MOHAI Holding 5,000 Sonics Artifacts — Ready to Hand Them Back the Moment the Franchise Returns

When the Seattle SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008, they left behind more than a fanbase. They left behind a history — and the Museum of History & Industry has been keeping it safe ever since.

MOHAI, located on the south shore of Lake Union, is currently holding over 5,000 SuperSonics artifacts in its collection. The items range from the franchise's 1979 NBA championship memorabilia to game-worn jerseys from the Payton-Kemp era, original team photographs, front office documents, and fan memorabilia spanning the franchise's 41 years in Seattle.

What's in the Collection

The collection includes items that trace the full arc of Sonics history: the franchise's original 1967 expansion materials, the 1979 championship banner and trophy documentation, Shawn Kemp's game-worn jerseys from the 1996 Finals run, Gary Payton's practice gear, and thousands of photographs, programs, and media guides.

There are also items that tell the story of the 2008 departure — protest signs, fan letters, and the legal documents from the city's lawsuit against the ownership group that relocated the team.

The Transfer Agreement

According to MOHAI officials, the artifacts would be transferred to the new franchise's ownership group upon the NBA's formal awarding of an expansion franchise to Seattle. The collection would then be available for display at Climate Pledge Arena and in whatever community spaces the new ownership chooses to dedicate to the franchise's history.

"These artifacts belong to Seattle," a MOHAI spokesperson said. "We've been their stewards. When the Sonics come home, so will their history."

Why This Matters

The retention of the SuperSonics name, retired numbers, and franchise history by Seattle — rather than Oklahoma City — was one of the conditions of the 2008 relocation settlement. The Thunder play under a different name and identity; the Sonics' legacy remained in Seattle.

The new franchise will inherit not just a name and a color scheme, but 41 years of championship history, legendary players, and a fanbase that never stopped believing.