Getty Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics
A few Boston Celtics alumni played in the Crawsover Pro-Am League game on August 20. Among them was Isaiah Thomas, who played for them from 2015 to 2017. The bigger headline was that Jayson Tatum and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James were slated to play too, which was going to attract a big crowd. Before the game started, Thomas went off, saying that the game would show audiences why Seattle, where the game took place, deserves an NBA team.
If today isn’t enough to show you WE need a NBA team in the city then I don’t know what will. Watch how crazy today is @NBA
Ever since the team was relocated to Oklahoma City, many have been begging for the league to bring back the Seattle SuperSonics, who played in the league from 1967 up until their relocation in 2008. Because it’s only been 14 years, there are still plenty of SuperSonics fans who want their team back. They expressed as much in response to Thomas’ tweet.
@isaiahthomas @NBA @NBA BRING EM BACK!!! 💚💛
Other fans wondered why Los Angeles has multiple teams while Seattle does not have any.
@isaiahthomas @NBA Will never understand how LA has 3 teams and we have none
While Keith Smith did not respond to Thomas’ tweet directly, he decreed that Seattle not having an NBA team is ridiculous.
It remains ridiculous that Seattle doesn’t have an NBA team.
Fans and media members aren’t the only ones who have been asking for Seattle to be given an NBA team again. Even players have openly requested that the NBA put a team back in Seattle.
Paolo Banchero Says Expansion in Seattle ‘Should be Mandatory’
While on Stephen Jackson’s and Matt Barnes’ podcast called “All the Smoke” on July 29, the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft said that the NBA restoring the SuperSonics in Seattle would be a good look for them because of how passionate the fanbase is.
“I think it needs to happen. I think it should be mandatory. Not just because I’m biased, but because it’d be a great look on the NBA. It’s a great city. The fans there are crazy. If you get a team in Seattle, they’ll automatically be a top … not the top, but a top fanbase. Those games would be sold out right away.”
Banchero was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, and was five years old when the team was relocated to Oklahoma City. He may not have been alive for very long while the SuperSonics were still playing in Seattle, but he would certainly know firsthand about the fans of Seattle since he lived among them.
The NBA has not added an expansion team since 2004, when they added the Charlotte Bobcats to form the league’s 30th NBA team. Whether the league is open to expansion or not remains to be seen.
Adam Silver Says Expansion Not Currently Being Discussed
Before Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals between the Celtics and the Golden State Warriors, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver went on the record saying that while expansion is inevitable, it was not being discussed.
“We are not discussing that at this time,” Silver said. “As I’ve said before, at some point, this league will invariably expand, just not at this moment.”
#NBA commish Adam Silver on 🇺🇸 society issues and Brittney Griner in 🇷🇺
#NBAFinals2022
If and when the NBA expands, there’s no guarantee that Seattle is where the hypothetical expansion would take place. LeBron James has gone on the record saying that after his playing days are done, he would like to own an NBA team in Las Vegas.
LeBron James unveils his desires to eventually own his own team out of Las Vegas 👀