The former Gonzaga basketball star is demanding the return of the NBA team from Seattle

When the Oklahoma City Thunder won the NBA championship last season, Seattle experienced a whirlwind of emotions. Many residents must have been heartbroken to see the franchise that left their beloved city continue in 2008. hang a banner for Sooner State at the start of the 2025-26 season. There are some former SuperSonics fans who celebrated with OKC, but for many others, it was a painful reminder of what was taken from them.

Ever since Seattle lost its spot in the NBA standings, there has been talk of a potential comeback. Hope turned into bitter disappointment several times, like The Emerald City continues to wait for possible expansion. A native of Washington who knows what it’s like to compete at a high level in the Evergreen State, strongly believes the Association should set up shop in Seattle again.

“We definitely need a team in Seattle,” Ex Gonzaga basketball Washington Wizards star and current forward Corey Kispert told RG’s Landon Buford. “The guys on this team who have spent time in Seattle love the city – honestly, most of the players do. Hopefully it’s only a matter of time before we get a new franchise there. That would be really good for the league.”

Will Seattle fulfill its long-standing wish?

Kispert, a consensus All-American who helped the Bulldogs advance to the 2021 NCAA Tournament national title, grew up in the Seattle area and followed the SuperSonics early in his childhood before the move to Oklahoma City became official. He understands what drives fans and knows how much basketball means to them.

Yes, Seattle has teams in other major American sports to get emotionally invested in, but the Sonics were a cherished part of the community’s identity. The 1978-79 teamled by downtown Dennis Johnson, Jack Six, Gus Williams and Freddie Brown, they beat the Washington Bullets to win the city’s only NBA title. Kispert and the legions of Seattle fans are optimistic that a revitalized local NBA team will get another chance to experience that feeling in the future.

Commissioner Adam Silver has publicly expressed confidence that Seattle will re-enter the game, but until that is implemented, skepticism is likely to remain. While Corey Kispert is focused on contributing to the Wizards’ rebuild, he clearly empathizes with his hometown’s ongoing pain.