Gary Payton believes Seattle is moving closer to getting an NBA team again, and the SuperSonics legend says he is already connected to a prospective ownership group working toward that goal.
Speaking with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson after coaching the Boston Ball Hogs to the 2026 BIG3 championship, Payton addressed the possibility of NBA expansion and Ken Griffey Jr.’s potential involvement in a Seattle ownership group.
“Yeah. Me and Ken are real tight,” Payton said. “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.”
Payton did not identify the other members of the group, but indicated that the immediate priority is securing an NBA franchise before determining individual ownership roles.
“We got a good group that’s coming along,” Payton said. “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, 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.”
Seattle has been without an NBA franchise since the SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008. Payton spent 13 of his 17 NBA seasons with the franchise after Seattle selected him second overall in the 1990 NBA Draft, becoming the organization’s career leader in points, assists and steals.
The Hall of Fame guard won Defensive Player of the Year in 1996, becoming the first point guard to receive the award, and helped lead the SuperSonics to the 1996 NBA Finals alongside Shawn Kemp.
Payton also discussed the possibility of his son, Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II, eventually playing for a revived Seattle franchise. Gary Payton II previously told Robinson that he would strongly consider joining the franchise to wear a SuperSonics uniform before his career ends.
“Oh, he’ll be there. He’ll be there,” Payton said of his son. “No problem. I know that him and Durant, we know we’re going to try to get them back.”
Kevin Durant began his NBA career with the SuperSonics in 2007-08 before the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City. Payton said the timing of any expansion process could be important if Durant and his son are available.
“Hopefully, they’ll be free agents at the time, and then we can bring them back,” Payton said. “Durant only got to play there for a year. My son was born and raised there. So that’ll be good for him.”
The NBA’s expansion process remains centered on Seattle and Las Vegas, with Commissioner Adam Silver and the Board of Governors continuing to evaluate potential ownership groups. Any eventual expansion approval would represent the first step toward Seattle restoring one of the league’s most recognizable former franchises.
