Gary Payton II of the Golden State Warriors says he would welcome the opportunity to join a future Seattle expansion franchise if the NBA brings a team back to the city.
His father, Gary Payton, built his Hall of Fame career with the former SuperSonics, making the possibility especially meaningful. Payton II said, partly in jest, that he might even ask the Warriors for a trade if the situation ever arose.
“Respectfully. I love it here so much. But if we do (have a Seattle team) when I’m still here, I definitely want to go back and play there,” he told Nick Friedell of The Athletic.
Regardless of where he plays, Payton II emphasized that he strongly supports the league reestablishing a franchise in Seattle and believes it would be valuable for both the community and the sport.
“It was like a dream come true all over again,” he said of a potential franchise in Seattle.
“To be able to see them, to be able to go there and we have an opportunity to sit down and watch a game. Hopefully, they can do it here in a few years so I can possibly go back and put on a Seattle SuperSonics jersey.
“But other than that, it’s for the basketball culture. Even if I do play for them or not, it will be good for the city of Seattle and good for the NBA.”
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— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) March 8, 2026
