The Seattle SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City in July 2008 after a settlement was reached between the ownership group led by Clay Bennett and Seattle lawmakers following a lawsuit. The team was renamed the Oklahoma City Thunder and started playing in the 2008–09 NBA season in Oklahoma City. The relocation was officially approved by NBA owners in April 2008, and the team played its first season as the Thunder beginning in October 2008. The move came after the new ownership was unable to secure public funding for a new arena in Seattle and reached a financial settlement with the city to break the remaining lease at their former arena, KeyArena. Oklahoma City was chosen due to the ownership group being based there and the city having a ready arena at the time. So, the precise timing of the Thunder's move to Oklahoma City was in mid-2008, specifically July 2008, with their first official season as the Thunder starting in October 2008.
