The Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA has a mascot named Rumble the Bison. They named the anthropomorphic bison Rumble after the sound of thunder. Rumble made his debut for the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 17, 2009, and has been an inseparable part of the team ever since. The story of Rumble on the Thunder’s website suggests that he was struck by lightning while saving his herd from a wild storm in the Arbuckle Mountains. He gained superpowers after being struck by lightning and transformed into an anthropomorphic bison.
Rumble represents his team in community and charity events. He won the NBA Mascot of the Year in 2009. Rumble also won the NBA Mascot Community Impact Award in 2022, after being selected by his fellow mascots in the NBA for his 190 appearances, engaging with over 75,000 fans in the process. He dons a furry brown costume with two horns over his head, along with a Thunder jersey, per the NBA website.
Oklahoma City Thunder's mascot, Rumble the Bison
Oklahoma City Thunder's mascot, Rumble the Bison, derives its name from a hundred-year-old tale from the Native American campfires, as per the NBA website. A ferocious Oklahoma storm lost a great herd of American bison in the Arbuckle Mountains. Tornadoes spun and hail fell around the herd as they tried to reach the safe plains. In the famous tale, one lone bison stayed behind to aid his friends in remaining safe and escaping down a ravine. Once he ensured the safety of others, fallen boulders blocked his descent. On his way down, a bolt of lightning struck him. The bolt failed to harm him and turned him into a man possessing great strength and agility.
The legend continues around the city of Oklahoma, with the bison known as a remarkable animal, roaming the hills alone. This was until a group of men who carried similar powers came to Oklahoma City, and he found a group to belong to. These men carried the power to jump higher, run faster, and perform acrobatic dunks. This tale of the brave bison is how the mascot of the team, Rumble, a lovable anthropomorphic bison, joined the Oklahoma City Thunder as a special member (via the NBA's official website).
FAQs on Oklahoma City Thunder
A. Oklahoma City Thunder was known as Seattle SuperSonics.
A. Oklahoma City Thunder's arena is Paycom Center.
A. As of May 2025, Professional Basketball Club LLC has the ownership of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
