Daily Thunder.com Thunder named sixth best franchise in sports, second in NBA

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As proud as the Oklahoma City Thunder franchise is about the 55-win season, Northwest Division title and appearance in the Western Conference Finals, its ranking in ESPN the Magazine’s “Ultimate Team” standings is probably right up there.

The Thunder placed sixth overall in the magazine’s annual rankings and second out of all NBA teams, only behind big brother San Antonio. The five organizations ahead of OKC are the Packers, Tampa Bay Lightning, New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Angels and the Spurs.

Last season the Thunder came in 25th overall and fifth out of NBA teams.

The criteria the magazine uses is “Bang For The Buck” which is wins over the past three years per revenues from fans, “Fan Relations” which is “openness and consideration toward fans by players, coaches and management,” “Ownership,” “Affordability,” “Stadium Experience,” “Players” which includes the likability of the roster, “Coaching” and “Title Track” which is championships won or the expectation of one in the near future.

In those areas, the Thunder ranked 12th in “Bang For The Buck,” fourth in “Fan Relations,” 23rd in “Ownership,” third in “Affordability,” 62nd in “Stadium Experience,” fourth in “Players,” 27th in “Coaching” and 43rd in “Title Track.”

Ian Gordon of ESPN the Mag wrote this about the team:

Sure, the Russell Westbrook-Kevin Durant relationship has been endlessly dissected in the wake of the Thunder’s loss in the Western Conference finals. But how many teams — and fan bases — wouldn’t take the two 22-year-old stars? Add in 21-year-olds James Harden and Serge Ibaka and the Thunder have the kind of exciting young core that front offices dream about. Thunder GM Sam Presti is committed to building through the draft and not doling out precious cap money to expensive vets. Not like many FA are interested in Oklahoma anyway.

The Thunder’s meteoric rise in the past couple of years, from 57th overall in 2009 to sixth this year, is a direct result of on-court success. The franchise’s first visit to the Western Conference finals since 1996 (they were in Seattle then) allowed the organization to showcase its fan-friendly, frenzied atmosphere at the Oklahoma City Arena. So even on nights when Westbrook is shooting too much and KD is standing around on the wing, below-average ticket costs and rock-bottom beer prices (a $5 pint is a stone-cold bargain at an arena these days) keep Thunder fans rolling in, and satisfied.

So really, it’s more the roster that has helped the Thunder score so high. Tickets, parking and fan relations are really good, but arena experience and the path to a title scored a little lower, which I find a little curious because I would’ve thought those were two strengths of the team.

Regardless, sixth overall in all sports and second in the NBA is something to be proud of. It’s obvious to everyone how well run the Thunder franchise is run and operated. Kendrick Perkins immediately said the Thunder were a “first class organization” as soon as he arrived and it’s the truth.

Oklahoma City might not necessarily have South Beach, Hollywood or Times Square, but it makes up for it by having a community that’s bananas about the team and an organization that does things first class. Maybe the canal and Cowboy Hall of Fame won’t be drawing free agents or making players want to re-sign, but the team itself does.

The Thunder fanbase is one of the best in all of sports, but honestly, this organization makes it almost impossible not to be crazy about the team.

13 comments

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kfmsooner

@Daniel Hawaii
Ric Bucher ripped him up in that debate...Brousard sounded like a fan. He had no facts, just the 'we'll get better when we sign Oden' argument.

Jax Raging Bile Duct

@Justin

I don't think MLB managers should be considered coaches. I don't know a thing about the NHL, so I can't comment there. But I think NBA and NFL coaches should be ranked higher than MLB managers for sure.

justin

The Thunder at 27th in coaching among all major sports seems suspect to me.

PNT already said it, but the cool part about our arena is when the fans go crazy. That's more a 'bang for your buck' type thing than the arena standing on it's own merits.

These standings are fun, but establishing a rating of all those criteria has to be really error prone. Nonetheless, being 6th is pretty cool.

dwill

Catchin up on Thunder tweets last night. Looks like Jordan Williams from Maryland will be workin out for the Thunder today...anybody have any opinions...watch him play in college?

MartzMimic

@Lanktj
Yeah, I think the seemingly obligatory "Nobody who isn't there would want to go there" comments are a little tired. Several franchises don't or won't go after All-Star caliber free agents, and some have difficulty attracting them.

And it's not limited to small markets. Before the move, the Sonics hadn't signed a significant free agent in more than a decade. The Mavericks - despite Cuban's reputation for player amenities and willingness to spend - hasn't enticed any big timers. A lot of the players who'll parade through Dallas today were acquired after they had peaked.

Most players are acquired through trades, and history shows the opportunities to win and get paid play a bigger part than locale.

lanktj

Not like many FA are interested in Oklahoma anyway.

Maybe the canal and Cowboy Hall of Fame won’t be drawing free agents or making players want to re-sign, but the team itself does.

This really needs to change and not just for basketball

Grolgar

justin :I think you could rent a car as long as you’re over 21 years old if you shop around and aren’t picky.

I've grown to love your overly analytical nature, @justin. Lol.

I think you could rent a car as long as you're over 21 years old if you shop around and aren't picky.

PNT

Can't rent a car...love it.

Daniel Hawaii

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/news/story?id=6664332

Good read if you have ESPN Insider. Broussard and Ric Bucher debate who's going to be the next NBA Dynasty, Miami or OKC. Broussard says the Heat, while Bucher says the Thunder.

Bucher makes some great arguments, obviously that we're young and gaining experience, while Miami has no cap flexibility to change their team a whole lot. Broussard actually believes the Heat will be able to sign Greg Oden for the minimum. That's ludicrous.

I found this excerpt to be very interesting concerning our ability to re-sign all of our guys under a new CBA agreement:

"Ric Bucher: The Thunder are going to have to make some tough financial decisions, no question. I don't expect they can keep everyone. But they'll be working under the new parameters. Surely you're not saying they'll have a harder time re-signing their guys under the new rules than Miami will have adding guys with a payroll already locked in at $65 million-plus for the next five years. The Thunder also went to the conference finals with their top two stars, Kevin Durant and Russ Westbrook, all of 22 years old. You've given LeBron James eight years to find his game and even though he still isn't complete, you insist he still has time to find a post game and a midrange sweet spot. But you're going to predict Westbrook's flaws, three seasons into his career, will forever hamstring both he and his team? An All-Star who helped lead his team to the conference finals in his third year? You're going to have to explain that one to me, especially considering Westbrook's work ethic is twice that of LeBron's. Then there's Serge Ibaka and James Harden, both 21. Let me repeat: THEY WENT TO THE CONFERENCE FINALS with four main players who aren't old enough to rent a car without mom's signature."

The arena serves it's purposes but when you compare it to places like the AAC in Dallas or Staples in LA, it lacks a lot. Also, until the new entrance at the SW corner, the lower concourse are redone, and it has a new name and logo, the building is very plain looking.

Joe

27th in coaching...he he.

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