In July of 2008 a great travesty befell the paramount city of Seattle: the SuperSonics were
officially relocated to a flat and desolate land named Oklahoma City. This theft by a slimy, greedy man has devastated our proud and faithful fanbase, but it has not broken us. They may claim OUR title or attempt to claim our legends - heck they have even defiled Squatch - but WE are still the home of the championship, we are home to basketball greats and Squatch still lives in all of us! It is in Seattle that greatness has assembled in the past… And it will again in the future, surpassing anything the buffalo wrestlers and would-be ballers of Oklahoma could ever gather on the court.
However, I find myself asking what could, nay, what would the Sonics have turned out to become had they not been stolen? Clearly, they would have ascended to mythical heights. Purely through the draft, the Sonics would have assembled the greatest young talent ever seen. Not bought like the Celtics big three, the Heat in the James era or the current debauchery seen in Golden State; all teams who used money to buy their rings instead of growing and developing together. No, the Sonics would have developed and retained THE most remarkable group of talent. This group, had they been in Seattle, would have stayed together and their dynasty would have rivalled the ones built by Bill Russell in Boston or the Kareem and Magic led Lakers squads.
The Emerald City in all of its glory would have been more compelling to the likes of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden, as well as Jeff Green and Serge Ibaka. The draw of this city would have kept them together long term. We have beautiful mountains, Oklahoma has dust; We are a booming and vibrant tech hub, Oklahoma is a thriving cattle market; We are a glittering city upon a hill, they are… well not that. Seattle is a far more attractive place for talent to remain. We offer more in all areas of life: a better TV market, a large passionate fanbase, a community that zealously consumes basketball, legends who support the franchise (seeing as the likes of G.P., Kemp and Detlef won’t recognize the illegitimate franchise in the Dust Bowl state and are outspoken of their love of Seattle). Seattle offers all of this as well as the amenities that come with an actual major city - one that so happens to be ideally positioned in the most wondrous natural environments on earth. The best of both metropolitan and evergreen worlds.
So, it is time to ask: What if the Sonics had stayed in Seattle? Could a great city like ours have produced the most legendary squad of ballers? How many championships would they have brought to the Emerald city?
2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons: A New Hope
During July, it is announced that a consortium of major notables in the Seattle area decide to band together and keep the SuperSonics playing. Private investment is used to buy the team, but more importantly, build a new arena. The new building is slated to look like the Key (for nostalgic reasons) but it’s a pleasure palace with seating for 20,000 and conveniently located in the new stadium district by Safeco field and CenturyLink. Headed by Steve Ballmer, the Sonics will turn into a major power (Ballmer is apparently a major basketball fanatic, see his purchase of the Clippers in 2014, one that tantalised Seattleites with a possible move).
The first two seasons in this new world are fairly average. KD and Jeff Green are in their second and third seasons, while Russ and Serge in their first and second and finally Harden is a rookie in 2009-10. The team is promising seeing as they boast four top five picks from three consecutive drafts. The 2008-09 campaign ends seeing the sonics just shy of .500.
The 2009-10 season proves to be a launching point. With the city fervently supporting their rising stars, the Key 2.0 is packed every night. The home court pushes this young Sonics team to an impressive 56-26 record and achieving the #2 seed in the playoffs. Unfortunately, the young squad would run into the Spurs and lose the series 3-4, in the first round. However, like many losses, this turned into a building moment that would propel the dynasty forward.
2010-11 and 2011-12 Seasons: Close to Glory
These seasons turn out to be a watershed years. The Sonics roll to 56-26 record again, but the difference comes in the playoffs. In the Western Conference semis, the Seattle crowd proves to be a difference maker. Game 2 against Dallas sees a reversal in what happens to the Thunder in reality. Backed by a real fanbase, the Sonics don’t commit 14 turnovers and beat the Mavericks. Games 3 and 4, in Seattle, prove to be decisive wins. Up 3-1 the Sonics show up in Dallas, with momentum and are able to win the Conference, launching them into the NBA Finals.
Yet once in the finals they encounter the Buzzsaw that was the Miami Heat, who boast Lebron James, D-Wade and Chris Bosh. Unfortunately, the Sonics would not be able to handle this experienced group of hall of famers, losing the series 2-4. For the 2011-12 season much of the same happens. In a lockout year the Sonics attain a 50-16 record and cruise through the western playoffs, meeting the Heat again, but falling short 3-4. However. The core group has now grown and matured together, gaining critical experiences along the way.
2012-13 and 2013-14 Seasons: The pinnacle
Starting with the 2012-13 season, the Sonics would begin their ascent to glory. This season would see this mature squad win 65+ games and cruise through the western conference playoffs to the conference final. There they would meeting a common foe in the Spurs. In a bout of sheer determination, the Sonics would defeat the Spurs in 7. Moving to the NBA finals, meeting up with their old foes the Heat. Yet for all the events that transpired the two previous matchups, times had finally changed. In 6 games, the Sonics dispatched the Heat. The old guard seemingly had given way. The era of James, Wade and Bosh was giving way to Durant, Westbrook and Harden.
The narrative changed little the following season. The 2013-14 team roared through the regular season and dismantled all in their way in the playoffs, including the Spurs again (the old guard of the west being Duncan, Ginobili and Parker hurried off into retirement and Kawhi seeking greener pastures). Again, the finals pitted the Sonics and Heat and again, definitively, the Sonics slammed the door on the Heat’s attempt at dynasty and proved to the world one thing: These Sonics would be legends.
2014-15 and on: Legendary
The only speed bump that would have come to the Sonics is in 2014-15. This season would see the team pull back a little full of arrogance over their victories; and with a little turmoil of stardom among the Durant, Westbrook and Harden. On top of this mental block, KD would miss most of the season with injury. Russ would also be on and off the court hampered with various damages to his body. However, the team would still be propelled under the leadership and lights out shooting of Harden backed by Ibaka and Green; but not to the level of past seasons. The down year would enable new teams to rise up. In the west, a well drafted Warriors crew found their way to the finals, yet once there, they encountered Lebron and Kawhi, in a rejuvenated Cleveland. The Cavs would claim the title, but it would be their only one in the new LeBron era.
2015 and onward: Dynasty
Following the collapse; the Sonics, well rested and angry, came back with a vengeance. With an eager city and fanbase behind them, the Supes would win four straight titles, with one of their stars taking home the MVP each season. Now much older, wiser and more physically capable the Sonics would win 68, 70, 74, and 69 games in those seasons. Records would fall and legendary status would be attained. No group in history had assembled and retained this kind of core talent. Other teams in the league attempted to establish their own super teams: the Warriors with money, 76ers through the draft, the Celtics in a combination of free agency and clever scouting and the Lakers by hiring one of the single greatest players in history in attempts to then attract talent around him and win.
But, alas, none can match the Sonics’ talent. Durant, Westbrook and Harden are the greatest trio of all time and added with Ibaka and Green, for the most unbeatable five stars around. But what is nexus for this team, what keeps them together, what drives them and pushes them? Simply; the city of Seattle. Seattle has the greatest atmosphere for attracting the stars and persuading them to stay. But it isn’t just the city itself. The fans, who are the heart and soul, propel the teams that we love, none more than the Sonics. This is the edge that would have propelled a dynasty to legendary proportions. Our city, far greater than Oklaboring City, would have given the NBA its greatest dynasty in generations and the greatest in the modern era.
But, it is all fantasy. We as fans weren’t able to keep them here. The CEO’s dashed our hopes away to a chap wearing, animal groping, yuppie from a place only famous for its great Dust Bowl that launched one of our nation’s greatest catastrophes. But, we will get our team back. We as fans need to keep our voices loud and yelling to get our Sonics back. And when we do, we will show those dirt lickers how a city rallies around its team and wins championships.
Until then, the Emerald City shines brightly like a beacon upon a hill, calling in the dark, calling for our Supersonics to come home.
Written by: Charles Bauman
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