Many NBA followers usually are not sufficiently old to recollect the Seattle SuperSonics — recognized at this time because the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. The SuperSonics left Seattle in 2008 and took one of many NBA’s finest younger gamers with them all the way down to Oklahoma. This participant stood practically seven toes tall, however he may deal with the ball and put it within the web like a degree guard — one of the crucial distinctive mixtures in NBA historical past.
That participant remains to be energetic at this time, one in all solely two former Sonics nonetheless taking part in within the Affiliation. His identify? Kevin Durant, and maybe his Seattle story has one chapter nonetheless to jot down.
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Durant and Seattle, Half 2?
Seattle is predicted to obtain an enlargement franchise within the coming seasons following renovations to Local weather Pledge Enviornment — often known as KeyArena when the SuperSonics performed there, with a number of interruptions, between 1967 and 2008. And workforce legend Spencer Haywood has informed HoopsHype that he has been in common contact with Durant about probably returning to the Pacific Northwest when the enlargement workforce is formally awarded.
“There’s some sneaky stuff occurring that I am unable to speak about as a result of it is personal,” Haywood mentioned. “However I would not be stunned if I see him in a Sonics uniform (once more).”
Seattle chosen Durant #2 general within the 2007 NBA Draft, and he was named Rookie of the Yr after averaging higher than 20 factors per recreation on the ultimate Sonics workforce. After struggling via a 20-62 season in 2007/08, proprietor Clay Bennett moved the workforce to Oklahoma Metropolis following stalled negotiations on a brand new area advanced in Seattle.
Much more heartbreaking for Sonics followers? Durant turned a full-fledged celebrity for the Thunder, successful 4 scoring titles and an MVP award earlier than departing for the Golden State Warriors in 2016. He has since received two NBA championships, each with the Warriors.
The timing may line up
Durant remains to be going robust at 35 years outdated, averaging 27.8 factors per recreation for the championship-chasing Phoenix Suns. Though he’s notoriously fickle, Durant appears comfortable in Phoenix, and he’s due greater than $49 million in every of the ultimate two years of his contract earlier than it expires in 2026.
That will make Durant a free agent at 37 years outdated, and capable of be part of any workforce he needs — together with a Seattle enlargement franchise. Primarily based on negotiations for tv broadcast rights, the NBA this 12 months will doubtless announce new agreements with ESPN and TNT — in addition to streamers like Amazon and Apple — and will pair that announcement with affirmation that two new enlargement groups will be part of the league in 2026 or 2027.
This timeline would match up with the tip of Durant’s professional profession, and there is probably not a greater place to finish it than the place all of it started practically 17 years in the past.
