National Basketball Association

A Young Thunder Fan's Chronicles of His First Time in Oklahoma City

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:10 p.m. ET

Fansided, Tony Heim/FanSided via Thunderous Intentions

May 27, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder fans cheer on their team against the San Antonio Spurs in game four of the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

It all started with a letter on July 6th. Now a young OKC Thunder fan is chronicling his adventures during his first visit in Oklahoma City.

I couldn’t believe it. 2 days. 12 hours of driving. 12 hours of grey clouds. But about an hour outside of Oklahoma City, and the sun popped out. And oh my did it shine.

That’s when I knew I was going to fall in love with Oklahoma City.

If you’ve read the letter (and please do), you know my backstory. But if you’re too lazy, here’s the synopsis: KD was my guy since his college days, he left, I still love the Thunder. Trust me, the letter is much more interesting.

Back to the present. We finally got to the hotel, and were pleasantly surprised with an assortment of amenities (free beverages, free made-to-order breakfast, free snacks, free shuttle) that would cost hundreds of dollars in any other city. But this is Oklahoma City.

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After we settled in, we took that wonderful shuttle to Bricktown. Now I’ve heard/seen about Bricktown, but visuals don’t do it justice. You have to walk the canal, feel the energy of the community, try the food (more on that later) to truly understand how amazing the area of downtown truly is.

This place had a small college town vibe to it, but it was PACKED with people. Everyone was happy; it truly felt like a little community in the form of a big city.

The family decided to wait in a longgggggg line for a free ferry ride along the canal (only in Oklahoma City) but ya boy wasn’t having any of that. I was here to explore. Naturally, I found myself at Chesepeake Energy Arena the night before my first game.

Finally home ???? pic.twitter.com/fg5rdXjM2s

— Tony Heim (@tony_heim) December 17, 2016

I have chills right now thinking about it. When I say I was home, I was home. And I haven’t even stepped inside yet.

I walked around the building a few times, took wayyyyyyyyyy too many Snapchat stories (I HATE Snapchat stories) and then sat down to collect my thoughts. Words still can’t describe how I felt. Now when I step in that arena tomorrow? There’s a 98.57% chance I faint.

Finally I had to leave and meet back up with the fam. On the suggestion of Thunderous Intentions’ awesome staff writer/professional tweeter Cole Hixon, we went to the Yucatan Taco Stand on the canal. Oh. My. Goodness.

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If the Yucatan Taco Stand had a Crave Case like Taco Bell I’d order three of them. And go back for seconds. I’ve never had a fish taco until then and I promise I will never have one as good. We have already decided that the Taco Stand will be visited at least one more time this trip.

In total, I’ve been in Oklahoma City for 7.5 hours. And I already know I need to live here. I need to be one with this community. I need to have the Yucatan Taco Stand as a weekly staple. I don’t know when it will happen, but I know I will be living here someday.

It’s crazy that it only took 7.5 hours to fall in love with this place. But thinking back, this was eight years in the making. KD brought me to Oklahoma City, but the way the fans treated this team made me stay. I knew there was a different aura surrounding this city just by watching on tv; now I’ve felt it.

These next three days are going to be amazing. I hope you join me for the journey, because I sure will have a lot to say.