The NBA has not announced its expansion and the return of the Sonics, but the preseason game between the Clippers and the Blazers in Seattle gave basketball fans in the Emerald City a chance to show their passion.
The latter were also white-hot by Steve Ballmer, local stage since he lived in the area for a long time as CEO of Microsoft, whose headquarters is located in Redmond, a few kilometers away. The Clippers boss spoke before the game to the 18,440 fans of the Climate Pledge Arena, filled like an egg.
“I am so happy to see the Climate Pledge Arena, this fantastic building, light up tonight. I’m so happy we’re playing the Portland Blazers… I want to know if you agree with me. I’ve seen thousands of basketball games in Seattle, kids, AAU, pros, college… So if it’s a basketball city, damn it, I want to hear it” thus claimed the hyperactive billionaire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9irBOWpMWI0
“The fact that these NBA teams are playing here, in top facilities, shows everyone that if a team is available, this is where it should be”
The crowd responded with cheers, which continued throughout the game. It must be said that Seattle had put the package for this preseason game, with the presence of the Governor of the State of Washington, Jay Inslee, the mayor of Seattle, Bruce Harrell, but also many personalities linked to the Sonics or to the city. : Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, Detlef Schrempf, Lenny Wilkens, George Karl, Sam Perkins, Jamal Crawford, PJ Carlesimo…
“Hopefully this is an indication of what basketball can be like in Seattle”, explained Detlef Schrempf. “The Sonics have been gone for a dozen years and we still have a large fan base. People still believe in the NBA, even though they haven’t had the opportunity to support their team. You see it with people who display these colors. The fact that these NBA teams play here, in top facilities, shows everyone that if a team is available, this is where it should be. »
For the mayor of Seattle, Sonics fans did what they had to do to show Adam Silver that the city deserved to have its NBA franchise back in the future.
“What I can say is that we have the attention of Adam Silver”concluded Bruce Harrell. “They understood the size of the city and the market here in Seattle. Even when my friend and brother Jamal Crawford got LeBron (James) and others here this summer, the fans came. Quite frankly, we have the funding. We have real estate. We have the fans. That’s what nights like this mean to me. »
