NBA Storms Into BOK Center

By Chris Wright, News On 6

TULSA, OK - It was a double-debut at the BOK Center on Monday night as Tulsa's new arena hosts its first basketball game and Oklahoma's new NBA team tips off in the Sooner State for the first time.

The BOK Center has already hosted some big acts, but Monday it hosted its first big-time sporting event, and the first game the Thunder has played in Oklahoma.

While this team has not been in existence long, it is having no problem enlisting fans.

They began streaming into the BOK Center more than an hour before tipoff.

An estimated 10,000 took in the preseason clash. Not exactly a capacity crowd, but many have waited patiently for the NBA's visit to Tulsa.

"I grew up, up east so I got to see games when I was a lot younger and stuff like that, so I think it's a great opportunity to have a team in the state," said one fan.

"I'm excited man.  I haven't seen a pro team in Tulsa at all.  Especially the NBA or something," said another fan.

Once inside the arena, the first-time fans were quick to snatch up Thunder gear. But some weren't sure who to root for.

"So we bought tickets because we are Rockets fans.  And then they changed to the Oklahoma Thunder. And now we've got our shirts, but we're really rooting for the Thunder," said one confused fan.

The Thunder faithful looked forward to cheering on former Texas standout Kevin Durant. But eyes were also glued to the Rocket's superstar center Yao Ming.

"I'm excited. I don't think I've ever seen anyone who's 7'7" before," said one fan of Yao Ming.

Yao warmed up on the BOK Center's new basketball floor, which was put in over the weekend.

"We had the installers in the last couple days to make sure everything is working right. It's a brand new basketball floor, brand new setup, so we're excited," said BOK Asst General Manager Jerry Goldman.

The Thunder will return Oklahoma City, where it will play the rest of its preseason and regular season games. But the team's Sooner State debut will always belong to Tulsa.