The NBA and Kevin Durant will return to Seattle…for a preseason game

The NBA has announced that Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder will be returning to Seattle…at least for a preseason game.

According to Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee, Seattle’s KeyArena will play host to a 2018 preseason match-up between the Warriors and Kings. Set for Oct. 6, it will the NBA’s first game in Seattle since the team’s relocation to Oklahoma City in 2008.

I have a buddy from college who is from Seattle (we’ll call him Jim). Even though it’s been 10 years since the Sonics left for Oklahoma City, the level of animosity Jim has for the entire NBA would lead one to believe that David Stern packed up the van and left this morning. Their departure is unequivocally the worst thing that has ever happened to Jim. The feeling of emptiness left behind is something Jim will take to his grave.

A single tear streams down Jim’s cheek any time Kevin Durant’s name is uttered within earshot. He covers his eyes and ears or changes the channel to avoid Sonic commercials (I do too of course, but only because they’re horrible/annoying commercials). He can’t even enjoy cartoons or video games based around blue hedgehogs anymore.

The idea of a Warriors-Kings preseason game sounded, to me, like someone trolling Seattle.  I was surprised to learn that it is not.  I have been absolutely baffled by the all the positive coverage and praise its received so far. Why not just sell tickets to Russell Wilson and Malcolm Butler just playing catch at the goal line while Marshawn Lynch stands nearby but never touches the ball?  This idea is a lateral move at worst.

I hope that Seattle isn’t populated entirely by people like Jim who are still so bitter and tormented.

But even as someone with zero ties to Seattle and no strong feelings on the Sonics, I’m somewhere between offended and wistful on behalf of Seattle.  There are so many reasons why this sounds like a terrible idea.  And by “so many reasons”, I mean four reasons.

I. Preseason Game???

This is the first time the NBA has shown its face in Seattle since the Sonics left and they don’t even have the decency to schedule a regular season game.  They can play regular season games in London, Mexico, Japan, and China but Seattle is a bridge too far.  A preseason game is the equivalent of trying to patch things up with a casual text after ruining someone’s life and not speaking to them for 10 years.  Just insulting.

“Hey, will be in your neck of the woods, we should grab a bite”

That’s all you have to say NBA???  So everything’s fine now?? Don’t even care enough to throw Seattle a Warriors-Mavs game in November or something?

II. KeyArena

It was built in 1962 and was the Sonics’ home for 41 seasons. The city’s refusal to finance a new arena was the biggest reason the team left. It’s 10 years older now and has been without the revenue source that had paid for maintenance and upgrades the 40 years prior. The arena has been home to the Rat City Rollergirls since 2009 though and they’re keeping the lights on at least.

But this arena was such a detriment in 2008 that the team playing there moved to Oklahoma.  And now you want to use it to host a practice game for two other teams to remind people.

III. Don’t forget about the Kings

Let’s make sure the Kings and their issues with this aren’t overlooked — the Maloof family owned the Kings from 1998 until 2013.  For the last six years of their tenure, they basically had two modes: 1. Threatening to sell/relocate the team 2. Actively pursuing a deal/negotiating to sell/relocate the team.

In 2013, they actually agreed on a deal to sell the Kings to an ownership group that would relocate the team to Seattle. The sale was rejected by the NBA’s Board of Governors and obviously they’re still in Sacramento.

Basically, the Kings were married to Sacramento for 15 years and for six of them, were seeing other people and didn’t even try to hide it. They finally decided to bail on the marriage and and had plans to move in with their latest mistress, Seattle, who had been through a messy divorce recently.  It didn’t work out and they stayed together.

Then five years later….

I’m going over to Seattle’s for dinner.  Yes she’s still single but that’s not why I’m going.  I’m only going because KD needs a wing man.  I have no feelings for Seattle.  We haven’t even talked in years.  You have nothing to worry about.”

IV. Kevin Durant

The Sonics won 55-60 games a season with Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp the 1990’s (Jim’s formative years).  hen they were mediocre or worse for the next 10 years with the exception of one season. Then in 2007,  they draft Kevin Durant No.2  overall.

Rookie of the Year, 20 points a night as a 19 year old, franchise player. This kid is the future.  He’ll be one of the best players in the NBA for the next 10+ years. Championship teams are built around guys like him. Nine consecutive All-Star Teams, an MVP, four scoring titles, and a championship later…  just not for Seattle.

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He’ll be stopping by with his new team in October so you everyone in Seattle can have a little taste/reminder of what could have been and what they’ve been missing. This whole thing, everything about it, sounds like a horrible idea.  I just feel bad for Sonics fans through all of it. That said, I’m definitely watching this game, or at least someone’s Periscopre/Facebook Live around the arena.