The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball team in the National Basketball Association (NBA) based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They compete in the Western Conference Northwest Division along with Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Utah Jazz. The Golden State Warriors are considered one of Oklahoma City Thunder’s main rivals, along with San Antonio Spurs after clashing in the play-offs on more than one occasion.
The Oklahoma City Thunder were originally from Seattle and known as the Seattle SuperSonics, playing their home games at the Seattle Center Arena. However, in 2008 the team relocated to Oklahoma, changing their name and home arena, and now play their home games at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City.
The arena was originally called the Ford Center up until 2010, and then it was renamed the Oklahoma City Arena up until 2011. When hosting basketball games the arena has a capacity of 18,203 and was once the home for Central Hockey League’s Oklahoma City Blazers, and AF2’s Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz. The arena also helped NBA’s New Orleans Hornets in 2005 to 2007 by serving as a temporary home after Hurricane Katrina left them without one. There are also other events and concerts hosted by the arena ranging from Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live to Guns n’ Roses.