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NBA Rumors: Seattle would get a team in an NBA expansion

By Jack Simone

MIAMI, FL - JUNE 19: Fans of the former NBA franchise Seattle SuperSonics which moved and became the Oklahoma City Thunder shows support for the Miami Heat to beat the Thunder in Game Four of the 2012 NBA Finals on June 19, 2012 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JUNE 19: Fans of the former NBA franchise Seattle SuperSonics which moved and became the Oklahoma City Thunder shows support for the Miami Heat to beat the Thunder in Game Four of the 2012 NBA Finals on June 19, 2012 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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NBA expansion, Seattle, NBA rumors
18 May 1996: Hersey Hawkins #33 of the Seattle Supersonics helps teammate Shawn Kemp #40 to his feet as fans cheer them on during the Sonic”s 102-72 game one victory over the Utah Jazz in the NBA Western Conference Finals at Key Arena in Seattle, Washington, NBA Rumors: Seattle would get a team in any NBA expansion /

Whispers of an NBA expansion have been going on for the past year or so. Ever since the COVID pandemic wiped through the NBA’s season in 2020, talks have surfaced more than usual.

Commissioner Adam Silver brought up the idea around a year ago, explaining why it could be in the cards. According to him, expanding the NBA is the league’s ‘manifest destiny.’

"“I think I’ve always said that it’s sort of the manifest destiny of the league that you expand at some point. I’d say it’s caused us to maybe dust off some of the analyses on the economic and competitive impacts of expansion. We’ve been putting a little bit more time into it than we were pre-pandemic. But certainly not to the point that expansion is on the front burner.”"

Is an NBA expansion likely? If so, would Seattle get a team?

That quote was in December of 2020, right before the season started. With the idea of expansion being constantly brought up, the question then becomes, which city (or cities) would get a team?

Cities such as Las Vegas, St. Louis, and Vancouver have always been thought to be towards the top of that list. However, there’s one city that sits stop all of them – Seattle.

Ever since the SuperSonics left in 2008, Seattle has been begging for an NBA team. They almost got the Kings in 2013, but Vivek Ranadive swooped in and kept the team in Sacramento.

NBA Rumors: Seattle would get a team in any NBA expansion

New NBA rumors have surfaced, as John Hollinger of The Athletic (subscription required) recently reported that most league insiders believe Seattle getting being chosen would be a mere formality.

If the NBA were to expand, Seattle would 100 percent be getting a team, according to these NBA rumors. That makes totally sense, considering the city’s clear, undying love for the sport.

The city already has an arena built since they just recently welcomed the Kraken into town. Why not add an NBA team as well?

The idea of an NBA expansion is one that should excite most NBA fans, because while their favorite team may lose a player, growth is always good, and Seattle deserves to have a team again.

What do you make of these NBA rumors? How soon do you want to see the NBA expand? And most importantly, what city (other than Seattle) deserves a team?

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