Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (0) steals the ball from New Orleans' Eric Gordon (10) during an NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the New Orleans Pelicans at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Friday, Feb. 6, 2015. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Once upon a time, Oklahoma City was a football town.
Then Hurricane Katrina happened. In dropped the displaced New Orleans Hornets, who were embraced in Oklahoma City. And by the time the Hornets’ two-season stay was over, a city and region synonymous with football had a taste of the NBA it wouldn’t relinquish.
The Hornets of 2005-06 and 2006-07 didn’t bring playoff success.