Hoops Habit
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These 4 cities are perfectly suited for an NBA expansion team

By Leocciano Callao

The scoreboard at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
The scoreboard at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /
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NBA Expansion
Seattle Supersonics guard Gary Payton in the 1996 NBA Finals (MPS-USA TODAY Sports) /

1. Seattle, WA is the first team that should be considered for an NBA Expansion.

The clear front-runner is the former home of what is now the Oklahoma City Thunder. After 41 years of being in the league, the Seattle SuperSonics were renamed and relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008. During their time in Seattle, the Sonics were a consistently competitive team with six divisional titles, three NBA Finals appearances and a banner from winning the 1979 NBA Finals. Led by nine-time All-Star Gary Payton, they were solid Western Conference contenders in the 90s.

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When the franchise was rebranded and moved almost 2,000 miles southeast, the Sonics fanbase felt robbed of their team. Seattle sports fans prove to be some of the most loyal and supportive, given that their teams — the Mariners, Seahawks, and Sounders — have had their fair share of wins and losses, and yet they continue to give their full support.

Re-establishing the Sonics will draw people from other parts of the Pacific Northwest to the fanbase and reignite the rivalry between the Sonics and the Portland Trail Blazers. Fans would also love to see Gary Payton have his jersey retired in their city.