Key Points:
Rachel Nichols felt nostalgic on Monday
She spoke on a topic near and dear to Kevin Durant’s heart
The NBA tips off tonight in OKC
The 2025-26 NBA season is scheduled to tip off tonight, with televised games including the Rockets at the defending champion Thunder and the Warriors at the Lakers.
Both games will be televised on NBC marking the return of the familiar ‘NBA on NBC’ broadcast style, stirring memories of classic games and franchises in the heads of hoops fans.
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On Monday, Fox Sports 1 analyst and Sports illustrated journalist Rachel Nichols publicly brainstormed an idea that has made the rounds among NBA fans for nearly two decades.
The post was viewed over 21,000 times as fans began reminiscing about the good ole days.
Sep 30, 2024; El Segundo, CA, USA; Rachel Nichols during Los Angeles Lakers media day at the UCLA Health Training Center. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Nichols Pines for Days of Supersonics
The well known NBA fan and reporter made her stance very clear: the Seattle Supersonics should return.
The franchise moved to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder in 2008. The Franchise won its first championship last season.
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The familiar yellow and green colors and logo of the Sonics hasn’t been seen on an NBA court ever since, a development that many NBA fans have bemoaned in recent years.
“I don’t know what Seattle did to the Sports Gods, but I gotta think whatever it was, they’ve paid for it already. #BringBackTheSonics,” Nichols wrote on X.
The NBA is considering expansion for the 2027-28 season with Seattle a distinct possibility.
Fans React to Nichols Idea
Fans reacted in emotional fashion on X as they digested and responded to the Nichols idea.
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“As a Seattle sports fan, I’m used to this,” one person said.
“Them cheering for (Blue Jays outfielder George) Springer being HBP (hit by a pitch off of his right kneecap) is gonna cost them another 25 years,” another said regarding Mariners fans.
“The Kings almost left for Seattle but the league vetoed it,” another said.
“Yeah I miss the Sonics. The NBA needs the Sonics,” another said.
Rockets superstar forward Kevin Durant played for the Sonics during his 2007-2008 rookie season and has said that he would like to be involved with any efforts to bring the team back to its home city.
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He said doing so would be “a dream come true” and expressed his fondness for the franchise.
Thunder Host Rockets in Marquee Matchup
Tuesday is expected to be an emotional night for Durant as he will don a Rockets uniform for the first time in a regular season game and take on his former team the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center in OKC.
The Thunder have the youth and athleticism to make life difficult on Durant, who came over via trade from the Phoenix Suns, while the Thunder also boast arguably the NBA’s best player in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
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Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on NBC.
Related: Russell Westbrook’s Gesture Towards Kevin Durant’s Mom Draws Attention
Related: Charles Barkley Reveals Nine-Word Phrase That Caused Julius Erving to Fight Larry Bird
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Oct 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.