The Seattle SuperSonics still command attention 16 years after the team’s departure.
The names Detlef Schrempf, Gary Payton, Ray Allen and Kevin Durant continue to resonate throughout the city, a testament to a basketball legacy that refuses to fade.
Seattle’s NBA dreams have found new life since commissioner Adam Silver’s announcement confirming expansion talks, the first serious consideration since the Charlotte Bobcats joined the league in 2004.
These rumblings have stirred deep emotions in a city that’s yearned for professional basketball since its team became the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008.
Former Sonics coach George Karl, who guided the team to the 1996 NBA Finals, recently captured this sentiment.
“There’s just too much karma that says put a team back in Seattle,” Karl said, via The Athletic.
In September, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the league would address NBA expansion at some point this season.
Where does Seattle fit in those plans? Will the SuperSonics return?@jwquick with more: https://t.co/PaJ8vPejxO pic.twitter.com/dynXuyHEqs
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) November 16, 2024
Seattle’s basketball faithful haven’t felt this encouraged since 2013, when their bid to relocate the Sacramento Kings almost succeeded.
Despite that setback at the hands of NBA governors following Sacramento’s ownership stabilization, the current climate feels different.
The pieces are falling into place. The league’s newest collective bargaining agreement, followed by a fresh media deal, has set the stage for expansion.
Though nothing is official, the signs are promising. Last month’s preseason clash between the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers in Seattle wasn’t just another exhibition game, it felt like a dress rehearsal for something bigger.
The city’s rich NBA heritage, coupled with its modern infrastructure and passionate fanbase, makes it a prime candidate for expansion.
As expansion talks gain momentum, the dream of professional basketball returning to the Emerald City may be less a question of if, and more a matter of when.
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