Seattle basketball fans, it's time to dust off those old Shawn Kemp jerseys and start dreaming again. The NBA might finally be coming home to the Emerald City.

For nearly two decades, the void left by the SuperSonics' departure to Oklahoma City in 2008 has been a painful memory for Pacific Northwest sports fans. But now, a new chapter is on the horizon. With the league actively exploring expansion, Seattle has emerged as the frontrunner to land one of the new franchises—potentially as early as the 2028-29 season.

Leading the charge is Samantha Holloway, a key figure in Seattle's hockey renaissance. As a co-owner of the NHL's Seattle Kraken—who hit the ice for their inaugural season in 2021—Holloway has already proven she can bring a major league franchise to the city. Now, she's assembling a powerhouse bid to do the same for basketball.

Holloway has retained financial heavyweights JPMorgan Chase and Moelis & Co. to craft a compelling proposal for the NBA, according to Bloomberg. Her background is impressive: beyond the Kraken, she's co-founded the 2nd & Filmore investment group and the software startup Hat Labs, and holds degrees from the University of Michigan.

The Kraken's successful arrival in 2021 means Seattle now hosts every major American sports league except the NBA. That gap could close soon, though fans will need a bit more patience. While no official timeline has been set, the odds of seeing NBA basketball back at Climate Pledge Arena—or a revamped KeyArena—are looking better than ever.

For those who remember the roar of the KeyArena crowd during the Payton-Kemp era, or the heartbreak of that final season in 2008, the wait may finally be worth it. The SuperSonics name, legacy, and green-and-gold colors could soon be part of the NBA landscape once again.