Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson met Thursday with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in a virtual meeting to offer assistance in returning the SuperSonics to Seattle, 18 years after the team left for Oklahoma City.

Ferguson’s office said the governor grew up attending Sonics games and basketball camps run by former coach Lenny Wilkens, and he expressed a willingness to support efforts to bring the franchise back. The NBA did not respond to requests for comment.

Late last year, Silver indicated the league plans to decide in 2026 whether to pursue expansion, with Seattle and Las Vegas identified as potential destinations. Expanding to Seattle would require approval from current NBA owners and a multibillion-dollar investment from a local ownership group, as franchise values and media rights have grown substantially.

Seattle sports fans have awaited a return since the team’s 2008 relocation. A previous attempt to bring the Sacramento Kings to the city was blocked by NBA owners, and Ballmer, who was involved, has since purchased the Los Angeles Clippers.

The city now hosts the state-of-the-art Climate Pledge Arena, home to the NHL’s Kraken, WNBA’s Storm, and the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s Torrent. The venue has hosted NBA preseason games in recent years.

Ferguson has emphasized his commitment to Seattle sports, noting in his State of the State address that “our work in professional sports is not done until we bring the Seattle SuperSonics back home.” The NBA is also exploring international expansion, including cities such as Mexico City and Vancouver.