If you were a fan of the NBA in the 1990s and early aughts, the name Bob Whitsitt probably rings a bell. Dubbed ‘Trader Bob’, Whitsitt was instrumental in transforming the Supersonics and Trail Blazers into powerhouses in the Western Conference. He was the one who drafted Shawn Kemp and then Gary Payton the following year to set Seattle up to contend for years.
Whitsitt is coming out with his own book, Game Changer: An Insider’s Story of the Sonics’ Resurgence, the Trail Blazers’ Turnaround, and the Deal that Saved the Seahawks, which is set to be released on October 10, 2023, and goes into detail about his experiences as a basketball executive. Whitsitt talked with HoopsHype about his nickname ‘Trader Bob’, his thoughts on the Damian Lillard situation, Seattle as a potential expansion team, and more.
