The Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Finals journey is one of evolution, resilience, and reinvention. Over 58 years, from Seattle roots to Midwest greatness, the franchise has stayed relevant while chasing championships.
The Thunder have always found a way to discover and develop talent. The franchise’s first Finals appearance came in just their 11th season. Back in 1978, future Hall-of-Famers Jack Sikma and Dennis Johnson led Seattle to game seven against a loaded Washington Bullets team. One year later, the Sonics earned their lone championship.
These Sonics teams were marked by their elite defensive prowess. Coach Lenny Wilkens instilled a hard-nosed personality, which led to a 103.9 points per game allowed, best in the league for the 1978-79 season.
In 1979, their suffocating defense made quick work of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. They then took out the Phoenix Suns in seven games to reach the Finals.
In an era of high scoring, free flowing basketball, this Sonics team’s leading scorer Gus Williams managed only 19.2 points per game. The team was built around great team play and ball distribution.
The Supersonics would not sniff the NBA Finals again for 17 seasons, before finally getting back to the big stage in 1996. The star power duo of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp brought Seattle to six games against the mighty Chicago Bulls led by the GOAT Michael Jordan.
The Bulls they faced set a then-record 72 wins, and lost only a single playoff game on their tear through the East. The Glove and Reign Man, as Payton and Kemp were affectionately known, were a young, rising duo in the league.
With excellent perimeter defense, and explosiveness around the basket, they posed the best chance to take down the favorites. Despite pushing the Bulls to six games, the Sonics couldn’t overcome the star power. By September of 1997, the team was dismantled. Kemp was shipped off to Cleveland, as the Sonics chose to replace him with Vin Baker. The team would never get past the second round with Baker leading the charge.
The Kemp era would be the last taste of the Finals that the organization would have until their 2008 move to Oklahoma City. From there, they built around superstar Kevin Durant with a core of Russell Westbrook and James Harden. The franchise returned to the Oklahoma City Thunder spotlight for the first time since the Seattle days.
The big three of the Thunder were the rising faces of the league. With these big three just 23 and 22 years old, this team was poised to be the next NBA dynasty. However, just months after their Finals appearance, Harden was traded to the Rockets in a deal that netted Steven Adams, and what many now consider minimal return. That big three era remains one of the NBA’s great “what-if” stories.
This year’s iteration is built much like the Durant era team. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the leader that KD was. Jalen Williams is the second option similar to Harden, and Chet Holmgren is the versatile third option similar to Westbrook.
Now with a core built for the modern game, the Thunder head into the Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Finals once again – as the favorites.
The Thunder won a league best 68 games this season, and their defensive rating of 107.5 is the best in the league. They balance elite scorers with exceptional outside shooters throughout their team. The Thunder lead the league in steals, opponent field goal percentage, and rank second in blocks.
This Thunder team has the superstars and depth to run through any opponent they face. Thunder fans may finally be rewarded for their patience as they now wait to see who SGA and the squad will face. Will the NBA be Thunderstruck by a brand new dynasty?
If you love sports, download Stadium Rant from the Apple App Store and join one of the fastest-growing social sports communities. Be sure to follow us on socials too — you can find all our profiles on our Linktree.
