Kevin Pelton, SUPERSONICS.COM | August 11, 2006
Jack Sikma, one of five Seattle SuperSonics players to have his jersey retired and now an assistant coach with the Sonics, will kick off the 
Sonics & Storm Legends Tour tomorrow. The NeighborHoops court at Burke Gilman Park will be renamed the Jack Sikma court. SUPERSONICS.COM sat down for a quick Q&A with Sikma to talk about the honor and his relationship with Seattle and the Sonics.
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"I think the number one thing is I'm really proud of my history with the Sonics."
Walter Iooss Jr./NBAE
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What's your reaction to starting the Sonics & Storm Legends Tour?
Well, I think the number one thing is I'm really proud of my history with the Sonics. The connection with the team has been a happy part of my life and something that's shared with friends, family and fans, so I'm looking forward to it. I think it's a great program and appreciate being able to kick it off.
When you were drafted by the Sonics, could you have imagined playing such a large role in Sonics history and having the team become so important to your life?
No. Could I have ever imagined being in the seventh game of the Finals my rookie year, winning the championship relatively early? There's all these intermediate steps that you have to focus in on. It's really a journey towards trying to be the best you can be. With that come things positive and negative, but when you see the fruits of those labors turn into something good, that's the frosting on the cake. I definitely didn't do it alone; there were a number of great players that have come through this organization. To be part of this program, it's the company that I'll be with that is as much satisfying as actually having a court named after you.
What did you know about Seattle when you were drafted?
Very little. I knew there was the World Fair in the 60s, the Space Needle. I hadn't really flown much; I had been out of the Midwest maybe one time. I looked forward to it. It was a beautiful city. I still remember going past Boeing Field and seeing the skyline - which has changed quite a bit now, but even then. I came on a beautiful day when you could see the mountains and the water. It's a wonderful place and it's a wonderful place to play basketball. The wintertime can get a little long and dreary, but it's an indoor sport where the inhabitants of the city can come and see it and watch it on TV. And then to enjoy the off-season and the beauty of the area, it's a great sport to play in Seattle.
Does that explain why you've made Seattle your home?
It's a wonderful community to live in. My family, we chose it because we enjoyed living here and had great friends. It was an area which I thought was progressive in many ways, a growing city. I hope we're able to stay progressive in the sense of recognizing the value of the franchise and having it here and how many people it touches. It's not a bad thing to have a beautiful arena to play in. I hope that continues. It's, even with traffic, relatively easy to get around. You can touch a lot of things in a short distance. Great neighborhoods. It's very positive and it's just a great place to raise our kids. That's, I think, the best way I can sum it up. It's a positive experience.
