OKC Thunder

Oklahoma City is “Thunderstruck”
At least their team is now. After spending much of this offseason without a formal name on their jerseys, the newly-acquired franchise has a tag.
With the deal to allow the movement of the team, the old franchise, the Seattle Supersonics, and their color scheme of green and gold were not allowed to follow the team; they had to stay in Washington. Because of this, Oklahoma was able to concoct a brand new identity looking forward to next season in their new home.
This new name really wasn’t that large of a surprise, however, as potential names were leaked as early as six weeks ago, and the website of the Orlando Magic had already listed games on their schedule for next year as playing the “Oklahoma City Thunder.” It took a little longer to leak the colors, but even they didn’t last until the announcement. The Thunder will be sporting blue, orange, and yellow, combining such colors having meaning to the residents of OKC, as well as the cross between colors of current Oklahoma teams, such as the Sooners.
Thunder is a fitting team name for the new franchise, as the Tornado Alley resides in Oklahoma. Thunderbirds are a nickname for a city based infantry division, and even that draws from the state’s American Indian past. “The Thunder Rolls” was a Garth Brooks hit many years ago on the country music charts; Brooks is also an Oklahoma native.
Oklahoma didn’t get the franchise quietly; however, they were mandated to shell out $75 million in lawsuit charges during a point in time where the team wasn’t even sure if it was moving until the legal proceedings were concluded. Team chairman Clay Bennett had mentioned that the team name had been decided “quite some time ago,” but the names that Oklahoma City passed on included trademarks on five other possibilities outside of Thunder: the Wind, Bison, Marshalls, Energy, and Barons.
The Thunder revealed the new logo, colors and name while blaring AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” over the loudspeakers, and new teammates Damien Wilkins and Desmond Mason, a former Oklahoma State University forward, along with some children unveiled the new designs at a packed Leadership Square in Oklahoma City in the early evening of September 4th.
Coach P.J. Carlesimo was even quoted as saying; “The guys in the jerseys, if they play, the jerseys are going to look real good.”