National Basketball Association

Tulsa businessman Kaiser joins Thunder ownership

Published Apr. 18, 2014 12:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Tulsa businessman George B. Kaiser has joined the Oklahoma City Thunder's ownership team.

Thunder chairman and CEO Clayton I. Bennett made the announcement Friday.

Kaiser is president, CEO and primary owner of GBK Corp., parent of Kaiser-Francis Oil Company, which he has managed for 40 years. He also is chairman of the board and majority shareholder of BOK Financial Corp. and a major shareholder in several energy, oil and gas, mining and technology companies. He is purchasing the ownership interest of Tom L. Ward.

In addition, through a transaction approved by the NBA Board of Governors, Bennett, Aubrey K. McClendon, William M. Cameron and Jay Scaramucci have each purchased ownership interests from G. Jeffrey Records Jr. Records remains a significant owner of the team, and MidFirst remains a major sponsor.