Back in June 2024 I wrote a post called ‘Almost Back‘ where I talked about how the NBA was closing in on their new media deal, which ultimately netted them an 11-year deal worth approximately $77 billon dollars – about $7 billion dollars per season that is then equally divided 30 ways. Once the mega-deal was struck and then signed, I figured NBA expansion would be top of mind for the NBA. Well, that was not the case and I was just being far, far too optimistic.

When Adam Silver seemingly put domestic expansion on the backburner to instead focus on international expansion, a European-based league, it felt like a slap in the face to all NBA/basketball fans in the Pacific Northwest. If not now, when the league looks very healthy financially and interest-wise, then when?

Key Arena has recently been redeveloped, to the tune of $1.15 billion dollars, to house the NHL’s 32nd franchise, the Seattle Kraken. The now called ‘Climate Pledge Arena‘ could easily host NBA basketball on a regular basis, as proven by the success of the ‘Rain City Showcase.’ Since the building isn’t the issue, maybe it’s finding an ownership group? In that case, the Kraken group led by billionaire David Bonderman, Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and CEO Tod Leiweke have always stated their long-term intent on bringing back the Sonics. Unfortunately, Bonderman passed away in December 2024, but his daughter Samantha Holloway took control of the Kraken and remains highly committed to the idea of bringing basketball back to the region.

Something awful happened between July 2024 and now. The Oklahoma City Thunder turned into the best team in the NBA and won their first NBA championship in 2024/25. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, their star player and current regular season and NBA Finals MVP, has morphed into a top-2 player in the league. Don’t get it twisted though, they aren’t a one man band. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are difference-makers, while Alex Caruso, Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins are all solid contributors. Ajay Mitchell is in the midst of a breakout season, while the shrewd trade deadline acquisition of Jared McCain was a Sam Presti special. They also are armed with three 1st round picks in each of the next two drafts. Annoyingly, the Thunder are right in the middle of their championship window and look like a good bet to repeat this season.

You know how sometimes in sports there are moments you can’t ever get over? For instance, I’m wasn’t sure if I would ever get over Russell Wilson throwing an interception at the 2 in the closing seconds of Super Bowl 49. Guess what? I got over that shit the moment Seattle stuffed the New England Patriots in a trash can and won Super Bowl 60 handily. The point being the only way I will get over the SuperSonics being unjustly ripped away from Seattle is for them to, rightly, come back.

Thankfully, a major step in the right direction happened today, March 25th, 2026. Adam Silver announced the NBA Board of Governors approved, by unanimous decision, to explore expansion in two cities, Seattle and Las Vegas. Now, this doesn’t mean both cities are guaranteed an NBA team, it’s more about opening up the process to prospective applicants and seeing what proposals comes back. The NBA is banking on an expansion fee between $7-$10 billion dollars per team, so any potential owner/group will need to have plenty of cash available on hand and in reserve, in addition to an expansive, all-encompassing plan on how the organizational structure will function and where the team will play their home games. Once all the proposals have been received, vetted and voted upon one owner/group will be selected for Seattle and one for Las Vegas. Sometime, later in 2026, a final vote will take place to see if both, one or neither team will join the NBA starting in 2028/29. For the vote to pass it must get approval from a minimum of 23 of the 30 governors.

To all my long suffering basketball/Sonics fans, we are so close to having our team back! Sure, they won’t start play for a couple of seasons, but that will be the least of my concerns. It’s so important an official process has begun, as there have been false dawns before. This is about as concrete as it can get. I would expect a very strong financial/business proposal from Samantha Holloway and her group to the NBA. The interesting question becomes who, if anyone, will put together a bid to rival the Kraken group? A topic for another day or when the bids start to leak out. For now, we can all breath a small sigh of relief and look forwards to the future of pro basketball back in Seattle. We. Are. Almost. Home. #BringBackOurSonics