The Oklahoma City Thunder faithful, get ready to thunder up once again—the NBA champs are back, and ticket fever is sweeping Oklahoma! On September 18, 2025, the Thunder officially opened single-game ticket sales for the first half of the 2025-26 season, and the buzz around the Paycom Center is nothing short of electric. With the city still basking in the afterglow of a thrilling 2024-25 NBA title run, fans are scrambling to secure their seats for what promises to be a historic campaign.
Tickets for all home games through December 31 are now available, but buyers need to act fast. The demand is sky-high, and lower-level as well as MidFirst Bank club-level seats sold directly by the team are already extremely limited. Most fans will find themselves in Love's Loud City, the raucous upper deck that’s become a fortress of energy and passion for the Thunder. According to the announcement, fans can purchase up to eight tickets per game via Ticketmaster, subject to availability. It’s a hot ticket—quite literally, as some resale prices are already soaring thanks to the championship glow.
And who could blame them? The Thunder are about to embark on their first-ever title defense, and the season opener on October 21 is set to be a spectacle. Oklahoma City will host the Houston Rockets, now featuring none other than Kevin Durant—a storyline loaded with intrigue and a dash of drama. Before tipoff, the Thunder will raise their inaugural championship banner to the rafters and hand out championship rings to the team, marking a moment that fans and players alike have dreamed about for years.
This is more than just the start of another NBA season. It’s the beginning of a new era for Oklahoma City basketball. The Thunder’s run to the 2024-25 NBA title was powered by their young core, whose unselfish, two-way brand of basketball captured the imagination of the league. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams emerged as stars, and the front office wasted no time locking all three into long-term contracts over the summer. As a result, the Thunder are bringing back essentially the same group that stormed through the playoffs, losing only Dillon Jones in a minor trade.
NBA.com analyst Shaun Powell captured the mood around the league, writing, “There weren’t many defending champions of the last decade who were prohibitive favorites to repeat, and OKC is now in that very select group. Not only did OKC flex its way through last season with a young group, but this summer the Thunder delivered long-term extensions for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. OKC is at least two seasons away from worrying about cap issues and it might add at least one more title by then.”
That’s a bold statement, but one that seems justified. The Thunder’s management has built a roster with both present and future in mind. In addition to the star trio, Oklahoma City retained its high-level role players and added 2024 draftee Nikola Topic, further deepening a rotation that already proved itself against the best in the league. The result? OKC remains at the forefront of championship conversations, with pundits and fans alike expecting another deep postseason run.
Of course, the NBA is never short on challengers. The Denver Nuggets, who pushed OKC to seven games in last season’s playoffs, made significant moves by trading Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson and adding free agents Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. Meanwhile, the Rockets’ acquisition of Durant after finishing second in the Western Conference has many circling October 21 on their calendars. The matchup promises fireworks and sets the stage for a season packed with narratives.
The Thunder’s preseason gets underway on October 5 against the Charlotte Hornets, offering a first glimpse at how the team’s chemistry and tactics might evolve. But it’s the regular season opener—ring night—that has everyone talking. The championship banner ceremony, the ring presentations, the return of Durant to Oklahoma City—all the ingredients are there for an unforgettable night in Thunder history. For many fans, it’s a chance to witness the fruits of years of patience and passionate support.
But the excitement doesn’t end there. The Thunder’s home schedule is dotted with marquee matchups, including a highly anticipated Christmas Day showdown with the San Antonio Spurs, games around Thanksgiving, and a New Year’s Eve clash that could carry playoff implications even at that early stage. With the team’s core under contract and no looming cap issues for at least two more seasons, the Thunder are positioned not just for one magical year, but potentially a dynasty in the making.
The city itself is already feeling the impact. During last year’s Finals run, Oklahoma City saw record sales tax revenue, a testament to the economic and cultural force the Thunder have become. Local businesses are gearing up for another surge, and the Paycom Center is expected to be packed to the rafters every night, especially with the upper deck—Love’s Loud City—set to host the majority of fans. It’s a reminder that in Oklahoma, basketball is more than a game; it’s a community rallying point, a source of pride, and now, a celebration of championship success.
As the countdown to opening night continues, anticipation is building not just in Oklahoma City, but across the NBA landscape. Will the Thunder repeat as champions? Can their young core continue to defy expectations and set new standards for team basketball? One thing’s for sure: with ticket sales booming, a championship banner ready to rise, and a roster built for both now and the future, all eyes will be on the Thunder as they begin their title defense.
For Thunder fans, the message is clear: it’s time to thunder up—again. The journey for back-to-back glory starts now, and Oklahoma City is ready to embrace the challenge, one sold-out game at a time.
