Thunder fans put positive spin on recent small market criticism with annual tradition

Recently, New York-based ESPN radio personality Dan Grasso made a rather notable realization about this OKC Thunder squad.

During an appearance on Dipietro & Rothenberg last week, a discussion was held over who out West could realistically upset Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company during this year's postseason run. The Los Angeles Lakers, specifically, were given a "40 percent" chance of doing so.

Amid the debate, Grasso acknowledged how the topic at hand was slightly disrespectful to the Thunder, for, despite their overall dominance as a ball club, he noted that Oklahoma City doesn't seem to get the credit they deserve as a legitimate title favorite due, in his eyes, to the fact that they play in such a small market.

He would argue: "I think if the Thunder played in a bigger market, if they were the New York Thunder [or] the Boston Thunder, we would be sitting here saying how overwhelmingly the odds are for them coming out of the West."

Considering they sport the best record in the league at 68-14, are a whopping 16 wins ahead of the second-seeded Houston Rockets out West, and are spearheaded by the MVP favorite in Gilgeous-Alexander, such a take appears to be more than fair.

However, though more attention and respect from the national media would be welcomed with open arms, the Thunder faithful recently showed why having such a small-market fanbase can be overwhelmingly rewarding as is.

OKC Thunder fans shower team with love with annual tradition

Following Sunday's regular season finale down in New Orleans against the Pelicans, upon landing back in the Sooner State that evening at Will Rogers Airport's general aviation terminal, the Thunder were greeted at the tarmac by a crowd of their adoring fans.

Such a warm welcome is certainly nothing new to Thunder fans, as they've been found cheering behind this same chain-link fence for years now.

While the crowds may not be as vast as, say, the ones the Heat or Lakers could theoretically bring in, considering both are based in big markets and fly out of such grand airports, a greeting like this would be impossible to have.

This kind of close-knit bond that OKC fans have with their team is a truly underrated and understated perk of residing in one of these small markets across the league, as the energy and intensity are more reminiscent of a college fandom than what is typically associated with professional clubs.

Be it following a historic conclusion to regular season play or after a gut-punch playoff-eliminating loss, the Thunder faithful will be there to shower this team with love and appreciation.

As this tradition shows, though Oklahoma City may be a small market, it's filled with fans sporting big hearts and unrivled devotion to their favorite franchise.