When most people ask who is the owner of the Oklahoma City Thunder, they’re usually looking for one name. One face. One guy to thank for the draft picks or blame for the ticket prices. But the reality in Oklahoma City is a lot more "boardroom" than it is "solo billionaire."
Clay Bennett is the guy you see. He’s the chairman. He’s the one who stands on the podium and, honestly, the one who took all the heat back in 2008 when the team left Seattle. But Bennett doesn’t own the team alone. He leads a group called Professional Basketball Club LLC. It’s a collective of some of the wealthiest, most influential business titans in the Sooner State.
The Face of the Franchise: Clay Bennett
Clay Bennett is a native Oklahoman. You’ve probably seen him sitting courtside, looking stoic, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carves up a defense. Bennett made his bones in the investment world as the head of Dorchester Capital, but his ties to the NBA go way back. He was actually a minority owner of the San Antonio Spurs in the 90s.
Basically, he learned how to run a small-market juggernaut by watching the best in the business.
When he bought the Seattle SuperSonics from Howard Schultz for $350 million in 2006, it kicked off a firestorm. People in the Pacific Northwest still haven't really forgiven him. But in OKC? He’s the man who brought the big leagues to a city that was desperate to prove it belonged.
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The Money Behind the Curtain: Who Else is Involved?
If Bennett is the captain, the rest of the Professional Basketball Club LLC are the engines. This isn't just a group of passive investors; these are guys who own banks, energy companies, and massive philanthropic foundations.
- George Kaiser: This is a big one. Kaiser is a Tulsa-based billionaire and the chairman of BOK Financial. He joined the group later, specifically in 2014, when he bought out Tom Ward’s stake. Kaiser is one of the richest people in the world, and his involvement gives the Thunder a level of financial stability that most small-market teams would kill for.
- G. Jeffrey Records Jr.: He’s the Chairman and CEO of MidFirst Bank. If you live in the Midwest, you’ve seen the logo. Records has been a "significant" member of the ownership group since the beginning.
- Everett Dobson: A telecom mogul and a massive figure in the Oklahoma golf scene.
- William Cameron: Chairman and CEO of American Fidelity Assurance.
- Jay Scaramucci and Robert E. Howard II: These are the local business leaders who fill out the rest of the primary ownership circle.
The group used to include Aubrey McClendon, the co-founder of Chesapeake Energy. After his passing in 2016, his estate’s role became more of a legacy piece of the puzzle, but his impact on the team’s early identity—and the name of the original arena—can't be ignored.
Why the Ownership Structure Matters
Most NBA teams are moving toward "Governor" models. The league wants one person who has the final say and represents the team at the Board of Governors meetings. For the Thunder, that’s always been Bennett.
It works because the group is local. Unlike some teams where the owners live in New York or Silicon Valley, these guys actually live in Oklahoma. They shop at the same grocery stores—well, maybe not the same ones—and they care about the city’s image. That’s a huge reason why they were able to get a new arena deal approved by voters recently. They’ve built a massive amount of trust.
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The 2025 Championship and the Valuation Spike
Everything changed after the 2024-25 season. When the Thunder finally broke through and won the NBA Championship, the valuation of the team skyrocketed. We’re talking about a franchise bought for $350 million that is now worth north of **$3 billion**.
Success on the court usually leads to rumors of a sale. You’ve seen it with the Suns, the Mavericks, and the Bucks. There has been plenty of chatter about whether the "PBC" group might look to cash out while the iron is hot. Honestly, it’s a fair question. Some of these guys have been in the game for twenty years.
But so far? Silence. The group seems content to ride the wave of the "Presti Era" and the new arena project.
Misconceptions About OKC Ownership
One thing people get wrong all the time is thinking Sam Presti owns a piece of the team. He doesn't. He’s the Executive Vice President and General Manager. He’s an employee, albeit probably the most powerful employee in the state of Oklahoma. Bennett gives Presti a level of autonomy that is rare in professional sports. That "set it and forget it" style of ownership is why the Thunder have been able to rebuild so effectively.
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Another weird rumor is that the Gaylord family—the media moguls behind The Oklahoman—owns the team. Clay Bennett is married to Louise Gaylord, so the family connection is there, but the team is technically under the Professional Basketball Club umbrella, not the Gaylord corporation.
What’s Next for the Thunder Owners?
The big project is the new downtown arena. The ownership group pledged $50 million toward the nearly $1 billion price tag. Some fans grumbled about the small percentage, but the deal ensures the team stays in Oklahoma City through at least 2050.
If you're keeping track of who is the owner of the Oklahoma City Thunder, look for these names in the coming years:
- Clay Bennett (Still the Chairman)
- George Kaiser (The "Deep Pockets")
- The Next Generation (Watch for the kids of the current owners to start taking more "Alternate Governor" roles)
The stability of this group is their secret weapon. While other teams are dealing with messy divorces or crypto-billionaires going bust, the Thunder ownership has stayed remarkably consistent. They survived the Durant departure, the Westbrook trade, and the long road of "The Restore." Now, they’re reaping the rewards of a championship-caliber roster.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Investors:
- Follow the Arena Developments: The construction of the new OKC arena will be the biggest indicator of the team's long-term financial health and potential for a future sale.
- Monitor Local Business Ties: Since the owners are local titans, the team's fortunes are often tied to the Oklahoma energy and banking sectors.
- Watch the Board of Governors: Any shift in who represents the Thunder at NBA meetings (currently Bennett) would signal a major change in the internal power structure.