Jump to content

Oklahoma City Thunder: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Epbr123 (talk | contribs)
291,700 edits
m Reverted edits by 152.157.169.10 to last version by 198.96.172.5 (HG)
Line 58: Line 58:
In June [[2008]], a lawsuit between the City of Seattle and Bennett went to Federal Court and nearly a month later the two sides reached an agreement to settle. The terms would award the city of Seattle $45 million to get out of the remaining lease at KeyArena, and could provide an additional $30 million payment to Seattle in 2013 if certain conditions are met. The owners agreed to leave the 'SuperSonics' name, logo, and colors in Seattle for a possible future NBA franchise;<ref name="themove"/> however the items would remain the property of the Oklahoma City team along with other "assets" including championship banners and trophies.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/2008035531_soni06.html | title=Seattle and Oklahoma City will share the Sonics' franchise history | date=2008-07-06 | accessdate=2008-07-06}}</ref> On September 3, 2008, the team name along with logo and color were announced.
In June [[2008]], a lawsuit between the City of Seattle and Bennett went to Federal Court and nearly a month later the two sides reached an agreement to settle. The terms would award the city of Seattle $45 million to get out of the remaining lease at KeyArena, and could provide an additional $30 million payment to Seattle in 2013 if certain conditions are met. The owners agreed to leave the 'SuperSonics' name, logo, and colors in Seattle for a possible future NBA franchise;<ref name="themove"/> however the items would remain the property of the Oklahoma City team along with other "assets" including championship banners and trophies.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/2008035531_soni06.html | title=Seattle and Oklahoma City will share the Sonics' franchise history | date=2008-07-06 | accessdate=2008-07-06}}</ref> On September 3, 2008, the team name along with logo and color were announced.


MEN LOVERS
===2008&ndash;09 season===
{{main|2008–09 Oklahoma City Thunder season}}
The Oklahoma City Thunder franchise made its debut on [[July 7]] with its entry in the Orlando Pro Summer League, featuring an assortment of second-string players, rookies, and free agents. The players wore generic black-and-white jerseys reading "OKC-NBA" against an outline of a basketball. The temporary practice facility for the Thunder will be at [[Southern Nazarene University]]'s [[Sawyer Center]]. The same facility was used by the New Orleans Hornets.<ref>[http://snu.edu/?p={E4161849-E79C-4F0C-AD27-33DC07C3ED45}&sc=-1&ni=761&fr=news SNU Sawyer Center]</ref>

The team's full name— the Oklahoma City Thunder— was announced on September 3, 2008.

The Thunder will play several pre-season games before the 2008-2009 regular season, but only one of these games will be in Oklahoma City. The Thunder made their first appearance in [[Billings, Montana|Billings]], [[Montana]] on [[October 8]], 2008 in an 88-82<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/10/09/sports/local/18-wolves.txt | title=T'Wolves Play Spoiler | first=Phil | last=Sites | publisher=[[Billings Gazette]] | date=2008-10-08 | accessdate=2008-10-09 }}</ref> preseason loss against the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]]. [[Kevin Durant]] took and made the first shot in the relocated franchise's history.

The Thunder will have their home debut on October 14, 2008 against the [[Los Angeles Clippers]]. <ref>[http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-nba-team-to-face-hectic-pace-in-preseason/article/3282760/?tm=1218596987 Oklahoma City NBA team to face hectic pace in preseason]</ref> {{update after|2008|10|08}}

The team opens its first regular season game against the [[Milwaukee Bucks]] on [[October 29]], [[2008]] at the [[Ford Center]].{{update after|2008|10|29}}


==Season-by-season records==
==Season-by-season records==

Revision as of 17:49, 10 October 2008

Template:NBA team

The Oklahoma City Thunder is a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[1] The Thunder will play home games at Oklahoma City's Ford Center during the 2008–09 NBA season.[2]

Established in 2008 from a dispute between owner Clay Bennett and lawmakers in Seattle, Washington, the team moved to Oklahoma City immediately after reaching a settlement that required Bennett to pay $45 million to prematurely end the SuperSonics' lease with Seattle's KeyArena, which was to expire in 2010.[3] The team agreed to release the SuperSonics' name, logo, and colors to a possible future NBA club in Seattle, but retained rights to its franchise history. The records, awards, and accomplishments of the pre-2008 SuperSonics will be "shared" between Oklahoma City and any future Seattle team.[3] Months earlier, the NBA board of owners approved the move to Oklahoma City.[4]

The Thunder is seeking to play an unspecified number of exhibition games at the BOK Center in Tulsa each season, with its preseason debut in Oklahoma against the Houston Rockets in Tulsa.[5] The club's NBA Development League affiliate is the Tulsa 66ers, which it has owned since July 31, 2008, when it became the third NBA team to purchase its D-League affiliate.[6]

Franchise history

File:Seattle SuperSonics logo.png
The final logo of the SuperSonics

1967–2008: Seattle SuperSonics

Main article: Seattle SuperSonics

The Thunder's previous incarnation, the Seattle SuperSonics, were formed in 1967 and appeared in two consecutive Finals, losing in seven games in 1978 and winning in five in 1979.[7][8] Seattle's victory remains the only modern era championship in major Seattle sports history. The team included renowned players such as Spencer Haywood, Fred Brown, Jack Sikma and Finals MVP Dennis Johnson and were coached by Lenny Wilkens, who holds historical NBA coaching records. During the course of the next decade, Seattle had relative success until they drafted the duo of Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton in 1989 and 1990 respectively. With them alongside Nate McMillan, coach George Karl and other notable players the Sonics rose up among the rank of title contenders.

In the 1995–96 NBA season, the Sonics established a franchise mark for most wins, 64–18 (.720) and earned their 3rd NBA Finals berth. Seattle met the record-setting 72–10 Chicago Bulls in the 1996 NBA Finals and lost in six games.[9] The Sonics' fortunes slowly spiraled after that season, with most of the core retiring or departing from Seattle. The next decade would not fare better as the franchise, aside from the 2004–05 NBA season, disappointed with playoff futility. The Sonics drafted cornerstones Kevin Durant and Jeff Green in the 2007 NBA Draft.[10] Despite their talent, the club endured the worst season in franchise history in 2007-08 NBA season in the last season in Washington, finishing 20–62 (.244).[11]

In 41 years that the SuperSonics spent in Seattle, they compiled a 1,745–1,585 (.524) win–loss record in the regular season and 109–109 (.500) in the playoffs. The franchise's titles include three Western Conference championships and one NBA title.

Creation of the team

The Ford Center begins hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008.[12]
Main article: Seattle SuperSonics relocation to Oklahoma City

In the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina disaster in New Orleans, Louisiana, and surrounding area, the New Orleans Hornets temporarily relocated to Oklahoma City, playing the majority of its home games at the Ford Center during the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons. In due time, Oklahoma supported the uprooted Hornets. Commissioner David Stern commented that Oklahoma City could support a franchise of their own.[13]

In 2006, the SuperSonics franchise was sold to a group of Oklahoma City investors led by Clay Bennett for $350 million, a move approved by NBA owners the following October.[14] Terms of the sale required the new ownership group to use a "Good faith best effort" for the term of 12 months in securing a new arena lease or venue in the Greater Seattle Area.[15] Bennett then spent much of 2007 attempting to gain public funding for a new arena, or a major renovation of the KeyArena. Failing to do so, he announced that the franchise would move to Oklahoma City as soon as the lease with KeyArena expired.[16]

In June 2008, a lawsuit between the City of Seattle and Bennett went to Federal Court and nearly a month later the two sides reached an agreement to settle. The terms would award the city of Seattle $45 million to get out of the remaining lease at KeyArena, and could provide an additional $30 million payment to Seattle in 2013 if certain conditions are met. The owners agreed to leave the 'SuperSonics' name, logo, and colors in Seattle for a possible future NBA franchise;[3] however the items would remain the property of the Oklahoma City team along with other "assets" including championship banners and trophies.[17] On September 3, 2008, the team name along with logo and color were announced.

MEN LOVERS

Season-by-season records

Main article: Oklahoma City Thunder seasons

In the Oklahoma franchise's existence (including the SuperSonics from 1967 to 2008), they have qualified for the NBA Playoffs 20 times, winning the Northwest Division once (2005) and the Pacific Division five times (1979, 1994 and a three peat between 1996 through 1998) The club has one championship trophy, won in the 1979 NBA Finals and two other championship round appearances; in 1979 and 1996. The best record posted by the team was 64-18, in 1996; the worst record was 20-62, in the last season in Seattle.

Franchise accomplishments and awards

Main article: Oklahoma City Thunder accomplishments and records

Home arenas

Rebuilt in 1994, KeyArena hosted Sonics home games until 2008.

Note: All arenas used before 2008 were part of the defunct Sonics franchise.

Seattle arenas had hosted two NBA All-Star Games; the 1974 edition in Seattle Center Coliseum and 1987 in the Kingdome, where Sonic Tom Chambers grabbed MVP honors.

Players

Current roster

Oklahoma City Thunder roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
C 15 Biyombo, Bismack (FA) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1992-08-28 DR Congo
F 13 Dieng, Ousmane 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 2003-05-21 France
G/F 5 Dort, Luguentz 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1999-04-19 Arizona State
G 14 Flagler, Adam (TW, FA) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1999-12-01 Baylor
G 3 Giddey, Josh 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 2002-10-10 Australia
G 2 Gilgeous-Alexander, Shai 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1998-07-12 Kentucky
F 33 Hayward, Gordon (FA) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1990-03-23 Butler
F/C 7 Holmgren, Chet 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 208 lb (94 kg) 2002-05-01 Gonzaga
G 11 Joe, Isaiah 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1999-07-02 Arkansas
G 18 Johnson, Keyontae (TW, FA) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 238 lb (108 kg) 2000-05-24 Kansas State
F 50 Muscala, Mike (FA) 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1991-07-01 Bucknell
C 30 Sarr, Olivier (TW, FA) 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1999-02-20 Kentucky
G 22 Wallace, Cason 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 2003-11-07 Kentucky
G/F 12 Waters, Lindy III 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1997-07-28 Oklahoma State
G 21 Wiggins, Aaron 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1999-01-02 Maryland
G/F 8 Williams, Jalen 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 211 lb (96 kg) 2001-04-14 Santa Clara
F/C 6 Williams, Jaylin 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 2002-06-29 Arkansas
G/F 34 Williams, Kenrich 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1994-12-02 TCU
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (GL) On assignment to G League affiliate
  • (TW) Two-way affiliate player
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: April 16, 2024

Former players

For the complete list of Seattle SuperSonics and Oklahoma Thunder players see: Oklahoma City Thunder all-time roster.
Gary Payton won the franchise's only Defensive Player of the Year in 1996.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name (see the help page).

Hall of Famers

Retired numbers

While the Oklahoma City franchise has yet to retire a jersey, the Seattle SuperSonics retired six numbers and a honorary microphone to longtime-servicing broadcaster Bob Blackburn. Blackburn had called the majority of Sonic games since its inception in 1967 through 1992.[29]

Seattle SuperSonics retired numbers
Players
No. Player Position Years
1 Gus Williams Guard 1977 - 1984
10 Nate McMillan Guard 1987 - 1998
19 Lenny Wilkens Guard 1969 - 1972
24 Spencer Haywood Forward 1971 - 1975
32 Fred Brown Guard 1971 - 1984
43 Jack Sikma Center 1978 - 1986
Coaches
No. Coach Wins/Losses Years
19 Lenny Wilkens 121-125
357-277 		1969 - 1972
1978 - 1985

Staff

Head coaches

Main article: List of Oklahoma City Thunder head coaches

Other

Logo and uniforms

The Oklahoma City Thunder unveiled their first logo on September 3, 2008, showing a shield with a basketball on it. According to majority owner Clay Bennett, the team's logo takes several of its elements from local Oklahoma sports teams such as the Oklahoma Sooners and Oklahoma State Cowboys. The uniform design was unveiled on September 29, 2008.[30][31]


Television and radio

Thunder radio broadcasts are heard on WWLS-FM 98.1, "The Sports Animal".[32] Matt Pinto is the voice of the Thunder.[33]

On television, the team's games will be carried by two affiliates: FSN Oklahoma and KSBI (Channel 52). FSN Oklahoma will air 65 regular season games with the crew of Brian Davis and Grant Long while KSBI-52 will rebrand itself "Thunder TV" and show the remaining 17, plus all preseason contests.[34][35]

References

  1. ^ Darnell Mayberry (2008-04-21). "Sonics will stay in division". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 2008-07-03. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ "City Preparing Ford Center For NBA Team". The Oklahoman. 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2008-07-04. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ a b c "SuperSonics, Seattle reach last-minute settlement". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  4. ^ Bell, Gregg (2008-04-19). "NBA approves Sonics' move to Oklahoma". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  5. ^ Tramel, Jimmie (2008-08-12). "Team to debut in Tulsa". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2008-08-12. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ "OKC's NBA franchise buys Tulsa's d-league team". NewsOK. 2008-08-01. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  7. ^ "'Fat Lady' Sings Victorious Tune for Bullets". NBA.com. Retrieved 2008-09-27. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ "DJ Leads the Way for Sonics". NBA.com. Retrieved 2008-09-27. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ "Bulls' Record-Setting Season Ends in Victory". NBA.com. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ Pelton, Kevin (2007-06-28). "Selections of Durant, Green Herald New Era for Sonics". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  11. ^ Washburn, Gary (2008-04-16). "Positive finish for young Sonics". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  12. ^ "Ford Center / Oklahoma City, Oklahoma". Arena Digest. 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  13. ^ "Stern: Oklahoma City top candidate if team moves". ESPN. 2005-11-09. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  14. ^ "NBA approves sale of Sonics, Storm". ESPN. October 24, 2006. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  15. ^ "Sonics' 'good faith efforts' never materialized". Seattle PI. June 17, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  16. ^ Johns, Greg (2007-11-02). "Bennett says Sonics going to Oklahoma". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
  17. ^ "Seattle and Oklahoma City will share the Sonics' franchise history". 2008-07-06. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  18. ^ ESPN - Allen breaks NBA season record for 3-pointers - NBA
  19. ^ Springer, Shira (2007-02-23). "Dennis Johnson, ex-Celtic star, dead at age 52". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-07-26. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  20. ^ a b c d Sonics' 40th Anniversary Team NBA.com, retrieved 07-26-2008
  21. ^ Associated Press (2007-12-07). "Sonics, Magic complete sign-and-trade for Rashard Lewis". ESPN. Retrieved 2008-07-26. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  22. ^ Gary Payton NBA.Com Bio NBA.com. Retrieved July 26, 2008.
  23. ^ Percy Allen (2008-04-14). "Fans show love for The Glove, for perhaps one last night". Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
  24. ^ Pubin, Roger (2008-08-04). "Patrick Ewing elected to Hall of Fame". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  25. ^ Goldaper, Sam (1989-04-11). "Wilkens and K. C. Jones Elected to Basketball Hall of Fame". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-30. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  26. ^ "K.C. Jones Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  27. ^ "Bill Russell Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  28. ^ Lenny Wilkens Coach Info NBA.com retrieved July 23, 2007
  29. ^ Raley, Dan (2006-02-15). "Where Are They Now? Blackburn gave Sonics a voice". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |newspaper= (help)
  30. ^ Thunder 'flashes' new uniforms, September 29, 2008
  31. ^ Kelly Dwyer, Introducing your Oklahoma City Light Blue Knicks, September 29, 2008
  32. ^ Mayberry, Darnell (2008-07-30). "NBA team reaches deal with local radio station". NewsOK.com. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  33. ^ "'Thunder' roars into OKC". News9.com. 2008-09-08. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
  34. ^ "FS Oklahoma to air Thunder games". The Oklahoman. 2008-09-29. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  35. ^ Mel Bracht. "KSBI to air Thunder games". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 2008-11-04. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oklahoma_City_Thunder&oldid=244411248"