Top Tweets for #BRINGBACKTHESONICS

Gary Payton says he refuses to let the Oklahoma City Thunder retire his jersey because it would be disrespectful to Seattle “Oklahoma City fans never watched me play a game in Oklahoma City. Who watched me play all the time, Seattle fans. Why would I disrespect the Seattle fans by going up there, getting in a celebration on a court, and let them get that when I've disrespected them” “I'll never do that ever in life. The fans in Seattle are the ones who supported me and got me to where I wanted to be. It's nothing against Oklahoma City. I never played one day in Oklahoma City, so I'm not doing that. It's only right for me to respect the people in Seattle for that, and I won't”

Seattle basketball is about to feel alive again. With the return of the Sonics on the horizon, the roster will eventually be built through an expansion draft. But before all that, it’s hard not to imagine what a homegrown Seattle core could look like. Start with Paolo Banchero, a franchise centerpiece already playing like a future MVP. Add Dejounte Murray running the show at point, bringing control, pace, and two-way impact every night. Then come the glue guys. Tari Eason and Gary Payton II bring relentless defense, chaos, and identity. And rounding it out, Kevin Porter Jr. spacing the floor, giving the group that scoring punch when things tighten up. And yeah, imagine Payton II rocking his dad’s number in Seattle. Full circle. It’s just a dream lineup for now. But with 2028–29 getting closer, so is the reality 💚