Seattle Needs to “Reign” Again
On Thursday July, 24th it was announced that the new NHL team in Seattle (announced in 2018) would be known as the “Seattle Kraken” (“Kraken” is a legendary cephalopod-like sea monster of gigantic size in Scandinavian folklore). Regardless of the rather “unique” name, it’s dope to see the NHL add another expansion team after introducing the Las Vegas Golden Knights to us a couple years ago.
With Seattle already being home to teams like the Seahawks, Mariners, and Storm, It feels as if the city known for it’s plentiful amounts of rain and it’s legendary “Space Needle”, has enough to fulfill die hard sports fans. But if you take a closer look, what do you notice that is missing? Don’t worry, I’ll wait.
The Seattle SuperSonics haven’t been in the NBA since the 2007–2008 season, before they would relocate to Oklahoma City and play as the Thunder (we were so close to having a Russ Sonics jersey). Since then, Sonic fans and NBA fans alike have been anticipating the long awaited return of the franchise. Starting fan pages and blogs keeping fans up to date on the chance that it does happen, and to remind those who somehow don’t know why the SuperSonics are loved and cherished by many.
With players like Jack Sikma, Gary Payton & Shawn Kemp, Jesus Shuttlesworth (otherwise known as Ray Allen), and a rookie Kevin Durant. The Sonics have been home to some great players, I mean who could forget Rashard Lewis, Nick Collison and Jeff Green.
So it’s crazy to think that for 10+ years they haven’t been resurrected to “reign” once again. Of course, getting an expansion team is hard and it’s even harder for a specific city to be granted with one. NBA commish Adam Silver once said in 2018 that he “loved” Seattle and they were doing “all the right things” in either building a new arena or revitalizing the legendary Key Arena.
So what will it take for Seattle to bring back the Sonics? Wait for an expansion? Or wait for a team to be sold and relocated? Regardless of what comes first, Sonics fans and NBA fans will have to continue to wait. It’s already been years and maybe it’ll be a couple more years before that traction begins to build and things start to happen. And with Covid wreaking havoc on the NBA, forcing them to make HUGE changes to the rest of their season and next season, the idea of a new NBA team is obviously not of importance.
No disrespect to Oklahoma City, but if they can get a NBA team, Seattle will definitely get one again. It’s just a matter of time. Basketball fans in Seattle are a special bunch and with the Seattle Storm recently winning a WNBA championship led by Breanna Stewart and legend Sue Bird, those fans are chomping at the bit for the Sonics to return. Just imagine what their first home game back would feel like, an atmosphere so electric it’ll feel like the playoffs came early. Seattle Legends all throughout the arena, and the look of the new modern SuperSonics jerseys. It’s exciting to think about but unfortunately, we have to wait until that day comes.
