On January 12, 2001, the SuperSonics won their first game of the Schultz era against the Vancouver Grizzlies in the Key Arena. we are leaving the team and fans in good hands." "When we reached the decision to sell the team, one of our biggest concerns was that the Sonics stay in Seattle. "We are happy we found such experienced and enthusiastic new owners for the team," he said. to bring a world championship back to Seattle."Īckerley, who owned the team since 1983, was choked up at times during the news conference. I look forward to doing everything humanly possible. But Schultz emerged as the face of the new ownership, proclaiming at a news conference announcing the sale that "I have a passion for the Sonics. ![]() ![]() The sale price is reported to be $200 million and includes the WNBA's Seattle Storm as well as Full House Entertainment, the business arm of the Sonics and Storm.Īmong the other new investors in the team were Sonics general manager Wally Walker, who played on the team from 1978-82, and VoiceStream wireless CEO John Stanton. On January 11, 2001, Barry Ackerley, owner of the Seattle SuperSonics NBA franchise, reaches an agreement to sell the team to an investment group led by Starbucks Corporation founder Howard Schultz. Do you have an investigative story tip? Send us an email at OUR FREE NEWS APP.Q13 FOX editor fired over doctored Trump address video.Parents on edge over homeless camp behind elementary school.Video shows several collisions over year at Seattle intersection.3 arrested after man robbed, beaten, bound and left to die in the cold.The following is a recap of the event in a essay written by Dan Johnson ![]() I hope this wasn’t too brutal.Schultz would go on to sell the team to Clay Bennett – who in 2008 would move the franchise to the Pacific Northwest. If you’re excited for the 2021 season, don’t be - I’m just kidding. But if the three were to reunite in Seattle to make a championship run, the trio could end their careers in storybook fashion, bringing a championship to Seattle - a city that let their team get away. Though all three were once teammates, Harden and Durant left Oklahoma City in 20, respectively. Russell Westbrook, who was drafted by the Sonics six days before their relocation, will have to wait until 2023 to sign with another team - but don’t rule out a career-ending return to the team that once drafted him. James Harden, drafted by the Thunder soon after their arrival, will become a free agent in 2020. Durant played one season with the team before their relocation to Oklahoma City.ĭurant also carries with him the ability to lure other superstars to Seattle. Kevin Durant - an NBA superstar and one of just two remaining players to have donned a Sonics uniform - has committed to play for Seattle once the team returns. But recent news could give Seattle quite an advantage with their return. When first introduced to the NBA in 1967, the SuperSonics were just 23–59 in their inaugural season. Typically, it is near impossible for an expansion team to see success immediately upon existence. This is for good reason - though the cities differ in opinion on who deserves a basketball team more, it seems as if both will have their wish granted. Kansas City will additionally home an NBA franchise and will begin to play alongside Seattle for the 2021–22 season. The SuperSonics will return to the Western Conference, but as noted earlier, they are not the only city with a franchise headed its way. As part of the NBA’s expansion agreement, each conference will add an additional team in order to keep each conference equal in size. The NBA currently consists of two conferences - the Eastern and Western Conferences - with 15 teams in each. “With the ongoing renovations of KeyArena and the outcry for basketball in the city, awarding Seattle a team was simply a no-brainer.” “It is my privilege to announce the expansion of the NBA back to this great city of Seattle, a community that once witnessed a heartbreaking departure over a decade ago,” said Silver, who addressed the media on the breaking news. With an $850 million renovation in the works that was once thought to primarily service Seattle’s coming NHL franchise, the Sonics will additionally return home to a city yearning for basketball. Much of the delay is attributed to the renovations of KeyArena, the former - and future - home of the SuperSonics. The Seattle SuperSonics - who will keep their original name - will return to the Western Conference in time for the 2021–22 season. After 11 miserable seasons without our beloved SuperSonics, the city of Seattle rejoiced Friday morning when NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced the return of an expansion franchise.
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