Rumble the Bison Has Received Mascot Nomination
The Oklahoma City Thunder mascot is competing for the USA Today Best NBA Mascot award.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Basketball
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Rumble the Bison has been nominated for the USA Today Best NBA Mascot title. Oklahoma City Thunder representatives are urging local fans to vote in the contest.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights the mascot's long-standing role in the community and its history of professional accolades. Winning the reader-selected award would add to a resume that includes past league-wide honors.
Rumble completes more than 200 community appearances annually. Eligibility for the contest is restricted to voters who are 18 years of age or older.
The players
Rumble the Bison
He is the official mascot for the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team.
Oklahoma City Thunder
They are a professional basketball team that competes in the National Basketball Association.
The details
Fans are encouraged to cast one vote every day through the official voting portal to support the mascot. Rumble made a promotional appearance at the News 9 studio to rally community support for the ongoing competition.
Timeline
2009: Rumble was named NBA Mascot of the Year.
2022: Rumble received the Community Impact Award.
September 24, 2026: Rumble visited the News 9 studio.
October 21, 2026: The voting deadline for the contest.
Season Trajectory
This campaign leverages the team's strong local following to secure national recognition for its mascot. The outcome reflects the mascot's ongoing popularity within the broader NBA promotional ecosystem.
Fans are permitted to participate in the selection by casting one vote per day until the deadline. Participation requires voters to be at least 18 years old.
The takeaway
Engaging in mascot contests serves as a way for fans to demonstrate support for their local team's promotional efforts. Voters should maintain their daily participation through October 21 to ensure their choice is counted in the final tally.
What happens next
The voting period for the contest concludes on October 21, 2026, at which point the winner will be determined by the final count of daily fan votes.
Further reading
Learn more about local basketball coverage on our Basketball page.
More information
To cast a daily ballot for the mascot, visit the USA Today voting page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by News 9.
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