Two NBA Legends Just Made Seattle Sonics Fans Believe Again
The NBA just voted to formally explore expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas, and suddenly the dream that died nearly two decades ago feels real again. Two Seattle natives who made it to the league are making the city believe: Dejounte Murray of the New Orleans Pelicans and Paolo Banchero are both speaking out, and their words hit different when you've been waiting this long.
When Seattle Had Basketball Dreams
Murray was just 11 years old when the Sonics played their last game in Seattle. He grew up idolizing the legends who wore green and gold: Gary Payton, Ray Allen, Shawn Kemp, and even a rookie named Kevin Durant. That was nearly two decades ago. Now, at 25, Murray gets to see his city actually have a shot at getting back into the NBA conversation.
"It's a basketball city, basketball culture, so it's mandatory I think that they get it back over there," Murray said. That's not just nostalgia talking. That's a guy who built his entire game around Seattle's basketball legacy.
The Vote That Changed Everything
On Wednesday, the NBA's board of governors approved a plan to formally explore potential team expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas. Expansion isn't officially happening yet, but this moves it from "someday dream" to "this could actually happen." And that matters.
Banchero, another Seattle native, knows exactly what this means to the city. "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."
Why Now?
Las Vegas has become a major part of the NBA ecosystem even without a team. The league holds its Summer League there every year, which has become essential for executives, coaches, agents, and players. The NBA Cup championship has been held there too. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called both cities "incredible" while discussing expansion in December.
With owners ready to expand past 30 teams, details still need to be worked out, including the expansion fee, which is expected to be at least $6 billion. But for Seattle fans who've been waiting since the Sonics left, Wednesday's vote wasn't just a procedural move. It was hope actually becoming possible.
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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.