Betts
09-30-2008, 02:23 AM
From USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/thunder/2008-09-29-okc-arrives_N.htm
Oklahoma City lands young team with plenty of potential
By Chris Colston, USA TODAY
The NBA officially returns to Oklahoma City on Oct. 29 in the season-opener for the home team, against the Milwaukee Bucks. But for the first time, the city's fans have a team to call their own: the Thunder.
After the destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Hornets played 71 games in Oklahoma City from 2005 to 2007. The strong attendance for those games no doubt played a part in landing the former Seattle SuperSonics, who moved to Oklahoma City this offseason.
The community's support of the NBA hasn't waned. In five days, the Thunder sold about 13,000 season tickets across all price levels, including $10 upper-level seats at the Ford Center.
A waiting list for season tickets was put in place, and 4,000 or so seats are available for single-game sales, group sales and partial-season ticket plans.
Oklahoma City, which will remain in the Northwest Division with the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz, isn't expected to make a playoff push this season in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. But a young nucleus bodes well for the future with 2007-08 rookie of the year Kevin Durant (20.3 points a game), emerging forward Jeff Green and rookie point guard Russell Westbrook.
Green averaged 37 minutes, 15.6 points and 6.3 rebounds in April. Westbrook, a strong defender, was the fourth overall pick in the June draft.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/thunder/2008-09-29-okc-arrives_N.htm
Oklahoma City lands young team with plenty of potential
By Chris Colston, USA TODAY
The NBA officially returns to Oklahoma City on Oct. 29 in the season-opener for the home team, against the Milwaukee Bucks. But for the first time, the city's fans have a team to call their own: the Thunder.
After the destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Hornets played 71 games in Oklahoma City from 2005 to 2007. The strong attendance for those games no doubt played a part in landing the former Seattle SuperSonics, who moved to Oklahoma City this offseason.
The community's support of the NBA hasn't waned. In five days, the Thunder sold about 13,000 season tickets across all price levels, including $10 upper-level seats at the Ford Center.
A waiting list for season tickets was put in place, and 4,000 or so seats are available for single-game sales, group sales and partial-season ticket plans.
Oklahoma City, which will remain in the Northwest Division with the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz, isn't expected to make a playoff push this season in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. But a young nucleus bodes well for the future with 2007-08 rookie of the year Kevin Durant (20.3 points a game), emerging forward Jeff Green and rookie point guard Russell Westbrook.
Green averaged 37 minutes, 15.6 points and 6.3 rebounds in April. Westbrook, a strong defender, was the fourth overall pick in the June draft.