The mayor of OKC declared the opening night ‘Thunder Day’

As it is Oklahoma City Thunder inches closer to his final victory celebration in the 2025 NBA Finals, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt declared the opening of October 21st ‘OKC Thunder Day’ ahead of the upcoming regular season. the mayor Holt wasn’t sure he’d see the Thunder as champions before he died, he confessed over the summer.

Now the Oklahoma City mayor has plenty of accolades to announce, starting with the news that October 21 was officially declared ‘OKC Thunder Day’ ahead of the opener.

“Next Tuesday, our NBA champion OKC Thunder returns to the court. Prior to the game, a permanent championship banner will be unveiled in our arena and the players will receive their championship rings,” said Holt. “Other commemorations will be revealed around the city. It is the end of one chapter (which we will always celebrate) and the beginning of another.”

“And so it is most fitting that I hereby declare Tuesday, October 21, 2025, OKC THUNDER DAY in Oklahoma City and encourage our residents to mark the occasion by wearing Thunder apparel, displaying Thunder flags and signs, showing support on social media and otherwise commemorating our city’s first NBA Championship.”

As we bask in the glory of one great achievement yesterday, we return to celebrate another. This coming Tuesday, our NBA champion OKC Thunder returns to the court.

Before the game, a permanent banner of the championship will be unveiled in our arena, and the players will… pic.twitter.com/4OuKSHKSlNe8

— Mayor David Holt (@davidfholt) October 15, 2025

The Thunder will celebrate their first championship in franchise history on Tuesday.

The mayor of Oklahoma City was afraid he was going to die before watching the Thunder headline

Mayor of Oklahoma City David Holt called the Thunder the most resilient champion in NBA history, given the two Game 7s he won en route to his first title. Holt also revealed that once he wasn’t sure if he would live to see Thunder wins championship.

“I told my kids once that I just hope the Thunder win a title before I die. And they did,” Holt said. “I now have every intention of enjoying that title for the rest of my life. Before the time comes when the confetti clears, and we may have reached that point. Having said that, I will continue to wear my champagne gear proudly and regularly for many months (years?) to come and we are working towards some more lasting memories of our city.”

“And in NBA tradition, we have another special day ahead of us — and that’s our season opener at home in October, when the championship banner will be unveiled in the arena,” Holt concluded.

The Thunder will host the Rockets on Tuesday to open the 2025-26 NBA campaign at Paicom Center.