Six weeks after the name first surfaced, team officials officially announced Wednesday that the team formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics would be known as the Oklahoma City Thunder.

''It's hard to keep a secret,'' team chairman Clay Bennett said after stepping to a podium on the ground floor of the downtown office building where the team is headquartered.

The announcement had long been anticipated, but everyone knew what was coming.

The local ABC affiliate reported in mid-July that Thunder had been chosen as the nickname. Then the NBA Web site listed NBA.com/thunder as a link to the Oklahoma City team's page. Then the Orlando Magic's site listed games against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Even the logo and colors leaked out over the weekend. Then, prior to the announcement, Thunder merchandise started showing up on the NBA's online store.

To unveil the logo, six children joined players Desmond Mason and Damien Wilkins to pull down a curtain as the AC/DC song ''Thunderstruck'' blared over the loudspeaker. What was revealed was a large blue banner with the logo in the middle, and splashes of yellow at the top and reddish-orange at the bottom.

Bennett said the light blue color coincides with the state flag to represent the inclusion of all Oklahomans, the yellow refers to the sun and the reddish-orange color to the sunset. With the University of Oklahoma featuring crimson as its primary color, and Oklahoma State using orange, Bennett said it was ''not too red and not too orange.''

Rookies sent home

Former Kansas stars Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur were sent home Wednesday from the NBA's mandatory rookie transition program in Rye Brook, N.Y., for violating league rules.

According to ESPN.com, they were caught in their hotel room with marijuana and women, according to several sources. Having visitors at the rookie transition program is not permitted.

Chalmers' team, the Miami Heat, said it was investigating and declined further comment. Arthur's team, the Memphis Grizzlies, acknowledged Arthur ''was sent home . . . for violating program rules'' but declined to give details.

NBA spokesman Tim Frank said they will "have to repeat the program next year.''

Around the league

Spurs: Guard Manu Ginobili had arthroscopic surgery to repair a ligament injury in his left ankle. The team said the surgery in Los Angeles had gone well and Ginobili will be in a splint and on crutches for three weeks.

76ers: Donyell Marshall agreed to a one-year deal with Philadelphia. The former Jazz forward has averaged 11.4 points and 6.8 rebounds in 11 seasons.