Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has apologized for a joke made during his State of the City speech about the potential return of the Sonics. While teasing the crowd with a basketball, Harrell ultimately revealed it was just a lighthearted moment, causing groans and laughter from the audience.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell holds a basketball while teasing a Sonics’ return during his State of the City address on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell apologized Wednesday for a joke about the potential return of the Sonics.
At his State-of-the-City address, Harrell took a dramatic pause and said, “Right now, at this moment, I have an announcement to make.” He picked up a basketball. It was easy to make the connection that it has something to do with the return of the Sonics. Harrell spun the ball and then said, “I’m just kidding, I got you. It’s a long speech. I had to break it up a little here.” The crowd, made up of mostly elected officials, city staffers, and supporters, groaned and laughed at it all. But online, there have been more thanSeattle mayor's joke about Sonics' return during State of the City prompts anger, groans I do apologize if anyone thought it was in poor taste, that was not the intent. But you know, in this job that I have, when you're fighting crime and fighting for strong public safety, you're fighting for good transportation solutions, you have to mix it up once in a while. Harrell has brought up the Sonics before in State of the City speeches, as interest in a Sonics return has never been higher. Climate Pledge Arena is open and well regarded, and the Seattle Kraken have sold out every game in their existence at the building. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has acknowledged his interest in a return to Seattle and said expansion would be considered this season. “I'm openly trying to keep the buzz on the Sonics real. One of the factors that the NBA will take into consideration is the fan enthusiasm. So, hopefully, this fires them up. So mission accomplished,” he said.Harrell said at one point in 2024 that he was having weekly conversations on the topic and that he’s been told, what others have reported, that the Boston Celtics sale is holding up expansion. The NBA owners want to establish the valuation of that franchise before putting a price tag on an expansion team. We are favorably positioned to get a team. They have the Boston sale that they have to worry about. There's some other issues in the league, legal issues that they're contending with,” said Harrell. “I think we are about as good as it gets in terms of positioning ourselves. I've made it very clear when you look at Climate Pledge Arena, you look at a potential ownership group here, you look at the fan base, as evidenced by my joke, we have all of the components to have a great expansion team here. I think, quite honestly, the country sort of knows that as well.
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