Thunderous Intentions
Fansided

Paul George Day: yet another example of OKC’s market distinctiveness in NBA

By Jordan Buckamneer

DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 1: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates hitting the game tying shot against the Denver Nuggets on February 1, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 1: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates hitting the game tying shot against the Denver Nuggets on February 1, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The OKC Thunder may be the smallest NBA Market which affords them uniqueness. With July 7th pronounced Paul George Day it punctuates the point of Thunder stars who are revered by the OKC community.

Oklahoma City and Thunder fans celebrated the first “Paul George” day on Saturday. City mayor David Holt declared July 7 to be an official holiday in honor of George’s decision to stay.

Throughout the past decade of being in Oklahoma City, the Thunder and their fans have been through an emotional roller coaster. Not many franchises are in the hunt for a championship nearly every single season, but OKC is different.

For the first eight years, we stayed on the edge of our seats as Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant took us to the doorstep of the team’s first Finals victory. And after nearly a decade of coming up short, Durant pulled the plug and left for Golden State.

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Since then, Oklahoma City has gone from a team carried by Westbrook to a team with a new big three. But yet again, things didn’t go according to plan.

Last season acted as a good parallel to the franchise’s time in OKC. The Thunder rode several highs and lows throughout the season only to end up eliminated from the first round of the playoffs.

OKC treats PG like family and he repays them:

And with the early exit came the likely chance Paul George would move on to greener pastures.

Against all odds, George decided to stay. Not only did he re-sign, but he accepted a deal to make Oklahoma City his home for the next four years.

While the Thunder and their fans have been blessed to see some success, it hasn’t come without heartache. So George’s decision to fully commit to Oklahoma City earned him a holiday of his own.

Westbrook was given the same honor shortly after signing his super max deals on the heels of Kevin Durant leaving. Oklahoma City will celebrate the third annual “Russell Westbrook” Day on August 4.

Every franchise has its fair share of true fans, some more than others, but OKC has always been different. As the only show in town, the people of the city truly love their team and their players. It’s what sets OKC apart from the rest of the league and why Chesapeake Energy Arena is among the loudest in the NBA.

For all of the ups and downs the team has gone through, the fans have persevered through it all.

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