Oklahoma City Blue

Oklahoma City Blue
The Oklahoma City Blue are an American professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City and are affiliated with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Blue compete in the NBA G League as members of the Western Conference. The Blue play their home games at Paycom Center, an arena shared with the Thunder.
The franchise began as the Asheville Altitude in 2001 playing in Asheville, North Carolina for four seasons. After struggling with poor attendance, the franchise relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma and played nine seasons as the Tulsa 66ers. Before the 2014–15 season, the franchise relocated again to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, becoming the Oklahoma City Blue.
History
Asheville Altitude (2001–2005)
The franchise began in 2001 when NBA Commissioner David Stern and deputy commissioner Russ Granik formed the National Basketball Development League. Asheville, North Carolina was chosen to one of the first eight franchises located in the southeastern United States. The franchise hired Joey Meyer and began their inaugural season in the 2001–02 season.
In its inaugural season, the Altitude had a 26–30 record, finishing sixth in the league. Center Paul Grant was named to the league's inaugural All-NBDL Second Team. After accumulating a 49–57 record after two seasons, the Altitude won back-to-back championships in its final two seasons in Asheville. Despite the Altitude's recent success, the franchise experienced poor attendance with fans often numbering in the dozens despite a 5,000 seat capacity. In its first four seasons, the Altitude averaged 788 fans a game and suffered at least $100,000 in losses.
After the 2004–05 season, team president Rudy Bourg announced the Altitude had been sold to an independent ownership group and would relocate prior to the start of next season.
Tulsa 66ers (2005–2014)
Before the start of the 2005–06 season, the league announced expansion to the southwest United States with Tulsa, Oklahoma being chosen as a host city. Initially planned to being independently owned and operated by the league, Southwest Basketball, LLC, operated by owner David Kahn, purchased the Altitude and relocated the franchise to Tulsa. The franchise also rebranded and was renamed to the Tulsa 66ers, in honor of the U.S. Route 66 which runs through the city and the state of Oklahoma. Starting in 2005, the National Basketball Association announced an affiliation and assignment system for the league. Under the system, the 66ers were directly affiliated with the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks and the New Orleans Hornets. Prior to the start of the 2006–07 season, the franchise's affiliation with the Bulls and Pacers ended with the addition of the New York Knicks. Before the relocation of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the franchise had its final affiliations with the Bucks, Knicks, and the Dallas Mavericks during the 2007–08 season.
On August 1, 2008, the newly relocated Oklahoma City Thunder agreed to purchased the 66ers for $2.25 million, becoming only the third NBA franchise to own a D-League team. In the agreement, the Thunder owned full control of the team's business and basketball operations and became the sole affiliate of the Thunder.
Oklahoma City Blue (2014–present)
After getting offers from four venues, Professional Basketball Club felt none were suitable and announced the 66ers would move to Oklahoma City and play in the Cox Convention Center across the street from the Chesapeake Energy Arena where the parent club Oklahoma City Thunder plays starting with the 2014–15 season. The team's front offices are located in the Chesapeake Energy Arena along with the rest of the front office staff of the parent club Oklahoma City Thunder. With the move, the team was rebranded from the 66ers to the Blue. In the 2016–17 season, the team was the regular season Western Conference champion with 34 wins, a franchise record.
In 2021, the Cox Convention Center was leased to a film production company and the arena was closed to become Prairie Surf Studios. The Blue then moved into their parent team's home arena, the Paycom Center (then recently renamed from Chesapeake Energy Arena) in 2021.
Season-by-season record
Players and personnel
Current roster
Coaches
Team honors
Notable NBA players with experience
Alex Caruso (2016–17) Caruso joined the Blue in 2016 and later signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017. Caruso eventually signed a multi-year contract with the Lakers and won his first NBA championship in 2019.
Shaun Livingston (2009) Livingston joined the 66ers in 2009 and was later signed by the Thunder to a multi-year contract three weeks later. Livingston played for nine different NBA teams with his best performance coming with the Golden State Warriors. As a member of the Warriors, Livingston won three NBA championships.
Names in bold indicate those who played for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Notable NBA players assigned
Reggie Jackson (2012) Jackson was assigned to the 66ers starting in 2012 by the Thunder. Jackson will later go on to become the Thunder's sixth man during the 2013-14 season, finishing fifth in Sixth Man of the Year voting. After being traded by the Thunder, Jackson developed into a starter for the Detroit Pistons and the LA Clippers.
Cameron Payne (2015–17) Payne was assigned to the Blue starting in 2015 by the Thunder. Payne eventually found a role with the Phoenix Suns as a role player starting in 2019.
André Roberson (2013–14) Roberson was assigned to the 66ers starting in 2013 by the Thunder. Roberson will later go on to start for four seasons with the Thunder which included an NBA All-Defensive Second Team honor in 2017.
Two-way players
Moses Brown (2020–21) Brown signed a two-way contract with the Thunder prior to the start of the 2020-21 season. During the season, Brown was named All-NBA G League First Team with season averages of 18.5 points, 13.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. Brown had a career high 21 points and 23 rebounds against the Boston Celtics with the rebounds tying a team record. Brown will later re-sign with the Thunder on a multi-year contract following the season.
Luguentz Dort (2019–20) Dort went undrafted out of Arizona State signing a two-way contract with the Thunder prior to the start of the 2019-20 season. During the 2020 NBA Playoffs, Dort was lauded for his defense on James Harden including a 30-point performance in game 7 against the Houston Rockets. Dort will later re-sign with the Thunder on a multi-year contract following the season.
Aaron Wiggins (2021–22) Wiggins was drafted 55th overall out of Maryland signing a two-way contract with the Thunder prior to the start of the 2021-22 season. During a seven game stretch in December, Wiggins averaged 15.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals on 53.8% shooting in 31.8 minutes. Wiggins will later convert his two-way into a multi-year contract with the Thunder during the season.
Names in bold indicate current two-way players for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
NBA affiliates
Asheville Altitude
None
Tulsa 66ers
Chicago Bulls (2005–2006)
Dallas Mavericks (2007–2008)
Indiana Pacers (2005–2006)
Milwaukee Bucks (2005–2008)
New Orleans Hornets (2005–2007)
New York Knicks (2006–2008)
Oklahoma City Thunder (2008–2014)
Oklahoma City Blue
Oklahoma City Thunder (2014–present)
References
External links
Official website
Bkue
Basketball teams established in 2001
Basketball teams in Oklahoma
2001 establishments in North Carolina
Basketball teams in North Carolina