Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell delivered his State of the City address on Tuesday, sparking excitement among attendees with a playful hint at the potential return of the NBA to the city. During his speech at Benaroya Hall, Harrell surprised the crowd by pulling out a basketball from behind the podium, momentarily leading many to believe that the NBA and the Sonics could be making a comeback to Seattle.
However, the mayor quickly revealed that it was all in good fun, as he announced that he was simply taking a short break in his address. Despite the playful tease, the interest in bringing the NBA back to Seattle remains strong, especially with the support of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken ownership group.
Samantha Holloway, executive chair of the Kraken, expressed optimism about the potential return of the Sonics in a recent interview with Bloomberg, highlighting Seattle as an attractive market for the NBA. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has also discussed Seattle, along with Las Vegas and Mexico City, as potential locations for league expansion.
While the focus on NBA expansion may be temporarily delayed due to the sale of the Boston Celtics, Mayor Harrell has long been a supporter of bringing back the Sonics. With high approval ratings and a bid for reelection to a second term, fans are hopeful that his enthusiasm for the cause will eventually come to fruition.