Oklahoma Fans, Businesses Respond To Tentative NBA Agreement

Grant Sloan, News on 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- In these difficult economic times, arguments over billions of dollars in revenue may have fallen on deaf ears with NBA fans.

But after months of negotiations between players and owners, the league may now be able to deliver an early Christmas present to some of Oklahoma's own, a basketball season.

Oklahoma may be known for its college football, but among the Sooner and Cowboy faithful, lurks another type of die-hard fan.

The OKC thunder has developed quite a following in during their three years in the league.

"The thunder is the best thing that ever happened to Oklahoma City and I am thrilled that our team plays so well and I'm thrilled we're having a season," Thunder fan Art said.

After months of negotiations between players and owners, a tentative agreement has been reached, ending the 149-day lockout.

They aren't releasing a lot of details, other than that the season will only have 66 games and would tip off on Christmas Day.

"It was in both of our interests to try to reach a resolution, one to save the game and to be able to provide the kind of superb entertainment the NBA has historically provided," Players' Union Executive Billy Hunter said.

And that deal means Thunder fans can forget falling short in last year's playoffs, and look forward to another run at the title.

"Championship. They're going to win it this year," Thunder fan Brian Jenkins said.

And that excitement means a big boost to Oklahoma's economy.

"Anytime there's and NBA home game, your parking lots get full, your restaurants get full and, you know, there's a lot of people downtown doing stuff and that usually builds out local economy," said Mick Cornett, Mayor of Oklahoma City.

And the news that the NBA could be on the doorstep of a deal has spread like wild fire among folks in Oklahoma.

"We actually had a fan wearing a Durant jersey in the restaurant today. That was the first one I'd seen in quite a while," said Ed Lynn with a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant.

But, if the deal pans out, we could be seeing a lot more of those jerseys on Christmas wish lists.