Gov. Ferguson meets with NBA Commissioner, sparking SuperSonics buzz
Feb 5, 2026, 5:20 PM | Updated: 9:12 pm
A photo of Washington Governor Bob Ferguson wearing a Seattle SuperSonics shirt. (Photo courtesy of Bob Ferguson)
(Photo courtesy of Bob Ferguson)
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson scheduled a last‑minute virtual meeting Thursday with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, a conversation that drew attention from longtime Seattle SuperSonics fans eager for the league’s possible return.
The meeting was set for 11:15 a.m., according to the governor’s public calendar. Ferguson’s office did not release details about the agenda, and officials cautioned against reading too much into the discussion.
In a statement, the governor’s office said Ferguson recently reached out to Silver to request an introductory meeting.
“As a kid, the governor grew up attending many Sonics games and attending the Lenny Wilkens basketball camp,” the statement said. “They had a good conversation, and the governor offered to be helpful.”
Seattle lost the SuperSonics in 2008, when the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder. Since then, efforts to bring an NBA team back to the region have intensified, particularly after the opening of Climate Pledge Arena. The building is designed to be NBA‑ready and currently serves as home to the NHL’s Seattle Kraken.
NBA officials have repeatedly said expansion is not imminent but have acknowledged that the league is expected to revisit the issue in the coming years. Silver has publicly stated that cities such as Seattle and Las Vegas are frequently mentioned as potential expansion markets, though no formal timeline has been announced.
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