The dream is alive and well. Sonics Forever.
Dale Ellis and Xavier McDaniel joined us for Sonics Forever Live - 1. Dale and X OWNED the Coliseum during the late 1980's, each making an All-Star team and leading the Sonics to three playoff berths, including a Western Conference Finals appearance in 1987.
During their time with the Sonics, Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp would make their name as one of the greatest alley-oop duos of all time. However, their chemistry wasn't instant; Gary Payton explains that he and the Reign Man had to put real work into building their connection on the court.
The Glove pulls no punches in describing the the atmosphere around the Sonics at the beginning of the 1990-91 season. Increasing friction between All-Stars Ellis and McDaniel escalated into real beef - beef that Gary Payton witnessed first hand.
Sonics Forever Live is your chance to immerse yourself in the glory days of the green and gold. Join us in our studio for exclusive live audience access as we sit down for memorable conversations with Sonics legends.
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Former Sonics center Olumide Oyedeji stopped by the office last week! Currently an advisor for Nigeria Basketball, Double O can’t wait for the return of the Sonics.
The parallels between Bernie Bickerstaff’s 1987 Sonics and J.B. Bickerstaff’s 2022 Cavs? Uncanny.
Donald Earl Watts arrived in Seattle as an undrafted free agent in 1973 and quickly became the city’s most beloved Sonic. As good as he was on the court, Slick’s influence was perhaps felt even more off of it. Slick impacted the lives of thousands of kids in and around Seattle in roles as a teacher, coach, and mentor.
If you’re a Sonics fan, these games are burned into your memory. Whether it was #8 battling the Glove or #24 taking on a young Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryan was an incredible opponent for over a decade.
Some of the best 3-point shooters in NBA history played in Seattle for the Sonics. What kind of career totals would these players have reached in they played in today’s NBA?
The Sonics first game back in Seattle is bound to be one of the most special moments in Seattle sports history. Who they should play in their opening game is an important question.
We’re turning the clock back to 2003, when the Sonics crossed the Pacific for the final installment of the Japan Games. The legacy of that trip? The “Rashard Lewis Game.”
The Lakers' moves in free agency this year may remind Sonics fans of a couple signings they made nearly 20 years ago. In Gary Payton's first full season away from Seattle, the Lakers put together a team of aging superstars in a list-ditch effort to revive their dynasty.
Upon the Sonics’ tragic departure in 2008, former Sonic Brent Barry took it upon himself to write an ode to Seattle and its beloved NBA team. ‘When It Rains’ is enough to pull tears from even the most hardened Sonics fan; a beautiful homage to the team we love so much (and that one day will return).
In a 2-2 series, grabbing Game 5 is paramount. With their backs against the wall, the league’s last two Sonics staged an incredible comeback and put up perhaps the best two games of their respective careers. Regardless of what NBA you root for, Kevin Durant and Jeff Green’s performances were wins for Sonics fans.
With NBA expansion looking more and more like a real possibility, we pose the question: is there enough talent to support two new NBA franchises? The answer is a resounding yes.
The Sonics and Suns had many great battles over the years. 4 intense playoff series, numerous superstar players, an all-time controversy - this rivalry had it all.
1991 was a transition year for the Sonics. Longtime Sonics Xavier McDaniel and Dale Ellis were dealt; Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton were very young. However, what was in reality a building year culminated in a thrilling playoff series and set the stage for the high-flying ‘90s.
K.C. Jones was the definition of a winner. While his time at the helm of the Sonics was brief, he helped kick off an incredible decade of Sonics basketball. Take a look back at one of the most remarkable careers in basketball history.
One of the original 1967 Sonics, Tom Meschery is perhaps the most interesting man to ever play in the NBA. Born in China to Russian parents, Meschery was the NBA’s first-ever foreign-born All-Star and made solid contributions to the Sonics during his four years playing in Seattle.
Frank Furtado was as close to “beginning-to-end” as it gets. As the longtime athletic trainer for the Sonics, Furtado dedicated himself to keeping generations of players in peak condition. His 35 years of service to the team make him a first-ballot Sonics legend.
After missing out on the playoffs the year before, not much was expected of the Sonics in 2004-05. However, behind Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, the Sonics exploded for a 52-win season and an exciting playoff run, where they went toe-to-toe with the eventual champs.
The Sonics' 1987 season was one for the ages and remains one of the most remarkable playoff runs in NBA history. Dale Ellis, Tom Chambers, and Xavier McDaniel each averaged 23 points per game and spearheaded one of the most exciting Sonics teams ever.
Dennis Johnson was a legend in Seattle. Paul Westphal was a perennial All-Star with the Phoenix Suns. The 1980 blockbuster swap between the Sonics and Suns sent shockwaves through Seattle and the entire NBA community. Look back with us on the trade that signaled an end of an era for the Sonics.
The Reign Man. The Glove. Downtown Freddie Brown. The list goes on and on. What's your favorite nickname in Sonics history?
No Sonics rivalry of the 1990’s was more intense than the rivalry with the Jazz. Seattle and Utah could not have been more different stylistically; each game was a classic old-school vs. new-school clash. Even decades later, the rivalry with Stockton and Malone is unforgettable.
Two different characters have had the honor of playing the Sonics mascot. Seattle’s iconic Wheedle took on the role from 1978 until 1985. The Pacific Northwest’s own Squatch took the reigns in 1993 and remained the team’s mascot until 2008. If you could only have one, who’re you taking?
It was the definition of a blockbuster trade. Gary Payton was the face of the franchise (and had been for over a decade) while Ray Allen was an up-and-coming star entering his prime. Revisit the franchise-altering 2003 deal that sent GP to Milwaukee and brought Ray to the Emerald City.
The Sonics-Blazers rivalry was as evenly-matched as it gets; it oftentimes felt like looking in a mirror. The two Pacific Northwest squads share similar histories, successes, and fanbases. We can’t wait for the day when the rivalry returns.
The Sonics called several venues home over the years, including the Coliseum/Key Arena, the Kingdome, and the Tacoma Dome. Where were they playing when you became a fan?
Draft night is special – hearing your name announced solidifies your place amongst basketball’s elite. While the draft always stings a little without the Sonics making picks, Seattle had some pretty incredible selections over the years. Here are our top 10 draft picks in Sonics history.
In an alternate universe, the 2010’s belong to the Pacific Northwest. While Kevin Durant has blossomed into one of the greatest players in NBA history, his time as a Sonic lasted only one year. Greg Oden showed flashes of potential with the Blazers but his injury-plagued tenure in Portland ended after 82 games over 2 seasons.
Gary Payton recently joined Sean David of Basketball Time Machine to talk some 90’s hoops. The Glove shares stories about Shawn Kemp and Larry Bird, his thoughts on Michael Jordan’s Last Dance comments, and more!
Though the Sonics spent most of their history north of downtown, SODO is without question the epicenter of Seattle sports. Local artist Weirdo is behind SODO’s Jack Sikma mural, an homage to the gentle giant who held down Seattle’s paint for almost a decade.
The goal was to visit three of the Sonics murals in Seattle, grab some photos and share a few stories about the memories those images preserve.
The theme of the project, though, shifted in an unexpected way…
Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton sat down with us for Sonics Forever Live 2! Catch up with the Reign Man and the Glove as they share stories and memories from the awesome Sonics teams of the 1990’s.