An offseason storyline hidden in the shadows took centerstage when the Oklahoma City Thunder unveiled their 2024-25 regular season schedule.
The Thunder will play 15 of their 82 contests on ESPN, TNT or ABC. The remaining 67 games will be locally broadcast. How exactly fans will be able to tune into those games is still unknown.
The Bally Sports saga continues to play out. It filed for bankruptcy in March 2023. It was reported in Nov. 2023 that the Thunder could leave Bally Sports as soon as this offseason.
During the second half of last season, the Thunder aired their games on local television for free on Fridays. The handful of contests was likely an experimental test run in case OKC needed to find a new home this upcoming season.
That possibility has crept closer to reality. The latest chapter heard talks that Bally Sports might even axe the Thunder if they survive bankruptcy.
The Thunder’s statement about the 2024-25 regular season schedule noted: “Local TV broadcast information will be released at a later date.”
Thunder PR on OKC’s 2024-25 schedule: pic.twitter.com/SSXeZmqYi9
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) August 15, 2024
Uncertainty remains on how the Thunder will broadcast their games for next season. Odds are, they stick with the free local broadcast and offer non-local fans a chance to stream online.
But regardless of solutions, the Thunder and Bally Sports must quickly determine their future together. Time is ticking as training camp is less than two months away.
