Ray Allen says Seattle is ‘too great not to have’ an NBA team

Two-time NBA champion Ray Allen took to Instagram on Wednesday to deliver a heartfelt message, clamoring for the league to bring the storied SuperSonics franchise back to Seattle.

Seattle has grown so much since I was last here. What a great city! I had some great memories not too far away from the #spaceneedle. I still can’t believe that there is no basketball in Seattle!! This city is too great not to have a hoops squad. Come on everybody we need to rally and bring the NBA back to Seattle. let’s make this happen people!!! The NBA misses traveling to Seattle, I know I certainly do!!!!! #bringbackoursonics #keyarena#seattlecenter

Allen, who retired in November after sitting out the 2015 and 2016 seasons, enjoyed his prime in Seattle as a dominant perimeter scorer. He averaged better than 26 points, four rebounds and four assists in the 2006-07 season before undergoing surgery on both ankles and jumping to the Boston Celtics the following season.

The SuperSonics were formed in 1967 and enjoyed several highs in its franchise history, including winning an NBA championship around Dennis Johnson and Gus Williams in 1979. Seattle has seen several talented players walk through its doors, including Allen himself, Spencer Haywood, Gary Payton and Shaun Kemp.

Seattle also drafted Kevin Durant in 2007 but relocated to Oklahoma City the following season. The city never recovered from losing one of its premier sports franchises. Seattle also boasts the Seahawks (NFL), Mariners (MLB), Sounders (MLS) and Storm (WNBA), but the SuperSonics had one of the most rabid fanbases across professional sports.

Allen is not the first player to call for the NBA to resuscitate one of its franchises. Jamal Crawford, a Seattle native, published an article on The Cauldron in March of 2016 titled Bring Back the Sonics. Gary Payton has also maintained he wants to be involved if the team is brought back to Seattle.

If the SuperSonics are indeed brought back, the NBA would need to add an Eastern Conference team as well. Either way, those devout Seattle fans deserve an NBA franchise. Hopefully, they get it.