The June 22 trade of Kevin Durant means both of the still-active Seattle Sonics now play for the Houston Rockets. Durant joins Jeff Green.
Seattle made KD the 2nd overall pick in the 1st round of the 2007 NBA Draft. At age 19, he averaged almost 35 minutes over 80 games, producing 20.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per contest. Reaching those numbers for a 20-62 Sonics squad earned Durant Rookie of the Year honors. The future Hall of Famer has averaged an incredible 27 points per game over his 17-year (and counting) pro career.
The 6-11 power forward now has a second Seattle connection. Also in June, SneakerNews.com – did you know there was such a thing as Sneaker News? – reported this sneaker news regarding Durant and his signature Nike shoe. “The Swoosh created a mega-exclusive 18-pair KD 18 colorway inspired by his lone season with Seattle.
“Featuring a booming green/yellow/white colorway to match the Sonics uniforms, this collector’s item is decorated with tie-dye patterns as a nod to Seattle, the date of the 2007 NBA Draft Night, and a Rookie Of The Year logo on the insoles. As it stands, this KD 18 is not expected to hit the public.”
Sonic Player One of the Best Who Wasn’t First
Another NBA Draft is in the books. And once again, not much attention is being paid to picks outside the 1st round.
The Sporting News reminds us that jewels can sometimes be found in the bargain bin. Their list of the best non-1st round players in NBA history includes a Seattle Sonic at #13.
The Sonics selected Rashard Lewis 32nd overall in 1998. The 6-10 forward was only 18 years old, having just graduated from Alief Elsik High School in Houston. “Lewis emerged as a starter by his third season with the Sonics,” said TSN, “and continued to improve, ultimately earning his first All-Star selection in 2005 and averaging more than 20 points per game in three consecutive seasons. Lewis spent 16 seasons in the NBA, earning an All-Star selection with two different teams and winning a championship off the bench with the Heat in 2013.”
Detlef Feels Your Pain
Sonics fans aren’t the only ones who long ago grew impatient. Former Seattle players like Detlef Schrempf feel the same way. One difference is that Schrempf has been able to express that impatience directly to NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
“I told Adam this the last time I saw him, it was last summer – and now when he sees me coming, he waves at me and says, ‘I know what you’re going to ask me!’ And he always says, ‘We will have a team in Seattle.’
“And I say, ‘You know, Adam, you’ve been saying this for 10 years. At All-Star Games. At summer leagues. At special events. We still have a really good fan base here that’s ready to go. If they come out of these talks again in July and say, ‘Well, this isn’t the right time,’ I’ll be very disappointed. And I’m not sure I’ll still be able to say it’s the best game in the world.”
‘Toward The End Of The Decade’
Boston Globe NBA writer Gary Washburn predicts the first Sonics 2.0 game still could be five years away.
“More toward the end of the decade is where you will probably see the return of the Sonics,” Washburn was quoted by The Olympian. “I don’t think it’s going to be any faster. Silver’s been talking about expansion for four or five years.
“All that matters (to the owners) – especially in smaller markets, the Portlands, the Detroits, the Clevelands – how much are they going to get out of this? But I think now the process will begin. The bids will start.” In a hopeful note, Washburn says those same owners have the ability to expedite the process. “If it is a couple years, it’s because the owners are pushing; because they want to get their hands on those expansion fees.”
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