Most Seattle Supersonics fans were upset when NBA Commissioner Adam Silver once again delayed an announcement on league expansion. Brian Robinson is not like most fans.

Robinson has been fighting to bring the NBA back to the city ever since the Sonics decamped to Oklahoma after the 2007-2008 season. He has been involved in numerous efforts throughout the years, including being among the leaders in a grassroots effort to create what eventually became Climate Pledge Arena. He also served as executive producer of the Iconic Sonics Podcast, an effort by former Coach George Karl’s Truth + Media to celebrate the history of the club. 

Brian Robinson leads the charge to bring the NBA back to Seattle.

When Silver said on Sept. 9 that the NBA would address expansion at some point “this season,” Robinson remained as optimistic as he’s ever been. He’s been convinced for a while now that the NBA will award Seattle a franchise. Now there’s a real timeline to it.

“There are no indications that the day they announce the process is going to have any impact on the day the team arrives,” says Robinson, a real estate executive. “I don’t blame people for getting a little bit deflated. I don’t blame people for getting excited at every positive milestone, either. The NBA is still on track to begin an expansion process this season. We’ve learned to play the long game.”

Speculation about continued delays revolves around the potential sale of the NBA champion Boston Celtics and a legal dispute involving the NBA’s new TV contract. The league recently signed a new TV deal with Disney (which owns ABC and ESPN), Amazon, and Comcast — which operates NBA TV and Peacock — for about $76 billion for the next 11 years. TNT Sports, which is in the last year of its longtime NBA deal, has filed a lawsuit to block the deal.

Robinson is now a leader of Seattle NBA fans, or SNF, a group formed earlier this year to support the NBA’s return to Seattle. The grassroots volunteer coalition is seeking community members and businesses to lend their name and, possibly, financial support to the effort. The group is holding several events to promote itself and the Sonics’ return. The next is a Seahawks watch party on Oct. 10 at the Columbia Tower Club. 

Robinson notes that the potential ownership group, led by Seattle Kraken owner Samantha Holloway, is ready to go.

“I’m optimistic about our city and what we can do with it, and how this can impact our downtown business environment, how it can impact kids and children, how it can bring us together and inspire people,” Robinson says. “Whatever happens, I can’t control. But we know there’s going to be a process, and we know our ownership group is going for it.”