American professional basketball team, 1967?2008
Seattle SuperSonics
|
---|
|
Conference
| Western
(1970?2008)
|
---|
Division
| Western
(1967?1970)
Pacific
(1970?2004)
Northwest
(2004?2008)
|
---|
Founded
| 1967
|
---|
History
| Seattle SuperSonics
1967?2008
Oklahoma City Thunder
2008?present
[1]
[2]
|
---|
Arena
| Seattle Center Coliseum/KeyArena at Seattle Center
(1967?1978, 1985?1994, 1995?2008)
Kingdome
(1978?1985)
Tacoma Dome
(1994?1995)
|
---|
Location
| Seattle, Washington
|
---|
Team colors
| Green, gold, white
[3]
|
---|
General manager
| Full list
|
---|
Head coach
| Full list
|
---|
Ownership
| Sam Schulman
(1967?1983)
Barry Ackerley
(1983?2001)
Basketball Club of Seattle (
Howard Schultz
, Chairman) (2001?2006)
Professional Basketball Club LLC
(
Clay Bennett
, Chairman) (2006?2008)
|
---|
Championships
| 1
(
1979
)
|
---|
Conference titles
| 3
(
1978
,
1979
,
1996
)
|
---|
Division titles
| 6
(
1979
,
1994
,
1996
,
1997
,
1998
,
2005
)
|
---|
Retired numbers
| 6
(
1
,
10
,
19
,
24
,
32
,
43
)
|
---|
|
|
|
The
Seattle SuperSonics
(commonly known as the
Sonics
) were an American professional
basketball
team based in
Seattle
. The SuperSonics competed in the
National Basketball Association
(NBA) as a member of the
Western Division
(1967?1970), and later as a member of the
Western Conference
's
Pacific
(1970?2004) and
Northwest
(2004?2008) divisions. After the
2007?08 season
ended, the team
relocated
to
Oklahoma City
, where they now play as the
Oklahoma City Thunder
.
Sam Schulman
owned the team from its 1967 inception until 1983. It was then owned by
Barry Ackerley
until 2001, when it came under ownership of Basketball Club of Seattle, headed by
Starbucks
chairman emeritus, former president and CEO
Howard Schultz
. On July 18, 2006, Basketball Club of Seattle sold SuperSonics and its
Women's National Basketball Association
(WNBA) sister franchise
Seattle Storm
to
Professional Basketball Club LLC
, headed by Oklahoma City businessman
Clay Bennett
.
[4]
The NBA Board of Governors approved the sale on October 24, 2006, and finalized it seven days later, at which point the new ownership group took control.
[5]
[6]
After failing to find public funding to construct a new arena in the Seattle area, the SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City before the
2008?09 season
, following a $45 million settlement with the city of Seattle to pay off their existing lease at the
KeyArena at Seattle Center
before it expired in 2010.
[7]
The SuperSonics played their home games at
KeyArena
(originally the Seattle Center Coliseum) for 33 of the franchise's 41 seasons in Seattle.
[8]
In 1978, the team moved to the
Kingdome
, which they shared with
Major League Baseball
(MLB) team
Seattle Mariners
and
National Football League
(NFL) team
Seattle Seahawks
. The team returned to the Coliseum in 1985, and temporarily moved to
Tacoma Dome
for the
1994?95 season
while the Coliseum was renovated and renamed KeyArena.
The SuperSonics won the
NBA championship
in
1979
. The franchise won Western Conference titles in
1978
, 1979 and
1996
; and six divisional titles?their last being in
2005
?five in the Pacific Division and one in the Northwest Division. The franchise attained a 1,745?1,585 (.524) regular season win?loss record,
[9]
as well as a 107?110 (.493) playoff win?loss record during its time in Seattle.
[
citation needed
]
Both marks would rank in the top half of the
NBA's all-time standings
. Settlement terms of a lawsuit between the city of Seattle and Clay Bennett's ownership group stipulated SuperSonics' banners, trophies and retired jerseys remain in Seattle; the nickname, logo and color scheme are available to any subsequent NBA team that plays at KeyArena subject to NBA approval.
[10]
The SuperSonics' franchise history, however, would be shared with the Thunder.
[11]
Franchise history
[
edit
]
1966?1968: Team creation
[
edit
]
On December 20, 1966, Los Angeles businessmen
Sam Schulman
and
Eugene V. Klein
, both of whom owned the
AFL
side
San Diego Chargers
, and a group of minority partners were awarded an NBA franchise for Seattle, the first major-league sports franchise in the city.
[12]
Schulman served as the active partner and head of team operations, and named the team SuperSonics as a nod to the city’s ties to the aviation industry, with
Boeing
's having recently been awarded a contract for an
SST project
.
[13]
The Seattle SuperSonics began play on October 13, 1967; they were coached by
Al Bianchi
, and included All-Star guard
Walt Hazzard
and
All-Rookie Team
members
Bob Rule
and
Al Tucker
. The expansion team debuted in
San Francisco
with a 144?116 loss in their first game against the
San Francisco Warriors
. On October 21, the Seattle team's first win came against the
San Diego Rockets
in overtime 117?110, and the SuperSonics finished the season with a 23?59 record.
[14]
1968?1974: The Lenny Wilkens era
[
edit
]
Before the start of the next season, Hazzard was traded to the
Atlanta Hawks
for
Lenny Wilkens
, who brought a strong, all-around game to the SuperSonics, averaging 22.4 points, 8.2 assists and 6.2 rebounds per game for the SuperSonics in the
1968?69 season
. Rule improved on his rookie statistics with 24.0 points per game and 11.5 rebounds per game. SuperSonics won only 30 games and Bianchi was replaced by Wilkens as player/coach during the off-season.
Wilkens and Rule both represented Seattle in the
1970 NBA All-Star Game
, and Wilkens led the NBA in assists during the
1969?70 season
. In June 1970, the NBA owners voted 13?4 to work toward a merger with the
ABA
;
[15]
Schulman, a member of the
ABA?NBA merger
committee in 1970, was eager to merge the leagues and he publicly announced if the NBA did not accept the merger agreement, he would move the SuperSonics to the ABA; he also threatened to move his soon-to-be ABA team to Los Angeles to compete with the
Lakers
.
[16]
The
Oscar Robertson suit
delayed the merger and the SuperSonics remained in Seattle. Early in the
1970?71 season
, Rule tore his left Achilles' tendon and was injured for the rest of the season.
[17]
Arrival of Spencer Haywood
[
edit
]
Wilkens was named the 1971
All-Star Game MVP
. Schulman was awarded
American Basketball Association
Rookie of the Year and MVP
Spencer Haywood
following a lengthy
court battle
. The
following season
, the SuperSonics had their first winning season at 47?35. On March 3, 1972, the team, which was led by player-coach Wilkens and
First Team
forward Haywood, held a 46?27 mark but late-season injuries to starters Haywood,
Dick Snyder
and
Don Smith
led to the team losing eight of its final nine games.
[18]
For the 1972?73 season, Wilkens was traded to
Cleveland Cavaliers
in an unpopular move;
[19]
without his leadership, the SuperSonics fell to a 26?56 record. One of the highlights of the season was Haywood's second-consecutive All-NBA First Team selection;
[20]
he averaged a SuperSonics record 29.2 points per game and collected 12.9 rebounds per game.
[21]
1974?1983: Postseason success and championship season
[
edit
]
Bill Russell
was hired as the head coach in 1974, and he led the SuperSonics to
the playoffs
for the first time. The team, which featured Haywood, guards
Fred Brown
and
Slick Watts
, and rookie center
Tommy Burleson
, defeated the
Detroit Pistons
in a three-game mini-series before losing to the eventual champion
Golden State Warriors
in six games. The next season, the SuperSonics traded Haywood to the
New York Knicks
, forcing the remaining players to pick up the offensive slack. Guard
Fred Brown
, now in his fifth season, was selected to the
1976 NBA All-Star Game
, and finished fifth in the league in scoring average and free-throw percentage. Burleson's game continued to strengthen as Watts led the NBA in assists and steals, and was named to the
All-NBA Defensive First Team
. The SuperSonics again
made the playoffs
but lost to the
Phoenix Suns
in six games, in spite of strong performances from Brown (28.5 ppg) and Burleson (20.8 ppg).
Russell left the SuperSonics after the
1976?77 season
, and the team started the season at 5?17 under new coach
Bob Hopkins
. Lenny Wilkens was brought back to replace Hopkins, and the team's performance immediately improved. The SuperSonics won 11 of their first 12 games under Wilkens, finished the season at 47?35, won the Western Conference title, and led the
Washington Bullets
three games to two before losing in seven games in the
1978 NBA Finals
. Center
Marvin Webster
went to New York but the SuperSonics' roster stayed largely intact during the off-season, and they won their first division title in
1979
. In the
playoffs
, the SuperSonics defeated the Phoenix Suns in a seven-game conference final series to set up a rematch with the Washington Bullets in the finals, in which the Bullets lost to the SuperSonics in five games to give the SuperSonics their first-and-only NBA title. The championship team roster included
Gus Williams
and
Finals MVP
Dennis Johnson
, second-year All-Star center
Jack Sikma
, forwards
John Johnson
and
Lonnie Shelton
, and key reserves Fred Brown and
Paul Silas
.
The
1979?80 season
saw the SuperSonics finish second in the
Pacific Division
to the
Los Angeles Lakers
with a strong 56?26 record. That season, the SuperSonics set an NBA record with a regular season average attendance of 21,725 fans per game, a record that has since broken.
[22]
Fred Brown won the NBA's first three-point shooting-percentage title, Jack Sikma played in the second of his seven career All-Star Games for the SuperSonics, Gus Williams and Dennis Johnson were named to the All-NBA Second Team, and Johnson was also named to the All-NBA First Defensive Team for the second consecutive year. The SuperSonics made it to the Western Conference Finals for the third consecutive season but lost to the Lakers in five games.
It was the last time the backcourt of Williams and Johnson played together on the SuperSonics; Johnson was traded to Phoenix Suns before the start of the
1980?81 season
and Williams missed the year due to a contract dispute. As a result, the SuperSonics fell to last place in the Pacific Division with a 34?48 mark, the only time they finished in last place. Williams returned for the
1981?82 season
and the SuperSonics scored 52?30 and 48?34 records during the next two years.
In 1981, the SuperSonics created the Sonics SuperChannel, the first sports subscription cable service; subscriptions were available for $120 ($1.33 a game) but the service shut down after the
1984?85 season
.
[23]
[24]
1983?1989: A period of decline
[
edit
]
In October 1983, original team owner Sam Schulman sold the SuperSonics to
Barry Ackerley
. In 1984, Fred Brown retired after playing 13 productive seasons with the SuperSonics; during this time, he had been on the same team roster as Rule and Wilkens during his rookie season, playing a key role on Seattle's first playoff teams, and being the team's important sixth man during the championship series years. In recognition of his contributions to the team, Brown's number was retired in 1986. Lenny Wilkens left the organization following the
1984?85 season
and Jack Sikma, the last-remaining member of the SuperSonics' championship team aside from trainer Frank Furtado, was traded after the 1985?86 season.
Among the few SuperSonics highlights in the latter half of the 1980s were
Tom Chambers
' 1987
All-Star Game MVP
award, the SuperSonics' appearance in the 1987 Western Conference Finals, despite posting a 39?43 regular season record during the
1986?87 season
, and the performances of Chambers,
Xavier McDaniel
and
Dale Ellis
. In 1987?88, the three players each averaged over 20 points per game with Ellis at 25.8 ppg, McDaniel at 21.4, and Chambers at 20.4. In the
1988?89 season
, Chambers had signed with Phoenix, Ellis improved his scoring average to 27.5 points per game and finished second in the league in three-point percentage. The SuperSonics finished with a 47?35 record and qualified for the second round of the
1989 playoffs
.
1989?1998: The Payton?Kemp era
[
edit
]
The SuperSonics began setting a new foundation with the drafting of forward
Shawn Kemp
in 1989 and guard
Gary Payton
in 1990, and the trading of
Dale Ellis
and
Xavier McDaniel
to other teams during the
1990?91 season
. It was
George Karl
's arrival as head coach in 1992, however, that marked a return to regular season and playoff competitiveness for the SuperSonics. With the continued improvement of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, the SuperSonics posted a 55?27 record in the
1992?93 season
and took the Phoenix Suns to seven games in the Western Conference Finals.
In the
1993?94 season
, the SuperSonics had the best record in the NBA at 63?19, but suffered a
first round loss
to the
Denver Nuggets
, becoming the first number one seed to lose a playoff series to an eighth seed. The Sonics moved to the
Tacoma Dome
for the
1994?95 season
while the Coliseum underwent renovations and went on to earn a second place 57?25 record. Again, the Sonics were eliminated in the first round, this time to the
Los Angeles Lakers
in four games. The team returned to the rebuilt Coliseum, now the
KeyArena
, for the
1995?96 season
.
Perhaps the strongest roster the SuperSonics ever had was the
1995?96 team
, which had a franchise best 64?18 record. With a deep roster of All-NBA Second Team selections Kemp and Payton, forward
Detlef Schrempf
, forward
Sam Perkins
, guard
Hersey Hawkins
, and guard
Nate McMillan
, the team reached the
1996 NBA Finals
, but lost to the
Michael Jordan
-led
Chicago Bulls
in six games. Seattle continued to be a Western Conference powerhouse during the next two seasons, winning 57 games in
1996?97
and 61 games in
1997?98
for their second and third straight Pacific Division titles. At the end of the 1997?98 season, longtime Sonic and defensive specialist McMillan retired, and disagreements with management led Karl to end his tenure as head coach. He was replaced by former Sonic
Paul Westphal
for the
1998?99 season
.
1998?2008: A decade of struggles
[
edit
]
The 1998?99 season saw the SuperSonics struggle. Westphal was dismissed after the team started the
2000?01 season
6?9, and replaced on an interim basis by assistant coach
Nate McMillan
,
[25]
[26]
who was appointed permanent head coach in February 2001.
[27]
In the
2002?03 season
, All-Star Payton was traded to the
Milwaukee Bucks
; that season marked the end to the SuperSonics' 11-year run of seasons with a winning percentage of at least .500, then the second-longest current run in the NBA.
The
2004?05 team
won the organization's sixth-division title under the leadership of
Ray Allen
and
Rashard Lewis
, winning 52 games and defeating the
Sacramento Kings
to advance to the
2005 Western Conference Semifinals
. The SuperSonics lost in six games to the established trio of
Tony Parker
,
Tim Duncan
and
Manu Ginobili
of the
San Antonio Spurs
, who subsequently defeated the
Detroit Pistons
in the
2005 NBA Finals
. This was also the last time this SuperSonics team would make the playoffs. During the 2005 off-season, head coach McMillan left the SuperSonics to accept a high-paying position to coach the
Portland Trail Blazers
. The season after his departure, the team regressed with a 35?47 record.
On May 22, 2007, the SuperSonics were awarded the second pick in the
2007 NBA draft
, equaling the highest draft position the team ever held, selecting
Kevin Durant
from the
University of Texas
. On June 28, the SuperSonics traded
Ray Allen
and the 35th pick of the second-round
Glen Davis
in the 2007 NBA draft to
Boston Celtics
for rights to the fifth pick;
Jeff Green
,
Wally Szczerbiak
and
Delonte West
. On July 11, the SuperSonics and
Orlando Magic
agreed to a sign and trade for
Rashard Lewis
. The SuperSonics received a future second-round draft pick and a $9.5 million trade exception from the Magic. On July 20, the SuperSonics used the trade exception and a second-round draft pick to acquire
Kurt Thomas
and two first-round draft picks from
Phoenix Suns
.
[
citation needed
]
In 2007, morale was low at the beginning of the SuperSonics season as talks with the city of Seattle for a new arena had broken down. The SuperSonics had received a franchise player with second-overall pick in the NBA draft with Durant. With the Ray Allen trade, however, the SuperSonics had little talent with which to surround their rookie forward and lost their first eight games under coach
P. J. Carlesimo
to achieve a 3?14 record in the first month of the season. Durant led all rookies in scoring at 20.3 ppg and won the Rookie of the Year award. The SuperSonics, however, posted a franchise-worst record of 20?62. It was their final season in Seattle because Bennett got the right to move the team after settling all legal issues with the city.
[28]
The Seattle SuperSonics played their last home game on April 13, 2008, winning 99?95 against
Dallas Mavericks
. Throughout the game, the crowd chanted "Save our Sonics" and Durant waved his hands at the crowd.
[29]
The last game they played was against Durant's future team, the
Golden State Warriors
at
Oracle Arena
three days later. Durant scored 42 points.
[30]
Relocation to Oklahoma City
[
edit
]
From 2001 to 2006,
Starbucks
chairman emeritus, former president and CEO
Howard Schultz
was the majority owner of the team, along with 58 partners or minor owners as part of Basketball Club of Seattle LLP. On July 18, 2006, after unsuccessful efforts to persuade
Washington State
government officials to provide funding to update KeyArena, Schultz and Basketball Club of Seattle LLP sold SuperSonics and their sister team the
Women's National Basketball Association
's
Seattle Storm
for $350 million to
Professional Basketball Club LLC
(PBC), an investment group that was headed by
Oklahoma City
businessman
Clay Bennett
.
[4]
Schultz sold the franchise to Bennett's group because they thought Bennett would keep the franchise in Seattle rather than move it to Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City Mayor
Mick Cornett
said:
I think it's presumptuous to assume that Clay Bennett and his ownership group won't own that Seattle team for a long, long time in Seattle or somewhere else. It's presumptuous to assume they're going to move that franchise to Oklahoma City. I understand that people are going to say that seems to be a likely scenario, but that's just speculation.
[31]
After failing to persuade local governments to fund a $500-million arena complex in the Seattle suburb
Renton
, Bennett's group notified the NBA it intended to move the team to Oklahoma City
[32]
and requested arbitration with the city of Seattle to be released from SuperSonics' lease of KeyArena.
[33]
The judge rejected the request and Seattle sued Bennett's group to enforce the lease that required the team to play at KeyArena until 2010.
[34]
On April 18, 2008, NBA owners approved a potential SuperSonics' relocation to Oklahoma City in a 28?2 vote by the league's Board of Governors; only
Mark Cuban
of
Dallas Mavericks
and
Paul Allen
of
Portland Trail Blazers
voted against the move. The approval meant SuperSonics would be allowed to move to Oklahoma City's
Ford Center
for the 2008?09 season after reaching a settlement with the city of Seattle.
[35]
On July 2, 2008, a settlement that allowed the team to move under certain conditions, including the ownership group's payment of $45 million to Seattle and the possibility of an additional $30 million by 2013 if a new team had not been awarded to the city, was reached. It was agreed the Oklahoma City team would not use the name "SuperSonics", and that the team's history would be shared between Oklahoma City and any future NBA team in Seattle.
[36]
[8]
[37]
The relocated team began play as
Oklahoma City Thunder
for the
2008?09 season
, becoming the third NBA franchise to
relocate
in the past decade, following
Vancouver Grizzlies
, who
moved
to
Memphis, Tennessee
, and were renamed
Memphis Grizzlies
for the
2001?02 season
; and
Charlotte Hornets
, who moved to
New Orleans
and began play as
New Orleans Hornets
for the
2002?03 season
.
[
citation needed
]
In months prior to the settlement, Seattle publicly released email conversations that took place within Bennett's ownership group and alleged they indicated at least some members of the group wanted to move the team to Oklahoma City prior to the purchase in 2006. Before that, SuperSonics co-owner
Aubrey McClendon
told
The Journal Record
; "we didn't buy the team to keep it in Seattle; we hoped to come here", although Bennett denied knowledge of this.
[38]
Seattle used these incidents to argue the owners failed to negotiate in good faith, prompting Schultz to file a lawsuit seeking to rescind the sale of the team and transfer the ownership to a court-appointed receiver.
[39]
The NBA said Schultz's lawsuit was void because Schultz signed a release forbidding himself to sue Bennett's group but also said the proposal would have violated league ownership rules. Schultz dropped the case before the start of the 2008?09 season.
[40]
In 2009, a group of Seattle filmmakers known as Seattle SuperSonics Historical Preservation Society produced a critically acclaimed documentary film titled
Sonicsgate ? Requiem For A Team
, which describes the rise and demise of the Seattle SuperSonics franchise. The film focuses on the controversial aspects of the team's departure from Seattle; it won the 2010
Webby Award
for Best Sports Film.
[41]
Possible new franchise
[
edit
]
Sacramento Kings
[
edit
]
In 2011, a group of investors led by hedge fund founder
Chris Hansen
spoke with Seattle mayor
Mike McGinn
about investing in an arena in hopes of securing an NBA franchise and reviving the Seattle SuperSonics.
[42]
McGinn offered to Hansen to obtain ownership of KeyArena for little to no money.
[43]
Rumors Hansen would begin pursuing a vulnerable franchise to move to Seattle began circulating. Most of the discussion centered on
Sacramento Kings
, a struggling franchise that had been unsuccessfully trying to replace the aging
Power Balance Pavilion
. The rumors were such that Think Big Sacramento, a community action group created by Sacramento mayor
Kevin Johnson
to develop solutions for Kings, wrote to Hansen asking him not to pursue the city's team.
[44]
On May 16, 2012, after coming to agreement, McGinn, Constantine, and Hansen presented the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to the public.
[45]
King County Council voted to approve the MOU on July 30, 2012, adding amendments that provided for work with the
Port of Seattle
, securing the SuperSonics naming rights, offering reduced-price tickets, support for
Seattle Storm
WNBA
franchise, and requiring an economic analysis.
[46]
Hansen and Seattle City Council announced on September 11, 2012, a tentative agreement on a revised MOU that included the county council's amendments and new provisions; a personal guarantee from Hansen to cover cost overruns of construction of the new arena and make up any backfall for annual repayment of the city bonds issued.
[47]
To address concerns of Port of Seattle,
Seattle Mariners
, and local industry, a SoDo transportation improvement fund to be maintained at $40 million by tax revenue generated by the arena was also included. All parties agreed
transaction documents
would not be signed and construction would not begin before the state-required environmental impact analysis was completed. By a vote of 7?2, Seattle City Council approved the amended MOU on September 24, 2012.
[48]
The King County Council reviewed the amended MOU and voted unanimously in favor of approval on October 15, 2012.
[49]
In June 2012, it was revealed Hansen's investment partners included
Microsoft
CEO
Steve Ballmer
, and brothers Erik and Peter Nordstrom of fashion retailer
Nordstrom, Inc.
Peter Nordstrom had been a minority owner of SuperSonics under Howard Schultz's ownership.
Wally Walker
, former SuperSonics executive, was also later revealed to be part of Hansen's group. On January 9, 2013, media reports regarding the imminent sale of majority ownership of Sacramento Kings to Hansen, Ballmer, the Nordstroms, and Walker for $500 million to relocate to Seattle as early as the
2013?14 NBA season
emerged.
[50]
[51]
[52]
On January 20, 2013, several sources reported the
Maloof family
had agreed to sell Hansen and Ballmer's ownership group their 53% majority stake in the Kings franchise, pending approval of the NBA's Board of Governors.
[53]
The next day, the NBA, Hansen, and the Maloofs all released statements announcing the agreement, which also included the 12% minority stake of owner Robert Hernreich, and based the sale price on a team valuation of $525 million.
[54]
[55]
[56]
David Stern
, then
NBA Commissioner
, confirmed on February 6, 2013, that the Maloofs had filed paperwork with the league office to officially request relocation of the Kings from Sacramento to Seattle on behalf of the potential new ownership group.
[57]
Johnson, with guidance from Stern and the NBA league office, began to assemble an alternative ownership group that would keep the Kings in Sacramento and aid in getting a new arena constructed. On February 26, 2013, the Sacramento City Council voted to enter into negotiations with an unnamed group of investors revealed two days later to be headed by grocery magnate and developer
Ron Burkle
and
Mark Mastrov
, founder of
24 Hour Fitness
. An initial counteroffer presented to the NBA by this new group was deemed "not comparable" as to merit consideration.
[58]
Burkle eventually left the group because of a conflict with other business interests, but offered to be primary developer of lands around the planned downtown location of the new arena to aid in city council passage of public funding for the project.
[59]
Mastrov took a backseat to
Vivek Ranadive
, founder and CEO of
TIBCO
and a minority owner of the
Golden State Warriors
, brought in to assemble a stronger group of investors.
[60]
Ahead of the annual Board of Governors meeting where they were expected to vote on approval of the sale of the Kings to Hansen and Ballmer's group, as well as the relocation request, members of the NBA owners' finance and relocation committees held a meeting in New York City on April 3, 2013, for the Seattle group and the Sacramento group to each present their proposals.
[61]
With the meeting of the Board of Governors to vote moved again to mid-May, the groups were asked to make another brief presentation to the full relocation committee on April 29, 2013. The committee voted to recommend rejection of the relocation request to the full board.
[62]
When the Board of Governors finally convened in Dallas on May 15, 2013, they heard final presentations from both the Seattle and Sacramento groups. The BOG voted 22?8 against moving the Kings from Sacramento to Seattle.
[63]
Though initially resistant to the idea, after negotiations, on May 17, 2013, the Maloof family and Hernreich formally agreed to sell their ownership stake in the Kings (65% of the team, valued at US$535 million) to Ranadive's ownership group.
[64]
Milwaukee Bucks
[
edit
]
In September 2013, then-Deputy Commissioner
Adam Silver
announced
Milwaukee Bucks
would need to replace the aging
BMO Harris Bradley Center
because of its small size and lack of amenities.
[65]
On April 16, 2014, it was announced owner
Herb Kohl
had agreed to sell the franchise to New York hedge-fund investors
Marc Lasry
and Wesley Edens for a record $550 million. The deal included provisions for contributions of $100 million each from Kohl and the new ownership group towards the construction of what would eventually be the new
Fiserv Forum
arena.
[66]
During sale discussions, it was revealed Hansen and Ballmer had expressed interest in purchasing the team for more than $600 million but had not made a formal offer, as Kohl only entertained offers keeping the team in Milwaukee.
[67]
Atlanta Hawks
[
edit
]
On January 2, 2015,
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
reported
Atlanta Spirit
, then-owners of
Atlanta Hawks
, would sell the team. Initially, only majority owner
Bruce Levenson
would sell his stake but the remaining minority owners announced they would also sell their stakes.
[68]
On January 6, 2015,
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
reported
Chris Hansen
and film producer
Thomas Tull
?a minority owner of the NFL's
Pittsburgh Steelers
?would enter separate bids to acquire the Hawks and move them to Seattle.
[69]
The NBA stated the Hawks were to remain in Atlanta as a condition of their sale; additionally, Atlanta Spirit were unlikely to sell Hawks to a prospective owner that would relocate the team, in contrast with the group's sale of the now-defunct NHL team
Atlanta Thrashers
in 2011.
[68]
Any attempt to move the Hawks out of Atlanta would incur a $75 million penalty from the city of Atlanta and
Fulton County
for breaking the Hawks' lease of
Philips Arena
before 2017.
[70]
The Hawks were sold to a group led by
Tony Ressler
on June 24, 2015.
[71]
Future arena talks
[
edit
]
On May 2, 2016, Seattle City Council voted 5?4 against vacating a section of Occidental Avenue South that connected property purchased by Hansen and was deemed critical to the siting of a future arena. The vote was seen as a significant delay to the MOU between Hansen, the city and King County that expired in November 2017.
[72]
On October 25, 2016, Chris Hansen announced he will fund the arena without public funding.
[73]
On November 14, 2016, then
Seattle Seahawks
' quarterback
Russell Wilson
announced he would be investing in the NBA arena effort.
[74]
Arena renovations
[
edit
]
While talks about building a new arena were underway, so were talks with another group of investors?including
Tim Leiweke
, co-founder of the
Oak View Group
?who wanted to renovate KeyArena, SuperSonics' former home venue. On December 4, 2017, one day after the deal with Chris Hansen expired, Seattle City Council voted 7?1 to approve the renovation of KeyArena.
[75]
[76]
The renovation was considered to mainly focus on fitting out
Seattle Kraken
for the
National Hockey League
(NHL), although interest for the revival of SuperSonics remained a possibility with the renovated arena. Hansen and his fellow investors felt having a future arena should be considered as a back-up plan for the future of SuperSonics, they would support the renovation by Oak View Group if the plan to acquire an NBA team was successful.
[77]
Renovations of KeyArena, which was renamed
Climate Pledge Arena
, began in 2018 and were completed by the beginning of the 2021?22 NBA and NHL seasons.
[78]
Home arenas
[
edit
]
The SuperSonics played at the
Seattle Center Coliseum
, on the grounds of the
Seattle Center
, from 1967 to 1978. They left for the larger
Kingdome
and played there for seven years with crowds of over 30,000 at 20 games.
[79]
[80]
The team returned to the Coliseum in 1985 and were its main tenant before and after its renovation into
KeyArena
, which opened in 1995. The SuperSonics played for two seasons at the
Tacoma Dome
during the renovation and remained at KeyArena until 2008.
[79]
Uniforms
[
edit
]
Seattle SuperSonics' first uniforms had "Sonics" displayed in a font that was also used by Cincinnati Royals (now the
Sacramento Kings
). The road jerseys were green and had yellow lettering; the home uniforms were white with green lettering. In 1995, SuperSonics changed their uniforms, adding red and orange, and removing yellow, to their new jerseys that would last six seasons. It displayed the team's new logo on the front and their alternative logo on the shorts. The home uniforms had green stripes on the right side of the jersey and shorts, and the green road jersey had red stripes.
[
citation needed
]
The final SuperSonics uniforms were worn from the
2001?02 season
through to the
2007?08 season
. The team's owner Howard Schultz commissioned the design from Seattle design agency
Hornall Anderson
. The home jerseys were white with green-and-gold trim, displaying "SONICS" across the chest. Road uniforms were dark green with white-and-gold accents, with "SEATTLE" across the chest. The alternative uniform was gold with green-and-white trim with "SONICS" arched across the chest. These uniforms were an
homage
to a similar style worn from the 1975?76 season through to the 1994?95 season.
[81]
Rivalries
[
edit
]
The Seattle SuperSonics were traditional rivals of
Portland Trail Blazers
because of the teams' proximity; the rivalry had been dubbed the
I-5 Rivalry
in reference to
Interstate 5
that connects the two cities, which are 174 miles (280 km) apart. The rivalry was fairly equal in accomplishments; both teams won one championship. The all-time record of this rivalry is 98?94 in favor of the SuperSonics.
[82]
[83]
[84]
The SuperSonics were rivals of the
Los Angeles Lakers
due to the teams' longstanding pairing in the
Pacific Division
of the
Western Conference
. The Lakers'
sustained success
meant regular season games often affected
NBA Playoffs
seedings, with the teams matching head-to-head for numerous playoff battles.
[85]
[86]
Achievements and honors
[
edit
]
Retired numbers
[
edit
]
Notes:
- 1
Also head coach from 2000 to 2005.
- 2
Head coach during 1969?1972 and 1977?1985.
Basketball Hall of Famers
[
edit
]
Notes:
- 1
In total, Wilkens was inducted into the Hall of Fame three times ? as player, as coach and as a member of the
1992 Olympic team
.
- 2
In total, Ewing was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice ? as player and as a member of the
1992 Olympic team
.
- 3
Inducted posthumously.
- 4
Also served as assistant coach (2003?2007).
- 5
Also served as head coach (1998?2000).
- 6
In total, Russell was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice ? as a player and as coach.
FIBA Hall of Famers
[
edit
]
State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame
[
edit
]
Individual awards
[
edit
]
- All-Star Game
Staff
[
edit
]
Records and leaders
[
edit
]
Franchise leaders
[
edit
]
Points scored (regular season) (as of the end of the 2007?08 season)
[87]
- Gary Payton
(18,207)
- Fred Brown
(14,018)
- Jack Sikma
(12,258)
- Rashard Lewis
(12,034)
- Shawn Kemp
(10,148)
- Gus Williams
(9,676)
- Dale Ellis
(9,405)
- Xavier McDaniel
(8,438)
- Spencer Haywood
(8,131)
- Tom Chambers
(8,028)
- Ray Allen
(7,237)
- Detlef Schrempf
(6,870)
- Dick Snyder
(6,507)
- Derrick McKey
(6,159)
- Lenny Wilkens
(6,010)
- Bob Rule
(5,646)
- Vin Baker
(5,054)
- Sam Perkins
(4,844)
- Nate McMillan
(4,733)
- Dennis Johnson
(4,590)
- Lonnie Shelton
(4,460)
- Ricky Pierce
(4,393)
- Brent Barry
(4,107)
- Tom Meschery
(4,050)
- Hersey Hawkins
(3,798)
- Michael Cage
(3,742)
- Eddie Johnson
(3,714)
- John Johnson
(3,608)
- Slick Watts
(3,396)
- Al Wood
(3,265)
Other Statistics (regular season) (as of the end of the 2007?08 season)
[87]
Single-season and career leaders
[
edit
]
Individual leaders
[
edit
]
Single-game records
Statistic
|
Player
|
Value
|
Date
|
Points
|
Fred Brown
|
58
|
March 23, 1974
|
Rebounds
|
Jim Fox
|
30
|
December 26, 1973
|
Assists
|
Nate McMillan
|
25
|
February 23, 1987
|
Steals
|
Fred Brown
Gus Williams
|
10
|
December 3, 1976
February 22, 1978
|
Single-season leaders
Statistic
|
Player
|
Value
|
Season
|
Points
|
Dale Ellis
|
2,253
|
1988?89
|
Points per game
|
Spencer Haywood
|
29.2
|
1972?73
[a]
|
Rebounds
|
Jack Sikma
|
1,038
|
1981?82
|
Rebounds per game
|
Spencer Haywood
|
13.4
|
1973?74
|
Assists
|
Lenny Wilkens
|
766
|
1971?72
|
Assists per game
|
Lenny Wilkens
|
9.6
|
1971?72
|
Steals
|
Slick Watts
|
261
|
1975?76
|
Steals per game
|
Slick Watts
|
3.18
|
1975?76
|
|
Career leaders
Statistic
|
Player
|
Value
|
Games
|
Gary Payton
|
999
|
Minutes played
|
Gary Payton
|
36,858
|
Points
|
Gary Payton
|
18,207
|
Field goals made
|
Gary Payton
|
7,292
|
Field goal attempts
|
Gary Payton
|
15,562
|
3-point field goals made
|
Rashard Lewis
|
918
|
3-point field goal attempts
|
Gary Payton
|
2,855
|
Free throws made
|
Jack Sikma
|
3,044
|
Free throw attempts
|
Shawn Kemp
|
3,808
|
Offensive rebounds
|
Shawn Kemp
|
2,145
|
Defensive rebounds
|
Jack Sikma
|
5,948
|
Total rebounds
|
Jack Sikma
|
7,729
|
Assists
|
Gary Payton
|
7,384
|
Steals
|
Gary Payton
|
2,107
|
Blocked shots
|
Shawn Kemp
|
959
|
Turnovers
|
Gary Payton
|
2,507
|
Personal fouls
|
Gary Payton
|
2,577
|
|
See also
[
edit
]
Notes
[
edit
]
- ^
Bob Rule
averaged 29.8 points per game for the SuperSonics in the 1970?71 season, but only played in four games, thereby missing the standard qualification minimums.
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"Franchise History?NBA Advanced Stats"
.
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. NBA Media Ventures, LLC
. Retrieved
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2024
.
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cite web
}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (
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)
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.
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[
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Peoples, John (November 19, 1993).
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.
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.
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March 17,
2020
.
- ^
Hughes, Frank (November 27, 2000).
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.
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. Retrieved
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- ^
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.
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. February 28, 2001
. Retrieved
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2020
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- ^
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. Sportsecyclopedia.com
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2012
.
- ^
"Five years after 'gut wrenching' fight, Kings are going to Seattle ? for one night only"
. The Sacramento Bee
. Retrieved
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.
- ^
"SuperSonics vs Warriors, April 16, 2008"
.
- ^
"Sonics, Storm sold to group from Oklahoma City"
.
ESPN.com
. July 19, 2006
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2012
.
- ^
Johns, Greg (November 2, 2007).
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.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
. Retrieved
November 15,
2007
.
- ^
"Judge blocks Sonics from taking arena dispute to arbitration"
.
ESPN
. Associated Press. October 29, 2007
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October 30,
2007
.
- ^
"City of Seattle v. Professional Basketball Club LLC",
Justia.com
October 9, 2007.
- ^
"NBA Board of Governors Approve Sonics Move to Oklahoma City Pending Resolution of Litigation"
.
NBA.com
. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. April 18, 2008
. Retrieved
April 19,
2008
.
- ^
"NBA Commissioner David Stern Statement on Settlement Between Sonics and the City of Seattle"
.
NBA.com
. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. July 2, 2008
. Retrieved
July 2,
2008
.
- ^
Johns, Greg; Galloway, Angela (July 2, 2008).
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.
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. Retrieved
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2008
.
- ^
Brunner, Jim (April 17, 2008).
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.
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. Retrieved
April 18,
2008
.
- ^
Allen, Percy (April 15, 2008).
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.
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2008
.
- ^
Brunner, Jim; Allen, Percy (August 29, 2008).
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.
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2008
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.
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2012
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KOMONews.com
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.
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.
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.
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. May 16, 2012.
- ^
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.
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.
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. ESPN. October 16, 2012
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. February 7, 2013.
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Helin, Kurt (March 8, 2013).
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.
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. Retrieved
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Smith, Rob (January 21, 2013).
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.
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. Retrieved
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.
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Kelley, Steve (April 17, 2010).
"It should be the Sonics playing the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs"
.
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. Retrieved
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2017
.
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a
b
"Nuggets Career Leaders : Statistics"
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2011
.
External links
[
edit
]
Media related to
Seattle SuperSonics
at Wikimedia Commons
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Franchise
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Arenas
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Personnel
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NBA G League affiliate
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Retired numbers
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NBA championships
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Rivalries
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Culture and lore
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