<P> The team was originally established as the Seattle SuperSonics , an expansion team that joined the NBA for the 1967 -- 68 season . The SuperSonics moved in 2008 after a settlement was reached between the ownership group led by Clay Bennett and lawmakers in Seattle , Washington following a lawsuit . In Seattle , the SuperSonics qualified for the NBA playoffs 22 times , won their division six times , and won the 1979 NBA Championship . In Oklahoma City , the Thunder qualified for their first playoff berth during the 2009 -- 10 season . They won their first division title as the Thunder in the 2010 -- 11 season and their first Western Conference championship as the Thunder in the 2011 -- 12 season , appearing in the NBA Finals for the fourth time in franchise history and first since 1996 , when the club was based in Seattle . </P>
<P> The team was originally established as the Seattle SuperSonics , an expansion team that joined the NBA for the 1967 -- 68 season . The SuperSonics moved in 2008 after a settlement was reached between the ownership group led by Clay Bennett and lawmakers in Seattle , Washington following a lawsuit . In Seattle , the SuperSonics qualified for the NBA playoffs 22 times , won their division six times , and won the 1979 NBA Championship . In Oklahoma City , the Thunder qualified for their first playoff berth during the 2009 -- 10 season . They won their first division title as the Thunder in the 2010 -- 11 season and their first Western Conference championship as the Thunder in the 2011 -- 12 season , appearing in the NBA Finals for the fourth time in franchise history and first since 1996 , when the club was based in Seattle . </P>
where did the thunder basketball team come from
where did the thunder basketball team come from
Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics