Eighteen years. That's how long Seattle has waited for this moment.
The NBA will hold a vote at its Board of Governors meetings March 24-25 to explore adding expansion teams exclusively in Las Vegas and Seattle, with both franchises targeted for the 2028-29 season, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. Industry executives project bids in the $7-to-$10 billion range for each team.
But this isn't just about billions of dollars or expansion or growing the league. This is about vindication. This is about a city that never stopped loving basketball, never stopped believing, and never let go of the SuperSonics name, logo, and championship history.
Back in 2008, when the team left for Oklahoma City in one of the most acrimonious splits in sports history, Seattle fought hard enough to retain the rights to everything that mattered - the SuperSonics name, the green and gold colors, the 1979 championship banner, and every retired jersey. They knew, even then, that this wasn't goodbye forever.
"I've been watching the NBA for over 50 years and was really sad to see them go," one longtime fan wrote on social media after the news broke. "The news today of their potential return is to me some of the best news of the season."
That's what sports is all about, folks - the emotional connection between a city and its team. Seattle kept that flame burning for nearly two decades, and now they're on the verge of getting their reward.
The vote is a two-step process. This first vote allows the league to explore purchase processes for both cities. If bids reach the necessary threshold, there will be a final vote later this year to officially approve the expansion to 32 teams. In both rounds, 23 of 30 governors must vote in favor.
For , this represents their first major professional basketball franchise, adding to a sports scene that's exploded in recent years with the Raiders and Golden Knights. But for ? This is coming home.
