Seattle author Sherman Alexie brought some much-needed emotion to the trial between the City of Seattle and the Sonics over terms of the KeyArena lease.

Animated and passionate, Alexie testified for about 45 minutes, highlighting the importance of the Sonics to the social and cultural fabric of the Seattle area.

Alexie also addressed reporters for 20 minutes after his testimony.

A season-ticket holder for 12 years, the Eastern Washington native said he became interested in the Sonics when the team drafted Gary Payton and has been an intense fan ever since.

Alexie said he likes professional basketball because of the diversity on the floor and in the stands.

"To be blunt, there’s a lot more black people in KeyArena during a basketball game than pretty much any other mainstream event in Seattle, and especially black youth," he said.

Alexis, who is American Indian, said he felt comfortable at KeyArena because of the diversity, which was much different than the mostly white demographic found throughout the Seattle area.

"The way to feel less like a freak is to be in a room with freaks. So that’s what KeyArena is like. I’m in a room with all of these freaks from all over the world."

Alexie also went on to say the team's struggles has led to dwindling attendance at Sonics games, and that a disconnect between Sonics fans was created by trading away franchise cornerstone Ray Allen and not resigning Rashard Lewis.

But Alexie believes the Sonics could thrive financially if they were allowed to stay and grow around budding superstar Kevin Durant.

"When it comes to fans it's a pretty basic formula," he said. "You win games, you fill the arena."

Alexie talked about the generational fans that have followed the team during its 41-year history, describing a scene in the stands at the last home game where a mother held a drawing of a Sonics basketball game that her son made 30 years ago when he was 6 years old.

He had nothing but good things to say about Oklahoma City, a place he has visited three times and said he kissed a Native American woman for the first time. But he also said because of the small market that Oklahoma City would struggle to attract big-time free agents, and also would struggle to resign Kevin Durant once his rookie contract runs its course.

If the Sonics do leave, Alexie said he'll still follow team, but doesn't know for how long.

"It’s about the players," Alexie said. "It’s still about the game on the court. I still will want Earl Watson to be playing instead of Luke Ridnour. My love of the game and my love of this team is not going to change. They’re not getting my money. But that’s how much I love this team and how much I love this game.

“It’s like a divorce. It will be a divorce, but an amicable one, and we’ll share custody of Earl Watson. It will be love long distance. And love long distance fades."

A tearful Alexie finished the media interview by talking about how his love for basketball developed through his relationship with his father, and what it meant to bring his father to the game before he passed away.

"He just sat there and he didn't say much," Alexie said. "And then he looked at me and he said, 'These are great seats. And I knew what that meant. It was an acknowledgment of an incredible journey. And it was him and my mother that enabled that journey to happen.

"I sit in the arena with my father's ghost. No matter who's in the arena sitting next to me, my father is in between us."

Listen to Alexie talk here.

KJR’s Mitch Levy talked to ESPN legal analyst Roger Cossack about the City of Seattle’s case against the Sonics.