How long have the sonics been gone

Just hours before U. District Judge Marsha Pechman was supposed to issue a ruling over whether the Sonics would leave immediately or finish out the remaining two years on their lease, then-Sonics owner and current Thunder owner Clay Bennett and then-mayor Greg Nickels called simultaneous news conferences to announce a settlement that would allow Bennett to take the team to Oklahoma City. Show caption. Oh, and he also took a lanky scoring machine named Kevin Durant, fresh off a Rookie of the Year season, and another guard from UCLA named Russell Westbrook, drafted weeks before the announcement.

It was the final twist of a knife at the end of a long, painful process for Sonics fans, beginning in October when then-owner Howard Schultz sold the team to Bennett. That Friday night game in October left no doubt. But, barring a miracle, Seattle is going to have to wait several more years.

Seattle has been waiting 11 years for a new NBA team. It waited seven years between losing the Pilots baseball team and welcoming the Mariners. Entries in italics indicate an existing team moved from another city. Entries in roman type indicate the city acquired an expansion franchise.

Milwaukee waits 13 years Milwaukee Bucks. Minneapolis waits 29 years Minnesota Timberwolves. Philadelphia waits 1 year Philadelphia 76ers, formerly Syracuse Nationals. Chicago waits 3 years Chicago Bulls. Milwaukee waits 4 years Milwaukee Brewers, formerly Seattle Pilots. Kansas City waits 1 year Kansas City Royals. Seattle waits 7 years Seattle Mariners. Washington, D. Atlanta waits 19 years Atlanta Thrashers.

Colorado waits 1 3 yea rs Colorado Avalanche, formerly Quebec Nordiques. Baltimore waits 12 years Baltimore Ravens, formerly Cleveland Browns. Louis waits 8 years St. Louis Rams, formerly Los Angeles Rams. Minnesota waits 4 years Minnesota Wild. I was in the day grew up in Seattle….. Hi Mike! I hope for your sake as well as the sake of the NBA as a whole that the Sonics return. Never should have left. Where did you get that from?

Hi Charles thanks for the comment. The company at the time was a group of private investors headed by Howard Schultz. Keep the faith bro! A franchise in Seattle would do just that. Ethan Cali has 4 teams. I really think the Clippers or the Kings would be better off in Seattle. The Clippers will always play second fiddle to the Lakers. Even the name, Seattle Clippers, has a good ring to it because of the marinitime tie in.

And Seattle Kings pays homage to King County. OKC should have never gotten your team. Love the sound of Seattle Kings. I think the SuperSonics brand is way too lucrative to not use.

Good point too with the Clippers. Love watching the seattle super sonic back in the 90s, But hated them when they played against my Bulls.. Get used not watching NBA anymore after Sonic left. Totally ignore a huge market and profit.