For our money, April just might be the most exciting time to be an Oklahoma City resident. The annual Festival of the Arts and Memorial Marathon take place, the Oklahoma Baseball Club is in full swing and of course playoff basketball in the NBA. After a brief hiatus, the Oklahoma City Thunder are back in the playoffs after being a mainstay for more than a decade.
When the franchise started to rebuild after so much success, Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti was famously quoted as saying when the Thunder made it back to the playoffs, they wanted it to be an arrival and not an appearance. And boy did the Thunder follow through with that promise. The Thunder not only finished first in the Western Conference for just the second time, but they are also the youngest team to ever finish first in either conference in NBA history.
If you have lived in Oklahoma City for any length of time, you know that we take playoffs very seriously, and if you’re new to the city, there are ways to get involved and show your Thunder spirit.
Go to the games! Make friends with someone who has tickets or see if individual tickets are available. We promise you won’t want to miss seeing playoff basketball in person. Few places in the NBA get louder than the Paycom Center during the playoffs. The nickname Loud City wasn’t an accident. If you do go a little friendly tip: put on the shirt.
If it is a road game head out to the Thunder Playoff Patio or your favorite hangout to watch the Thunder with a crowd. Sports are just more fun watching with people. It is also a great way to support local businesses.
Buy and wear your Thunder gear. Whether it be the Thunder shop at the Paycom Center or your favorite local boutique, just about everyone who sells clothing in OKC will have some Thunder gear this time of year. Once again it’s an amazing way to support small businesses in our community while showing your team pride. A lot of businesses in the city also let their employees wear Thunder gear on game days. If your employer doesn’t have that policy maybe politely put a note in the ‘ol suggestion box.
Finally, if you own a business or have some influence at your company, consider painting your window or hanging a sign to show your support for the playoffs. There is nothing like seeing Thunder gear and decorations around the city this time of year.
