On their Facebook page, KIRO-TV says, "throughout their run, KIRO 7 promises you we won't say OKC or their team name in our newscasts."
Instead, the station is referring to the Thunder as “the former Sonics.”
The first use of the term came on a graphic after Oklahoma City lost game one of their quarterfinal series with the LA Clippers.
It shows Thunder coach Scott Brooks standing next to Kevin Durant with the score listed as "Los Angeles Clippers 122, Former Sonics 105." OKC won game two of the series 112-101 Wednesday night.
After a period of declining attendance and success, the franchise was sold to a group of Oklahoma investors in 2006.
In 2008 the team moved to Oklahoma City where they have been among the league leaders in both crowds and season records.
KIRO also posted a link to another page with the title "relive the good times with us here." That page has pictures from the 1979 Seattle SuperSonics NBA title team.
Despite the rancor, fans in Oklahoma owe a huge thanks to the old Sonic franchise. Before their final year in the pacific northwest, the Sonics drafted and signed newly crowned NBA Most Valuabler Player, Kevin Durant.
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