On July 18th of 2006, the Seattle Supersonics, Seattle’s home NBA team, was stolen from the city and moved to Oklahoma City. Fans were devastated to see the team who they had loved and supported for years to be stripped away from them. Since then there has been a gaping hole in Seattle for an NBA team. In recent years there have been talks of giving a team back to the fans and I think there is no better time than now to do so.
In the NBA this season there has been a power shift of sorts. All the old stars from years past are dwindling as the younger players and teams are now striking while the irons are hot and having much success while doing so. If the NBA wants to expand on this quote on quote “new generation”, giving Seattle a team would be a great way to capitalize on this.
With the way that new young players come out of the draft play, Seattle’s new team could be competitive within a few years. Prospects from all over the world are so talented nowadays so “New Sonics” could be a very profitable franchise right out of the gates. The city would also be a very popular free-agent destination. Multiple players have vouched for Seattle to bring back a team and this could make players want to play for the new team. Kevin Durant was even quoted saying that he would love to go back to Seattle and play for the new team.
Seattle is a pretty gloomy city with pretty mild sports team success in the past years, so the installment of a new NBA team could cheer Seattle, locals, up. Andrew Dyk, a die-hard Seattle sports fan, would be bouncing off the walls with joy if an NBA team came to the city. “I never got to see the Sonics play because I wasn’t born yet. I have always supported the NBA but have never had a team to call my own. This would allow me to be a real fan of a team and pour my heart and soul into them.”
Many teenagers never got to witness the greatness of the original Sonics and that just makes the fans want a team back even more. “I am not a big fan of basketball but if Seattle were to get a team I do not doubt that I would watch every game,” said Henry McCabe, a Seattle local. So, Adam Silver, commissioner of the NBA, gives the city of Seattle a team and you will not regret it.
