SONICSGATE [Online Director's Cut]

sonicsgate.org | Winner - "Best Sports Film" - 2010 Webby Awards. A free educational documentary chronicling how after 41 years of playing NBA basketball in Seattle, the SuperSonics were moved to Oklahoma and became the Thunder. This film was created by Sonics fans in order to educate the public. This film is in High Definition, Close Captioned and has a soundtrack provided by Seattle area musicians. Visit SONICSGATE.ORG for more info.
FAIR USE NOTICE: This video may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes only. This constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law.
Features original HD interviews including Gary Payton, George Karl, Slade Gorton, Brad Keller, Sherman Alexie, Paul Lawrence, Kevin Calabro and many more. This film is being distributed for free online by the Seattle SuperSonics Historical Preservation Society. All rights reserved.
Music was provided for the film by Seattle-area hip-hop artists.
This is an original educational work created by loyal Sonic fans with additional footage provided by local news organizations. Visit sonicsgate.org for more information.

[@takemeasicam]

Came across the existence of this documentary last night on reddit & watched it this morning…as a Raptors fan, I was impartial to the Sonics leaving until seeing this…now I’m lobbying for Seattle to get their team back next year once the new TV contract is signed & the NBA expands to 32 teams!

[@healthleetprequel2014]

Over 10 years after it was uploaded this magnificent documentary still hasn't reached 1 million views. Tis sad that the truth is being buried.

[@mattdotts]

Right??

[@ks-li4ic]

money rules the world brother..it is sad...

[@bcbc1299]

It's not being buried. Nobody cares about you creeps in seattle. Go poop on your sidewalks, dorks.

[@takemeasicam]

Came across the existence of this documentary last night on reddit & watched it this morning…as a Raptors fan, I was impartial to the Sonics leaving until seeing this…now I’m lobbying for Seattle to get their team back next year once the new TV contract is signed & the NBA expands to 32 teams!

[@joebauers3746]

The guys who are nearly always at the top of everything just want the shekels, that is all this story is about.

[@TravisMSimpson]

My reaction to the Bennett/Stern emails... Guys, get a hotel.

[@DrLuke49]

Nah because they rate no better than a rundown leaky travel trailer which prisons use for conjugal visits

[@corycampbell6406]

The Supersonics was my favorite NBA team

[@oval856]

Still is... *zombie-move*

[@titoaIv]

Being a Blazer fan, this is a bunch a bullshit, man. We need that i5 rivalry.

[@firedreferee736]

Yeah, this OKC shit is boring

[@rip_city_and_ptfc_fan]

Same here dog go blazers

[@jamesgentry13]

The fans should have paid for the new stadium

[@cameronscott5405]

I used to be a Sonics fan but now I'm a Blazers guy, that rivalry would of been tight

[@IceManLikeGervin]

Vancouver too...I-5

[@mrshowtime86nicco33]

I miss the Sonics. I'm a Lakers fan, but I respect the Seattle basketball. Amazing team that must come back. I hope.

[@mariorodriguezjunior]

🤝🏾 I'm a Lakers fan but Shawn Kemp is favourite player, I was hoping the Lakers traded for him when he left Seattle. Sonics were great for the league.

[@jayfromldn.3481]

Seattles jerseys looks so nice fam 👌🏾

[@one7deep7savage7]

Green n Gold baby!

[@rip_city_and_ptfc_fan]

Yea compared to okcs garbage

[@mag1cg1rl_]

Rip_city_ And_ptfc_fan lmao u mean the knicks and this is coming from someone who was born and raised in nyc lmao 😂 but forreal the '96 Sonics had the best jerseys ever

[@mag1cg1rl_]

Kee totally they were so cool 😎

[@addisonspengler9733]

@@mag1cg1rl_ nah the knicks and okc are one of the better jerseys in the nba. Seattles were absolute heat

[@dvnkfarrik]

Great documentary. Coming from an Oakland Raider fan that's worried about losing our team.

[@tripleoo0]

I don't trust Goodell as far as I can throw him, but I would think that if the Athletics ever moved into an actual baseball stadium with real foul zones and an authentic baseball experience, the Raiders would be fine to stay. The Bay Area is way too big for just the Niners fans, who barely stay past the third quarter anymore. The NFL would be stupid to move out of Oakland. Low-key, they have some of the best fans in football (though that gets glossed over because of their reputation). I put them right up there with Bills fans, Seahawk fans, Raven fans, and Chief fans.

[@lucaslehn8099]

You still have the 49ers across the bridge though

[@tripleoo0]

I suppose I stand corrected. Roger Goodell is even more of a snake than I thought he was, and that was a pretty low bar.

[@splashnskillz37]

Bruh plz Raiders are a west coast team Oakland will always be raider nation don't be petty

[@DannyMeasho999]

@@splashnskillz37 LV Raiders?

[@xtremegt2]

Here after the Thunder lose by 73 points. Y’all deserved better.

[@ungartothemax20166]

As a Cavaliers fan, I always loved it when we were playing the Seattle Sonics. The reason is because Sonics is just a really cool team name and when the game was in Seattle, the crowd always got into the game. I had dream of going to Key Arena and going to a Sonics game. But then Seattle got robbed of their beloved Sonics as they got moved to OKC! I'm joining the fight to bring the Sonics back to Seattle! I'm going to make a video on my KZbin channel promoting it! #saveoursonics

[@lucaslehn8099]

Thank you sir! I hope once an arena get's permission to be built in Seattle we'll have our Sonics again! Then we can compete on the hardwood once again!

[@TwiiziOG]

wow we need the sonics back in the NBA great video

[@machugo3368]

it's your seattle politicians who are too selfish to give your city a fucking arena of nba standards

[@mikeyoungblood1642]

One of the BEST independent documentaries ever made! Bring back the Seattle SuperSonics! I love the history of sports in Seattle

[@razkable]

lenny wilkins spencer haywood fred brown gus williams dennis johnson jack sikma gerald Henderson dale ellis tom chambers xavier mcdaniel gary payton shawn kemp rashard lewis ray allen kevin durant russell westbrook were all sonics..think about that

[@jodyellison]

@@razkable Westbrook never got to play a game

[@virgil1733]

@@jodyellisondoesn’t mean he wasn’t a sonic

[@redhurricane24]

Damn. As a Heat fan, to finally realize and know all that happened to Seattle, it makes me sad. No words that come from myself will make this go away, but it is in my hope that you guys get a basketball team, an expansion team. With that said, my Heat will get the job done tonight against OKC. Stay strong, Sonics fans, all will be well.

[@JazzyJeff910]

Are you still a heat fan or did that fade after the Lebron hype?

[@KevinGonzalez-vz7rz]

I was in Seattle on the very evening that LeBron James won his first NBA Title and the Heat won their second NBA Title defeating OKC 4 games to 1. That evening, Downtown Seattle erupted in joyous celebration to a level that I thought I was in Miami. It meant so much to them that OKC did not win that title. Seattle deserves an NBA team but sadly they won’t get one now that the NHL’s Kraken have come to fruition. Only so many dollars can be spent by Seattle Sports Fams which I believe are the best in America.

[@aaronolson5434]

yeah and I burned my bron jersey the day he left cleveland.....lmfao

[@bball3048mm]

@@KevinGonzalez-vz7rz The good thing about the Sonics leaving is that they took their curse with them. The Sonics won a title in 1979 but their playoff success after that was left to be desired.

[@KevinGonzalez-vz7rz]

@@bball3048mm that may be true but the Sonics leaving and Clay Bennett robbing Seattle blind cut through the heart of the Seattle Fans. They want their Sonics back, win or lose….

[@thunder6730]

I live in OKC and i love the thunder i just wish we didnt get them this way. I seriously hope you guys in seattle get a team soon.

[@rockvilleraven]

I wish Washington would have gotten a baseball team via expansion, instead of haven Jeffery Loria running the Expos into the ground.

[@winsonkctam]

mad respect

[@skape5taporra]

what's final credits song?

[@razkable]

nba needs to move the clippers to las vegas give seattle a team back and give the nets the kings give both san diego and st louis teams back and have 34...fuck it...

[@johnnyradler8558]

@@skape5taporra Which one?

[@BYUBOY33]

The NBA told Seattle they would never come back if they didn't let it go. Seattle let it go....and 10 years later the NBA still isn't back. Damn shame.

[@DisneyStudioNetwork]

Rene' DeBlanc how many people go to the WNBA’s Storm btw even in an old arena?

[@addisonspengler9733]

@@DisneyStudioNetwork Idk. But the seattle mariners lead the league in attendance 2 years in row in 2001 and 2002. They've also had a pretty steady attendance record throughout their history. As for the seahawks. They have argueably the best fans in the nfl. They have set the record for the 2nd loudest stadium in the nfl and they are 15th in attendance. It could easily be higher because they don't hold as many people because there stadium is almost 20 years old.

[@Jefyyis]

Now 12 years

[@rockvilleraven]

@@DisneyStudioNetwork 8500

[@rockvilleraven]

@@DisneyStudioNetwork The Storm are temporally playing at Angel of the Winds Arena and University of Washington, until Climate Pledge Arena is ready.

[@halospartan117899]

How fitting that the last 1st round pick the SuperSonics drafted would stab them in the back to go somewhere to win.

[@derekzientara6139]

Last first round sonics pick was Russel Westbrook...

[@halospartan117899]

Derek Zientara They relocated 6 days later.So I guess last 1st round draft choice to play for the Sonics?

[@derekzientara6139]

True, but technically they were still the sonics , so Westbrook was the last sonics pick

[@halospartan117899]

Derek Zientara ok, my bad

[@gabemo2399]

RedskinsCanefan21 no okc and sonics r diffrent

[@supermarioharvey2174]

As a Hockey fan losing the Winnipeg Jets in 1996 was like our version of this but we got our team back in 2011 so give Seattle the SuperSonics back

[@THERobertL2000]

True, but the Jets didn't get the history back from the Arizona Coyotes, which they should've.

[@notoriouseagle1074]

@@THERobertL2000 Not like the Coyotes have much history though, LOL

[@HawkingRegime13]

Screw Bennett, thank god KD left his sorry ass. I hope KD has tremendous success in Golden State, and will be rooting for him for as long as he plays, and by golly miss molly we better get a team in Seattle soon!

[@thelunchbreakkid6582]

Calm down.

[@samomist]

fuck off.

[@thelunchbreakkid6582]

+The One They Call Ramires Who?

[@samomist]

Cindy Williams Not u

[@thelunchbreakkid6582]

+The One They Call Ramires Oh, OK.

[@ThatGuy1001000]

As a fan of the Celtics, I know what a basketball town looks like. I went to one Storm game at the KeyArena, and even for WNBA, that building gets LOUD. Seattle is a basketball town, despite the Seahawks 2013 Super Bowl win. Adam Silver will be a dud in my book if he doesn't help Seattle get a team in some capacity. In conclusion,Go Celtics, Go Storm, and most importantly, GO SONICS!

[@babayagaX9000]

We're the same I grew up in Boston watching the Celtics and love them but there was always something about the sonics that just pulled me into liking them on the low lol

[@lyanreehan]

Oklahoma City has also proved they're a basketball city after we hosted the hornets, should we have gotten the thunder the way we did, no. but regardless we deserved a team. It would've been best if the hornets moved here or the nba put okc on the map for expansion

[@BigCheemAlert]

@@lyanreehan thunder bad sonics good

[@splashnskillz37]

I Hope the Sonics return too have even rooted for the Seahawks for 7 years but Go Lakers we shall at last surpass you in titles won

[@davidpeters2625]

To go off on a slight tangent, going to see a Seahawks, and/or a Sounders FC game at the Lume, is on my bucket list..

[@losangeleskingsfan15]

I almost cried at the end of that documentry. this made me feel like I was from seattle. I feel like a total shithead because I'm a Laker fan and I know for a fact that they will never move. It's a shame that seattle lost their team to Corporate greed. I wonder how things are like in Seattle. Well, the good news is that you guys are keeping the spirit alive, so if another franchise arises, you will be ready. My best wishes goes out to seattle and hope that their proposed arena in SoDo goes well

[@unappealingundesirable2826]

Snif

[@chrisbridston3438]

U bet SNIF .. it sucked .. loved this team .. haven’t been able to even watch NBA since

[@unappealingundesirable2826]

To the Lakers fan: Oklahoma City! Oklahoma City! Oklahoma City, Baby!!

[@DrewMitchell1008]

i am from seattle lmao kinda sucks

[@NathanReeve]

I have mixed feelings. All this time I basically only blamed Bennett, but this documentary also shows how the elected officials let Seattle down, so Seattle isn't really blameless here

[@hypercriticalone]

I miss the Northwest Rivalry between the Trailblazers and the Sonics Even when the teams were not that good, it meant something.. It was Northwest pride, it was two cities 3 hours apart that both have (and still have) loyal fans.. Not to mention, the greatest basketball radio and TV guys ever... I hope Seattle gets a new team, and not a relocated team.. A new one... RIP Sonics, you will never be forgotten in the Rose City

[@DurkMcGerk]

I've been into Premiere League soccer for a while now and the derby matches (basically local rivalries) are some of the most exciting ones.

[@philippesauvie639]

I have one name that will spark that rivalry again… Slick Watts! 😆

[@hypercriticalone]

@@philippesauvie639 I have 5 names Drexler, Porter, Kersey, Williams and Duckworth

[@SFK360]

Thanks to the makers of Sonicsgate for everything they have done and not letting the legacy of a once proud team die! Can't wait to watch the national premier next week!

[@northwestbadboysbadboy2663]

This has gone on long enough!! Bring the Sonics back!!

[@kingbee4905]

Man the history of the Sonics is amazing they had some great teams with some great talent I really hope they get another team that has the Sonics name. The league hasn’t been the same since the Sonics left.

[@splashnskillz37]

Clay Bennett is a snake Not KD

[@one7deep7savage7]

@@StuUngar Curry and Green never said they dont like him...Green just gets very emotional during games and cusses his own team out

[@StuUngar]

One Deep Savage It went around that Draymond called KD a bitch in the lockerroom and Curry/Green were pissed about the way he left Golden State

[@one7deep7savage7]

@@StuUngar Dray calls everybody a bitch..like I said he gets emotional during games.. You should watch the new interview with Draymond and Rachel Nicoles...it just came out like 2 days ago and Dray said he literally had zero issues with KD and they still talk all the time

[@GAHDOOOO]

Bruno Fawks Clay Bennett literally robbed a city of its franchise they loved for 40 years. KD simply joined the big meanie Warriors. Not comparable at all

[@felicesenemongabamortoni9576]

Bruno Fawks learn how to write first then ppl might listen

[@HunterJonesAxisandAllies]

All this happened when I was 7. I have vauge memories of me and my dad watching the court proceedings on the news. My question to him was "Why us?". My Grandpa responded by saying that the NBA was a bunch of cheats and Clay Bennent should go f himself. Looking back on it, I didnt realize how bad it really was. Now I do. #bringbackourSonics

[@chrisgrissom3610]

As a pistons fan.. I miss Seattle. I miss those games with Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton.. Bring back the Sonic

[@michaelcunningham4276]

if you look if Katrina never happened no hoops in okc

[@jaybradbury597]

Seattle needs a new NBA team ASAP it is a basketball city for sure c'mon NBA do something bout this

[@emmet21gaming91]

I am currently 15 and never saw the so ice play. I want to be able to watch the Sonics as a kid

[@emmet21gaming91]

Bring them back pleass

[@Antonio-wc1db]

Bring the sonics back, we haven’t forgotten!

[@AxelLaw]

That last quote from Sherman Alexie is so true. The NBA has developed a painful business practice.

[@MarcusTV100]

I'm from Chicago but a feel for Seattle. Hopefully you guys will get your team back and all its memorabilia, so the you guys can hang Payton, Kemp, McMillon and Shrempf jerseys from the rafters.

[@buster60341]

Adam Sliver need to bring the Seattle Supersonics back in the NBA

[@Schwaaaang]

There were so many parts of this that caused me existential pain. Nothing, however, made me so blindly angry, betrayed, and physically sick as seeing that the settlement included giving them OUR HISTORY. You cannot own someone else's history. That's the moment of true betrayal from Shultz. That's stealing our heritage. Genuinely hideous behaviour and that should be corrected no matter the cost.

[@THERobertL2000]

I agree! If someone wants to move a team, fine. Just don't take the history of the team too. I hate that! Hopefully, if Seattle get an NBA team they do what the NFL did for the Browns and what they themselves did for the Charlotte Hornets and give the Sonics their history back in addition to having the Thunder recognized solely as an expansion team.

[@teen_laqueefa]

Seattle needs a museum to house the Sonics until they return.....OKC is an expansion and Seattle is the OG

[@phkeifff3139]

Thunder up baby ⛈️!!!!

[@iillestrs2153]

Genuine question, how many sonics fans followed the team after they left? I always debated if we lost our kings if I’d follow them or just be a warriors fan, which would have been prior to their run, every other pro sport the sac area follows is all in the Bay Area besides basketball would be why. Just to be clear I wish you guys had your team still I’m a big advocate for Nola to be transferred to Seattle. They barely give a shit about basketball

[@Schwaaaang]

@@iillestrs2153 I don't know the data, honestly. Personally, I don't know anyone at all who did. People have half-followed the Blazers, but that feels wrong just because they were always rivals before... If you come to Seattle, you'll find Sonics gear sections in the Seattle team stores that are still as big as the Seahawks or Mariners sections. People still wear the green and gold regularly. They haven't left us, we're still pissed off, and the Sonics are still Seattle's team

[@plllek]

After watching this, I feel the bitterness Seattle Sports went through. hopefully they can get the SuperSonics back!

[@SethGoTribe]

As a Cavaliers fan, and Cleveland fan in general, I must say I sympathize with Seattle and their fans, after what happened to the Sonics, It was a total shame. I hope You guys get the Sonics Back, In some form or fashion, The way We got the Browns back.

[@JHockeyFan]

Yeah it’s weird how Stern and then Silver didn’t give Seattle a new Sonics expansion team right after. And now Bettman and the NHL have beat them to the punch with the Kraken expansion.

[@annienewman8301]

Plenty of villains in this story....

[@mattdotts]

its too bad we dont have an sonics warriors series right now. just too bad.

[@chadchesney3858]

GREAT documentary. Just superb. Boy Ackerly knew when to get out. I mean he owned the team through the real growth years of the NBA the 80’s and 90’s. The golden age if you will. When players were often over paid but not GROTESQUELY OVERPAID as would soon follow.

[@alluvialedaempfer962]

When the Supersonics got hijacked from Seattle, a lot of my friends stopped watching the NBA. It was sort of the nail in the coffin of a already rule change damaged and marketing driven league.

[@tonyangelo9109]

Alluviale Daempfer yup

[@DisneyStudioNetwork]

At least u still have the Seattle Storm of the WNBA and the sole Northwest neighbor the Portland Trailblazers

[@jimtib8206]

Yea tell your friends hold your breathe and watch lacccrose

[@jimtib8206]

@@DisneyStudioNetwork lol no one watches wnba

[@Dman425]

@@DisneyStudioNetwork I don’t care if the NBA ever comes back to Seattle. I will never root for the Blazers

[@KvmStudios]

I miss you, Super Sonics.

[@olivercann4692]

I'm an OKC fan, but seeing as I live in the U.K and I have only been a fan since around 2012, I think it's disgusting what happened to Seattle. I hope that seattle gets another team soon, and that their portion of OKC's history is returned to them.

[@YankeesLife]

Okc is filled with bandwagon fucks. The have almost more bandwagons then the Warriors did in that five year span from 2015-2019

[@FunGoverner]

@@YankeesLife bahahah bandwagoning what? OKC Thunder has been one of the most winningest teams since it’s inception and if you aren’t a Thunder fan in OKC you’re an OU Football fan which they are also probably better than your fav college football team and have been forever.. bandwagon?

[@xsxs2]

@@FunGoverner gayyyyy

[@FunGoverner]

@@xsxs2 Luzer.

[@jordanrusso6272]

met these filmmaker gentlemen at MSG ...outstanding

[@gigicassel1804]

I live in Portland and I'm a Trail Blazers fan but I also have spent a lot of time in Seattle. I support the basketball fans of Seattle and I want so badly for y'all to get a new Sonics in Seattle. I miss the I5 rivalry between the Blazers and Sonics. Just know that someone in Portland has your back

[@tommurphy2746]

Thanks, we appreciate that.

[@allengreene9954]

David Stern and Clay Bennett should have got a damn room😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@Prince_Luci]

Bro if the rockets got sold and moved and that team got “shared history” rights or whatever and had Hakeem’s jersey hanging from their rafters I’d lose my mind. Blocked shots: 3,830. Steals by a center: 2,162. Only player in history to record a regular season mvp, finals mvp, and defensive player of the year in the season. Imagine what that’s like seeing Spencer Haywood and Jack Sikma’s jerseys hanging from the thunder rafters as a Sonics fan. How undeserving that is of them to have their 79’ finals trophy. Fuck Clay Bennet and David Stern.

[@alexanderwarneke8964]

Howard Schultz can kick rocks. No one wants him as President.

[@animelytical8354]

Mavs and Blazers' owners are MVPs for voting against. I can see why people hate Howard Stern.

[@Prince_Luci]

Animelytical you mean David Stern right?

[@unappealingundesirable2826]

@@Prince_Luci I was born in Seattle in 1973, where I grew up. Sonics and Blazers fan. I hate Howard Stern more than David Stern! At least David Stern didn't objectify women.

[@allengreene9954]

@Prince Luci Both of them suck.

[@joshuariston2924]

Please bring the Seattle SuperSonics back.

[@domais68]

I'm still glowing with happiness that KD bailed on that piece of shit, Clay Bennett. I haven't gone into a Starbucks since Shultz sold our Sonics b/c we all knew what he did. Commissioner Silver, we need a team!! Team or not, the Sonics will never be forgotten!!

[@diablosportscreme]

Gary Payton is like a god in Seattle. He loves that city and their fans.

[@thescatman5029]

Damn, look at that Clay Bennett crew cut, looking like Big Country! You can look at him and see 'we outta Seattle'.....!

[@iliasVoolgaris]

KD should finish his career in Seattle, granted that the Sonics are back by then.

[@lucaslehn8099]

Long as Clay Bennet isn't in charge

[@michaelbenti5383]

I watched this video and it was really sad. Wow the Clay Bennett guy. Talk about screwing a city... As a Kings fan I feel very lucky to still have a team here in Sacramento. The Maloof's tried to blindside Sacramento a few times and move the team, but somehow we dodged a bullet each time. It took so many united fronts to do it. Hope Seattle gets another team it is a travesty to have lost it to begin with. Hopefully Clay will release the history and the name sonics back to seattle if the NBA expands or breaks another city's heart.

[@Tyrunner0097]

+Michael Benti The NBA tried to do the same to us in Milwaukee with the Bucks. They flatly said, if the Bucks didn't get an arena built or near completion by 2017, which is when the Bucks' lease on the Bradley Center expires, they were going to buy the team back, giving the owners a full refund plus $15 mil, and then sell the team to ownership groups in Seattle or Las Vegas. We were very fortunate in that we had a lot of Bucks fans in Wisconsin that were proactive in calling their reps in the state senate and state assembly, voicing their support of a new Bucks arena, plus we had very prominent figures giving support like Barry Alvarez, Bo Ryan, and Donald Driver. I do feel for Seattle, because it just doesn't seem right to not have the Sonics in the league. As a side note, regarding 3:20, Bud Selig never betrayed Seattle when he moved the Pilots to Milwaukee, to replace the loss of the Braves. He had always intended to buy the team for the sole purpose of moving them to Milwaukee, and American League owners knew that, and tried to stop Selig from buying the team by any means possible.

[@michaelbenti5383]

+Tyrunner0097 The NBA is In Demand and the league knows it. Seattle went all out on NFL and MLB facilities. When it was The NBA's turn it seemed there was a burn out. Though its deeper than that for seattle. As Clay knew the state government would never come together for an upgrade or new arena. I watched this again and thought. WOW! Be thankful for what you have, because it can be gone when some rich guy comes around and ''legally takes it away.'''

[@shaqharris9265]

We got rights to our name our colors they didn’t take it

[@Tyrunner0097]

@@michaelbenti5383 Another note, after watching "Small Market, Big Heart", I saw a profound difference in how more proactive Sacramento was, especially early on, in fighting for the Kings. Seattle fans didn't come out to fight for the Sonics until it was pretty much over. Plus, there was so much dysfunction in the Seattle and Washington governments, they probably couldn't agree on a color for their folders.

[@TheKrazyk2010]

8 YEARS AND WE STILL DONT HAVE A TEAM..................................

[@billiebutton18]

I'm a Canadian fan :-). I hope the Sonics come back so I can drive down for a game.

[@donpenhold4507]

If I ever need a lawyer I'll hire Brad Keller.

[@ChiTownDDS]

Seattle SuperSonics and St Louis Spirits add them done deal. One iconic NBA ad one iconic ABA team. I’m a Bulls fan but Seattle not having an NBA team makes me insanely mad

[@rileykazama3145]

Vancouver team too

[@ChiTownDDS]

@@rileykazama3145 Vancouver was around for such a short time. Teams like Kentucky colonials may be ahead of them. Not a bad add though

[@rileykazama3145]

@@ChiTownDDS the two leagues that need to expand to 34 teams are the NHL and NBA

[@ChiTownDDS]

@@rileykazama3145 My question is Vancouver left because they were struggling to make money attendance was poor. When you look at areas where teams used to be Kentucky,St Louis, Virgina, Vegas, UK, Mexico, Seattle, Asia it would boom here I feel before Vancouver

[@rileykazama3145]

@@ChiTownDDS they need to re-do a Vancouver team pronto as well as a team in Las Vegas in the West and for the Eastside for the NBA St Louis or Montreal the NHL wise they need to do Hartford and Quebec City Vancouver got shafted out of an NBA team in 2001 Adam Silver the NBA commissioner admitted that was a mistake to leave that market

[@bravesfanatic15]

People can blast Clay Bennett but Howard Schultz is to blame.. you sell a team to a group full of OKC business men.. and you say they are going to stay in Seattle? Its Schultz's fault

[@bball3048mmfr]

Schultz desperately wanted to sell the team and the OKC business men gave him the best deal?

[@kevinmurphy6129]

Good for Mark Cuban and the late Paul Allen. The only real ones who voted to keep the Sonics in Seattle.

[@OKCoolRancher]

Cuban did it for financial reasons, a team in okc hurts the Mavs profits.

[@teen_laqueefa]

@@OKCoolRancher Yea , but he may have had his heart in the right place this time

[@soonerguy8011]

As a Thunder fan, I really hope yall get your team back in this next expansion. Seattle needs a team and their Sonics back. Great doc. It’s sad to know how we took the Sonics. I’m grateful and happy to have a team in Okc and we love the Thunder here, but it does suck to know how it was taken. The Sonics-Thunder games will be really fun in the future

[@Iceman2890]

After watching this, how could I not adopt the sonics as my western conference team? I hope Seattle gets their team back soon

[@JarodJoseph]

Because they don’t exist, perhaps?

[@jasemo88]

KD's rookie season is the when I first got hooked to the NBA, that year was amazing.

[@mollycaz1]

The NBA owes Seattle a expansion team. Seattle always supported there team.

[@WolverineDevotee]

Saw this movie a decade ago and back here after hearing about the NBA targeting Seattle and Las Vegas for expansion teams. You deserve to get the Sonics back!!!

[@benchisholm1836]

Go blue!

[@krisburgess7429]

And that Adam silver brings back the Seattle Super Sonics

[@sacramentofoodforest]

As a Sacramento kings fan who almost lost the team I’ve watched for 15 years. I’m really sorry to all Sonic’s fans. And think it’s a crime that Seattle still has no team while la and nyc have two each

[@DrLuke49]

The irony is that somewhere in an alternate universe the Sonics were bought and kept in Seattle by Steve Ballmer while Porky Bennett purchased and moved the team formerly known as the Los Angeles Clippers to that cow pasture of a NBA city. The late David Stern was totally a huge player in the Sonics relocation. Seattle needs the Sonics back NOW 🏀

[@BeautifulDreamerK]

i grew up watching the bulls-sonics finals... one of the most epic series in the NBA. I loved that MJ was in town and that GP was in his face after scoring. I loved the bulls and sonics in the 90's... oh and who can forget langley the red head? :)

[@stevefischer9336]

Its still sad years later. I was one of the original public shareholders, bought 100 shares for $600 while in high school. I never loved an NBA team so much even though I never lived in Seattle.

[@marinersfreak97]

Thank you for your hard work and dedication! A lot of thanks to you, we are now 1 step closer to bringing a team back to best the best city in the nation!

[@TheBronxBrooklyn]

I finally got a chance to watch this film, and it is phenomenal. I would be absolutely thrilled to see this team get purchased one day and brought back to Seattle as the Supersonics. It is only right that this city has a basketball team... the same basketball team with the same championship trophy and retired numbers from years earlier.

[@jackk334]

as a londoner supporting the magic, with no connection to seattle or the sonics (or oklahoma and the thunder) whatsoever, this is a brilliant and moving documentary. can only sympathise with communities that lose their team. the world we live in encourages all the wrong characteristics; self interest and deceit seem to win every time.

[@johnnyradler8558]

I feel bad for Seattle fans and OKC fans both. Seattle fans lost their team. Okc fans acquired the team, but at the price of hatred from Seattle fans. It's a shame that OKC had to get a team that way because they are good fans but they have to put up with hate. Honestly, they should bring a new team to Seattle. Give the team it's original history and recognize the thunder as it's own franchise.

[@RMCOVERS.]

The only thing sad is Seattle just a bunch of dumbasses that sold out for Starbucks

[@elijahb7352]

The Seattle Pilots were not the only single season team in major league history. 1901 there was a team (Coincidentally) called the Milwaukee Brewers that moved to St Louis after only one season, and then later to Baltimore where it currently remains today known as the Baltimore Orioles.

[@fossil-bit8439]

Maybe one day the Sonics will return. If a team does return to Seattle, it has to be the Sonics not under another name.

[@elwin38]

It will...when the Sonics moved, Gary Payton, other former Sonics and city officials made sure the Sonics kept their colors and name. Similar to when the original Cleveland Browns(1946-95) moved to Baltimore. Cleveland was able to keep their colors and tradition. The weirdness comes in when it's the teams franchise history. When the Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens, they were considered and expansion team with their own history and when the Browns came back(1999)their history started again from 1995. The same thing will happen with the Sonics when they get a "new" team, their history will start from 2008. Currently, the Sonics history is still tied to OKC. The Sonics 1979 championship banner hangs in the rafters of OKC.

[@imperiality]

I'm an Oklahoma City fan and I would love to see the Sonics come back. I feel bad that we took the team from Seattle and I also feel like it's cheating to call the Sonics' history out own. I hope that soon we can see the Sonics back on the court in Seattle.

[@noelmccann8620]

15 years later, history has repeated itself in Oakland. Absolutely terrible how the Sonics were stolen from Seattle and how the A's are now being stolen from Oakland.

[@augienardone1768]

Wow, clicked on this thinking I'd watch the first few minutes of it.. now I'm sitting here typing while the closing credits are rolling. It's a shame you guys lost your team. Being a Lakers fan my whole life living on the east coast I'd love staying up late watching games on the dish on a school night, because they were always on the next channel on NBA LP when the Lakers were on at the same time. They were always a fun team to watch. Especially live in person, saw Payton and Kemp play at MSG and at NJ. They were a must see attraction in person.

[@nexenhero91]

The parallels between the Sonics being ripped away from Seattle and the Oakland A's current situation is alarming. My aunt lives in Seattle so while the Dubs are my team I had great respect for the Supersonics when they were in Seattle. It's horrific to hear the amount of lies and corruption that led to the team being relocated to OKC, and it was clear the owners had no real intentions of keeping the team in NBA. And history is repeating now with the As, a club I have watched since I was an infant. Fisher and Koval are peddling the idea of a Howard Terminal ballpark akin to Bennett's Renton plan, but their frequent visits to Vegas over the past two years and their adversarial relationship with Oakland government makes it clear they, like Bennett, have no real interest in staying in Oakland. I hope for Seattle to get their NBA team back, and I ask Mariners fans to put aside our rivalry and help As fans keep their team in Oakland.

[@lakebay972]

No way! Oakland is a shit hole now; and the A's are much better off in Vegas or elsewhere.

[@fayetality]

I was born in '84 and grew up hearing about the Sonics of the 70s and witnessing the amazing basketball our players graced us with in the 90s. I definitely got misty eyed over this. Reading that OKC owns the Sonics' history broke my heart. Even if Seattle gets another "Sonics" team, the playoff wins banners, the championship trophy? All that...there'll be nothing for Gary to hang next to his jersey... :[ so many are to blame for the Sonics not being in King county anymore.

[@sporer_]

I'm suuuuuper late to this, but what a brilliant doc. Get basketball back in Seattle!!!!

[@glazfresh7580]

Brain Scalaabrine came from seattle the goat

[@Isaac-od4rm]

The crowds in this documentary give me Goose bumps.

[@NYFan1692]

1:10:47 made me sad. The whole scene. I'm a Knicks fan but I remember being pissed that the Sonics left. Hope you guying in Seattle get a team real soon. Well deserved.

[@adamrmattock1]

Key Arena became Climate Pledge Arena and now you have a winter sports franchise in the Seattle Kraken

[@unappealingundesirable2826]

Jim Moore: "Now, that was really f--ked up! I'm sorry."

[@BlastedThroneYT]

As a passionate Hornets fan, I feel so bad for Seattle. Hopefully they get there team back sooner than later like ours.

[@corycampbell6406]

I want the Seattle SuperSonics to come back to Seattle after 11 years I’m getting tired of waiting I want them back right now!!

[@dndnshe3400]

So do I guess what tho still not back yet and they probably won’t even discuss anything about Seattle till atleast 2025

[@madcapper6]

"We had the battle won... we had the wooden horse and basically Nickels crapped himself out the back end of it." Well said Big Lo. Well said.

[@thezavianshow3465]

I hate Clay Bennent and David Stern

[@machugo3368]

lol it's not them. it's your seattle politicians who are too selfish to give your city a fucking arena of nba standards

[@ryantomlin887]

I love them!!! 👍🏾

[@magnifico4233]

But it wasn't their fault. Why ppl avoid to see the truth here? A city of Seattle and Washington state r to blame. They didn't want to invest into building of new arena. City voted NO twice, state voted NO twice. Even citizens of Seattle voted NO on spending their tax money for financing sport franchise. Both Bennent and Stern gave 5 years period for City of Seattle to find money for new arena. Seattle officials and local businessmen failed to find the money (around 200 millions) and that's when they lost their team.

[@positrack99]

@@magnifico4233 the team was bought by Aubrey Mclendon with dirty money.

[@noelcrenshaw7969]

+mimi J Why didnt the billionaire owners pay for it out of pocket? its not like they're hurting for it and they would have made it back.

[@Zayk74u]

To all the sonics fans, listen, Im gonna sound like an asshole, but I didn't even know this happened.... I knew hey, there's a team missing from 2k9 and 2k10 I knew it but I couldn't put my finger on it, then I looked up okc recently and saw Supersonics, looked this video up and can honestly say I AM ASHAMED FOR EVER LIKING OKC, That was a dick move by that guy, and the whole ownership organization and I really hope you guys get your sonics back man because this is so fucked up. Taking away a team, even though they have so much history in them is wrong and I can say I'm with yall BRING THE SEATTLE SUPERSONICS BACK TO SEATTLE!!!! Adam silver should be the man to do it, as a mavs fan I can call you guys my second team 👍

[@newworldwealth2387]

Thats the same thing with me I didn't know that this happened and all that means is that the Power House people for the NBA exist in the South to make them people dumb as hell and happy to get 7 dollars an hour and no health care so that the sports can prosper down there. People in the south love there sports but they don't realize that they are the reason that we are hated everywhere else in the world. It was an attempt by big oil to say that it is bigger business than the tech industry. Even though the Oklahoma team has been really successful so far it seems like they really did kinda buy there way to a championship. Bailout money can buy big things. TheReaper 5877

[@Zayk74u]

New World Wealth that's very true and I agree with you on that, tbh I can see OKC eventually losing so much that KD leaves which would cause Westbrook to leave then they'd have no one save them

[@carmeloanthony4795]

+TheReaper 5877 damn why u guys hating on okc, stop bein bitter. im a knicks fans but okc has great fans and deserve a team. yall should get the clippers

[@carmeloanthony4795]

+New World Wealth howd they buy there team fool, all their stars are drafted

[@Zayk74u]

Carmelo Anthony I don't hate Okc just the organization, Seattle deserves thier team Waaaaay more than Them though, I could understand if they were like some teams with no rings but they had two, it's the way it unfolded which makes them undeserving

[@krhprodctionz]

Watched this doc the 2nd time around. It really is a travesty what happened in Seattle. Speaking as a Magic fan, I think the people of Orlando should count themselves lucky that something like this didn't go down here, in spite of our own arena issues. Hopefully the Sonics legacy will be restored in Seattle before long, as I have a soft spot for that city (visited in the summer of 04).

[@Punnybone55]

I watched 2 Pacers @Magic games this week and was shocked at how poorly attended they were. I didn't check the numbers, but it honestly looked like the "crowd" at both games would fit in the lower level of the arena, at one game. I hope I'm wrong, but if things don't improve, you could be the replacement team for Seattle at some point. :(

[@jamvan1000]

One day Seattle will rise again. It's inevitable. Being a Pistons fan. I'm so glad the Little Caesar's arena was built. The Pistons might have been moved without it.

[@notoriouseagle1074]

No way, the Pistons were safe as safe gets being in a city with all four teams.

[@SuperLdennis]

This is a great peice of sports journalism. Tough on Sonics fans especially now.

[@mbuvito]

Surprised this is my first time seeing this! Great job on this documentary 👏🏾 I’m a lifelong Bulls fan, no connection to Seattle or the Sonics at all, but my heart goes out to those fans. NBA has been built by fans/players and connection of playing for those cities. It’s sad to see decisions made by billionaires who only care about money and their own self interests. I’m glad you pointed out the NBA talent that’s came out of there (Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson, Brandon Roy, Isaiah Thomas, Dejaunte Murray, Paolo Banchero). I’d love to see the Sonics back in Seattle, it’s long overdue. 💚💛

[@corycampbell6406]

I want my Seattle Supersonics back in the NBA we can't take something away for the city of Seattle

[@ryantomlin887]

Cory Campbell People in hell want water as well. Life is thought.

[@Lmoney86]

Hopefully Ballmer moves the Clippers to Seattle where they'll be appreciated, LA don't need 2 teams and the Lakers run shit in that city.

[@loganbissett1682]

YES!!

[@waltero.8957]

+Lmoney86 As long as the Lakers keep playing like shit, I don't think the Clippers will move.

[@hiphoprbloverjon9180]

I wish coming from a Lakers fan here in LA.

[@JacoBluezz]

+Lmoney86 You forget lakers fans are often also clippers and warriors fans...

[@hiphoprbloverjon9180]

+JacoBluezz Not really. Lakers are the most watched team in LA. The attendance is also higher than the Clippers. Lakers haters like to make up so many assumptions. We're not Cleveland or Miami fans...hahaha!

[@kennethmiller7548]

as a atlanta sports fan i know the pain of two teams leaving georgia and another leaving downtown. but the stuff that got explained in this was heartbreaking. Thank God i don't have to deal with this for at least a decade.

[@Smartypantskids1012]

Damn I didn’t know how deep people’s love of the SuperSonics where if I was a billionaire I’d god to other billionaires in the area and put a nba team back

[@Smartypantskids1012]

StuckDucks I was always a fan of SuperSonics as a kid although the bulls where my team being from Chicago I always thought the Sonics had so much talent on there teams in the 90’s it’s a shame they did that to them

[@Dman425]

The Sonics were huge in the late 70’s-early 80’s and then again in the mid 90’s. Bigger than the Seahawks have been the past 10 years