Getty Fans wave flags prior to Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Thunder and Pacers at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. For 15 years, Oklahoma City Thunder fans have maintained a strong tradition: they stand in unison until the team scores its first basket. The fans open each game with an invocation, or a prayer, which is a nod to the Paycom Center’s proximity to the heart of the Midwestern Bible Belt. Heather Koontz, a writer from Oklahoma City and a diehard Thunder fan, gave insight