Thunder Making Push To Shed NBA's Worst Record

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Clay Bennett was lauded as a civic hero when he brought Oklahoma City its first major-league sports franchise.

The NBA's arrival in town was something to celebrate, the unveiling of the Thunder nickname a long-awaited event that packed the lobby of a downtown building with anxious fans.

"That was only the beginning," Bennett, the Thunder chairman, said Monday. "Little did I know."

After six months in Oklahoma City, the infrastructure for the Thunder is still being built. The wins have been slow to come. But there are signs of progress.

Oklahoma City is coming off its most impressive stretch yet, playing .500 basketball over the past 10 games to go from league laughingstock to mere mediocrity. No longer is the franchise a shoo-in to have the worst record in the league -- and, along with it, the best odds to emerge from the draft lottery with the No. 1 pick.

The Thunder, once on pace for the worst record in NBA history, have pulled even with the Washington Wizards with a league-worst eight wins and are within striking distance of moving out of last place in the Western Conference. That distinction could be on the line Friday night when the Thunder visit the Los Angeles Clippers, who are 9-31.

"Every day, we're heading in a better direction," Bennett said after announcing that a health care company would sponsor the team's temporary practice facility and a new $25 million training center due to be finished before the 2010-11 season.

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source : NBA.com