Is OKC a big league city now? It appears they are. Going to the NBA Finals will do that for you. For a franchise that just four years ago won only 23 games, this is a huge turn around. Did I say huge? Monumental is probably more appropriate. It wasn’t over night, the Thunder improved each and every year. But a bunch of pundits and so called experts, ridiculed the Thunder management when Clay Bennett moved the fledgling franchise from Seattle to Oklahoma City. Even some of the players, looking at you Nick Collison, expressed their doubt of moving to a fly over state where college football is king. But for those of you lucky enough to be able to put your fanny in a seat at Chesapeake Energy Arena, you have witnessed first hand one of the loudest, rocking atmospheres in all of the Association.
Kevin Durant holding the Western Conference Championship trophy
Everyone in the whole state has been united behind the team. Whether you bleed crimson, orange or even blue and gold. And the players now recognize that as well. One reason Kevin Durant quietly signed his extension last year, in essence marrying him to OKC for the long term.
And now who is next? Miami or Boston? Teams that reside in legitimately big league cities. Well now it’s time to prove they belong. To prove they are not only a big league city, but a big league state.