The Sonics Are Coming Back: NBA Just Made It Official and Seattle Natives Are Losing Their Minds
It finally happened. After nearly two decades of heartbreak, the NBA's board of governors voted Wednesday to formally explore expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas. This isn't just whispered hope anymore, folks. This is real. The league is actually going to look seriously at bringing basketball back to the Emerald City.
And the reactions from Seattle natives who made it big in the NBA? Pure electricity.
The Vote That Changes Everything
Wednesday's decision by the board of governors approved a plan allowing NBA officials to formally explore potential team expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas, which have long been considered the front-runners for new franchises. Expansion still isn't guaranteed, but it's no longer just a dream. It's an active process now.
Think about what that means. The Seattle SuperSonics left nearly two decades ago. A whole generation of Seattle kids grew up without an NBA team. But now, for the first time in forever, there's a real path forward.
Seattle Natives Are Ready
Dejounte Murray, the New Orleans Pelicans guard and former UW Huskies star, was 11 years old when Seattle last had an NBA team. He grew up idolizing Gary Payton, Ray Allen, and Shawn Kemp. He even remembers a rookie named Kevin Durant wearing the green and gold.
"It's a basketball city, basketball culture, so it's mandatory I think that they get it back over there," Murray said.
Paolo Banchero, another Seattle native, echoed the sentiment: "I think it's been a long time coming for the city. I think everybody was pretty bummed out when they left. And since then it's just been waiting and hoping that one day they will come back. I'm sure with the news, everybody's excited. I know I'm excited for all the kids growing up because Seattle's a really big basketball city."
Vegas Is Ready Too
Las Vegas isn't starting from scratch. The NBA Summer League happens there every year and has become a can't-miss event for executives, coaches, agents, and players. The championship round of the NBA Cup in-season tournament has been held there too. The city's already proven it can handle major sports: the NFL's Raiders, the NHL's Golden Knights, the WNBA's Aces, and soon Major League Baseball.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in December while in Las Vegas for the NBA Cup: "I think Seattle and Las Vegas are two incredible cities."
Owners are ready to expand past 30 teams. The expansion fee is expected to be at least $6 billion. This is happening. Seattle's got basketball coming home.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.