Just as the League announced this year's All-Star Game roster, the Supersonics quietly hit the jackpot.
Team owner Clay Bennett signed a six-year broadcasting contract with Seattle's three major TV stations KOMO-TV, KING-TV, and KIRO-TV.
Although the exact figure was not public, the "Seattle Times" revealed, "The contract is worth a nine-figure sum."
That is to say, the Supersonics could ensure tens of millions of US dollars in revenue each year just from the local TV broadcasting contract.
This was unimaginable a few years ago.
Subsequently, the TV station executives indicated that they had an exit clause.
If the Supersonics moved this summer, the contract would be voided.
All signs indicated that the Supersonics had ten thousand reasons to stay in the Emerald City and not a single reason to leave.
However, at the same time as the Supersonics were making their fortune, a larger conflict was brewing within the NBA.