Basketball fans in the Pacific Northwest questioned Kevin Durant after the Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in six games.  Durant would lend his name to returning an NBA team to Seattle. Without hesitation, Durant responded, ‘Since we left, I’ve been screaming that a team needs to go there.’

Durant’s sentiment echoes the frustration and passion of many Seattle sports figures and fans who have aspired to the return of the Supersonics. According to Buford, the Sonics are expected to be discussed during a meeting scheduled for May 13 in Seattle.

The Painful Departure of the Sonics

It has been 16 years since Starbucks founder and former CEO Howard Schultz sold the Seattle Supersonics to Oklahoma City businessman Clay Bennett. Schultz originally sold the team with the understanding that Bennett’s Professional Basketball Club, LLC (PBC) would make a “good faith effort” to secure a new arena and keep the team in Seattle. Bennett notified the NBA that he would move the franchise after the city rejected a proposed $500 million arena plan. Schultz attempted to sue Bennett to rescind the sale, arguing that the proposal violated league ownership rules, but his case was overturned. In 2008, Seattle was left without an NBA team due to the team’s official move to Oklahoma City and rebranding as the Thunder.

The Voices Calling for a Return

Many prominent figures in the sports world have expressed their support for bringing back the Sonics since their departure. Legends such as Gary Payton, Spencer Haywood, Rashard Lewis, Nate Robinson, and Jamal Crawford, as well as current sports stars like Russell Wilson and Breanna Stewart, have all pushed for Seattle’s return to the NBA. The Hansen-Ballmer group, whose leader was hedge fund manager Chris Hansen and ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, attempted to acquire 65% of the Sacramento Kings in 2013 with the aim of moving the team to Seattle. The NBA permitted then-Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson to establish a financial group to retain the Kings in California. In the following year, the group made an effort to acquire the Milwaukee Bucks for $650 million with identical relocation plans, but the team was ultimately disposed of by hedge fund billionaires Wesley Edens and Marc Lasry. Ballmer now owns the Los Angeles Clippers, and Seattle is still without an NBA team.

Ongoing Efforts to Revive the Sonics

“I’m excited to announce I’ve partnered with the Sonics Arena Group to help bring the @NBA and @NHL to the best fan base in the world, Seattle,” Wilson said.

The NHL has returned to Seattle with the launch of the Seattle Kraken, proving that the city is capable of supporting another major professional franchise. Walter Jones, who is a Hall of Fame offensive tackle, has expressed a desire to be involved, stating that the city’s establishment of an arena will make an NBA return more realistic.

Isaiah Kacyvenski, a former Seattle Seahawk and founder of Will Ventures, shares the same sentiment:

Seattle basketball legends Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart have also stressed the importance of keeping the conversation going.

“I love that people are talking about it… It has obviously been the topic of conversation since they left,” Bird said. Stewart added, “I feel enough people would invest in it. It’s just actually getting them here.”

Kevin Durant’s Vision

Kevin Durant, who was picked second overall by the Sonics in 2007 and spent one season in Seattle before the team moved, is still the most vocal advocate for a return. Durant’s position was made clear when he spoke earlier this season.

“Hell yeah, I would love to. It is way easier to say, yeah, I want to be a part of it, than to know how to do it,” Durant admitted.

He continued, “That would be so much fun to bring basketball back to Seattle and try to build a winning team. That has always been a dream of mine—to run an NBA franchise and help lead young players as I get older. That would be an amazing experience.”

A Dream Closer to Reality?

The Seattle Supersonics’ return is now a possibility due to a strong ownership group, an established NBA-ready fanbase, and support from high-profile athletes and investors. Basketball fans in the region are optimistic that the Sonics will soon be back in Seattle as the city prepares for its May 13 meeting. Durant and other important figures are keeping the dream alive while the movement persists.