But, and it’s a huge huge but, it’s also the only game in town, much like San Antonio and Utah and a few others. No baseball or football to contend with and that is a pretty big deal. There is only so many places to spend the entertainment dollar and there are fewer options in OKC. So that is a benefit for the team.

@CGHill
I’d guess that New Orleans gets a pass due to Katrina, or they are just assuming…

31 (+2): Salt Lake City
35 (unch): Milwaukee
37 (unch): San Antonio
45 (unch): Oklahoma City
50 (-2): Memphis
51 (+2): New Orleans

Complete list (PDF):
http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/2009-2010-dma-ranks.pdf

Bryan :@TerryMarket size does not necessarily denote metro population because it also includes reach to surounding markets and market penetration. My sense is that once OKC starts winning, market size will go up.

Good point. ‘Media’ market – yes, we prob are the smallest.

I saw recently, here, or maybe in the newspaper, that the games are now being televised in Wichita and Topeka, adding something like 500,000 homes. It’s all good.

Tapdog72 :Future Power Rankings on ESPN:4. Oklahoma City Thunder ….
One area in which they didn’t fare as well, however, was in the market category. Oklahoma City is the smallest NBA market and plagued by some wild weather, two factors that combine to put it well off the radar for most prospective free agents. But there’s hope: The Thunder have an excited fan base, and Oklahoma City might look like a pretty good destination if the Thunder start winning big.

Not to split hairs, but according to the U.S. Census Bureau (2008), Oklahoma City is not the smallest NBA market:

41. Memphis (1.285 million – metro)
44. Oklahoma City (1.206 million – metro)
46. New Orleans (1.134 million – metro)
49. Salt Lake City (1.115 million – metro)

PLAYERS MANAGEMENT MONEY MARKET DRAFT
274 (6th) 139 (9th) 125 (6th) 36 (23rd) 63 (10th)

Oklahoma City may not make the playoffs this year, but for the three years that follow, the Thunder’s hopes seems as bright as any team’s.

It starts with a rapidly improving roster that includes star forward Kevin Durant and rising talents like Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Jeff Green, as well as several intriguing prospects — Thabo Sefolosha, B.J. Mullens, Serge Ibaka and D.J. White among them.

Oklahoma City also ranks high in the money category, having more than $10 million to spend this summer on a free-agent splurge to cement its already strong nucleus while maintaining a very good cap situation for future seasons. The only question is whether owner Clay Bennett will commit to spending once the time comes. But thanks to the strong moves made thus far by GM Sam Presti, OKC earned a ninth-place ranking in the management category.

The Thunder also scored well on the draft, owning both their pick and an unprotected choice from Phoenix in next year’s draft before their likely ascension to the back end of the draft in future seasons.

One area in which they didn’t fare as well, however, was in the market category. Oklahoma City is the smallest NBA market and plagued by some wild weather, two factors that combine to put it well off the radar for most prospective free agents. But there’s hope: The Thunder have an excited fan base, and Oklahoma City might look like a pretty good destination if the Thunder start winning big.