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 Started Calling Games
Bob Blackburn started calling most of the team's games from 1967 through 1992.
1974: NBA All-Star Game in Seattle Center Coliseum
In 1974, Seattle Center Coliseum hosted an NBA All-Star Game.
1979: SuperSonics Win NBA Championship
In 1979, as the Seattle SuperSonics, the team won the NBA championship, marking a significant milestone in the franchise's history.
1987: NBA All-Star Game in the Kingdome
In 1987, the Kingdome hosted an NBA All-Star Game where SuperSonics forward Tom Chambers was named MVP.
1992: Bob Blackburn Ends Calling Games
Bob Blackburn called most of the team's games from 1967 through 1992. The Seattle Supersonics had awarded an honorary microphone to him.
1996: SuperSonics Win Western Conference Championship
In 1996, the Seattle SuperSonics won the Western Conference championship, marking one of their three titles in franchise history.
June 8, 2002: Opening of Ford Center
On June 8, 2002, the Ford Center, now known as Paycom Center, was opened at a cost of $89.2 million. It was built without luxury accommodations but designed to allow for luxury "buildouts" should a professional sports franchise make the Paycom Center their home arena.
2003: Nick Collison's playing years
Nick Collison played for the team from 2003 to 2018.
2007: Bennett Announces SuperSonics Move to Oklahoma City
In 2007, Clay Bennett announced that the SuperSonics franchise would move to Oklahoma City once the lease with KeyArena expired.
March 4, 2008: Sales Tax Extension Approved
On March 4, 2008, a city ballot initiative passed with a 62 percent margin, extending a one-cent city sales tax for 15 months to fund $101 million in budgeted improvements to the arena and a separate $20 million practice facility to encourage a franchise to move from another city.
June 2008: Lawsuit Filed Against Bennett Regarding KeyArena Lease
In June 2008, the city of Seattle filed a lawsuit against Clay Bennett due to his attempts to break the SuperSonics' lease at KeyArena, leading to a federal court case.
September 3, 2008: Oklahoma City Franchise Name and Logo Revealed
On September 3, 2008, the Oklahoma City franchise revealed its name, logo, and colors to the public, choosing the name "Thunder" to reflect Oklahoma's location in Tornado Alley and the presence of the U.S. Army's 45th Infantry Division, the Thunderbirds.
September 29, 2008: Unveiling of Uniform Design
On September 29, 2008, the Oklahoma City Thunder unveiled their uniform design.
October 8, 2008: Thunder Make First Appearance in Billings, Montana
On October 8, 2008, The Oklahoma City Thunder made their first appearance in Billings, Montana during a preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, resulting in an 88-82 loss.
October 29, 2008: First regular season game at the Ford Center in HD
On October 29, 2008, KSBI aired the first regular season game played at the Ford Center in High Definition. The game was against the Milwaukee Bucks. All other games during the 2008–09 season were telecast on KSBI in standard definition.
2008: Mention of Generic Logo Usage
In 2008, the Thunder first used a generic logo.
2008: Rumble the Bison, NBA Mascot of the Year
Rumble the Bison was the winner of the 2008–2009 NBA Mascot of the Year award.
2008: Economic Crisis Delays Renovation Work
The 2008–10 economic crisis delayed renovation work on the arena, reducing city revenue from sales taxes.
February 17, 2009: Introduction of 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.
2009: Thunder's Operating Situation Improves in 2009-10
During the 2009-10 season, Forbes magazine estimated the Oklahoma City Thunder's franchise value at $310 million, reflecting an increase of $10 million over the prior year, with an estimated operating profit of $12.7 million.
2009: Durant wins the scoring title
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 while playing in all 82 games.
2009: Thunder games on Fox Sports Oklahoma and KSBI
In 2009, the Thunder's TV broadcasts were split between Fox Sports Oklahoma and KSBI, with around 65 games airing during the season. Fox Sports Oklahoma aired more than half of the games in HD, along with pre-game shows. KSBI broadcast around 15 to 20 regular season games over the air.
August 3, 2010: Thunder signs exclusive agreement with Fox Sports Oklahoma
On August 3, 2010, the Thunder signed a new exclusive multi-year agreement with Fox Sports Oklahoma, beginning with the 2010–11 season, ending the team's broadcasts on KSBI.
2010: Major Construction Work Delayed
In 2010, major construction work on the arena expansion was delayed from the summer of 2010 to the summer of 2011 due to economic circumstances.
2010: Thunder Secure First Playoff Win in Oklahoma City
On April 22, 2010, the Oklahoma City Thunder secured their first playoff win in Oklahoma City by defeating the defending-champion Los Angeles Lakers 101–96 at the Ford Center.
January 2011: Forbes Estimates Thunder's Worth at $329 Million
In January 2011, Forbes magazine estimated the Oklahoma City Thunder's franchise worth at $329 million, ranking No. 18 in the NBA and reflecting a six percent increase from 2009 to 2010.
March 2011: Thunder's Practice Facility Completion Date
The completion date for the Thunder's separate practice facility was pushed back to approximately March 2011.
2011: Mavericks Defeat Thunder in WCF
In 2011, the Dallas Mavericks overcame the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals (WCF) en route to winning the NBA title.
2011: Thunder Win First Division Title
In the 2010-11 season, the Thunder won their first division title since relocating to Oklahoma City.
2011: Arena Expansion Delayed to Summer
In the summer of 2011, major construction work on the arena expansion finally took place after being delayed from the previous summer.
February 11, 2012: Scott Brooks Named Western Conference All-Star Coach
After the Oklahoma City 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.
October 22, 2012: Lesley McCaslin new Thunder sideline reporter
On October 22, 2012, the Thunder announced that Lesley McCaslin would be the new Thunder sideline reporter.
October 27, 2012: Thunder Trade James Harden to the Rockets
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, first-round draft picks from Toronto and Dallas, and a second-round draft pick.
November 8, 2012: Unveiling of Alternate Uniform
On November 8, 2012, an alternate uniform featuring navy blue and white was unveiled. The wordmarks on the alternate were written vertically, unlike their regular uniforms.
2012: Bill Simmons' Article on Thunder Fan Base
During the 2012 NBA Finals, sportswriter Bill Simmons published an article on the team's fan base in his ESPN-sponsored Web outlet, Grantland.com, noting the unusual enthusiasm of the city for its team.
2012: Mention of 2012-16 Navy Alternates Uniform
From 2012–16, the team wore navy alternates uniforms, which had vertically arranged "OKC" lettering on the right chest.
2012: High Attendance at Thunder Home Games
In 2012, Thunder fans reportedly showed high attendance at major home games compared to other NBA fanbases. 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.
2012: Thunder Sweep Mavericks in First Round
In 2012, the Oklahoma City Thunder swept the defending-champion Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
2012: Thunder Advance to NBA Finals
In the 2012 NBA playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, and San Antonio Spurs to advance to the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, ultimately losing the series in five games.
2012: Slogan 'Thunder Up!'
The team and its fanbase regularly use the slogan "Thunder Up!", which was prominently displayed on T-shirts during the 2012 playoffs.
2013: Thunder's Playoff Run Ends in Conference Finals
In 2013, the Oklahoma City Thunder advanced to the Western Conference Finals after defeating the Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers in the playoffs, but they lost to the San Antonio Spurs in six games.
July 21, 2014: Long leaves TV color commentator position
On July 21, 2014, it was announced that Long would not return to be the Thunder's 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, joining Brian Davis on television and Matt Pinto on the radio when the game is exclusive to a national television broadcast.
2014: NBA championship tabs in use
Since the 2014-15 season, NBA championship tabs have been in use on all uniforms worn by teams who have won a championship.
March 1, 2015: Unveiling of Second Alternate Uniform
On March 1, 2015, the Thunder unveiled a second alternate uniform, a white sleeved uniform featuring the Thunder partial logo and bolts in light blue and sunset colors on the shorts.
April 22, 2015: Scott Brooks Fired
On April 22, 2015, Scott Brooks was fired from his position as the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
April 30, 2015: Billy Donovan Hired
On April 30, 2015, Billy Donovan was hired as the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, marking his first major NBA coaching job after previously leaving the Orlando Magic job in 2007.
September 25, 2015: Unveiling of Third Alternate Uniform
On September 25, 2015, the Oklahoma City Thunder introduced a third alternate uniform, featuring sunset colors, with the Oklahoma City abbreviation "OKC" in navy block letters trimmed in white. Player names were positioned below the numbers on the back of the jersey, and the shorts displayed a sunset base with navy panels and the Thunder partial logo.
July 4, 2016: Kevin Durant Joins Warriors
On July 4, 2016, Kevin Durant announced his decision to join the Golden State Warriors, a move heavily criticized by the public and sports media.
August 4, 2016: Russell Westbrook Agrees to Extension
On August 4, 2016, Russell Westbrook agreed to a three-year extension to remain with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
2016: Usage of Sunset Alternate Uniforms
During the 2015–2016 season, the Oklahoma City Thunder wore the sunset alternate uniforms for 18 games, including all 13 of its Sunday games.
April 2, 2017: Westbrook Ties Robertson's Triple-Double Record
On April 2, 2017, Russell Westbrook tied Oscar Robertson's record for most triple-doubles in an NBA season with 41.
July 6, 2017: Thunder Acquire Paul George
On July 6, 2017, the Oklahoma City Thunder acquired Paul George in a trade with the Indiana Pacers, exchanging Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.
September 29, 2017: Russell Westbrook Signs Extension
On September 29, 2017, Russell Westbrook, the star point guard, signed a five-year extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
2017: Mention of 2017-19 'Statement' Uniforms
From 2017–19, the team wore "Statement" uniforms, which had gray patterns within the "OKC" lettering.
2017: Introduction of 'City' Edition Uniforms
In 2017, the Oklahoma City Thunder collaborated with Nike to produce annual "City" edition uniforms paying tribute to local culture. The 2017–18 "City" uniform featured a grey base with sunset orange and blue lines inspired by the Thunder's uptempo style.
2017: Transition to Nike and New Uniforms
In 2017, the Thunder transitioned to Nike, retaining their existing white ("Association") and blue ("Icon") uniforms with minor modifications. They also introduced a new alternate "Statement" uniform featuring italicized "OKC" lettering in sunset orange and a navy base with blue gradients.
July 6, 2018: Paul George Re-Signs with Thunder
On July 6, 2018, Paul George re-signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
July 2018: Thunder Trade Carmelo Anthony
In July 2018, the Thunder traded Carmelo Anthony and a 2022 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks, acquiring Dennis Schröder and Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot in a three-way trade.
2018: Chris Fisher replaces Brian Davis
Before the 2018-19 season, Chris Fisher replaced Brian Davis as the television play-by-play announcer.
2018: 2018-19 'City' Uniform
For the 2018–19 season, the Oklahoma City Thunder's "City" uniform had a turquoise base and bold white lettering with navy and sunset orange trim, drawing inspiration from Oklahoma's Native American heritage.
2018: Thunder's 2018–19 "City" uniform
In 2018, the Thunder's 2018–19 "City" uniform was the base for the 2025-26 "City" uniform recoloring.
2018: Nick Collison's playing years
Nick Collison played for the team from 2003 to 2018.
2018: Release of 'Earned' Uniform
Nike released an "Earned" uniform starting with the 2018–19 season for the 16 teams who qualified for the 2018 NBA playoffs. The Oklahoma City Thunder's "Earned" uniform was a palette swap of the team's "Statement" uniforms, featuring a sunset orange base and navy letters.
March 20, 2019: Retirement of Nick Collison's Jersey Number
On March 20, 2019, the Oklahoma City Thunder officially retired jersey number 4 to honor Nick Collison, who played for the team from 2003 to 2018.
July 10, 2019: Paul George Traded to Clippers
On July 10, 2019, Sam Presti traded Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers for Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and future first-round draft picks after George requested the trade to team up with Kawhi Leonard.
2019: New Uniforms Unveiled
For the 2019–20 season, the Oklahoma City Thunder unveiled new uniforms. The white "Association" uniform had the city name in front along with the outline of the state of Oklahoma on the beltline. Their sunset-orange "Earned" uniforms from the previous season were the basis of their new "Statement" uniform. A new "City" uniform for the season commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing and it featured a black and gold palette.
2019: Mention of 2019 New Uniforms
In 2019, the Thunder unveiled new uniforms.
June 28, 2020: Chesapeake Energy Files for Bankruptcy
On June 28, 2020, Chesapeake Energy, which held naming rights after 2011, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with a debt of $9 billion. The effect on the arena's naming rights was uncertain at the time.
November 11, 2020: Mark Daigneault Promoted to Head Coach
On November 11, 2020, Mark Daigneault was promoted from assistant coach to head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder after Billy Donovan's contract was not renewed.
2020: 2020-21 'City' Uniform
The "City" uniform for the 2020–21 season had a black base with the Thunder's signature blue and orange splashed throughout. The uniform had the state name "Oklahoma" in front as homage to the state itself.
April 20, 2021: Chesapeake Energy Terminates Naming Rights Deal
On April 20, 2021, Chesapeake Energy terminated its naming rights deal for the arena as part of its corporate restructuring. The arena retained its name during the Thunder's search for a new sponsor.
May 1, 2021: Thunder Suffer Record Home Loss
On May 1, 2021, the Thunder lost at home to the Indiana Pacers by 57 points, 152–95, marking the largest regular season home loss in NBA history.
July 27, 2021: Paycom Acquires Naming Rights
On July 27, 2021, it was announced that Paycom would acquire the naming rights for the arena for a 15-year period, renaming it Paycom Center.
August 6, 2021: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Signs Contract Extension
On August 6, 2021, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signed a 5-year maximum contract extension worth $172 million. On the same day, Kemba Walker was waived after agreeing to a buy-out.
December 2, 2021: Thunder Suffer Largest Loss in NBA History
On December 2, 2021, the Thunder lost on the road to the Memphis Grizzlies by 73 points, 79–152, which became the largest loss in NBA history.
2021: Fox Sports Oklahoma rebranded as Bally Sports Oklahoma
As of 2021, Fox Sports Oklahoma was rebranded as Bally Sports Oklahoma.
2021: 2021-22 'City' Uniform Elements Mixed From Previous and Current Uniforms
The Thunder's 2021–22 "City" uniform mixed various elements from their previous and current uniforms, including the vertically arranged "OKC" lettering, the white and gray patterns within the "OKC" lettering, the white and gray sash on the left leg, and the generic logo the Thunder first used in 2008 on the waist.
2021: 2021 'Earned' Uniform
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 absent on the uniform.
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 sustained during a Pro-am game.
2022: Thunder's 2022–23 "City" uniform
In 2022, the Thunder's 2022–23 "City" uniform featured a black base, blue letters, and red, orange, and white accents to honor the people of Oklahoma.
September 12, 2023: Announcement of New Downtown Arena Plans
On September 12, 2023, Oklahoma City announced plans to construct a new downtown arena for the Thunder, estimated to cost at least $900 million, with an anticipated opening in 2029.
December 2023: Oklahoma City Voters Approve Arena Funding
In a December 2023 referendum, Oklahoma City voters approved allocating at least $850 million for the construction of the new stadium, while the Thunder, valued at $3 billion, would contribute $50 million.
2023: Per-Game Attendance Ranking
During the 2023–24 season, the Thunder ranked 23rd out of 30 teams in per-game attendance, filling under 96% of their arena on average.
2023: Thunder's 2023–24 "City" uniform
In 2023, the Thunder's "City" uniform for the 2023–24 season featured a black and blue base with orange "OKC" lettering and gold numbers. The uniform had sublimated images of various Thunder logos and wordmarks, paying tribute to the city's renaissance.
2023: Thunder agreement with Griffin Media for the remainder of the 2023-24 NBA season.
The Thunder reached an agreement with Griffin Media for the remainder of the 2023-24 NBA season to air a package of eight Friday night games on local stations.
January 2024: Thunder reach agreement with Griffin Media
In January 2024, due to the bankruptcy of Bally Sports parent company Diamond Sports Group, 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.
March 31, 2024: Thunder Clinch Playoff Berth
On March 31, 2024, the Oklahoma City Thunder clinched a playoff berth with a 113–112 victory against the New York Knicks, marking their first playoff appearance since the 2019–20 season.
November 20, 2024: Hartenstein Returns from Injury
After missing the first 15 games of the season, Isaiah Hartenstein returned from injury on November 20, 2024.
2024: Thunder's 2024–25 "City" uniform
In 2024, the Thunder's 2024–25 "City" uniform, similar to the 2022-23 version, featured just the state name "Oklahoma" in front. The black-based uniform had blue stripes with sublimated Thunder logos, along with gold letters.
March 27, 2025: Thunder Set Franchise Record for Total Wins
On March 27, 2025, the Thunder achieved a franchise record for total wins in a season, reaching 61, after a 125–104 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points, and Hartenstein recorded a double-double in the game.
May 2025: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Named NBA MVP
In May 2025, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was honored as the NBA's Most Valuable Player. In addition to this award, he was named to the All-NBA first team, while Jalen Williams made the All-NBA third team that same month.
2025: Thunder add gold tab to uniforms
In 2025, after winning the NBA championship, the Thunder added a gold tab on the back of their uniforms to signify their championship victory in Oklahoma City. This is despite NBA championship tabs being used since the 2014–15 season.
2025: Thunder's 2025–26 "City" uniform
In 2025, the Thunder's "City" uniform for the 2025–26 season was a recolored version of their 2018–19 "City" uniform, utilizing a navy blue and gray base.
2026: Emerging NBA Rivalry
In 2026, a significant NBA rivalry is developing between Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, fueled by high-stakes games between the Thunder and the Spurs. The teams have developed a competitive and intense relationship, further intensified by their geographic proximity in Texas and Oklahoma.
2026: Acquisition of Jared McCain
In the 2025/2026 NBA season, Sam Presti added another young scorer to the team when he acquired Jared McCain from the Philadelphia 76ers.
2029: Estimated Opening of New Downtown Arena
The new downtown arena for the Thunder is scheduled for an estimated opening in 2029.
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