History of Oklahoma City Thunder in Timeline
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City, competing in the NBA's Western Conference, Northwest Division. Their home games are played at Paycom Center.
1967: Bob Blackburn Begins Broadcasting
In 1967, Bob Blackburn began calling the majority of the team's games.
1978: Seattle SuperSonics Win Western Conference Championship
In 1978, the Seattle SuperSonics won the Western Conference Championship, marking an important milestone in the franchise's history.
1979: Seattle SuperSonics Win NBA Championship
In 1979, the Seattle SuperSonics won the NBA Championship, marking a significant achievement in the franchise's history before its relocation.
1992: Bob Blackburn's Last Game Broadcast
Bob Blackburn called the majority of the team's games until 1992.
1996: Seattle SuperSonics Win Western Conference Championship
In 1996, the Seattle SuperSonics won the Western Conference Championship, marking an important milestone in the franchise's history.
June 8, 2002: Ford Center Opened
On June 8, 2002, the Paycom Center opened as the Ford Center, designed to accommodate luxury 'buildouts'.
2003: Nick Collison Joins Thunder
Nick Collison began playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2003.
2006: SuperSonics Sold to Oklahoma City Investors
In 2006, Howard Schultz sold the SuperSonics to a group of Oklahoma City investors led by Clay Bennett for $350 million.
2007: Bennett Announces SuperSonics Relocation
In 2007, Clay Bennett announced that the SuperSonics franchise would move to Oklahoma City once the lease with KeyArena expired.
March 4, 2008: City Sales Tax Extension Approved
On March 4, 2008, a city ballot initiative approved the extension of a one-cent city sales tax to fund improvements to the arena and a practice facility.
June 2008: Lawsuit Filed Against Bennett
In June 2008, the city of Seattle filed a lawsuit against Clay Bennett regarding his attempts to break the SuperSonics' lease at KeyArena.
September 29, 2008: Uniform Design Unveiled
On September 29, 2008, the Oklahoma City Thunder unveiled their uniform design.
October 8, 2008: Thunder's First Preseason Game
On October 8, 2008, the Oklahoma City Thunder made their first appearance in Billings, Montana, in a preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, which they lost 88-82.
October 29, 2008: First Regular-Season Game Aired in HD
On October 29, 2008, KSBI aired the first regular-season game played at the Ford Center against the Milwaukee Bucks in high definition.
2008: Mascots Used Before 2008
All mascots used before 2008 were used by the original Seattle SuperSonics franchise.
2008: Denver Nuggets Tie Record
In 2008, the Denver Nuggets tied the 50-32 record, the most wins by an 8th seed in the modern playoffs era. The Oklahoma City Thunder had the same record in the 2009-2010 season.
2008: NBA Mascot of the Year for Rumble the Bison
Rumble was the winner of the 2008–2009 NBA Mascot of the Year.
2008: the generic logo the Thunder first used on the waist
the generic logo the Thunder first used in 2008 on the waist.
February 17, 2009: Rumble the Bison Introduced
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.
2009: Kevin Durant Youngest Scoring Champion
During the 2009-10 season, Kevin Durant became the youngest player in league history to win the scoring title, averaging 30.1 points per game.
2009: Thunder TV Broadcast Split
For their first two seasons, the Oklahoma City Thunder's TV broadcasts were split between Fox Sports Oklahoma and independent station KSBI.
2009: Forbes Estimates Thunder's Value
In 2009-10, Forbes magazine estimated the Thunder's franchise value at $310 million, an increase of $10 million over the prior year.
August 3, 2010: Exclusive Agreement with Fox Sports Oklahoma
On August 3, 2010, the Oklahoma City Thunder signed a new exclusive multi-year agreement with Fox Sports Oklahoma, ending the team's broadcasts on KSBI.
2010: Thunder Qualify for Playoffs
In 2010, the Oklahoma City Thunder qualified for the 2010 NBA playoffs and secured their first playoff win in Oklahoma City, defeating the defending-champion Los Angeles Lakers.
2010: Forbes Estimates Thunder's Value
In 2010-2011, the team's operating profit was estimated at $22.6 million, up 78 percent from the previous year.
2010: First Round Foes
In 2012, the Thunder faced off against their first-round foes from 2010, the Los Angeles Lakers.
January 2011: Forbes Estimates Thunder's Value
In January 2011, Forbes magazine estimated the Oklahoma City Thunder's franchise worth at $329 million, up six percent from 2009-10.
March 2011: Thunder Practice Facility Completion Date Delayed
In March 2011, the completion date for the Oklahoma City Thunder's practice facility was pushed back.
2011: Rematch of Second Round
In 2012, the Thunder faced a rematch of the 2011 second round, with the Memphis Grizzlies.
February 11, 2012: Scott Brooks Named Western Conference All-Star Coach
On February 11, 2012, after the Thunder's win over the Utah Jazz, Scott Brooks was named the head coach for the Western Conference All-Star squad for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game.
October 22, 2012: Lesley McCaslin New Sideline Reporter
On October 22, 2012, the Oklahoma City Thunder announced that Lesley McCaslin would be the new Thunder sideline reporter.
October 27, 2012: Thunder Trade James Harden
On October 27, 2012, the Oklahoma City Thunder traded James Harden, along with Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook, and Lazar Hayward, to the Houston Rockets for Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, draft picks.
November 8, 2012: Alternate Uniform Unveiled
On November 8, 2012, the Oklahoma City Thunder unveiled an alternate uniform featuring only navy blue and white colors with vertically written wordmarks.
2012: Bill Simmons Article on Thunder Fan Base
During the 2012 NBA Finals, sportswriter Bill Simmons published an article noting the unusual enthusiasm of Oklahoma City for its team.
2012: "Thunder Up!" Slogan Prominently Used
During the 2012 playoffs, the team and its fanbase regularly used the slogan "Thunder Up!", which was prominently displayed on T-shirts.
2012: High Attendance at Thunder Home Games
In 2012, Thunder fans were reportedly much more likely to attend major home games compared to other NBA fanbases, with a very low percentage of tickets listed for sale on secondary markets.
2012: Thunder Advance to NBA Finals
In 2012, the Oklahoma City Thunder advanced to the NBA Finals after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, but lost to the Miami Heat in five games.
2012: Thunder Rematch Western Conference Finals
In 2013, the Oklahoma City Thunder faced the San Antonio Spurs in a rematch of the 2012 Western Conference Finals, with the Spurs winning 4-2.
2012: Vertical OKC lettering on the right chest
The vertically arranged “OKC” lettering on the right chest of the Thunder’s 2021-2022 “City” Uniform, taken from the 2012–16 navy alternates.
2013: Conditional Payment to Seattle
In 2013, according to the settlement agreement, an additional $30 million payment would have been provided to Seattle if certain conditions had been met.
2013: Thunder Select Steven Adams
In the 2013 NBA draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder selected Steven Adams as the 12th pick, traded for André Roberson as the 26th pick, and selected Grant Jerrett as the 47th pick.
July 21, 2014: Long Not Returning as TV Color Commentator
On July 21, 2014, the Oklahoma City Thunder announced that Long would not return to be its TV color commentator on Fox Sports Oklahoma.
September 17, 2014: Michael Cage New Color Analyst
On September 17, 2014, the Oklahoma City Thunder announced that 15-year NBA veteran Michael Cage would be the new color analyst.
March 1, 2015: Second Alternate Uniform Unveiled
On March 1, 2015, the Oklahoma City Thunder unveiled a second alternate uniform, a white sleeved uniform with the Thunder partial logo in the center and bolts on the shorts.
April 22, 2015: Scott Brooks Fired
On April 22, 2015, Scott Brooks was fired as the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
April 30, 2015: Billy Donovan Hired as Head Coach
On April 30, 2015, Billy Donovan was hired as the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, marking his first major NBA coaching job.
September 25, 2015: Third Alternate Uniform Unveiled
On September 25, 2015, the Oklahoma City Thunder unveiled a third alternate, sunset-colored uniform featuring the "OKC" abbreviation.
July 4, 2016: Kevin Durant Announces Move to Golden State Warriors
On July 4, 2016, Kevin Durant announced his decision to join the Golden State Warriors, a move that was met with significant criticism.
August 4, 2016: Russell Westbrook Agrees to Contract Extension
On August 4, 2016, Russell Westbrook committed to the Thunder, agreeing to a three-year contract extension.
2016: Sunset Alternates Worn for 18 Games
The Oklahoma City Thunder wore the sunset alternates for 18 games in the 2015–2016 season, including all 13 of its Sunday games.
April 2, 2017: Westbrook Ties Triple-Double Record
On April 2, 2017, Russell Westbrook tied Oscar Robertson's record for the most triple-doubles in an NBA season with 41.
July 6, 2017: Thunder Acquire Paul George in Trade
On July 6, 2017, the Thunder acquired Paul George from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.
September 29, 2017: Russell Westbrook Signs Contract Extension
On September 29, 2017, Russell Westbrook signed a five-year contract extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
2017: Thunder "City" Edition Uniform
In 2017, the Oklahoma City Thunder collaborated with Nike to produce a "City" edition uniform featuring a grey base with sunset orange and blue lines inspired by the team's style.
2017: Transition to Nike and New Statement Uniform
In 2017, the Thunder transitioned to Nike uniforms, keeping existing designs mostly intact and releasing a new alternate "Statement" uniform.
2017: White and gray patterns within the "OKC" lettering
The white and gray patterns within the “OKC” lettering (taken from the 2017–19 “Statement” uniforms).
July 6, 2018: Paul George Re-Signs with the Thunder
On July 6, 2018, Paul George re-signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder, continuing his tenure with the team.
July 2018: Carmelo Anthony Traded to Atlanta Hawks
In July 2018, the Thunder traded Carmelo Anthony and a 2022 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-way trade that brought Dennis Schröder and Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot to the Thunder.
2018: Chris Fisher Replaces Brian Davis
Chris Fisher replaced Brian Davis as the television play-by-play announcer prior to the 2018–19 season.
2018: Oklahoma Native American Heritage Uniform
In 2018, the Oklahoma City Thunder's "City" uniform was inspired by Oklahoma's Native American heritage, featuring a turquoise base and bold white lettering.
2018: Nick Collison Retires
Nick Collison played for the team until 2018.
2018: "Earned" Uniform Released
Starting with the 2018–19 season, Nike released an "Earned" uniform, which was only given to the 16 teams who qualified in the 2018 NBA playoffs, including the Thunder.
2018: The white and gray sash on the left leg
The white and gray sash on the left leg (taken from the 2018–19 “City” uniforms).
March 20, 2019: Nick Collison's Jersey Retired
On March 20, 2019, the Oklahoma City Thunder officially retired number 4 in honor of Nick Collison, who played for the team from 2003 to 2018.
July 10, 2019: Paul George Traded to the Los Angeles Clippers
On July 10, 2019, Sam Presti traded Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, and a collection of future draft picks.
2019: New Uniforms Unveiled
Beginning with the 2019–20 season, the Thunder unveiled new uniforms with city and team names featured prominently. The new "City" uniform commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing.
2019: 2019 Playoffs
The Oklahoma City Thunder appeared in the 2019 NBA playoffs.
June 28, 2020: Chesapeake Energy Bankruptcy Filing
On June 28, 2020, Chesapeake Energy, which held the naming rights to the Oklahoma City Thunder's arena after 2011, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with $9 billion in debt. The effect on the arena's naming rights was unknown at the time.
November 11, 2020: Mark Daigneault Hired as Head Coach
On November 11, 2020, Mark Daigneault was promoted from assistant coach to become the new head coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder after Billy Donovan's contract was not renewed.
2020: "City" Uniform for 2020-21
The "City" uniform for the 2020–21 season contained a black base along with the Thunder's signature blue and orange colors splashed throughout, and featured the state name "Oklahoma" in front.
April 20, 2021: Chesapeake Energy Terminates Naming Rights Deal
On April 20, 2021, Chesapeake Energy terminated its naming rights deal for the Oklahoma City Thunder's arena as part of its corporate restructuring. The arena retained its name during the search for a new sponsor.
May 1, 2021: Thunder Suffer Largest Home Loss in Regular Season History
On May 1, 2021, the Thunder suffered a 152-95 loss at home to the Indiana Pacers, marking the largest regular-season home loss in NBA history.
July 27, 2021: Paycom Acquires Naming Rights
On July 27, 2021, Paycom acquired the naming rights for the Oklahoma City Thunder's arena for a 15-year period, renaming it Paycom Center.
August 6, 2021: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Signs Contract Extension and Kemba Walker Waived
On August 6, 2021, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signed a 5-year maximum contract extension for $172 million, and Kemba Walker was waived by the Thunder after agreeing to a buy-out.
December 2, 2021: Thunder Suffer Largest Loss in NBA History
On December 2, 2021, the Thunder lost to the Memphis Grizzlies by a score of 79-152, a 73-point deficit that is the largest loss in NBA history.
2021: "Earned" Uniform for 2021
As in 2019, the Thunder's appearance in the 2020 NBA playoffs gave them an "Earned" uniform for the 2021 season.
2021: Fox Sports Oklahoma Rebranded
Fox Sports Oklahoma rebranded as Bally Sports Oklahoma in 2021.
2021: Thunder "City" Uniform Mixed Elements
The Oklahoma City Thunder's 2021–22 "City" uniform mixed various elements from their previous and current uniforms.
August 25, 2022: Chet Holmgren to Miss Season Due to Injury
On August 25, 2022, it was announced that Chet Holmgren would miss the entire 2022-23 NBA season due to a Lisfranc injury in his foot.
2022: "City" Uniform Honors People of Oklahoma
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.
2022: The "City" uniform for the 2022–23
The "City" uniform for the 2022–23 season is a black base, blue letters and red, orange and white accents in honor of the people of Oklahoma.
September 12, 2023: Oklahoma City Plans New Downtown Arena
On September 12, 2023, Oklahoma City announced plans to build a new downtown arena for the Thunder, estimated to cost at least $900 million with an estimated opening in 2029.
December 2023: Oklahoma City Voters Approve Funding for New Arena
In December 2023, Oklahoma City voters approved paying at least $850 million towards the cost of a new arena for the Thunder, while the team would contribute $50 million.
2023: 2023-2024 NBA Season
During the remainder of the 2023–24 NBA season.
2023: Thunder Attendance Ranking
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.
2023: "City" Uniform Pays Tribute to City's Renaissance
The "City" uniform for the 2023–24 season is a black and blue base with orange "OKC" lettering and gold numbers, and was meant to pay tribute to Oklahoma City's renaissance.
January 2024: Agreement with Griffin Media to Air Games
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.
November 20, 2024: Hartenstein Returns
On November 20, 2024, Hartenstein returned after missing the first 15 games of the season.
2024: 2024-25 "City" Uniform
The 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.
February 3, 2025: Last Transaction
The last transaction date is February 3, 2025.
2029: Estimated Opening of New Downtown Arena
The new downtown arena for the Oklahoma City Thunder is estimated to open in 2029.
