The conversation around NBA expansion has sustained its presence in the sports world for over a decade. Speculation and rumors have kept basketball enthusiasts on their toes, particularly in cities with rich basketball histories like Seattle, which lost its SuperSonics to Oklahoma City in 2008. The team was rebranded as the Thunder, and Seattle fans have yearned for a resurgence ever since.
Seattle's NBA Legacy
Seattle's basketball heritage remains vivid. The city has hosted preseason NBA games, keeping the flame of professional basketball alive. Kevin Durant's selection by Seattle in the 2007 NBA Draft and his subsequent rookie season with the SuperSonics are vivid memories for long-time fans. If Seattle were to be granted an expansion team, it’s anticipated that the iconic SuperSonics name would return, bringing back the history ceded during the Thunder relocation.
"Sources said if a team was to return to Seattle, the Thunder would cede the Seattle history back to the SuperSonics -- just as the NBA's Charlotte Hornets reclaimed the Charlotte-era history of the New Orleans Pelicans when Charlotte switched from being the Bobcats to the Hornets in 2014," confirmed one source.
Potential Expansion Destinations
While Seattle is a frontrunner in the expansion conversation, Las Vegas has also emerged as a strong candidate. The city's burgeoning sports scene has already welcomed an NHL team and an NFL team, making it a viable option for the NBA.
Despite the fervor surrounding these possibilities, there isn't a public timeline for when the NBA might officially announce its expansion plans. Rumors suggest that new teams could be introduced as early as the 2027-28 season. However, official cities for these prospective franchises have yet to be named.
Strategic Preparations
The NBA's recent off-court strategies signal that expansion is on the horizon. After finalizing a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) last summer and securing a television rights deal shortly thereafter, the league now appears more streamlined in its priorities.
Expansion has not been the center of formal discussions during the annual fall Board of Governors meetings. "League commissioner Adam Silver recently remarked that there was 'not a lot of discussion' regarding expansion during the annual fall Board of Governors meeting," reiterating the cautious yet steady approach of the league.
Nevertheless, Silver offered a glimmer of hope, assuring that "expansion is a topic the board plans to address this upcoming season," suggesting a deliberative yet optimistic path forward.
Historical Context
The NBA has precedent when it comes to restoring the historical lineage of franchises that relocate and then return or rebrand. The Charlotte Hornets provide a relevant example. When the franchise rebranded themselves in 2014, they reclaimed the Charlotte-era history of the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Thunder, in their move from Seattle to Oklahoma City, did not bring the SuperSonics' historical accolades or identity with them. This decision leaves the door open for SuperSonics history to be restored to a new Seattle team, should the city regain its NBA presence.
If and when expansion becomes a tangible reality, Seattle's passionate fan base can look forward to a revival of their beloved SuperSonics. Until then, the NBA universe continues to spin with speculation and hope, keeping fans engaged and optimistic about the future.