OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Isaiah Hartenstein never expected a museum visit to be life-altering.
Before the 7-foot center even signed his free agent contract with Oklahoma City two years ago, Thunder general manager Sam Presti told him onboarding would include a trip to the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, the site where 168 people were killed on April 19, 1995.
Presti requires new players to go so they can understand what the locals endured as a result of the Oklahoma City bombing at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.
The bombing itself didn’t stick with Hartenstein nearly as much as the aftermath. The community's collective spirit moved him so much that he produced a 14-minute documentary called “The Oklahoma Standard.” Journalists and visiting first responders coined the phrase after being impressed with the way everyday people from the surrounding area aided the victims and rescue teams.
The mentality — to rise in the face of catastrophe, help collectively, rebuild, then do it all again if necessary — has carried the city through major tornadoes in 1999, 2003 and 2013. It's a major part of the way Okies define themselves.
“We know when we put on the jersey what we’re playing for,” Hartenstein said. “I have a lot of respect for that.”
Presti has infused Oklahoma City’s first major professional sports team with a similar standard since it arrived from Seattle in 2008, from roster makeup to the franchise's emphasis on community service.
The Thunder have developed one of the most rabid fanbases in the league, with the upper bowl of the Paycom Center being affectionately known as “Loud City.” A sports community that might differ on backing Oklahoma or Oklahoma State in football finds common ground for the team that put their city in the spotlight. After Oklahoma City defeated Indiana to win the its first championship last season, thousands celebrated during the victory parade.
“They work hard, they play hard,” longtime season ticketholder “Thunder Rob” Shahan said of the players. “As an Oklahoman, we’re not afraid to roll up our sleeves. We’re not afraid to help our neighbor when they need help. And that’s what the team embodies.”
City and team have risen together since former mayor Mick Cornett and businessman Clay Bennett helped bring the Thunder to the city, which is now on the map as an NBA champion. In 2028, two Summer Olympic events – canoe slalom and softball – will be held here. That same year, the Thunder will get a new arena.
“We’re rightfully proud of the way we responded to the bombing,” said David Holt, the current mayor. “But you can’t really build an identity on an act of terrorism, right? We were grateful that people helped us and we were thankful that people respected the way we responded, but we really ultimately needed a different word to follow Oklahoma City than bombing. And we found that word, and it’s the Thunder.”
NBA star Kevin Durant and the Thunder Cares Foundation each donated $1 million for disaster relief after the Moore tornado in 2013. The Thunder Community Foundation has installed or refurbished 31 basketball courts in 17 counties across the state.
Hartenstein’s choice to debut his documentary at Classen SAS Middle School’s renovated auditorium is an example of intentional community connection. Eighth-grade drama students served as ushers at the April 11 event near downtown.
Sometimes, those kinds of acts have led to recognition. Russell Westbrook won the NBA’s Community Assist Award for the 2014-15 season. Hartenstein won the NBA Cares Award for community service during the 2025 offseason.
In turn, the fans have remained committed. They kept showing up after Durant left in free agency to join the Golden State Warriors in 2016 and again when the team went into full rebuilding mode after the 2020-2021 season.
Oklahoma has had pro sports at the minor league level for years, from Triple A baseball to hockey. The United States Football League's Oklahoma Outlaws, featuring quarterback Doug Williams, played up the road in Tulsa in 1984.
“The very existence of the team has elevated us into a new tier of American city,” Holt said. “And because the reality is in American life, unless you have a team in the NBA, the NFL or the MLB, you don’t really get treated like a real city by lots of things that have nothing to do with sports. It just opens a lot of doors because it just sort of bestows this credibility on you.”
That’s true for Juan Guerra. The Oklahoma City native owns Kicklahoma, a popular sneaker and clothing convention and a retail boutique, both based in the city. Guerra, 36, said he took the idea of a convention from Houston and capitalized on the popularity of Durant’s KD shoes back in 2014, Durant’s MVP season.
“Kicklahoma doesn’t exist without the Thunder, in my narrative,” Guerra said. “Or maybe not even the Thunder but even breaking down to, without Kevin Durant having that signature line.”
Oklahoma City’s love for pro basketball pre-dates Durant. It started when the New Orleans Hornets needed a temporary home after Hurricane Katrina and Oklahoma City stepped up. The fans adored Chris Paul, who won Rookie of the Year in 2006 as the city proved it could support an NBA team.