NBA Team Guide
Oklahoma City Thunder: History, Championships & Facts
The franchise began in 1967 as the Seattle SuperSonics and moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. It has won two NBA titles: 1979 in Seattle and 2025 in Oklahoma City.
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Updated live from ESPN.
Quick facts
| Founded | 1967 as the Seattle SuperSonics (expansion) |
|---|---|
| Moved | To Oklahoma City in 2008, renamed the Thunder |
| Arena | Paycom Center, Oklahoma City (opened 2002 as the Ford Center) |
| NBA titles | 2 (1979, 2025) |
| Finals appearances | 5 through the 2025–26 season (1978, 1979, 1996, 2012, 2025) |
Championship history
The franchise has won two NBA championships, one as the Seattle SuperSonics and one as the Thunder. The 2025 title was its first since the 2008 move to Oklahoma City.
- 1979 NBA Finals (Seattle SuperSonics): beat the Washington Bullets 4–1
- 2025 NBA Finals: beat the Indiana Pacers 4–3, clinching in Game 7 on June 22, 2025
- Also reached the Finals in 1978 (lost to Washington 4–3), 1996 (lost to Chicago 4–2) and 2012 (lost to Miami 4–1)
Franchise history
- 1967: Began play as the Seattle SuperSonics, an NBA expansion team.
- 1979: Won the NBA title over the Washington Bullets, a year after losing to them in the Finals.
- 2008: Moved to Oklahoma City after a legal settlement with the city of Seattle, and became the Thunder.
- 2012: Reached the NBA Finals and lost to the Miami Heat 4–1.
- 2023: In December, Oklahoma City voters approved a sales tax to fund a new downtown arena.
- 2025: Beat the Indiana Pacers in seven games for the first title in Oklahoma City.
Franchise record holders
| Assists | Gary Payton, 7,384 |
|---|---|
| Rebounds | Jack Sikma, 7,729 |
| Steals | Gary Payton, 2,107 |
Retired numbers
- 1Gus Williams (SuperSonics era)
- 4Nick Collison
- 6Bill Russell (retired across the NBA)
- 10Nate McMillan (SuperSonics era)
- 19Lenny Wilkens (SuperSonics era)
- 24Spencer Haywood (SuperSonics era)
- 32Fred Brown (SuperSonics era)
- 43Jack Sikma (SuperSonics era)
Hall of Famers
Gary Payton, Jack Sikma, Spencer Haywood, Lenny Wilkens.
Biggest rivalries
- San Antonio Spurs: met in the Western Conference Finals in 2012, 2014 and 2026; San Antonio won the 2026 series 4–3.
- Golden State Warriors: the 2016 Western Conference Finals, which Oklahoma City lost after leading 3–1.
- Dallas Mavericks: repeated playoff meetings, including the 2011 Western Conference Finals and the 2024 conference semifinals.
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How many NBA championships has the Thunder franchise won?
Two. The Seattle SuperSonics won in 1979, and the Thunder won in 2025.
When did the SuperSonics move to Oklahoma City?
In 2008, after a settlement between the ownership group and the city of Seattle. The team began play as the Thunder in the 2008–09 season.
Did the SuperSonics name stay in Seattle?
Yes. Under the 2008 settlement, the SuperSonics name, logo and colors are available to any future NBA team in Seattle, and the Sonics' banners, trophies and retired jerseys stayed there.
Who did the Thunder beat in the 2025 NBA Finals?
The Indiana Pacers, 4–3. Game 7 was played on June 22, 2025.
Where did the Thunder play their first season in Oklahoma City?
At the Ford Center, which opened in 2002. The arena was renamed Paycom Center in 2021. In December 2023 city voters approved funding for a new downtown arena.
Sources
Facts checked September 23, 2026. Live figures above come from ESPN.