Since the Seattle SuperSonics were relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008, fans in Seattle have long yearned for the franchise’s return to the NBA. After years of speculation, signs now suggest that the moment may finally be near.
Brian Windhorst Gives SuperSonics Fans Hope
Following ESPN’s Shams Charania reporting that NBA owners are set to vote on expansion, with Seattle and Las Vegas identified as the likeliest cities to receive teams, veteran sportswriter Brian Windhorst offered further assurance to SuperSonics fans that they should have legitimate hope of seeing professional basketball return to Seattle.
“For the first time really since 2008, I think if you’re a Seattle Sonics fan, you can truly start to believe the Sonics are in the process of coming back, and that’s what’s most important,” Windhorst said Monday on “NBA Today.”
Windhorst noted the complexity of the expansion process but emphasized that, given the recent sale prices of franchises such as the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, the league is well-positioned for growth.
“For the first time really since 2008, I think if you’re a Seattle Sonics fan, you can truly start to believe the Sonics are in the process of coming back.”@WindhorstESPN shares his thoughts on the NBA being set to make first vote for expansion in Las Vegas and Seattle 🏀 pic.twitter.com/fGxfh8VE3l
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 16, 2026
While nothing is finalized, the latest developments mark a shift from speculation to genuine possibility. The SuperSonics had a rich history from 1967 to 2008, including an NBA championship in 1979 and Finals appearances in 1978 and 1996.
Unlike many relocated franchises that carry their history with them, the Oklahoma City Thunder inherited Seattle’s roster in 2008 but do not claim the SuperSonics’ legacy.
The SuperSonics franchise featured some of the NBA’s greatest players, including Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, Dennis Johnson, Ray Allen, and their final franchise cornerstone before the move, Kevin Durant.
According to Charania, the NBA is set to hold a vote during the Board of Governors meetings on March 24-25 on a proposal to expand the league by adding teams in Las Vegas and Seattle.
Both potential franchises are being targeted to begin play in the 2028-29 season, and there is reportedly increasing momentum among stakeholders to move forward with the process, which would involve evaluating bids that industry executives believe could reach between $7 billion and $10 billion per team.
Charania added that the initial vote would permit the league to begin exploring the purchase process for potential teams in Las Vegas and Seattle. A second vote could then take place later in the year to finalize expansion to 32 teams if the bids meet the required threshold. In both voting rounds, approval from 23 of the 30 governors will be needed.
