Login
Login

I-5 rivalry

{{short description|National Basketball Association rivalry}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}

{{Infobox sports rivalry

| name = I-5 rivalry

| image =

| caption =

| team1 = Portland Trail Blazers

| team2 = Seattle SuperSonics

| team1logo =

| team2logo =

| first contested = October 23, 1970
SuperSonics 141, Trail Blazers 111

| mostrecent = March 24, 2008
SuperSonics 97, Trail Blazers 84

| nextmeeting =

| total = 192

| currentstreak =

| longeststreak = SuperSonics, 9 (1971–1972)

| series = SuperSonics, 106–102

| regularseason = SuperSonics, 98–94

| postseason = Tied, 8–8

| section_header = Postseason history

| section_info =

}}

The I-5 rivalry was a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Seattle SuperSonics. The two Pacific Northwest cities are 180 miles (290 km) apart and connected by Interstate 5. The rivalry ended in 2008 when the SuperSonics were relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder.

On July 18, 2006, after unsuccessful efforts to persuade Washington state government officials to provide funding to update the SuperSonics' KeyArena, Howard Schultz and Basketball Club of Seattle LLP sold the SuperSonics and their sister team, the Women's National Basketball Association's Seattle Storm for $350 million to Professional Basketball Club LLC (PBC), an investment group that was headed by Oklahoma City businessman Clay Bennett. On April 18, 2008, NBA owners approved a potential SuperSonics' relocation to Oklahoma City in a 28–2 vote by the league's Board of Governors; only Mark Cuban of the Dallas Mavericks and Paul Allen of the Trail Blazers voted against the move. The approval meant the SuperSonics would be allowed to move to Oklahoma City's Ford Center for the 2008–09 season after reaching a settlement with the city of Seattle.{{cite news|title=NBA Board of Governors Approve Sonics Move to Oklahoma City Pending Resolution of Litigation|url=http://www.nba.com/news/bog_sonics_080418.html|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=April 18, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421225911/http://www.nba.com/news/bog_sonics_080418.html|archive-date=April 21, 2008|access-date=March 31, 2024|url-status=live}}

Seattle and Portland have had rivalries based on various sports teams. Of the five major sports leagues in North America, the two cities each currently have franchises in Major League Soccer with the Timbers and the Sounders, which have played annually since the Timbers joined MLS in 2011. Previously, the two cities had various incarnations of the current professional franchises in leagues such as the North American Soccer League and USL. The top women's soccer league in the U.S., the NWSL, features a rivalry between the Seattle Reign and Portland Thorns. Additionally, the Oregon–Washington football rivalry is one of the most played rivalries in NCAA Division I FBS history, and has been played regularly since 1900.

History

The first meeting between the Blazers and Sonics occurred on September 30, 1970, in a pre-season exhibition game held at the W. F. West High School gymnasium in Chehalis, Washington, midway between Portland and Seattle. The teams were immediately projected to be rivals, owing to the close proximity and existing rivalry between the Pacific Northwest cities. The Trail Blazers were a new expansion team for 1970, while the SuperSonics began play three seasons earlier in 1967.

=Oden / Durant=

Both teams beat long odds to emerge as the winners of the 2007 NBA draft lottery. Portland, with only a 5.3% chance, received the number one selection. Seattle, at a 9.7% chance, won the second pick. Their lottery luck and the presence of two generational prospects in the draft fueled instant hope for the revival of both franchises.

In the 2007 NBA draft, Portland selected Greg Oden as the draft's number one pick. Seattle followed, selecting Kevin Durant at number two.

Cruelly, neither city's fanbase would enjoy success from the draft. Oden was plagued with injuries and would play only 82 total games for the Blazers before being waived in 2012. Durant earned the 2007–2008 NBA Roookie of the Year award with the SuperSonics, but his addition was unable to prevent the team from being relocated to Oklahoma City the following year, where they began play as the Thunder.

=Hiatus (2008–present)=

The Blazers' rivalry did not continue with the newly relocated Oklahoma City Thunder, despite that organization's past history in Seattle and both teams continuing to play in the Western Conference Northwest Division.

Both cities gained Major League Soccer teams in the years since the Sonics left, with the Sounders beginning play in 2009 and the Timbers in 2011. The Portland Timbers–Seattle Sounders rivalry, which dates back to the 1970s, has continued the civic rivalry, as has the three-team Cascadia Cup with Vancouver Whitecaps FC (former home of the similarly relocated Vancouver Grizzlies NBA team).

The Blazers eliminated the Thunder from the first round of the 2019 NBA playoffs on a Game 5, {{convert|37|ft|adj=on}} buzzer beater 3 by Damian Lillard. Lillard mockingly waved goodbye to the Thunder after the shot, and would later comment: "What can I say? That was for Seattle."

On October 3, 2022, the Blazers played in a "Rain City Showcase" preseason game versus the Los Angeles Clippers at the newly renovated Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.

Annual finishes

class="wikitable"
Season

| NBA season

W

|Wins

L

|Losses

%

|Winning percentage

Playoffs

|Final result in season's playoffs

Series

|Record in season's head-to-head matchups

style="{{NBA color cell2|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|*

|Trail Blazers had more regular season wins than SuperSonics

style="{{NBA color cell2|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|†

|SuperSonics had more regular season wins than Trail Blazers

style="{{NBA color cell|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|‡

|Trail Blazers won season series against the SuperSonics

style="{{NBA color cell|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|§

|SuperSonics won season series against the Trail Blazers

= Regular season =

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
scope="col" rowspan=2|Season

!scope="col" class="unsortable" colspan=5|Trail Blazers

!scope="col" class="unsortable" colspan=5|SuperSonics

!scope="col" rowspan=2|Series

scope="col" class="unsortable" |Team

!scope="col"|W

!scope="col"|L

!scope="col"|%

!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Playoffs

!scope="col" class="unsortable" |Team

!scope="col"|W

!scope="col"|L

!scope="col"|%

!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Playoffs

scope="row"|{{nbay|1970|full}}

|Trail Blazers

2953.354|SuperSonicsstyle="{{NBA color cell2|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|38†44.463style="{{NBA color cell|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|SEA 4–2§
scope="row"|{{nbay|1971|full}}

|Trail Blazers

1864.220|SuperSonicsstyle="{{NBA color cell2|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|47†35.537style="{{NBA color cell|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|SEA 6–0§
scope="row"|{{nbay|1972|full}}

|Trail Blazers

2161.256|SuperSonicsstyle="{{NBA color cell2|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|26†56.317style="{{NBA color cell|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|SEA 4–3§
scope="row"|{{nbay|1973|full}}

|Trail Blazers

2755.329|SuperSonicsstyle="{{NBA color cell2|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|36†46.4393–3
scope="row"|{{nbay|1974|full}}

|Trail Blazers

3844.463|SuperSonicsstyle="{{NBA color cell2|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|43†39.524Lost Conference Semifinalsstyle="{{NBA color cell|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|SEA 6–2§
scope="row"|{{nbay|1975|full}}

|Trail Blazers

3745.451|SuperSonicsstyle="{{NBA color cell2|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|43†39.524Lost Conference Semifinals3–3
scope="row"|{{nbay|1976|full}}

|Trail Blazers

style="{{NBA color cell2|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|49*33.598Won NBA Finals

|SuperSonics

4042.488style="{{NBA color cell|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|POR 3–1‡
scope="row"|{{nbay|1977|full}}

|Trail Blazers

style="{{NBA color cell2|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|58*24.707Lost Conference Semifinals

|SuperSonics

4735.549Lost NBA Finalsstyle="{{NBA color cell|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|POR 3–1‡
scope="row"|{{nbay|1978|full}}

|Trail Blazers

4537.549Lost First Round

|SuperSonics

style="{{NBA color cell2|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|52†30.634Won NBA Finalsstyle="{{NBA color cell|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|SEA 3–1§
scope="row"|{{nbay|1979|full}}

|Trail Blazers

3844.463Lost First Round

|SuperSonics

style="{{NBA color cell2|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|56†26.683Lost Conference Finalsstyle="{{NBA color cell|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|SEA 5–1§
scope="row"|{{nbay|1980|full}}

|Trail Blazers

style="{{NBA color cell2|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|45*37.549Lost First Round

|SuperSonics

3448.415style="{{NBA color cell|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|POR 4–2‡
scope="row"|{{nbay|1981|full}}

|Trail Blazers

4240.512|SuperSonicsstyle="{{NBA color cell2|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|52†30.634Lost Conference Semifinals3–3
scope="row"|{{nbay|1982|full}}

|Trail Blazers

4636.561Lost Conference Semifinals

|SuperSonics

style="{{NBA color cell2|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|48†34.585Lost First Round3–3
scope="row"|{{nbay|1983|full}}

|Trail Blazers

style="{{NBA color cell2|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|48*34.585Lost First Round

|SuperSonics

4240.512Lost First Roundstyle="{{NBA color cell|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|POR 4–2‡
scope="row"|{{nbay|1984|full}}

|Trail Blazers

style="{{NBA color cell2|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|42*40.512Lost Conference Semifinals

|SuperSonics

3151.378style="{{NBA color cell|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|POR 4–2‡
scope="row"|{{nbay|1985|full}}

|Trail Blazers

style="{{NBA color cell2|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|40*42.488Lost First Round

|SuperSonics

3151.378style="{{NBA color cell|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|POR 5–1‡
scope="row"|{{nbay|1986|full}}

|Trail Blazers

style="{{NBA color cell2|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|49*33.598Lost First Round

|SuperSonics

3943.476Lost Conference Finalsstyle="{{NBA color cell|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|POR 4–2‡
scope="row"|{{nbay|1987|full}}

|Trail Blazers

style="{{NBA color cell2|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|53*29.646Lost First Round

|SuperSonics

4438.537Lost First Round3–3
scope="row"|{{nbay|1988|full}}

|Trail Blazers

3943.476Lost First Round

|SuperSonics

style="{{NBA color cell2|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|47†35.573Lost Conference Semifinalsstyle="{{NBA color cell|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|SEA 4–2§
scope="row"|{{nbay|1989|full}}

|Trail Blazers

style="{{NBA color cell2|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|59*23.720Lost NBA Finals

|SuperSonics

4141.500style="{{NBA color cell|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|POR 3–2‡
scope="row"|{{nbay|1990|full}}

|Trail Blazers

style="{{NBA color cell2|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|63*19.768Lost Conference Finals

|SuperSonics

4141.500Lost First Roundstyle="{{NBA color cell|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|POR 4–0‡
scope="row"|{{nbay|1991|full}}

|Trail Blazers

style="{{NBA color cell2|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|57*25.695Lost NBA Finals

|SuperSonics

4735.573Lost Conference Semifinalsstyle="{{NBA color cell|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|POR 4–1‡
scope="row"|{{nbay|1992|full}}

|Trail Blazers

5131.622Lost First Round

|SuperSonics

style="{{NBA color cell2|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|55†27.671Lost Conference Finalsstyle="{{NBA color cell|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|SEA 3–2§
scope="row"|{{nbay|1993|full}}

|Trail Blazers

4735.573Lost First Round

|SuperSonics

style="{{NBA color cell2|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|63†19.768Lost First Roundstyle="{{NBA color cell|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|SEA 4–1§
scope="row"|{{nbay|1994|full}}

|Trail Blazers

4438.537Lost First Round

|SuperSonics

style="{{NBA color cell2|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|57†25.695Lost First Roundstyle="{{NBA color cell|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|SEA 3–2§
scope="row"|{{nbay|1995|full}}

|Trail Blazers

4438.537Lost First Round

|SuperSonics

style="{{NBA color cell2|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|64†18.780Lost NBA Finalsstyle="{{NBA color cell|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|SEA 3–1§
scope="row"|{{nbay|1996|full}}

|Trail Blazers

4933.598Lost First Round

|SuperSonics

style="{{NBA color cell2|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|57†25.695Lost Conference Semifinalsstyle="{{NBA color cell|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|SEA 3–1§
scope="row"|{{nbay|1997|full}}

|Trail Blazers

4636.561Lost First Round

|SuperSonics

style="{{NBA color cell2|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|61†21.744Lost Conference Semifinalsstyle="{{NBA color cell|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|SEA 4–0§
scope="row"|{{nbay|1998|full}}

|Trail Blazers

style="{{NBA color cell2|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|35*15.700Lost Conference Finals

|SuperSonics

2525.5002–2
scope="row"|{{nbay|1999|full}}

|Trail Blazers

style="{{NBA color cell2|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|59*23.720Lost Conference Finals

|SuperSonics

4537.549Lost First Roundstyle="{{NBA color cell|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|POR 4–0‡
scope="row"|{{nbay|2000|full}}

|Trail Blazers

style="{{NBA color cell2|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|50*32.610Lost First Round

|SuperSonics

4438.5372–2
scope="row"|{{nbay|2001|full}}

|Trail Blazers

style="{{NBA color cell2|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|49*33.598Lost First Round

|SuperSonics

4537.549Lost First Roundstyle="{{NBA color cell|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|POR 3–1‡
scope="row"|{{nbay|2002|full}}

|Trail Blazers

style="{{NBA color cell2|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|50*32.610Lost First Round

|SuperSonics

4042.488style="{{NBA color cell|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|POR 4–0‡
scope="row"|{{nbay|2003|full}}

|Trail Blazers

style="{{NBA color cell2|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|41*41.500|SuperSonics3745.4512–2
scope="row"|{{nbay|2004|full}}

|Trail Blazers

2755.329|SuperSonicsstyle="{{NBA color cell2|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|52†30.634Lost Conference Semifinalsstyle="{{NBA color cell|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|SEA 3–1§
scope="row"|{{nbay|2005|full}}

|Trail Blazers

2161.256|SuperSonicsstyle="{{NBA color cell2|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|35†47.427style="{{NBA color cell|Seattle SuperSonics}}"|SEA 3–1§
scope="row"|{{nbay|2006|full}}

|Trail Blazers

style="{{NBA color cell2|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|32*50.390|SuperSonics3151.3782–2
scope="row"|{{nbay|2007|full}}

|Trail Blazers

style="{{NBA color cell2|Portland Trail Blazers}}"|41*41.500|SuperSonics2062.2442–2

= Postseason =

See also

References

{{Reflist |refs=

{{cite news |date=September 26, 1970 |title=Chehalis NBA Contest Viewed Historic Event |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-chronicle-chehalis-nba-contest/131184538/ |work=The Daily Chronicle |access-date=September 3, 2023}}

{{cite news |last=Vance |first=Ken |date=March 30, 1994 |title=Seattle coach says he doesn't mind fanning the flames — George Karl loves Blazer–Sonics rivalry, and he plans to keep it going |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbian-george-karl-loves-blazers/131128876/ |work=The Columbian |place=Portland, Oregon |publication-place=Vancouver, Washington |access-date=September 2, 2023}}

{{cite news |last=Povtak |first=Tim |date=June 29, 2007 |title=NBA’s future goes West with Oden, Durant |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2007/06/29/nbas-future-goes-west-with-oden-durant-2/ |work=The Orlando Sentinel |access-date=September 5, 2023 |quote=The Pacific Northwest may have become the future of the NBA. [...] By getting Oden, Durant and Green on Thursday, Portland and Seattle almost assured that a strong rivalry will grow between the two}}

{{cite news |last=Booth |first=Tim |agency=Associated Press |date=March 25, 2023 |title=Sonics top Blazers in emotional I-5 rivalry game |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-world-sonics-top-blazers-in-emotiona/131128902/ |work=The World |place=Seattle |publication-place=Coos Bay, Oregon |access-date=September 2, 2023 |quote=But the overwhelming tone on this night was the future of the Sonics and the potential end of the I-5 rivalry with the Blazers.}}

{{cite news |last=Booth |first=Tim |agency=Associated Press |date=January 31, 2010 |title=Blazers keep an eye on void left by Sonics |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bellingham-herald-blazers-keep-an-ey/131346786/ |work=The Bellingham Herald |place=Portland, Oregon |publication-place=Bellingham, Washington |access-date=September 6, 2023 |quote=The once vibrant SuperSonics–Blazers rivalry that divided basketball loyalties in the Pacific Northwest disappeared when the Sonics moved before the 2008 season and became the Oklahoma City Thunder.}}

{{cite news |last=Peterson |first=Anne M. |agency=Associated Press |date=May 13, 2011 |title=Portland, Seattle prepare to inaugurate MLS rivalry |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/may/13/portland-seattle-prepare-to-inaugurate-mls-rivalry/ |work=The Spokesman–Review |place=Portland, Oregon |publication-place=Spokane, Washington |access-date=September 8, 2023}}

{{cite news |last=Horne |first=Erik |date=April 13, 2019 |title=Inside the ties that bind the Thunder and Blazers |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/nba/thunder/2019/04/13/nba-playoffs-inside-the-ties-that-bind-the-thunder-and-blazers/60461947007/ |work=The Oklahoman |access-date=September 6, 2023 |quote=But Blazers vs. Sonics was real, a fierce regional battle over 35 years. Then, suddenly, it wasn’t.}}

{{cite news |last=Calkins |first=Matt |date=April 24, 2019 |title=Seattle had its greatest NBA moment since Sonics left when Damian Lillard waved ‘goodbye’ to OKC |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/nba/seattle-had-its-greatest-nba-moment-since-sonics-left-when-damian-lillard-waved-goodbye-to-okc/ |work=Seattle Times |place=Portland, Oregon |publication-place=Seattle |access-date=September 7, 2023 |quote=The idea of celebrating a Portland victory was unfathomable at one point, but Tuesday, a Portland victory supplied Seattle with its most satisfying NBA moment in more than a decade. Obviously, this city wants to get the Sonics back and go back to hating the Blazers. For one night, though, rivals became allies and provided Seattle with an indelible moment.}}

{{cite news |last=Feldman |first=Dan |date=July 18, 2019 |title=Damian Lillard on shot to beat Thunder: 'That was for Seattle' |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/damian-lillard-on-shot-to-beat-thunder-that-was-for-seattle |work=NBC Sports |access-date=July 18, 2019}}

{{cite news |last=Cowley |first=Jared |date=October 3, 2022 |title=With the Blazers playing a preseason game in Seattle, here's a look back at the Blazers–Sonics rivalry |url=https://www.kgw.com/article/sports/nba/blazers/blazers-sonics-rivalry-a-look-back/283-e81ce53c-9996-43e6-b317-c789ee8d0ea4 |work=KGW |place=Portland, Oregon |access-date=September 7, 2023}}

}}

{{Oklahoma City Thunder}}

{{Portland Trail Blazers}}

{{National Basketball Association rivalries}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:I-5 Rivalry}}

Category:Portland Trail Blazers

Category:Seattle SuperSonics

Category:NBA rivalries