Iconic Sonics

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.

This episode is brought to you by Dicks Drive In, Simply Seattle and Rise Above as well as Swinomish Casino and Lodge, the Edgewater Hotel, Link and the Run Freely Foundation. 

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 town they covered for nearly two decades. Here, Groz and Gas talk about the past, present and future of the Seattle Sonics and look ahead at the potential return of the team to the PNW. This episode is presented by Swinomish Casino and Lodge, Dicks Drive-in and the Run Freely Foundation.

Seattle businessman Chris Ackerley joins the Show to talk basketball, the Sonics and the Kraken. 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. This episode is presented by Swinomish Casino and Lodge, Dicks Drive-In and RunFreely.

Senior NBA writer for ESPN and Andscape (formerly the Undefeated), Marc Spears joins us, along with newly inducted Hall of Fame coach George Karl, for a conversation on the state of the NBA, how the media now interacts with the sport and the status of hoops in Seattle. This episode is presented by Swinomish Casino and Lodge, Dicks Drive-in and the Run Freely Foundation.

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. This is presented by Swinomish Casino and Lodge, Dicks Drive-In and RunFreely.

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. This is presented by Swinomish Casino and Lodge, Dicks Drive-In and RunFreely.

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. This is presented by Swinomish Casino and Lodge, Dicks Drive-In and RunFreely.

With sports gambling now being HUGE in professional sports 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! This is presented by Swinomish Casino and Lodge, Dicks Drive-In and RunFreely.

Talk about ICONIC! Spencer Haywood joins us again to talk about his years in the NBA and time playing for the Sonics. We also get into the 15th anniversary of his jersey retirement in Seattle and his lasting effect on the game of basketball, largely due to his legal case vs the NBA 50 years ago. This is presented by Swinomish Casino and Lodge, Dicks Drive-In and RunFreely.

Although never a Sonic, he was an NBA fixture for years and one of the great players at University of Washington. Eldridge Recasner joins the show to talk about his friend Gary Payton, playing in Taiwan with Shawn Kemp and how a cocky George Karl devised an illegal defense to guard Hakeem Olajuwon in the 90's. This is presented by Swinomish Casino and Lodge, Dicks Drive-In and RunFreely.

Broadcasting legend Kenny Mayne joins the show for a second time to dig into all things Sonics history, the new world of legal sports gambling and how an injury in college led Kenny to start an organization that is helping veterans and others walk pain-free again.

This is presented by Swinomish Casino and Lodge, Dicks Drive-In and RunFreely.

Tod Leiweke, part-owner, president and CEO of the Seattle Kraken joins the show today to talk about the Sonics, Seattle and Sports in the PNW. Go behind the scenes with us at Climate Pledge Arena, catch up on the NHL’s hottest new team and get the inside scoop on the Sonics returning to the city. This is presented by Swinomish Casino and Lodge, Dicks Drive-In and RunFreely.

We welcome Francis Williams (legendary Seattle Coach) and Danny O'Neil (local Seattle writer) to the Show to talk about the 90's Sonics, Ray Allen's sharpshooting and the trade for GP, how LeBron has changed the game and what 'The Last Dance' taught us about media in the game.

This is presented by Swinomish Casino and Lodge, Dicks Drive-In and RunFreely.

Frank Brickowski joins the show today to talk his about his two stints with the Sonics, shooting Coach George Karl in the face with a paintball gun, all night gambling sessions with Michael Jordan and how he helped Seattle make it to the 1996 NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls.

This is presented by Swinomish Casino and Lodge, Dicks Drive-In and RunFreely.

Our friends "Mix" and Jason Finn from 'The Presidents of The United States of America' join the show today to talk about the team that was so important to them, the music that influenced and included the Sonics family, and what those golden years of the team meant to the city and the fans. They also talk about NBA expansion and what it means when the Sonics return.

This is presented by Swinomish Casino and Lodge, Dicks Drive-In and RunFreely.

In this episode, Host Mike Gastineau is joined by David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and a former Seattle media broadcaster. David is also the CEO of the Locked On Network. Mike and David discuss today's NBA and where the League is headed. They also talk about NBA expansion and where the League may consider new teams. This is presented by Swinomish Casino and Lodge, Dicks Drive-In and RunFreely.

In the first episode of the new season, Host Mike Gastineau is joined by Seattle Hoops legend Spencer Hawes and Chris Daniels of King5 TV. The three talk about the latest developments in the pending return of the Sonics, including the recent dedication of Lenny Wilkens Way. They also discuss Seattle's new arena, Sue Bird and the Storm and more. This is presented by Swinomish Casino, Dicks Drive-In and RunFreely. This episode is dedicated to Frank Furtado, the long-time trainer of the Seattle SuperSonics.