The NBA Is Different Now, But Seattle Would Go Absolutely Nuts Getting the Sonics Back
Next week's vote by NBA owners to explore expansion in Seattle and Las Vegas is the most encouraging step toward bringing basketball back to the Emerald City in 18 years. Yeah, it's still a ways from official, but this is real. This is happening. And honestly? It would fill a hole in this city that's been open since 2008.
Seattle is a passionate sports town, and right now it just doesn't feel complete without an NBA team. But here's the thing that's been eating at people: the game itself has changed. A lot. And not everyone is thrilled about it.
The Three-Point Revolution Changed Everything
The NBA's ratings have been declining for years, and the league's own analysts aren't holding back on why. Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, who works for ESPN, has pointed to teams' reliance on the three-point shot, load management, and the way noncompetitive squads tank for high draft picks. The three-point thing is wild when you look at the numbers. In the 1999-2000 season, teams averaged 13.7 threes attempted per game. Last season? 37.6. That's not a typo.
Much of this explosion traces back to one guy: Steph Curry. He led the 2015-16 Warriors to a 73-9 record by sinking 402 threes that season. It proved the simple math that three is more than two, and suddenly the whole league chased that efficiency. Curry himself was ratings gold, but it's fair to wonder if his influence has actually hurt the league's broader appeal. The midrange game of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, those beautiful offensive arsenals? Gone. Back-to-the-basket low-post centers? Dinosaurs.
Load Management Is Killing the Experience
Players sitting out games for "rest" is another big problem. Jordan played all 82 games in nine different seasons. Gary Payton, the Sonics legend, had five seasons where he played all 82, plus two more where he played 81. Numbers like that don't exist anymore. Teams and coaches figured out that sitting guys more often helps in the postseason, but fans aren't going to pay for tickets when elite players might not show up. Sometimes you don't even find out until game day.
I went to a Nuggets game and Nikola Jokic didn't play. A colleague went to see the Warriors and Steph Curry was nowhere to be found. The disappointment is real for ticket buyers.
But Seattle Wouldn't Care
Here's the thing though: none of this is actually hurting the league's money. The NBA just announced a new media-rights deal worth roughly $76 billion over 11 years. That's almost triple the previous contract. Attendance is still strong, too. People are packing arenas.
And if the Kraken are any indication? Seattle would lose its mind for an NBA team. Those season tickets sold out in 12 minutes. The fervor for professional basketball would at the very least match that of the NHL in this city, and would probably blow past it. The game has changed, sure. But Seattleites would embrace a Sonics return regardless.
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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.