Jamal Crawford has seen enough failed attempts to bring the NBA back to his hometown of Seattle to stay cautious as the league's expansion process nears its final stretch. Still, he is hopeful the group that will finally return the Super Sonics, 17 years after the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City, is the right one. "When they first left, it was like, 'Oh, they'll be back in five years,'" the three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year told ESPN. "They kept trying, and it just never happened. But this time feels different, and I'm hoping that this is it."
Crawford has been working as an adviser with the group led by Seattle Kraken owner Samantha Holloway, which has emerged as a front-runner. Sources estimate its valuation at around $6 billion. The group, which also includes Melinda French Gates and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, holds significant leverage because Holloway's company, One Roof Sports & Entertainment, has a majority share of Climate Pledge Arena. The venue already hosts the WNBA's Seattle Storm and the Kraken and could readily host NBA games. Any rival bidder would have to build its own arena or negotiate with Holloway.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has said he hopes to resolve the expansion process by the end of 2026. Las Vegas remains a competing bid, with a final price that could exceed $10 billion. Observers are also watching whether a Las Vegas runner-up will pivot to challenge Holloway's group and drive up the Seattle price. Recent sales, including the Lakers at a record $12.5 billion valuation, have sparked debate about whether such figures are outliers or the new normal. The current Seattle bid would fall more in line with recent franchise sales, such as the Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Crawford, a fellow University of Michigan graduate, says he has known Holloway and her Seattle-based partners for years. "You don't stand by a person because they're in a position of power," he said. "You stand by them because their vision and their goals align with this community." Crawford grew up in Seattle, working at Key Arena, now Climate Pledge Arena, and has taken over the city's Summer Pro-Am league, which has drawn stars such as Kevin Durant and LeBron James.
Source: ESPN NBA · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing