The Oklahoma City Thunder are a historically premier NBA franchise...

[murksiderock]

I'm not talking about right now, I'm talking about the overall context of NBA clubs, and this is relevant given all the talk about "small market" teams...

Let's consider this first, that currently the NBA still counts Sonics history as part of the Thunder's history. This will almost certainly change, whenever the NBA grants an expansion franchise to Seattle again; they'll transfer over the Sonics history back to Seattle. But for the foreseeable future until then, Sonics history is officially Thunder history...

In 41 Seattle years, the Sonics were 1-2 in three Finals appearances; 3-3 in four WCF appearances; 22 playoff appearances; a .524 regular season record and .493 playoffs record. So in their Seattle tenure, they basically made the playoffs every other year. They were consistently relevant...

They've now been in Oklahoma for 17 years, which is 41% of the time they spent in Seattle. Sans a championship, which will likely come in two weeks, they've somehow been more successful in Oklahoma than they were in Seattle. Now in their second Finals appearance; 2-3 in WCF; 12 playoff appearances; .584 regular season record and .508 postseason record. In 17 years they've made the playoffs 12x. They are always relevant...

They've had great players from Jack Sikma up to now. This franchise has a 9-year run with a consensus Top 15 player ever (Durant); a 12½ year (Payton) and 11-year (Westbrook) run with two consensus Top 50 players ever; a guy widely considered a Top 15 coach ever who brought them their title (Wilkens)...

And now they have the third league MVP to play for their franchise in Shai, with a coach in Daignault who is clearly an elite coach in The League today. This is on top of having guys like Scott Brooks, Paul Westphal, George Karl, and Bill Russell coach this team. All guys who were elite at the craft...

This is a marquee NBA franchise, Top 10 shyt, and likely has been most of their history. Whether in Seattle or OKC, whenever they have down years, its never long, this organization is always in the postseason. And the "small market" thing doesn't matter, the Spurs are in a "small market" and are also one of the premier organizations. If I had to rank the NBA's historically premier franchises:

1 Lakers
2 Celtics
3 Warriors
4 Sixers
5 Knicks
6 Spurs
7 Pistons
8 Bulls
9 Heat
10 Thunder

They are a Top 10 organization and the NBA is always fine when their premier franchises are good...

 

[Remote]

Nobody considers the Oklahoma City Thunder history as connected to Seattle Sonics history.

No matter what semantics you want to play here.

The same way nobody ever considered The Utah Jazz history as connected to the New Orleans Jazz of the ABA.

You did all this blathering to convince no one but yourself.

 

[In The Zone '98]

Finessed the cap very well over the years

But they did out think themselves with Harden

 

[DJ Paul's Arm]

Nobody considers the Oklahoma City Thunder history as connected to Seattle Sonics history.

No matter what semantics you want to play here.

The same way nobody ever considered The Utah Jazz history as connected to the New Orleans Jazz of the ABA.

You did all this blathering to convince no one but yourself.

/thread

All that typing for nothing

 

[murksiderock]

Nobody considers

The NBA does...

But on topic, do you disagree with the assertion that the Thunder are one of the premier 10 franchises?

 

[Loose]

The NBA does...

But on topic, do you disagree with the assertion that the Thunder are one of the premier 10 franchises?

Okc doesn't they actually keep Seattle's history's separate

 

[SchoolboyC]

I consider OKC separate from Seattle and it’s pretty much confirmed that they’re relinquishing the Sonics history once their expansion team is official.

That said, since 2008-09 they’re 5th in playoff wins and 2nd in regular season wins. Pretty easily the most successful team over that span without a title

 

[resistanze]

...Knicks at #5?

 

[feelosofer]

The Thunder are a very well run organization. They hand out smart contracts for the right players. Build through the draft mostly and what's wild is they have the cap flexibility to supplement their depth. They are likely to win the Championship ship and is young enough to compete for the next 5 years minimum.

 

[Remote]

The NBA does...

But on topic, do you disagree with the assertion that the Thunder are one of the premier 10 franchises?

Probably not.

Celtics
Lakers
Warriors
Bulls
Spurs
Heat
Pistons
76ers
Knicks
...and I'm inclined to add Houston if only for their back to back championships.

Maybe I'm wrong but whatever.

 

[VegetasHairline]

This is likely about to change but how are they a historically premier NBA franchise with no championships?

 

[number21]

The heat 9? Wtf

A franchise that has been top five in playoff wins since the 90s are somehow below the bum ass Knicks and the one man show Bulls. Hell the warriors are a one man show as well.


Please.

 

[2 one 3]

I’m sorry no matter what OKC does. I just cannot see myself becoming a fan. Drove through Oklahoma City once and that shyt just seems painfully boring and lame as hell.

 

[2Quik4UHoes]

One of the best front offices in sports fr, it’s like they took the mantle from the Spurs in a sense but they just ain’t put it all the way together the same way. Also reminds me of the 70s Raiders, always winning and in the mix but haven’t yet won a title which seems inevitable now.

Definitely should separate OKC and Seattle history. OKC has done more than enough to stand on its own as a franchise atp.

 

[duckbutta]

Premier nba franchise that has 0 nba championships and only 2 finals appearances ? Not possible.

Who is the nba player who is saying "I can't wait to go to OKC to be apart of their history?" Can't think of one.