Oklahoma City Thunder
Formerly the Seattle Supersonics, the franchise controversially
moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. Formed in 1967, the Sonics
won a championship in 1979 led by Gus Williams, Jack Sikma
and Dennis Johnson. The team rose to contention again in the
1990s behind Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, losing in the 1996
Finals to Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.
In the 2010s the franchise had to recover from losing one of the biggest ‘what if’ rosters in NBA history – drafting Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden in successive seasons. That young roster took the Oklahoma franchise to their first Finals appearance, which they lost to the Miami Heat in 2012. Afterwards Harden was traded to Houston, Durant fled to Golden State and Westbrook forced a move which saw him reunited with Harden in Houston.
All three players would win MVPs during their career, but only one came with the Thunder, that was Westbrook’s in the 2016–17 season.
The team is currently looking to build a new chapter in the franchise’s storied history
The Agony and the Ecstasy of the NBA Playoffs: Part 2
The pain and joy of the NBA Playoffs continues, and the Double Clutch team has pulled together the teams feeling the greatest ecstasy or the worse agony so far – featuring the Spurs, the 76ers and the Thunder
Playoffs Preview: Western Conference Round 1
Joe Hulbert and Matthew Wellington bring you part 2 of our Round 1 previews, this time looking at the Western Conference
Paul George is lightning up the MVP rankings with the Thunder
As the regular seasons hurtles towards its dramatic conclusion, Paul George has the Oklahoma City Thunder rumbling into contention and with it a chance at this years Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award. Tom Wade takes a look at the performances which have sparked the renaissance of PG13.
NBA Christmas: Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets
Previewing a rematch of last Christmas, Tom Wade looks at the Houston Rockets as they host the Oklahoma City Thunder to battle for a top seeding for the playoffs in 2019.
