The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City, playing their home games at the Paycom Center. Originally founded as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1967, the franchise won its first NBA championship in 1979 before relocating to Oklahoma in 2008 under owner Clay Bennett. The team's name was chosen to reflect Oklahoma's location in Tornado Alley and the state's connection to the U.S. Army's 45th Infantry Division, the Thunderbirds. After the move, the Thunder built a powerhouse around stars like Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, reaching the NBA Finals in 2012 but losing to the Miami Heat. They finally captured their first title since relocating in 2025, defeating the Indiana Pacers in seven games.