From the Archives: Oct. 13 Links a 1967 Loss to Tonight's…

By the Thunder Nightly Desk · Tuesday, October 13

The Thunder's first-ever game fell on this date in 1967, a 116-144 loss at San Francisco in the SuperSonics' debut season. Fifty-nine years later, Oklahoma City hosts the Indiana Pacers, the team it beat in seven games for the 2025 championship that still anchors this roster's ambitions.

Thunder Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Same Date, First and Latest

The SuperSonics played their first game on October 13, 1967, an expansion loss at San Francisco, 116-144. Oklahoma City has since played on this exact date twice more in franchise history, beating Chicago 104-86 in 1978 and winning at Portland in 1972. Tonight's preseason game against the Pacers is the fourth appearance on this date, and the first against the team Oklahoma City beat in seven games to win its only championship since leaving Seattle, in 2025.

Draft Nights That Built This Core

Seattle's final draft pick before the 2008 move was Russell Westbrook, taken fourth overall; Oklahoma City later traded James Harden to Houston in October 2012 rather than meet his price. The approach since has been different: Gilgeous-Alexander arrived in the 2019 trade for Paul George, Chet Holmgren came second overall in 2022, Jalen Williams twelfth in the same draft, and all three are now extended and signed. The bill for keeping that trio is $216.2 million across 15 contracts, with Holmgren and Jalen Williams each at $41.5 million and Gilgeous-Alexander at $40.8 million.

Collison's Number, One Banner

Nick Collison, who played here from 2003 to 2018, remains the only name on the Paycom Center wall; his No. 4 was retired March 20, 2019. The arena opened in 2002 as the Ford Center, four years before the Thunder existed, a reminder that Oklahoma City built a market before it had a team. The current group is chasing a second banner to go with that single championship, with Holmgren's quadriceps and Hartenstein's ankle still without a reported clearance as preseason continues, and Gilgeous-Alexander's 2025 MVP season the standard this group now chases.

Have the Thunder played the Pacers before this preseason game?

Yes. Oklahoma City beat Indiana in seven games in the 2025 NBA Finals for the franchise's only championship since leaving Seattle in 2008.

Who holds the Thunder's only retired number?

Nick Collison, whose No. 4 was retired on March 20, 2019, after he played for the franchise from 2003 to 2018.

By the Thunder Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.