swept the Mavericks in the first round of the 2012 playoffs.

In the mid-2020s, this rivalry became one of the NBA's most exciting. It features superstars Luka Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Their intense playoff battles and close games make it a must-watch rivalry.

Season Records

This table shows the last five seasons for the Thunder. For a full history, 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 Stadiums

Note: All stadiums used before 2008 were for the Seattle SuperSonics team.

Seattle stadiums hosted two NBA All-Star Games.

• Seattle Center Coliseum (1967–1978, 1985–1994)
• Kingdome (1978–1985)
• Tacoma Dome (1994–1995, during renovations)
• 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 2007, the Oklahoma City ownership group bought the SuperSonics. Voters in Oklahoma City approved a plan to fund $101 million in improvements to the arena. They also funded a $20 million practice facility.

Renovation work was delayed due to economic challenges. The plans were adjusted to fit the budget. Major construction on the arena expansion was completed in 2011. The stadium can hold 18,203 people for basketball games.

In 2021, Paycom bought the naming rights for the arena for 15 years. It was then renamed Paycom Center.

Continental Coliseum (Future)

On September 12, 2023, Oklahoma City announced plans for a new downtown arena for the Thunder. It will cost at least $900 million and is expected to open around 2029. The team's owner asked the city to pay most of the construction cost. Oklahoma City voters approved paying for at least $850 million of the stadium's cost. The team, valued at $3 billion, agreed to pay $50 million.

Team Mascots

Note: Mascots before 2008 were for the Seattle SuperSonics.

• Wheedle, 1978–1985
• Squatch, 1993–2008

Rumble the Bison

Rumble the Bison became the Oklahoma City Thunder mascot on February 17, 2009. He was named the NBA Mascot of the Year for 2008–2009.

Thunder Fanbase

The Thunder fanbase is known for its strong support and enthusiasm. Many people in Oklahoma City are very devoted to their team. The team's general manager, Sam Presti, encourages players to understand the city's strong community spirit and history.

The Thunder is the only major professional sports team in Oklahoma. This helps create a deep connection between the team and its fans. Fans often use the slogan "Thunder Up!"

Team Personnel

Current Roster

Former Players

Individual Awards

For details on Seattle SuperSonics history, see Seattle SuperSonics records.

Retired Numbers

The Thunder has officially retired one jersey number since moving to Oklahoma City: 4, for Nick Collison. He played for the team from 2003 to 2018.

The Seattle SuperSonics retired six numbers and honored their longtime announcer, Bob Blackburn.

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

Team Staff

General Managers

• 2008–Present: Sam Presti

Head Coaches

Team Logos and Uniforms

The Oklahoma City Thunder showed their first logo on September 3, 2008. The uniform design was revealed on September 29, 2008.

Over the years, the Thunder has introduced different uniforms.

• An alternate navy blue and white uniform was unveiled in 2012.
• A white uniform with sleeves, featuring the Thunder logo, was introduced 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 and blue designs. They also released a new "Statement" uniform in navy blue with orange lettering.

The Thunder also works with Nike to create special "City" edition uniforms each year. These uniforms celebrate local culture or team traditions.

• The 2017–18 "City" uniform had a grey base with orange and blue lines.
• For 2018–19, the "City" uniform was turquoise with white lettering. It honored Oklahoma's Native American heritage.
• The 2019–20 "City" uniform was black and gold. It remembered the 25th anniversary of a sad event in Oklahoma City's history.
• The 2020–21 "City" uniform was black with blue and orange colors. It featured the state name "Oklahoma" on the front.
• The 2021–22 "City" uniform combined elements from past designs.
• The 2022–23 "City" uniform was black with blue letters and red, orange, and white accents. It honored the people of Oklahoma.
• The 2023–24 "City" uniform was black and blue with orange "OKC" lettering. It celebrated the city's growth.
• The 2024–25 "City" uniform was black with blue stripes and gold letters, again featuring "Oklahoma" on the front.
• The 2025–26 "City" uniform was a navy blue and gray version of their 2018–19 design.

After winning the NBA championship in 2025, the Thunder added a gold tab to the back of their uniforms. This tab shows they won their first championship in Oklahoma City.

Television and Radio

Radio Broadcasts

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 Broadcasts

For their first two seasons, Thunder games were shown on Fox Sports Oklahoma and local station KSBI. Most games were on Fox Sports Oklahoma, with some on KSBI.

In 2010, the Thunder signed a new agreement with Fox Sports Oklahoma (now Bally Sports Oklahoma). This made Bally Sports Oklahoma the exclusive TV home for most games. The TV announcers are Chris Fisher for play-by-play and Michael Cage as the color commentator.

In January 2024, the Thunder made a deal with Griffin Media. This allowed some Friday night games to be shown on local TV stations. These stations include KSBI/Oklahoma City and KOTV-DT3/Tulsa. This made games available to more fans across the state.

See also

In Spanish: Oklahoma City Thunder para niños