Super Sonics
Relocate to Oklahoma City
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Before the 2008-09 NBA season, the Seattle Supersonics after
40 years in the city of Seattle, the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City and
were renamed the Oklahoma City Thunder. In, 2006, OK City businessman Clay
Bennett purchased the Supersonics. After failing to find public funding to
build a new arena, the franchise relocated to OK City, following a $45 million
settlement with the city of Seattle, paying off the team’s lease at Key Arena.
Since the relocation, the Thunder have made the playoffs twice, making it to
the Western Conference Finals last season and as of this point in the current
season have the best record in the NBA. Led by Kevin Durant and Russell
Westbrook the Thunder are set-up to be one of the best teams in the NBA for
many years to come, while the city of Seattle wait and hope that a new franchise
is born, along with a new arena.
“What-If”
With the New Orleans Hornets playing the majority of their
home games for two seasons, following the effects of Hurricane Katrina, the
fans of Oklahoma City got a nice taste of what it felt to have an NBA franchise
in their city. Which sparked the interest of Bennett purchasing the Supersonics,
knowing the team’s financial situation with Key Arena and with the city of
Seattle. Would the franchise still be in the Northwest, if the city of Seattle
came up with the funding to build a new arena? The city would of loved to see
Kevin Durant more then just ONE Rookie season. How would Russell Westbrook look
in a Supersonics jersey? The team now is certainly set up to make a run at an
NBA title, the franchise first since 1979 and the city of Seattle would of
loved cheering for the Young Guns that make up this roster. What if…
February 17,
1963
Michael Jordan is
born in Brooklyn, New York. The fourth of five children, Michael Jordan, once kicked
off his High School basketball team, would go onto become an All-American at
UNC, winning the 1982 National Championship (GW-shot) and become one of the
greatest NBA players of all-time. With the Chicago Bulls, Jordan won 6 NBA
Titles, 6-time Finals MVP, 5x NBA MVP, 10 NBA scoring titles, NBA Rookie of the
Year, NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1987-88), NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champ
1987, 1988 (he wasn’t AFRAID to participate in the event, unlike another #23
OH, check that #6) and the list goes on and on, MJ has done it all. Winning two
Olympic Gold Medals (1984, 1992) he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of
Fame in 2009.
“What-If”
Man, if James and
Deloris Jordan would have stopped at three, what would the game of basketball
(life) be like now. Georgetown would certainly have one more banner up in its
gym. The Lakers, Blazers, Suns, Sonics, and Jazz would all have one (or more)
NBA Championship Banners up in their arenas’. From the buzzer-beating shots to
the post-game championship celebrations, sports (history) would definitely look
a lot difference. What sort of NBA career would Scottie Pippen of had without
his Batman? No Space Jam, No Nike Commercials, #23 jerseys, etc. What would the
#23 mean, with no MJ? What if…
