Jamal Crawford on Sonics’ potential return: ‘This time feels different’

November 6, 2026

Seattle has heard plenty of encouraging talk about getting the SuperSonics back. Jamal Crawford has been around for enough of it to know that hope comes with some caution.

But he’s willing to put his name behind this effort.

Crawford is advising the group led by Kraken owner Samantha Holloway in its bid to bring the NBA back to Seattle, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.

“When they first left, it was like, ‘Oh, they’ll be back in five years,’” Crawford told ESPN. “They kept trying, and it just never happened. But this time feels different, and I’m hoping that this is it.”

Holloway’s group includes Melinda French Gates and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy. Sources told ESPN its current valuation is around $6 billion. It also has a significant practical advantage through Holloway’s company’s majority stake in Climate Pledge Arena, which could accommodate an NBA team.

Crawford said his involvement comes down to the people and their plans for Seattle.

“You don’t stand by a person because they’re in a position of power,” he said. “You stand by them because their vision and their goals align with this community.”

Commissioner Adam Silver has said he hopes for a resolution to the expansion process by year’s end. That still leaves decisions to make, and Seattle fans know better than most that encouraging words aren’t an opening-night schedule.

What doesn’t appear to need much work is rebuilding interest.

“It’s been a long road and I think it’s quite amazing that our market is still so excited about it,” former Sonics star Detlef Schrempf told ESPN. “We have a great basketball culture. A great history with the Sonics, and I think our fan base is still there and ready to go.”