Payton says he and former Mariners star Ken Griffey Jr. are connected to a prospective ownership group as the NBA’s expansion process narrows to Seattle and Las Vegas.
Payton mentioned Ken Griffey Jr. as part of his network and said the group’s current priority is securing a franchise before finalizing individual ownership roles.
Payton suggested timing of expansion matters for potential players who might join a revived Seattle franchise, naming Kevin Durant and his son Gary Payton II as examples.
The NBA’s expansion discussions remain focused on Seattle and Las Vegas, with league officials evaluating ownership proposals and franchise economics.
Gary Payton, the Hall of Fame guard and longtime SuperSonics star, said he is connected to a prospective ownership group that is working to bring an NBA team back to Seattle. Payton made the remarks in an interview with Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson after coaching the Boston Ball Hogs to the BIG3 championship.
Seattle has been without an NBA team since the SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. Payton spent the bulk of his career in Seattle and remains one of the franchise's defining players. His public association with an ownership effort adds a recognizable local voice to the push for expansion, and it signals former team figures are participating in the process.
The NBA's expansion conversations are focused on two locations: Seattle and Las Vegas. League officials, including Commissioner Adam Silver and the Board of Governors, are evaluating potential bidders and ownership proposals. The league's process and its interest in establishing franchise fees and competitive markets make the timing and structure of any approval politically and financially consequential.
Payton mentioned two players by name while discussing a potential revived Seattle team. He suggested his son, Gary Payton II, would be interested in playing for a resurrected Sonics franchise. Payton also named Kevin Durant, noting Durant's brief stint with the SuperSonics during the 2007–08 season and saying, "Hopefully, they'll be free agents at the time, and then we can bring them back."
Those comments are forward-looking and linked to Payton's hope that expansion timing could align with free agency windows for specific players.
Media reporting and related coverage show the league is actively engaging with potential bidders for both Las Vegas and Seattle. Some outlets indicate Las Vegas may be prioritized to capture a higher franchise fee, while Seattle remains a strong candidate because of market history and local interest. Any eventual approval by the Board of Governors would begin the formal process of awarding a new franchise and establishing ownership structure and league fees.
The NBA's expansion process is gaining momentum as the league evaluates potential new franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle, according to sources cited by The Athletic. The league and financial advisory firm PJT Partners recently asked interested bidders to submit preliminary information, including cap-table sketches, in
The NBA's expansion process is gaining momentum as the league evaluates potential new franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle, according to sources cited by The Athletic. The league and financial advisory firm PJT Partners recently asked interested bidders to submit preliminary information, including cap-table sketches, in
The NBA is prioritizing a Las Vegas expansion sale ahead of a potential Seattle sale, according to a league office source who spoke with ESPN. The move aims to lock in a premium franchise fee that would set a precedent for future expansion costs. There has been significantly more competition for the Las Vegas market co
The NBA is prioritizing a Las Vegas expansion sale ahead of a potential Seattle sale, according to a league office source who spoke with ESPN. The move aims to lock in a premium franchise fee that would set a precedent for future expansion costs. There has been significantly more competition for the Las Vegas market co
The NBA is reportedly placing greater emphasis on completing a Las Vegas expansion deal before moving forward with Seattle, largely because the league wants to establish a high franchise fee that could influence future expansion prices, via ESPN. Competition for Las Vegas has been stronger, even after Bob Iger and Josh
by Michael Ramirez at CDN - Click to read the rest HERE-> ??NBA first posted at Conservative Daily News
Loading more related stories...
Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.