Gary Payton, the legendary Hall of Fame guard, will forever be associated with the Seattle SuperSonics, the franchise where he enjoyed immense success from 1991 to 2003. Payton, who excelled with the Miami Heat until 2007, lived through the SuperSonics’ heartbreaking move to Oklahoma City after the 2008 season.
Now, as a junior college basketball coach in Alameda, California, Payton is passionate about reviving the SuperSonics. Speaking to ESPN’s Jay Harris and Marc Spears on the show “Courtside Tales,” he shared his excitement about potential NBA expansion. “I know there may be two new teams introduced, perhaps in Las Vegas and Seattle,” Payton noted. “We’re incredibly excited about this opportunity. I really believe we could see a team in Seattle in the next two to three years – possibly 2026 or 2027. The time frame could be that close.”
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The SuperSonics’ departure was marred by controversy, but since then the Oklahoma City Thunder have enjoyed remarkable success both on and off the field, somewhat relegating this painful chapter in Seattle sports history to the background.
With rumors of a long-awaited return, the NBA appears poised to right a historic misstep by revitalizing a franchise in a city that has long clamored for its basketball roots.
Stay tuned for more updates on ongoing developments in the NBA.
This article originally appeared on www.si.com under the title Gary Payton Eyes NBA Expansion: Seattle Team on the Horizon?
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2024-12-25 22:18:00