The SuperSonics are set to return to the NBA after a 20-year absence, with the league's board of governors unanimously approving a vote to allow the expansion of two new franchises, one in Seattle and one in Las Vegas. The expected price for the new teams is between $7 billion and $10 billion. The 2028-29 season is the reported target date for when the new franchises would begin play, with both Las Vegas and Seattle having the arena infrastructure in place to expedite the process.
Seattle's new franchise is expected to take on the name and history of the old SuperSonics, tapping into the immediate national brand recognition and a fan base that has been begging for the NBA's return for two decades. The SuperSonics joined the NBA as an expansion franchise in 1967 and remained in Seattle until 2008, winning their first and only NBA championship in 1979. The team was named the SuperSonics as a nod to Seattle-based aviation company Boeing, which was developing a supersonic commercial aircraft at the time.
Over their 40 years in Seattle, the Sonics went 1,745-1,585 with 22 playoff appearances and a 107-110 playoff record. Their 1979 championship team, coached by Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens and led on the court by Hall of Famer Jack Sikma, went 52-30 in the regular season and beat the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, and Washington Bullets en route to the title.
The return of the SuperSonics is a significant development for the NBA, and it remains to be seen how the team will be rebuilt and rebranded for the modern era.
The return of the SuperSonics is a massive boost for basketball fans in Seattle and the wider NBA community. With the 2028-29 season as the target date, there's a lot of work to be done before the team takes to the court again. However, with the rich history and brand recognition of the SuperSonics, the new franchise has a solid foundation to build on. The focus will now shift to the team's rebuild and rebranding, and it will be exciting to see how they evolve in the coming years.
