Greeting the Thunder: A look at five diehard fans who waited for the team at the airport

Instead, fans pushed at the metal fencing, and parents held their children on their shoulders. In his remarks, Coach Scott Brooks thanked the crowd.

"There's two thing that I'll remember about this team," he said. "One, they work very hard, and two, you guys cheer them just as hard. We thank you. We appreciate everything."

Here's a look at some of those fans who greeted the team:

Landon Silcox

All Landon Silcox wanted for his sixth birthday was to give one of the Thunder players a high five. For three hours, the first grader held up a poster with those words on it, and he was proud to read them to you if you asked.

Silcox and his mom, Ashley, were standing near the front of the crowd, but Thunder star Kevin Durant didn't see them as he walked toward the platform. He missed the chance to meet one of his biggest admirers.

But Silcox, wearing a new No. 35 jersey, said he wasn't too discouraged.

"That's OK. Maybe they'll win next year," he said, still holding the poster that was almost as tall as him.

His mother said she's still grateful to the team for being good role models.

"Just want to tell them that they did a great job, and we're very proud that they're in our city," she said.

Glenn Threatt

Glenn Threatt stood out in the crowd, and not because of any loud Thunder gear. Threatt is 6-foot-5 and was wearing jean overalls and a straw hat. He had a white handlebar mustache and sunglasses

"I grew up on a farm," he said. "I like to dress old-school."

Threatt is a Vietnam veteran who served in the Marine Corps. He's played basketball ever since middle school and even played some in the military. He said he's happy to have an NBA team to support in Oklahoma City.

"I like basketball. I [started watching] them this year," he said.

Threatt came to the homecoming event with his brother-in-law Hurlon Hamilton, who is a plumber in Spencer.

"We're here to support them," Hamilton said. "They played a good season and a good playoff."

Brittany Mosby

Brittany Mosby has seen the Thunder play at Chesapeake Arena. She's experienced the loud cheers and the rumble of the fans from Seat 18 in Section 325.