Former Sonic great Gary Payton has said he will not let the Oklahoma City franchise retire his number 20 jersey, and he believes that the NBA will be back in Seattle within three years, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer is reporting.
"I think I made that clear; I didn't play in Oklahoma, so it wouldn't be anything that I'm looking forward to because I didn't play for the Oklahoma Thunder," he said at the Seahawks game on Sunday. "I don't think that Oklahoma should get the benefits of seeing me raise my number. I think these people here are the people who have seen me and made me who I am."
Payton predicted Seattle will get a new team within three years.
"I'm inside with the NBA a little bit; I think before 2011 a team will be here," he said. "A lot of teams want to move, and I think Seattle's got a good shot at it."
I doubt the Thunder actually need his permission to retire #20 for the franchise, though without his participation the decision to do so and the resulting ceremonies would be something of a farce. I admire The Glove's passion though, it comes off as a bit of a slight to Oklahoma but I think it's simply affection for Seattle rather than general disdain of Oklahoma City.
As for his predictions of a Supersonics revival, I'm not so sure. It would be great for basketball fans in Seattle if that were the case but with all the arena issues it doesn't seem likely to be so soon.
