The Sonics were Seattle's first professional sports franchise. They began play in October, 1967, but did not make a playoff appearance until 1975. They went to their first NBA Finals in 1978 (and lost), but won the NBA championship in 1979. They have been division champions in 1979, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2005. The team has been owned by Sam Schulman (1967?1983), Barry Ackerley (1983?2001), and now Howard Schultz (the chairman of Starbucks Coffee) (2001?present).

--Wikipedia