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Remember the Seinfeld episode where Jerry has a new girlfriend but can’t remember her name? Part of the schtick of that episode was Jerry talking to the girl without calling her by name.

Oklahoma City NBA fans know how he feels. We’ve been referring to our new franchise in a muddling way. “Oklahoma City’s NBA team…” or some such collection of words.

Finally, we can just say Thunder. Like it or not, at least it’s a name. At least we’ve got a name we can hang a hat on. And maybe the basketball side of the Thunder franchise is glad to know, too.

Finally having a name doesn’t help “in terms of how you play,” said Thunder coach P.J. Carlesimo. “If we play well, we’ll make people proud of the name and proud of the colors.

“But believe me, I’m glad. It’s been so long, it’s a little more sense of identity than I realized in the beginning.”

Thunder is one of those singular nicknames that sounds a little clunky. But maybe it grows on you.

“I’m excited about it,” Desmond Mason said. “It’s very unique. Just like Utah Jazz or Orlando Magic, it’s going to take some getting used to.”

It won’t take long. We’ll be used to it by October and we won’t remember life without Thunder by December. And for now, we’re just glad we’ve got a name to put with this team.