Gary Payton isn’t hiding how he sees the future of Seattle basketball.
The Sonics legend sounded bullish about the NBA’s expansion talk and what it could mean for a return to the city, especially with former MLB star Ken Griffey Jr. in the mix. In a recent interview with Scoop B. Robinson, Payton made clear that he and Griffey would be natural partners if Seattle gets another team.
“Yeah. Me and Ken are real tight.
That’s like my brother, too. Remember, we were in the same era in the ’90s together, playing when he was with the Mariners, and I was with the Sonics.
We’ll talk about all that.”
He also said the foundation is already being built.
“We got a good group that’s coming along,” he added. “First, we’re going to just try to do what we have to do and get it there first.
And once it gets there, then we’ll talk about who’s going to be a part of it and who’s not going to be a part of it. But our group is going to be great.
And we’re just trying to get them back.”
Payton’s excitement didn’t stop there. When the conversation turned to who he’d want to bring into a future Seattle team, he pointed to the obvious names, including Kevin Durant and his son, Gary Payton II.
“Oh, he’ll be there. He’ll be there.
No problem. I know that he and Durant, we know we’re going to try to get them back.
Hopefully, they’ll be free agents at the time, and then we can bring them back. Durant only got to play there for a year.
My son was born and raised there. So that’ll be good for him.
They’ll still be in their prime in a year or two, so we’re just going to try to get it going.”
Durant remains one of the last active players drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics, which makes his name an easy one to circle if the franchise ever comes back. And for Payton, the idea of his son wearing Seattle colors carries its own appeal. The article also notes that Gary Payton II has shown an inclination to request a trade to the SuperSonics if the team returns.
Of course, getting a new franchise in the door won’t be simple. The bidding is expected to be fierce, and the price for a new team is projected to land somewhere between $7 billion and $10 billion. Payton and his group may be eager, but this is going to take time.
Payton also weighed in on another major NBA storyline: LeBron James joining the Philadelphia 76ers.
The move has already sparked plenty of debate, with some liking the fit and others wondering how it changes the team’s internal balance. Payton sees it as something the coaching staff will have to manage carefully.
“It’s a big adjustment, but I think that’s the coaches’ job to do that. I don’t think they’re going to be playing together a lot.
I think it’s going to be two of them playing with each other, and the other two playing with each other. B ut I think LeBron is in his career and at his age right now that he can adjust.”
He expects the ball to stay in James’ hands and the offense to keep leaning on the team’s top names.
“I think they’re still going to put the ball in his hands and go downhill,” Payton continued. “They’re going to go through Embiid if he’s healthy.
Maxey is starting to be that star. You got Jaylen Brown, but I think what LeBron brings is that he brings the older statesman.
They’re going to respect him enough to give him the ball, put him in a lot of stuff, and they’re going to watch it. And I think that’s going to be good.”
That view lines up with Nick Nurse’s intention to have James run the offense while also bringing out the best in the rest of the roster. The idea is to make the pieces fit, not force them to overlap.
And with the 76ers chasing a title, that balance matters. The season will demand production from every star, but health and the grind of the regular season could change the plan quickly.
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