SEATTLE — While it isn’t the Sonics — at least not yet — two sources have confirmed a Los Angeles Times report Wednesday that NBA basketball will make its Climate Pledge Arena debut Oct. 3 in an exhibition game between the L.A. Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers.
A press conference is scheduled for Wednesday at Climate Pledge to announce the first NBA contest in this city since a similar October 2018 exhibition and comes amid increased talk of a Sonics rebirth. The Clippers are owned by longtime Seattle-area resident and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer while the Trail Blazers are managed by Jody Allen, the Seattle-based sister of deceased Microsoft co-founder and team owner Paul Allen.
Plenty has changed since that prior Seattle exhibition game between the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings served as the final event at what was then known as KeyArena.