OKC Thunder: How a fly over state has been caught in the middle of NBA History
By Rylan Stiles
A 13-year run, triumph, heartbreak, and history. How the OKC Thunder has put a flyover state in the middle of NBA history forever.
When I say Oklahoma, many of you reading this that are not from here think of a flyover state, and maybe the OKC Thunder. You think of long winding roads leading to nowhere, tumbleweeds, cornfields, maybe some oil rigs, and country music.
Although, now you might think that the entire state is filled with flamboyant cowboys that write country music and have their own exotic zoo’s that include selling Tigers to Shaq. I promise, the state is nothing like what you see on Tiger King. However, thanks to the OKC Thunder, when I say Oklahoma many of you think greatness.
Somehow, “little ole Oklahoma” has put themselves smack dab in the middle of NBA History, with a 13-year run that will stand the test of time. Basketball, and sports in general, are about telling a story. Lucky for us Oklahomans, you simply can not tell the story of NBA Basketball in this time period without giving the OKC Thunder a seat at the table.
However, the history proceeds the Thunder, and even dates back to 2005 when the city fostered the New Orleans Hornets after the devastating natural disaster that was Hurricane Katrina, allowing the city to not only prove its worth as a fanbase but also be dazzled by the immaculate rookie season from Chris Paul. Fast forward to the city’s current state in 2020, and we could very well see the bookends of Paul’s career right here in Bricktown.