This is a team with a 1,745-1,585 record, averaging 105.4 points per game throughout its history. It’s also one of the rare squads that managed to truly push Michael Jordan to his limits in the Finals. Of his six championship series, the 1996 matchup marked his lowest offensive numbers—27.3 points per game, as was his 41.5% field-goal shooting. His 3 turnovers per game was his second-worst average in that statistic, as was his 31.6% shooting from beyond the arc. That team? The Seattle SuperSonics.
While appearing on MLB Crawsover, Charles Barkley branded the team’s move out of Seattle to be one of the NBA’s biggest mistakes. He said, “One of the great travesties and disgraces in NBA history was moving that team out of Seattle. I think Seattle and the NBA need to do everything in our power to get it back. One of the greatest cities in the world. They got some of the best fans.”
Barkley’s words highlighted just how much the city and its fans were left behind. The SuperSonics were a cherished NBA team in the Pacific Northwest. The franchise came to Seattle in 1967, founded by Sam Schulman and Eugene V. Klein. The team captured an NBA Championship in 1979 and returned to the Finals in 1996. Stars like Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, and Ray Allen became central to the team’s legacy. In 2006, owner Howard Schultz sold the team to Oklahoma City businessman Clay Bennett, and by 2008, the SuperSonics had relocated, leaving fans and the league heartbroken.
Oct 10, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Fans hold a flag for the Seattle Supersonics during the fourth quarter of a game between the Utah Jazz and LA Clippers at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
In 1979, led by Gus Williams, Jack Sikma, and Dennis Johnson, the team captured the NBA Championship with their electrifying “Sonic Boom” style. However, after the 1995-96 season, a string of losing records and declining attendance made it difficult to retain top talent. This eventually resulted in a direct sale in 2006, when Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and his group sold the team to Clay Bennett’s ownership group. Bennett then paid $45 million upfront, with another $30 million due by 2013 if Seattle didn’t secure a new franchise, clearing the final hurdles for relocation. Starting with the 2008-09 season, Oklahoma City officially began its NBA journey at the Ford Center.
In 2018, Charles Barkley made it clear he doesn’t like Oklahoma City claiming Seattle’s basketball legacy. On TNT, he reacted to Matt Winer saying OKC was “7-2 all time at home against the Nuggets in postseason playoff appearances.” Barkley interrupted, “Hold on a second! Whadda you mean seven and two all time against the Nuggets?!?” When Winer said, “Well they were in Seattle,” Barkley fired back, “That doesn’t count! You can’t take another city’s stats!” He even joked, “You just lumped Oklahoma City with Seattle together!” making it clear his love for the Sonics is evergreen.
Tracking the SuperSonics’ possible return
Seattle basketball fans have been eagerly awaiting the return of an NBA franchise since 2008, when the SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder. Commissioner Adam Silver has repeatedly emphasized that the league hasn’t forgotten about the Emerald City. In June 2025, he told reporters, “I would just say the fact that we’re not ready to make any public announcements with a specific timeline doesn’t mean we don’t care a lot about those fans and we aren’t focused on the potential for the NBA to return to Seattle.” The city’s passion and history with the Sonics clearly keep it in the league’s focus, even 17 years after the team left.
Expansion discussions have been slowly gaining momentum. Silver indicated that the NBA Board of Governors would address the topic at their July 2025 meeting in Las Vegas, aiming to “take the temperature of the room” and explore a more formal expansion process. Reports suggest that the league could target the 2026-27 or 2027-28 seasons for any new teams to begin play, but Silver has stressed that nothing is set in stone. He also noted that previous delays were influenced by major franchise ownership changes, including the $6.1 billion sale of the Boston Celtics, and getting those deals settled was necessary before moving forward with expansion plans.
Local media agreements remain a critical factor in the process. Silver explained, “To the extent we’re looking at expansion domestically, I think we’d really like to understand what that opportunity for local media is, because it’s a pretty critical component of our teams’ economics.” With the Celtics sale behind them and other ownership transitions resolved, the NBA can now fully study potential expansion cities. Seattle, with its strong fan base, arena readiness, and historical ties to the league, continues to be among the top candidates. While no official timeline has been confirmed, the next couple of years could finally bring concrete steps toward returning the SuperSonics to their rightful home.
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