Current, former Sonics upset by the team's exit
"I would say so, but then I'm a little emotional right now," said Damien Wilkins, who has played his entire four-year NBA career with the Sonics. "I'm really, really mad. I'm disappointed for the city of Seattle. I'm disappointed for the fans and the people that supported us for the last 41 years."
Kevin Durant, who won the rookie-of-the-year award last season with the Sonics, expressed dismay when told his first season in Seattle would be his last.
"I'm a little shocked and a little disappointed," he said. "First of all, I didn't know we would be leaving Seattle this soon. I feel for the fans in Seattle.
"Even though it wasn't a great year for our team, they always supported us. I feel for the fans. Me and my family made Seattle our new home, and it's going to be tough getting up and moving."
Durant, who is taking classes at the University of Texas, received a text message from his cousin who told him the city of Seattle and the Sonics agreed on a settlement. Slowly, Durant discovered more details, including the $45 million buyout.
Finally, he heard the team would begin moving immediately and play the 2008-09 season in Oklahoma City.
Sonics players — current and retired and across the country and local — had difficulty coming to grips with the news.
"I'm overwhelmed," said Spencer Haywood, who played five seasons in Seattle and has his retired No. 24 jersey hanging from the KeyArena rafters. "I have a lump in my throat with the idea of it. I thought there was a fighting chance, but also felt in my heart that it wouldn't happen because of the owners' vote.
"There's a lot of fond memories. I can't believe all that money in Seattle and we end up like this. Man, that's deep. I grew up there. But what do you say when the Mayor and everybody else is taking the money and moving on? I'm just a guy who enjoyed my time in Seattle as a player."
Several ex-Sonics harped on the missteps that have led a proud franchise with a 1979 NBA championship to extinction. And others are optimistic local investors will succeed in returning the NBA to Seattle.
"I think Steve Ballmer has the right idea for another team," said Talvin Skinner, who played three years with the Sonics. "If he can get a petition of people together it would make sense. But he can't mess with Howard Schultz. He has to get some people that actually know basketball and people with some influence, like Fred Brown."
Recent comments
The City of Seattle and the State of Washington shoulder some of...
Dust Busters | July 3, 2008 at 8:30 p.m.
ya I was a little dramatic, seemed approrpiate though.
I...
magnus | July 3, 2008 at 4:39 p.m.
We're crying about the Seattle Supersonice moving to (ugh) Oklahoma...
which team moved? | July 3, 2008 at 3:31 p.m.
