The OKC Thunder will give the SuperSonics their history back if Seattle gets their NBA team

The Oklahoma City Thunder were not always the team fans know and love. Originally, before 2008, the Thunder were the Seattle SuperSonics. Formed in 1967, the SuperSonics were a successful team in the Western Conference with numerous hall of famers a part of their roster's history. Now, the Sonics may look to retain that history if they are provided the opportunity to reform.

It was back in 2020 when teams and players were playing in the 'bubble' when NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the association would look into expansion teams. Once this notion was proposed, Seattle was one of the first cities to jump on board.

Seattle is one of the largest basketball markets without a team since they departed to Oklahoma City. There is no doubt that Seattle would be the first location to get a team. The question is whether or not the team would have any ties with the Thunder.

As stated by ESPN , "The deal between Thunder ownership and the city of Seattle resolving a lawsuit over the team's arena lease and allowing their move to Oklahoma City stipulated that the name SuperSonics and all associated logos, colors and trademark would be transferred to the owner of a new NBA team approved to play at a renovated KeyArena at no cost".

More specifically, while the Thunder have shared ownership of retired Sonics jerseys and their 1979 championship, they do not physically hang banners for the Sonics nor highlight historical statistics (i.e. all-time leaders in certain categories).

So to answer the question in full, the Thunder would relinquish all of the SuperSonics history back to the franchise if/when the team returns to Seattle. How the expansion teams would affect the rest of the NBA, however, is still up in the air.

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