The 15-year anniversary of the Seattle SuperSonics departure from the city of Seattle is a dark day in Seattle sports history. On July 2nd, 2008, the SuperSonics left Seattle and relocated to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where they were renamed the Oklahoma City Thunder. The departure of the SuperSonics marked the end of a 41-year run of professional basketball in Seattle.
The SuperSonics were founded in 1967 as an expansion team of the National Basketball Association (NBA). During their 41-year tenure in Seattle, the SuperSonics won one NBA championship in 1979 and made nine trips to the NBA playoffs. The team also had a number of star players, including Hall of Famers Lenny Wilkens, Spencer Haywood, and Gary Payton.
The departure of the SuperSonics was a devastating blow to Seattle sports fans. The team had been a beloved part of the city for decades, and their departure left a void that has yet to be filled. The relocation of the SuperSonics was also seen as a betrayal by many Seattleites, as the team’s owner Clay Bennett had promised to keep the team in Seattle when he purchased them in 2006.
The 15-year anniversary of the SuperSonics’ departure from Seattle is a reminder of what could have been. Had the team stayed in Seattle, they would have likely continued to be successful and remain a beloved part of the city. Unfortunately, that is not the case and Seattle sports fans are still waiting for another professional basketball team to call their own.
