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The Oklahoma City Thunderare in the NBA Finals.
And they’re taking a Florida State University alumna with them.
Brooke Brennan, a two-time FSU grad, has documented the Thunder’s entire season, with an NBA Finals best-of-seven series versus the Indiana Pacers up next, starting Thursday, June 5.
Brennan serves as the Thunder’s Social Media Content Producer, which includes setting media strategies, content production, copywriting, publishing, and other duties.
She’s played a key role in marketing and promoting the Thunder during their NBA-best 68-14 season, which also saw OKC star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander win the Most Valuable Player award.
“It’s been a very unprecedented season, and all the hard work has accumulated to go to the finals,” Brennan said. “A lot of work goes on behind the scenes and has masked up to a 68-14 season.”
Brennan, 26, graduated from FSU with a Bachelor’s in Media Communications in May 2021 and a Master’s in Sport Management in December 2022.
While pursuing her degrees, the Aurora, Illinois native worked in FSU’s sports information department under former Associate Sports Information Director Steve Stone and Deputy Sports Information Director Chuck Walsh, whom she calls “really good mentors.” Stone is now the National Media Strategist for FSU.
Brennan, a jack of all trades and photography specialist, assisted Stone and Walsh with photos, public relations, social media, and stats. She also administrated FSU men’s basketball’s social media accounts during her final semester on campus.
“They kind of took the goals that I had and made sure that I got some of those experiences and learned those skillsets,” Brennan said of Stone and Walsh.
“I was super thankful to have those two to take me under their wing, teach me a lot that they know, and give me a lot of the opportunities and experiences that helped me gain the skillsets at such a high level within the ACC with Florida State to prepare me for that next step. It translated perfectly into the NBA.”
Nearing graduation, Brennan knew she wanted to work in the social media space for the NBA or one of its franchises.
From there, she applied to work with the Thunder in October 2022, two months before obtaining her master’s degree.
Brennan shot a perfect field-goal percentage - the Thunder was the only job she applied for. Shortly after her December graduation, she moved to Oklahoma City to begin working with the Thunder in January 2023.
“It was a team with a good reputation, fan base, and many good people. So, I was drawn not just to apply anywhere but to apply for somewhere I wanted to go,” Brennan said. “I went through all the interviews, and luckily and thankfully, I got that job. It was just kind of a luck of timing from when I graduated to when they had a job opening. It was only that I applied for.”
Brennan travels with the Thunder, allowing her to see the country, the NBA’s biggest stars, and basketball’s most significant events.
She reminds herself to live in the moment and provide quality social content for the Thunder.
“The first time you do everything, you have to pinch yourself. Everything that people see on TV, I’m luckily and thankfully experiencing that firsthand,” Brennan explained. “It’s finding that balance of being present in the moment and staying locked in to do the job.”
Brennan’s favorite event was February's All-Star Weekend in San Francisco.
The Thunder had three players participate in the 2025 All-Star Weekend, with Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams competing in the All-Star Game and Chet Holmgren in the Rising Stars Challenge. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault and his staff represented the Western Conference for the four-team NBA All-Star Game tournament.
“It was cool to see our whole organization experience that,” Brennan reflected. “It is kind of this pinnacle of a season and somebody’s career.”
Working with the Thunder, one of the NBA’s youngest teams with an average age of 25.6, has made Brennan’s job easier.
“With the Thunder being one of the youngest teams, they’re right around my age,” Brennan said. “That helps with similar interests. We’re in the same stages of life doing different things.”
OKC holds homecourt advantage for the NBA Finals, meaning it will host the Pacers, led by guard Tyrese Haliburton, for the first two games.
Nicknamed ‘Loud City,’ the Thunder’s Paycom Center is among the noisiest arenas in the NBA. Thursday’s Game One starts at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time on ABC from Paycom.
“Our fan base, from day one, has always been one of the best in the league of just support no matter what’s going on,” Brennan said. “To be able to have not just all of our guys have all of their work come to fruition, and have the entire city and the state all go through this journey together, it’s something that I never experienced.”
Oklahoma City is playing in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012 when it faltered to the LeBron James-led Miami Heat.
If the Thunder, formerly the Seattle Supersonics, defeat the Pacers for the Larry O’Brien Trophy, it would be the franchise’s first NBA title.
“It’s huge. It’s major. It’s history,” Brennan said of the Thunder potentially winning their first NBA Finals series.
“But documenting it and bringing it to the fans to see their perception of what this means is really special. I don’t know if I’ve been able to wrap my mind around the magnitude of the moment quite yet. I need to make sure I’m taking a step back throughout the finals to realize what this moment means because it may be something I may never experience again.”
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at [email protected] or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU alum Brooke Brennan assisting OKC Thunder's social media at NBA Finals
Continue reading...
And they’re taking a Florida State University alumna with them.
Brooke Brennan, a two-time FSU grad, has documented the Thunder’s entire season, with an NBA Finals best-of-seven series versus the Indiana Pacers up next, starting Thursday, June 5.
Brennan serves as the Thunder’s Social Media Content Producer, which includes setting media strategies, content production, copywriting, publishing, and other duties.
She’s played a key role in marketing and promoting the Thunder during their NBA-best 68-14 season, which also saw OKC star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander win the Most Valuable Player award.
You must be registered for see images attach
“It’s been a very unprecedented season, and all the hard work has accumulated to go to the finals,” Brennan said. “A lot of work goes on behind the scenes and has masked up to a 68-14 season.”
Brennan, 26, graduated from FSU with a Bachelor’s in Media Communications in May 2021 and a Master’s in Sport Management in December 2022.
While pursuing her degrees, the Aurora, Illinois native worked in FSU’s sports information department under former Associate Sports Information Director Steve Stone and Deputy Sports Information Director Chuck Walsh, whom she calls “really good mentors.” Stone is now the National Media Strategist for FSU.
Brennan, a jack of all trades and photography specialist, assisted Stone and Walsh with photos, public relations, social media, and stats. She also administrated FSU men’s basketball’s social media accounts during her final semester on campus.
“They kind of took the goals that I had and made sure that I got some of those experiences and learned those skillsets,” Brennan said of Stone and Walsh.
“I was super thankful to have those two to take me under their wing, teach me a lot that they know, and give me a lot of the opportunities and experiences that helped me gain the skillsets at such a high level within the ACC with Florida State to prepare me for that next step. It translated perfectly into the NBA.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Nearing graduation, Brennan knew she wanted to work in the social media space for the NBA or one of its franchises.
You must be registered for see images attach
From there, she applied to work with the Thunder in October 2022, two months before obtaining her master’s degree.
Brennan shot a perfect field-goal percentage - the Thunder was the only job she applied for. Shortly after her December graduation, she moved to Oklahoma City to begin working with the Thunder in January 2023.
“It was a team with a good reputation, fan base, and many good people. So, I was drawn not just to apply anywhere but to apply for somewhere I wanted to go,” Brennan said. “I went through all the interviews, and luckily and thankfully, I got that job. It was just kind of a luck of timing from when I graduated to when they had a job opening. It was only that I applied for.”
Florida State grad Brooke Brennan 'present in the moment' during OKC Thunder's NBA Finals run
You must be registered for see images attach
Brennan travels with the Thunder, allowing her to see the country, the NBA’s biggest stars, and basketball’s most significant events.
She reminds herself to live in the moment and provide quality social content for the Thunder.
“The first time you do everything, you have to pinch yourself. Everything that people see on TV, I’m luckily and thankfully experiencing that firsthand,” Brennan explained. “It’s finding that balance of being present in the moment and staying locked in to do the job.”
Brennan’s favorite event was February's All-Star Weekend in San Francisco.
The Thunder had three players participate in the 2025 All-Star Weekend, with Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams competing in the All-Star Game and Chet Holmgren in the Rising Stars Challenge. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault and his staff represented the Western Conference for the four-team NBA All-Star Game tournament.
“It was cool to see our whole organization experience that,” Brennan reflected. “It is kind of this pinnacle of a season and somebody’s career.”
Working with the Thunder, one of the NBA’s youngest teams with an average age of 25.6, has made Brennan’s job easier.
“With the Thunder being one of the youngest teams, they’re right around my age,” Brennan said. “That helps with similar interests. We’re in the same stages of life doing different things.”
FSU grad Brooke Brennan could be a part of OKC Thunder's first-ever NBA title
OKC holds homecourt advantage for the NBA Finals, meaning it will host the Pacers, led by guard Tyrese Haliburton, for the first two games.
Nicknamed ‘Loud City,’ the Thunder’s Paycom Center is among the noisiest arenas in the NBA. Thursday’s Game One starts at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time on ABC from Paycom.
You must be registered for see images attach
“Our fan base, from day one, has always been one of the best in the league of just support no matter what’s going on,” Brennan said. “To be able to have not just all of our guys have all of their work come to fruition, and have the entire city and the state all go through this journey together, it’s something that I never experienced.”
Oklahoma City is playing in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012 when it faltered to the LeBron James-led Miami Heat.
If the Thunder, formerly the Seattle Supersonics, defeat the Pacers for the Larry O’Brien Trophy, it would be the franchise’s first NBA title.
“It’s huge. It’s major. It’s history,” Brennan said of the Thunder potentially winning their first NBA Finals series.
“But documenting it and bringing it to the fans to see their perception of what this means is really special. I don’t know if I’ve been able to wrap my mind around the magnitude of the moment quite yet. I need to make sure I’m taking a step back throughout the finals to realize what this moment means because it may be something I may never experience again.”
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at [email protected] or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU alum Brooke Brennan assisting OKC Thunder's social media at NBA Finals
Continue reading...
