Stern Criticizes Seattle
NBA Commissioner David Stern gave another warning that the SuperSonics could eventually leave Seattle, saying Thursday that the city is “not interested in having the NBA there.”
Stern has said the SuperSonics’ lease with the city is the worst in the NBA, and he went to Seattle in February to ask Washington state lawmakers for tax money to renovate Key Arena.
SuperSonic owner Howard Schultz has threatened to move or sell the team if state lawmakers don’t approve a sales-tax package to pay for a new or renovated arena. But state lawmakers last month said there would be no deal this year.
“I would say that the city is making it pretty clear of what they want us to do, and we’ll accommodate them,” Stern said.
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The NBA might seed its playoff teams by their regular-season records instead of rewarding division champions with the top three spots, said Russ Granik, the league’s deputy commissioner.
NBA owners will discuss the change at their annual meeting next week in New York. No change would take effect until at least next season.
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