SEATTLE — If there’s anyone who embodies the current spirit of Seattle’s sports scene, it’s Danny Ball. An avid basketball enthusiast, Ball operates an Instagram account called “Iconic Sonics.” His allegiance in the NBA Finals is with the Indiana Pacers, hoping they will triumph over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Though Seattle and Indianapolis don’t share much of a connection, the thought of supporting a team other than the Oklahoma City Thunder resonates deeply with Seattle’s basketball fans. This sentiment stems from the painful memory of losing their beloved NBA franchise, the SuperSonics, in 2008 when the team relocated and became the Thunder.
“I’d love to see the Pacers pull it off in six games,” Ball said. This echoes the feelings of many Seattle residents who have not forgiven the move. The Thunder are highly favored to conquer the Pacers in the finals, and a victory would mark their first NBA title since moving to Oklahoma City, though it would be the second in franchise history, following Seattle’s win in 1979.
Seattle’s yearning for the return of an NBA team is no secret. Though NBA expansion plans are in discussion, there’s no firm commitment yet from Commissioner Adam Silver. Earlier this year, Silver touched on the unpredictability of the local media landscape as a factor in decision-making, but he assured that Seattle remains a focus due to its strong basketball fan base. “We don’t take those fans for granted,” he emphasized, acknowledging the enduring love for the Sonics.
The prospect of future expansion arouses excitement among Seattle’s fans. In 2023, Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, during a preseason game in Seattle, charged the crowd to make their enthusiasm heard by the league’s New York officials. The intent was to underscore the city’s readiness to host an NBA team once more.
Mayor Bruce Harrell has also entertained, albeit humorously and somewhat controversially, the city’s eagerness for NBA basketball. During a public event, he jokingly teased an announcement related to the NBA, only to reveal it was in jest, prompting a less than amused reaction from the audience. Despite the humor gone awry, Harrell conveyed his solidarity with those yearning for the NBA’s return.
The absence of the SuperSonics leaves a major void for Seattle’s sports community. Nevertheless, the city’s interest in basketball has found some solace in the success of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken and the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, both of which play at the Climate Pledge Arena — the Sonics’ former site, extensively renovated and potentially viable for hosting NBA games once again.
Eric Phan, another devoted SuperSonics fan, highlighted how deeply the past relocation still affects Seattle. “A lot of Sonics fans I know never got over what happened 17 years ago,” Phan remarked, adding that the entire fan base is now rallying for the Pacers.
An opportunity to bring a team back to Seattle was missed in 2013 when Chris Hansen’s bid to relocate the Sacramento Kings was turned down by the NBA. However, hope remains steadfast among fans like Ball and Phan. Ball remains optimistic and dreams of an eventual revival of the Sonics in Seattle.
“It would be poetic if the year that OKC wins the finals — if that occurs — is in the same summer that the league comes out and says, ‘Hey, we’re forming an expansion committee,’” Ball mused. Such an announcement could provide some comfort amidst the heartache of watching the Thunder potentially secure a championship.
Phan noted that, regardless of the absence of an active team, the Sonics continue to live in the hearts of the residents. “You can see people walking around Seattle and even in the suburbs, proudly wearing Sonics gear like they never really left,” Phan reflected.