The NBA has witnessed its share of franchises come and go, from the Rochester Royals to the Baltimore Bullets. Many teams have relocated or folded, leaving passionate fanbases longing for their return.
However, few cities have been as vocal and hopeful as Seattle in their desire to bring back the beloved SuperSonics. Recently, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver offered an update on the situation, though it wasn’t the news Seattle fans were hoping for.
Adam Silver Had Bad News for Seattle SuperSonics Fans
In a recent press conference, Silver addressed the lingering question of whether the NBA would revive the Seattle SuperSonics. His response was direct and disheartening for fans eagerly awaiting the team’s return.
“No new developments. I would just say again to our many fans in Seattle—and I hear from them often, the legacy of the Sonics is still very strong and it’s a fantastic basketball market—is that we are very focused on it. I think the fact that I’m sort of not being more forthcoming publicly doesn’t mean we’re not studying it very intensively,” Silver said during the press conference.
The Seattle SuperSonics were established in 1967 and became a steady NBA presence. Under coach Lenny Wilkens and stars such as Dennis Johnson, Gus Williams, and Jack Sikma, the team clinched its most significant victory in 1979, when they won the NBA title. Throughout their existence, the Sonics became a basketball powerhouse, featuring legendary players like Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, and Ray Allen.
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However, the Sonics’ Seattle era ended in 2006 when Howard Schultz sold the team to Clay Bennett. In 2008, Bennett relocated the franchise to Oklahoma City, where it became the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite Bennett’s initial public commitments to keep the team in Seattle, the team moved. Since then, Seattle fans have been fighting for the return of the Sonics.
Although Silver’s recent comments didn’t bring the news Seattle fans were hoping for, he didn’t completely close the door, either. Fans will have to continue waiting, holding onto hope that one day their team will return.
Why Is the NBA Not Bringing Back the SuperSonics?
Since the SuperSonics’ relocation to Oklahoma City in 2008, countless fans have rallied for the team’s return. Whether through holding placards at games or organizing rallies, the desire for an NBA team in Seattle has not faded. Despite this overwhelming support, the league has yet to act on it, and several factors contribute to the delay.
During the same press conference, Silver addressed the situation, explaining that the primary hurdle is the challenge of establishing favorable terms that benefit both the league and potential owners. Additionally, any expansion must be acceptable to the NBA’s 30 current teams. Finding an owner who meets the necessary criteria has proven difficult.
“Part of it, as I said, is trying to assess value in a way that’s both fair even to a potential owner and fair to the existing owners in terms of what it means to add additional partners in different cities. Divide up our current media pie with a 31st or 32nd share. Also, we want to make sure we put teams in a position, particularly as we’re setting the price to be in a position to be competitive, economically successful, and just as important, for the other teams successful on the floor,” Silver said during the press conference.
The potential for a future expansion in the NBA remains uncertain, but Seattle and Las Vegas are expected to be among the first cities considered to gain new teams. As of now, Seattle basketball fans continue to hold onto their dreams of the Sonics’ return, thanks to the city’s rich basketball legacy and its promising market conditions.
Wow. You would think that if they are bringing teams to the WNBA, they would bring a franchise to both Seattle and Las Vegas.