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Oklahoma City Thunder
Overall: 7
Title track: 38
Ownership: 16
Coaching: T76
Players: 5
Fan relations: 6
Affordability: 12
Stadium experience: 20
Bang for the buck: 14
Change from last year: 0
The Thunder are a model small-market professional franchise. They made an almost instantaneous connection with Oklahoma City upon moving in 2008 and have followed that up with exceptional on-court success. Meanwhile, on the business side they've built a worldwide brand and stayed in the black.
What's good
Oklahoma City doesn't have one transformative landmark star; it has two. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, both among the 10-best and most popular players in the NBA, have owned the city since day one -- the key reason the Thunder are ranked fifth in players among all pro sports teams. That and OKC's perennial status as a title contender have made the recent injuries to Durant and Westbrook even more painful.
What's bad
The Thunder fired coach Scott Brooks in April and hired Billy Donovan to replace him. Brooks was popular with the players but a lightning rod for criticism among fans and analysts. Meanwhile, Donovan, while well-regarded, has exactly zero NBA coaching experience, making him a risky hire at a sensitive time in OKC. It all adds up to making coaching the one category in which Thunder fans see the franchise as below average in our rankings.
What's new
Not much has changed in Oklahoma, befitting the conservative nature of the state. Of course, the popularity of its players only raises the stakes with free agency looming for Durant (2016) and Westbrook (2017). The departure of one or both could knock this fairy-tale franchise back to reality. On the other hand, the Thunder might be one healthy season away from grabbing those elusive championship rings.
Next: Indiana Pacers | Full rankings
