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Seattle SuperSonics

former American professional basketball team

Key facts

Conference: Western (1970–2008)
Division: Western (1967–1970), Pacific (1970–2004), Northwest (2004–2008)
History: Seattle SuperSonics , 1967–2008, Oklahoma City Thunder , 2008–present
Arena: Seattle Center Coliseum/KeyArena at Seattle Center (1967–1978, 1985–1994, 1995–2008), Kingdome (1978–1985), Tacoma Dome (1994–1995)
Location: Seattle , Washington
Team colors: Green, gold, white
General manager: Full list
Head coach: Full list
Ownership: Sam Schulman (1967–1983), Barry Ackerley (1983–2001), Basketball Club of Seattle ( Howard Schultz , Chairman) (2001–2006), Professional Basketball Club LLC ( Clay Bennett , Chairman) (2006–2008)
Championships: 1 ( 1979 )
Conference titles: 3 ( 1978 , 1979 , 1996 )
Division titles: 6 ( 1979 , 1994 , 1996 , 1997 , 1998 , 2005 )
Retired numbers: 6 ( 1 , 10 , 19 , 24 , 32 , 43 )

via Wikipedia infobox

Article

The Seattle SuperSonics (commonly shortened to Sonics) were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle. The SuperSonics competed in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Western Division (1967–1970), and later as a member of the Western Conference's Pacific (1970–2004) and Northwest (2004–2008) divisions. After the 2007–08 season ended, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, where it now plays as the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Sam Schulman owned the team from its 1967 inception until 1983. It was then owned by Barry Ackerley until 2001, when it came under ownership of Basketball Club of Seattle, headed by Starbucks chairman emeritus, former president and CEO Howard Schultz. On July 18, 2006, Basketball Club of Seattle sold the SuperSonics and its Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) sister franchise, the Seattle Storm to Professional Basketball Club LLC, headed by Oklahoma City businessman Clay Bennett. The NBA Board of Governors approved the sale on October 24, 2006, and finalized it seven days later, at which point the new ownership group took control. After failing to find public funding to construct a new arena in the Seattle area, the SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City before the 2008–09 season, following a $45 million settlement with the city of Seattle to pay off their existing lease at the KeyArena at Seattle Center before it expired in 2010.