The city of Seattle also filed a lawsuit against Bennett’s ownership group to keep the SuperSonics in Seattle through the remainder of the lease at KeyArena which expired in 2010. The only two holdouts were Dallas Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban and Portland Trail Blazers’ owner Paul Allen. The NBA’s Board of Governors - comprised of the owners of each NBA team - voted 28-2 in favor of Bennett’s ownership group’s motion to move the SuperSonics to Oklahoma City. He didn’t have much help out there, either. Kevin Durant scored 42 points in 43 minutes. The SuperSonics defeated the Warriors, 126-121, in their final home game at KeyArena. “Barring an 11th-hour save by Seattle,” wrote Greg Jones of Seattle P-I on this date, “the Sonics’ move could come as early as next season if the Oklahoma-based owners win their current lawsuit with the city.” ApOne last dance Bennett continued to maintain his stance that he would not move the SuperSonics outside of Seattle if the city and its movers and shakers came up with “a firm plan and funding mechanism for a new arena.” All the while, Oklahoma City residents had already agreed to an increase in tax for a basketball team in their city. 2, 2007, Bennett told Stern he intended to relocate the SuperSonics to Oklahoma City once he got out of his lease with KeyArena. The state government decided against providing funding for the arena complex. He asked Washington state government to foot $300 million of the cost, a bill that would have been passed along to the county’s taxpayers. 2, 2007 - The announcementīennett had his sights set on building a $500 million arena complex in the Renton suburb of Seattle. Stern later fined Bennett a record at the time: $250,000. I don’t mind the PR ugliness (pretty used to it), but I am concerned from a legal standpoint that your statement could perhaps undermine our basic premise of ‘good faith best efforts’. Bennett later wrote to McClendon in an e-mail: “Yes sir, we get killed on this one. Then NBA commissioner David Stern was made aware of McClendon’s comments and told Bennett there would be a huge fine in his future if those comments were true. We know it’s a little more difficult financially here in Oklahoma City, but we think it’s great for the community and if we could break even we’d be thrilled.” In an interview a few months later, McClendon admitted to the Oklahoma Journal-Record: “We didn’t buy the team to keep it in Seattle we hoped to come here. Ward: “That’s the spirit!! I am willing to help any way I can to watch ball here next year.”Īnthony McClendon: “Me too, thanks Clay!” More controversy Thanks for hanging with me boys, the game is getting started!” Tom Ward: “Is there any way to move here for next season or are we doomed to have another lame duck season in Seattle?” Ward wrote.īennett: “I am a man possessed! Will do everything we can. Schultz reportedly sold the franchise to Bennett with the assurances that Bennett would not move the SuperSonics out of the city.Īt the time of the deal, Bennett wrote in a letter to Schultz: “It is our desire to have the Sonics and the Storm continue their existence in the Greater Seattle Area, and it is not our intention to move or relocate the teams so long, of course, as we are able to negotiate an attractive successor venue and lease arrangement.”īut in an e-mail chain between Bennett and the other members of his Oklahoma City group later obtained by Seattle attorneys, there were other motivations behind his purchase of the team: More importantly, he assisted in the relocation of the New Orleans Hornets to OKC for two seasons after Hurricane Katrina. PBC is comprised of a group of businessmen from Oklahoma City led by Clay Bennett.īennett was an early owner of the San Antonio Spurs. Plus, previews of all 30 teams, and more!Īfter failing to obtain Washington state funding to update Seattle’s KeyArena - a venue deemed unacceptable by NBA standards - then-CEO and majority owner Howard Schultz sold the SuperSonics, and the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, to Professional Basketball Club (PBC) LLC for $350 million. Master Trainer: When NBA stars like Klay Thompson need that extra edge, they call these guys.Project Hallway: This stylist is helping NBA stars turn their pregame walk into a fashion statement.IRVING: Genius doesn’t have to complicate chemistry.Free Agent Matchmaker: The 2019 NBA free agency matchmaking game.The Last Team on Earth: Welcome to an apocalyptic world where the Warriors really did ruin basketball.Honey, They Shrunk the Bigs! Anthony Davis is leading a big man training revolution.House Money: Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta will do whatever it takes to win.LEGEND: The Ascension: LeBron James has risen above winning.The NBA is more than a sport - it’s an entertainment experience with unique characters and storylines that transcend on-court drama.
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