Spencer Haywood was finally recognized by the SuperSonics on Monday night for his accomplishments on the floor and his fight in the courts, 32 years after he last played in Seattle.
And yet, there was sadness accompanying Haywood's honor.
Haywood's No. 24 was retired at halftime of Monday's game between Seattle and Portland. And while Haywood was proud about the moment finally arriving, there was sorrow too, following the last week's death of Dennis Johnson, who also wore No. 24 in his time with the Sonics.
"For me it's a high, and then it's a little bit of a low because I know DJ would have loved to have been here," Haywood said before the game. "He's here in all of our hearts."