Oklahoma City ? NBA commissioner David Stern attended the New Orleans Hornets’ final regular-season game in their temporary home Friday and complimented Oklahoma City for an “absolutely extraordinary” job as host.

Before the start of the game, Stern took a microphone and thanked the city, state, government leaders and fans.

“Most of all, thank you to the fans of this most major league of cities,” Stern said to loud cheers. “I look forward to the day that the NBA will return to Oklahoma City.”

Oklahoma City hosted 71 of the Hornets’ 82 home games over the past two seasons, with the finale against Denver becoming the 30th time the Ford Center was sold out. The Hornets are to return home for their full schedule next season.

The Hornets had a pregame video tribute thanking the fans as the best in the NBA, and the team’s starters were introduced from the arena’s concourses and walked to the court through the stands, slapping high-fives with fans who stood to cheer.

Fans were given an OKC patch, like the one the Hornets have worn on their jerseys since Hurricane Katrina forced them to vacate the New Orleans Arena, and white T-shirts that read “NBA (heart) OKC.”

The Hornets wore jerseys that read ‘Oklahoma City’ on the front that were to be given away to fans after the game.

Before he could even be asked, Stern gave his thoughts on a city that had never before hosted a major pro sports franchise.

“Yes, you’ve exceeded our wildest expectations. Yes, Oklahoma City has demonstrated that it’s a major league city. Yes, it would be my expectation that we would have a team here someday.

“No, I don’t have any particular team in mind,” Stern said.