
Seattle hoops fans have been eagerly awaiting the return of an NBA franchise to the Emerald City since 2008, when the SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City, becoming the Thunder in Kevin Durant's second NBA season. The move broke the hearts of a proud fan base with an NBA title and three Western Conference crowns to their name, especially with a generational star just beginning his career with the franchise.
If and when the NBA expands, Seattle—along with Las Vegas—is expected to be in the mix to revive the SuperSonics. Tampa-St. Petersburg is the only U.S. media market larger than Seattle without an NBA franchise. The league has a team in every other city in the top 20.