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or same franchise as Seattle?

same one. I know the records etc were left in Seattle, but i was a Sonic fan and now I am a Thunder fan. I'll never forget the Seattle days. Kemp and Payton, Schempf, Down town Freddy Brown. I remember when Nate Macmillan was called MR Seattle (or something like that).

The Thunder are in a great place where the fans love them (and did when they were losing even, and our players love it there so my full support is behind the NBA in OKC. but the Sonics are still part of that IMO.

No, the same franchise just in a different city with a different team name.

I hope seattle gets a new franchise within the next three years so they can get all of their history back and the thunder's history starts last year. I would rather start with new history here with durant and company

The history of the Sonics is currently owned by OKC and unless Seattle rips off a team like OKC did in the next three seasons the Sonics history will always belong to the Thunder.

If Seattle manages to steal a new team in the next three years then the Sonics history stays in Seattle. But I don't see a new team coming to Seattle.

However I am hoping for the Thunder to make some serious noise in the playoffs so people back in Seattle see what they lost. It's like the saying goes "You don't know what you have lost until it's gone". Then maybe see what they are missing and some momentum builds to get another team back here.

But there are still plenty of people who are still bitter about what went down and don't have the highest reguard for the NBA. Which I can't really fault.

But it would be really nice to get a team back in Seattle.

But as far if I consider the Thunder the same franchise or an expansion team? Neither, yet both.

First and foremost they are not the Sonics. No way, no how.

But they are the team that at one point was the Sonics. But they definately have a expansion feel with the uni's and the planted interviews on the sidelines always using the tag line "Big League City" whenever some sort of local celebrity or politician is interviewed. It always seems pathetically forced.

Honestly, as a Seattle Sonics fan, the most painful/great thing to watch will be the Team in the playoffs. Great for seeing all of our players doing well, painful because its not in the hometown. I try not to read up/follow the team, but they are so hot right now/Durant so hot..it is hard to miss it..and makes me a little sad.

Just a strange spot for a former fan.

Depends on if Seattle can steal a team as said above...

I consider the Thunder to be a new franchise. I thought that the agreed to leave all the history as part of the parting negotiations?

The Sonics ended when they let Lewis and Allen go. That franchise was destroyed to make the move possible. The Thunder are a new franchise in my mind.

TheRipCityGuru wrote:I consider the Thunder to be a new franchise. I thought that the agreed to leave all the history as part of the parting negotiations?

No that is not what happened.

Even though I'm a Blazer fan, I was sad to see the Sonics leave Seattle. It pretty much ruined the rivalry. I'm sure Red Sox fans would feel the same way if the Yankees were to leave New York. It's just one of those things.

But yes, I do consider the Thunder to be a new team.

Miami Heat fan, and I consider them a new franchise, mainly because of all the youth, new city, new team, new attitude. The sonics were Payton, Kemp, Schempf, Allen, and Lewis.
I remember when they traded Ray Allen for that pick, I knew it was over for the franchise. I even questioned getting Green with it (and I am a Hoyas fan), but he proved to be a valuable no 5 pick. other than them two who were actually Sonics now!