Seattle Now The SuperSonics are really, actually coming back this time (probably)
Mar 26, 2026
Vaughn Jones, Seattle sports reporter covering the Sonics' comeback, breaks down the NBA opening expansion bids and a 2028 timeline. He outlines potential ownership contenders and arena dynamics. He captures fan reactions, recalls why the team left in 2008, and explains how an expansion roster would form.
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NBA Opens Expansion Bidding For Seattle And Vegas
- The NBA's Board of Governors voted to open expansion bidding specifically for Seattle and Las Vegas, signaling serious intent to return the Sonics by 2028.
- Commissioner Adam Silver and ESPN reporting set a league goal of sneakers back on the hardwood for the 2028 season, 20 years after the Sonics left.
Money And Arena Control Decide The Next Steps
- Ownership and arena control are key next steps: a local bidder must assemble billions to buy an expansion franchise.
- The Kraken ownership's move to take majority stake in Climate Pledge Arena marks them as the front-runner and signals readiness to bid.
Fan Kept Sonics Presence Alive On Social Media
- Kenji Onozawa has run the @SeattleSonics social accounts daily since 2009 to keep the team's memory alive.
- He lives in Japan now but said he'd transfer handles to the team in exchange for a few tickets and a chance to return for a game.