Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City Thunder Summary

The Oklahoma City Thunder began their franchise history as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1967, spending the first 42 seasons of the team in the Northwest before getting moved and making a name change prior to the 2008-09 campaign. Since moving, the team has had its share of success, both individually and as a team.

There is hope for the future, especially after a number of trades over the last few years have brought in multiple first-round picks from other teams. Oklahoma City also has a potential superstar in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, though the road back to a title contender could be a long one.

Oklahoma City Thunder Standings

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s standings in the NBA have been a dynamic reflection of their journey in professional basketball. This franchise, marked by its resilience and commitment to development, has experienced both highs and lows. While specific rankings may change from season to season, the Thunder’s passionate fan base remains steadfast, eagerly anticipating the team’s progress. The Thunder’s standings signify not only their performance on the court but also their enduring spirit as they continue to build for the future. Through the ups and downs, they remain a significant and cherished part of the NBA landscape, emblematic of the determination that defines the sport.

Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends

Betting trends related to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA can vary from season to season and game to game. These trends are influenced by various factors, including team performance, player injuries, and matchups. Sports bettors and analysts closely monitor the Thunder’s performance against the spread (ATS), their over/under (O/U) totals, and other key betting metrics. The team’s success, both overall and in specific situations, can significantly impact these trends. Additionally, individual player statistics, such as points, rebounds, and assists, can also play a role in betting markets. To stay updated with the latest Oklahoma City Thunder betting trends, enthusiasts often consult sportsbooks, betting websites, and expert analysis to make informed wagers.

Oklahoma City Thunder History

The franchise was formed as the Seattle SuperSonics prior to the 1967-68 season as an expansion team, and it struggled as an expansion team usually does, failing to make the playoffs for the first seven seasons of existence. With all-time great Bill Russell coaching the team, the SuperSonics finally broke through with a pair of postseason appearances in 1974-75 and 1975-76, though they only yielded one series win.

Things changed in the 1977-78 season, with new head coach Bob Hopkins being let go after just 22 games and replaced by former player-coach Lenny Wilkens. Behind the guard duo of Gus Williams and Dennis Johnson and center Jack Sikma, the SuperSonics made a run to the NBA Finals, falling to the Washington Bullets in seven games.

The following season, the two teams matched up again in the championship series, and this time, it was Seattle coming out on top, winning the Finals in five games for the first NBA title in franchise history. Johnson was named the Finals MVP.

The Sonics were a perennial playoff team for much of the 1980s, but standing in their way were the Los Angeles Lakers, who defeated them three times in the postseason during the decade. The team selected guard Gary Payton with the No. 2 overall pick in 1990, one year after taking Shawn Kemp after Trinity Valley Community College in the first round. The two players grew together under coach George Karl, helping to lead the Sonics to the brink of another title with an appearance in the NBA Finals in 1996, though they fell to the Chicago Bulls.

That loss started a downward spiral, as the Sonics won just three playoff series over the next 12 seasons, though they did select Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant with the No. 2 pick of the 2007 NBA Draft. But the team was bought by Clay Bennett, who wanted a new arena that the city of Seattle wouldn’t fund, so he moved the team to Oklahoma City prior to the 2008-09 season.

The newly-named Thunder had high draft picks in the next two drafts as well, taking Russell Westbrook with the No. 4 pick in 2008 and James Harden with the No. 3 pick in 2009. Those three formed the core of an up-and-coming playoff team, led by Scott Brooks as head coach.

A return to the postseason in 2010 was followed by a trip to the Western Conference finals in 2011 and an appearance in the 2012 NBA Finals, which Oklahoma City lost to the Miami Heat. Still, the sky seemed the limit for the team and its trio of young stars.

But in the 2012 offseason, Thunder management was unable to agree to an extension with Harden, instead trading the reigning Sixth Man of the Year to Houston in a six-player deal, breaking up the young trio. Durant won NBA MVP honors in 2014 as the team advanced to the conference finals, and the Thunder returned to the West finals in 2016, but Durant left as a free agent in the summer of 2016.

Westbrook was a one-man show the next season, averaging a triple-double and winning league MVP honors, but he was unable to win a playoff series without Durant, eventually being dealt to Houston as well in 2019.

Championships Won by the Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City franchise has only won one NBA championship, which came back in the time when it was known as the Seattle SuperSonics. Playing in a rematch of the previous season’s Finals, Seattle dominated the Washington Bullets, winning the 1979 NBA Finals in five games, led by Finals MVP Dennis Johnson.

The team has made it to the NBA Finals on three other occasions, twice prior to the move to Seattle. As stated above, the team lost in the 1978 NBA Finals to the Bullets, falling in seven games after taking a 3-2 series lead. The Sonics then advanced to the 1996 NBA Finals, losing in six games to the Chicago Bulls.

The Thunder have made the championship series once since moving to Oklahoma City, advancing to the 2012 NBA Finals. The team lost that series in five games to the Miami Heat.

The franchise has won 11 division titles. As the SuperSonics, they won the Pacific Division five times. The team also won the Northwest Division crown once while in Seattle, then added another five Northwest Division titles as the Thunder.

Important Team Events

The history of the Seattle franchise took a major turn in 2008 when the team moved to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder. A long tradition of beloved SuperSonics teams ended, and people still long for a team to return to the Seattle area.

The three straight drafts that brought Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden to the Thunder were home runs, with all three players since being named NBA MVP at some point in their careers. The three played well together and were able to get to the NBA Finals but then were broken up before they could continue their championship quest.

The trading away of Harden hurt the team some, but the decision of Durant to join the Golden State Warriors as a free agent in the summer of 2016 really set back the franchise. Westbrook tried to carry the team on his own but was unable to find the team success that he enjoyed with Durant and Harden.

Top Players

Determining the top players in the long history of the Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder is not easy, with some Hall of Famers interspersed with some of today’s top players that have played for the Thunder. Guard Gary Payton certainly had both individual and team success with the Sonics, earning Defensive Player of the Year in 1995-96 while also leading the team to the NBA Finals. Payton is still the franchise’s all-time leader in assists and steals.

Since moving to Oklahoma City, the team has had a pair of players win the NBA MVP award while wearing the Thunder uniform. Durant was the Rookie of the Year in 2007-08, the last season in Seattle, then won the NBA MVP in 2013-14. Durant averaged 27.4 points and 7.0 rebounds in his nine seasons with the franchise.

Russell Westbrook became a one-man show in the season after Durant’s departure, averaging a triple-double – only the second player in NBA history to do so – to earn the NBA MVP award on a 47-win team. Westbrook became the first to win the award on a team with less than 50 wins since Moses Malone in 1981-82. Westbrook was also the All-Star MVP twice and remains the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.

Top Coaches

One of the top 10 coaches in NBA history made his name with the Seattle SuperSonics, as Lenny Wilkens racked up a franchise-best 478 regular-season victories during his two stints as the team’s head coach. Wilkens was a player-coach from 1969-70 to 1971-72, then returned as just the head coach for the 1977-78 season. Wilkens led the SuperSonics to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances, winning the 1979 title, the franchise’s only championship.

Seattle had a resurgence in the 1990s behind head coach George Karl, who helped the team to a playoff appearance in each of his six-plus seasons on the bench. Karl was the coach for the team’s run to the 1996 NBA Finals, and he is second on the franchise’s all-time wins list with 384 regular-season victories.

Oklahoma City’s success came with Scott Brooks roaming the Thunder sideline. The 2009-10 NBA Coach of the Year, Brooks helped the team reach the NBA Finals in 2012 and make the playoffs in five of his six full seasons at the helm. Brooks finished with 207 regular-season victories as the Thunder’s coach, and his 39 playoff wins are just one behind Karl for the all-time mark among coaches in the franchise’s history.

Injuries

Injuries are an inevitable part of professional sports, and the Oklahoma City Thunder, like all teams, have faced their fair share of challenges in this regard. Whether dealing with minor setbacks or more significant injuries, the Thunder’s resilience and commitment to player health and recovery have remained unwavering. The team’s ability to adapt and support their athletes through injury setbacks underscores their dedication to long-term success. Fans of the Thunder understand that injuries are a temporary hurdle in the team’s ongoing journey, and they eagerly await the return of their favorite players, knowing that each comeback signifies a renewed determination to achieve greatness on the basketball court.

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