Draymond GreenForward, Golden State Warriors

Gary Payton wants to rejoin the Sonics when they return to Seattle | The Draymond Green Show

5 Jan 2022 · 1 min

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In this interview on The Draymond Green Show, Draymond Green asks former Seattle SuperSonics star Gary Payton about his feelings toward the franchise’s relocation to Oklahoma City and the possibility of a future Seattle team. Payton emphatically states he has no desire to have his jersey retired in Oklahoma City, arguing he never played there and would not want to honor a city that never gave him a chance. He expresses deep loyalty to Seattle, crediting the city for his 13‑season career, Hall of Fame status, and personal identity. Payton says he would love to coach or work in the front office of a revived Seattle SuperSonics, and he is actively involved in Seattle businesses, owns restaurants, and plans to move back permanently. The conversation underscores Payton’s passionate advocacy for bringing an NBA franchise back to Seattle and his willingness to contribute to its success.

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you go to Miami, you win a championship. I think for myself and for most people, if you're a basketball fan, Gary Payton, you're always gonna associate Gary Payton with the Seattle SuperSonics. That's just what it is. And I think you may feel the same way.
Mm-hmm.
But you've openly expressed that you had no desire to have your jersey retired in Oklahoma City. And even more importantly, you've been, very outspoken about getting Seattle a franchise back. And both of those things, if they were to get a franchise back, which I think they will and I hope they do, it's an incredible city.
Yeah.
Would you be into coaching Seattle Supersonics franchise or front office of that franchise?
Yes, very much, Draymond. I would love to go back to Seattle and give them fans what they deserve. They should've never lost the team in the first place. Just bad ownership that was happening during the time where it just, it went down. Soon as I got traded, that ownership took that team to a low, a very, very bad low. And then it happens, you know? But you know, you gotta think about, I never played for Oklahoma. So why would I give the fans any kind of opportunity to go in there and say, "Ah!" And why my name and your Raptors where I never played at. That's nothing that I would wanna do. Seattle is what I'm about. Seattle made me. They made me for 13 seasons who I am. They made me a Hall of Famer. You know, they made me a top 75. They made me that type of person. So I would never disrespect Seattle in no kind of way of doing that to the fans. So if it, and when it does come back, and I know it will, yes, I'm gonna be a part of that organization. To keep that going and keep these people going and get our basketball back. Like you said, Draymond, that is a great city, a beautiful city. I still got businesses out in Seattle. You know, I got restaurants out there. So I'm very happy. I'm there all the time. And I, you know, I'm looking to move back. I wanna move back to Seattle. Seattle is the city, man. You know what I'm saying?
I love Seattle.
I might be from Oakland, California, but I love Seattle. You know what I'm saying? I don't care about the rain. I don't care about none of that. That's a beautiful city. And yes, I would go back in a heartbeat.