The Oklahoma City Thunder won’t be participating in the NBA Playoffs 2015, but that didn’t stop their fans from turning out at the airport to welcome them home.
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The scenes at Will Rogers World Airport were bizarre in a way given that the season finished with such disappointment, as OKC ended the regular season in ninth spot in the Western Conference.
Having missed out to the New Orleans Pelicans for the eighth and final playoff spot on the head-to-head tiebreaker, it was certainly a heartbreaking way to end the year but ultimately they didn’t do enough to get a place in the post-season.
Given that the Thunder are considered a title contender each year, their loyal fans are clearly ready to stand by their team despite the frustration of missing out again as injuries certainly played a significant role in their under-achieving season.
Both Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka missed a lot of games as the roster was also short-handed elsewhere throughout the campaign, and their early exit has raised questions again of coach Scott Brooks future.
Nevertheless, the players will be buoyed by their greeting on Thursday morning and it will likely give them the added motivation they need over the off-season to come back stronger next year and finally live up to their potential.
With Durant set to become a free agent next summer, he has spoken a lot about his connection to Oklahoma City. Scenes such as the ones in the video below will certainly do no harm in persuading him to stay with OKC.
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