Whether it was as a player, a coach or an executive in the league, Rod Thorn is a name synonymous with excellence in the NBA. Drafted in May 1967 by the expansion Seattle SuperSonics from the St. Louis Hawks in the NBA expansion draft, He would go on to success in the emerald city and conclude his career as a player there. Also known as the ‘Man who drafted Michael Jordan’, Thorn spent decades in the league and has left a permanent imprint on the game today.

Will Conroy, associate Head Coach at the University of Washington and member of the Huskies staff since 2015, joins Iconic Sonics to talk with Mike Gastineau about his Seattle roots. Will remembers what it was like to be a kid during the ’96 Sonics championship run in Seattle, what growing up with an NBA team meant to him, and talks about what he and his friends (including Seattle legend Jamal Crawford) do every year to grow and strengthen the impressive Seattle basketball youth community.

Kendall Gill joins Guest Host Chris Daniels to discuss his run in Seattle with the Sonics in the mid 90s. The 15 year NBA vet also discusses his excellent college career including his first trip to Seattle for the '89 Final Four, his defensive prowess in the League and his post playing days, including boxing and broadcasts for the Chicago Bulls. In particular, Kendall goes deep on his mental health suffering throughout his NBA career and how depression and headaches led to extreme suffering on and off the court. He also discusses his relationship with other Sonics and Coach George Karl during that chapter in Seattle.

Check out this special short episode from our sister podcast, Run It Back, hosted by college hoops great Mateen Cleaves and Josh Barnett from 19Nine.  This week we had Seattle native and 2013 NCAA Champion from the Louisville Cardinals, Peyton Siva on the show.  Listen to hear what he had to say about the Emerald City, his basketball time in the PNW and why players from Seattle bring something special to the court!

Hall of Fame sports journalist David Aldridge joins us for this episode of Iconic Sonics. David, Host Mike Gastineau and Guest Host Chris Daniels discuss the factors that should lead to the return of the Sonics, including the media rights deal, other sports team sales and the Collective Bargaining Agreement. They also discuss how the NBA is evaluating the Seattle Kraken's success, the Crawsover’s popularity and the League's relationship with the Oak View Group.

Big Smooth joins host Mike Gastineau for a thoughtful, fun trip through Sam's 17 year NBA career. The two spend time discussing what he’s up to these days with the NBA, his recent visit to Seattle and memories from the Emerald City in the 90s. Sam also shares stories about his time and relationships with iconic basketball figures Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

Mark Cuban, Owner of the Dallas Mavericks for 20 years, was one of two NBA owners to vote against the relocation of the Sonics to OKC in 2008.  In this Special Interview with Executive Producer Brett Goldberg, Mark talks about the potential opportunity for the return of the NBA to Seattle. 

This LIVE episode was recorded in October 2022 from the Edgewater Hotel in Seattle. Host Mike Gastineau sits down for an intimate discussion with new Hall of Fame coach, George Karl, and is then joined by new Season 4 Guest Host, Chris Daniels. George reflects on his new Hall of Fame Enshrinement as well as his current perspectives on the return of the Sonics, his love for Seattle, and more!

This episode is presented by Rise Above as well as Epic Seats, Swinomish Casino and Lodge, Simply Seattle, Dicks Drive-In and the Edgewater Hotel.

This special LIVE episode was recorded prior to the Clippers-Blazers preseason game in October 2022. It was recorded in front of a packed crowd at the Queen Anne Beer Hall, just three blocks away from the Climate Pledge Arena. Host Mike Gastineau is joined by Coach George Karl and Seattle icon, Detlef Schrempf. The three discuss the status of NBA expansion, the 90s Sonics and Detlef's position amongst all time European greats.

This special LIVE episode is a ‘rewatchable’ event of the Sonics Game 7 victory against the Utah Jazz during the 1996 Western Conference Finals. It's a top 3 game in Sonics basketball history and holds a special place in the hearts of all Seattle hoops fans who experienced it. Host Mike Gastineau is joined by Coach George Karl, Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton and Kevin Calabro and the episode was recorded in front of hundreds of Sonics fans on May 27th at the Dicks Drive In Queen Anne.

Seattle radio legend Dave "The Groz" Grosby joins his old partner-in-crime Mike Gastineau on this episode of Iconic Sonics to talk about the team they love and the city they covered for nearly two decades. On this episode we talk about the past, present and future of the Seattle Sonics and look ahead at the potential return of the team to the PNW.

Seattle businessman Chris Ackerley joins the Show to talk basketball and the Sonics. The son of the former Sonics owner, Chris shares memories of the team in the 80s and 90s and discusses the potential return of the NBA to Seattle.

Mike Gastineau and Co-Host Eldridge Recasner are joined by Haitian born NBA player Olden Polynice who played center for the Seattle SuperSonics, LA Clippers, Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings, and Utah Jazz. On the show we discuss Olden's time playing in Seattle, the role of the "Big Man" (then and now) and how his transition to coaching has allowed him to stay in the game and teach the next generation how to play the game both mentally and physically.

Senior NBA writer for ESPN's The Undefeated and Andscape, Marc J. Spears sits down with Mike Gastineau and newly inducted Hall of Fame coach George Karl for a conversation on the state of the NBA, how the media (and social media) is playing into the game today and how Marc's storytelling is helping to define the league like never before.

Seven year NBA player and former Sonic Jim McIlvaine joins the Show to discuss his time in Seattle and his hoops career. A defensive specialist and standout at Marquette, Jim shares illuminating stories about his time in Seattle, including the circumstances around Shawn Kemp.

Sonics legend James Donaldson is our guest as we walk through his career in the NBA, being drafted by and playing for the Sonics, the era of the "Big Man" and how he's now focused on mental health awareness and breaking it's stigma in sports.

We welcome to the show Derrick McKey who started his basketball career in small town Meridian Mississippi, played 3 years at the University of Alabama and ended up playing in the NBA for 15 years (6 with the Sonics). We also welcome our new co-host for the show, Eldridge Recasner (Iconic Sonics Ep. 33) who along with Mike Gastineau talk to Derrick on his long and successful career, the origin his nickname "Heavy D", and playing against Michael Jordan and the '98 Bulls.

Former Sonic Detlef Schrempf (aka The Grand Teuton) joins the show to give us some insight into what it was like to play on the '96 NBA Finals team, being one of the first NCAA players from Europe, dunking in rec leagues between NBA games, and his future in Seattle basketball.

With sports gambling being ever present in the professional leagues and becoming more and more popular every day, we invited gambling expert Bran Feinberg and marketing/creative guru Saul Spady on the show to talk about best bets, tricks of the trade and how to not lose all your money on in-game betting!

Talk about ICONIC! Spencer Haywood is our guest to talk about his years in the NBA and time playing for the Sonics. We also get into his 50th anniversary jersey retirement and his lasting effect on the game of basketball, largely because he provided the 1970 legal test case that opened the NBA to undergraduate college players.