As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of the
game being in constant change, conventional wisdom suggests that
players from different eras cannot be compared. However, I have
decided to defy those odds.
The Oklahoma City Thunder were established as the Seattle
Supersonics, where they called home until 2008. The franchise
relocated to Oklahoma City because it was unable to generate public
funding for a new arena.
Whether their home has been Seattle or Oklahoma City, the franchise
has been a regular in the Western Conference playoffs. The franchise
has been to the NBA Finals four times (1978, 1979, 1996 and 2012)
with the lone victory coming in 1979, which was a 4-1 series win over
the Washington Bullets.
When the franchise moved to Oklahoma City, its name changed to
“Thunder” because of Oklahoma City being located in Tornado Alley.
In addition, Oklahoma City is the home of the U.S. Army’s 45th Infantry
Division, known as the Thunderbirds.
Today, I put together a Thunder/Sonics Dream Team. Though college
football will always be Ticket No. 1 in Oklahoma, the fact that the
Thunder are the lone professional sports franchise generates much
interest.
There are some rigid criteria in making this team. First of all, the player
needed to have played for the Sonics/Thunder for a minimum of four
seasons -- no exceptions. Since the free agency era began 30 years
ago, that standard needs to be in place. Two-year rentals don’t make
this list. This roster is all-encompassing from all eras.
Personality or legal flaws are not a deterrent to making this team. This
is basketball, not the Boy Scouts. Being in the Hall of Fame is the first
consideration coupled with impact on the franchise. The number of
All-NBA seasons are a top consideration with longevity also helping
immensely. While I understand it is hard to compare eras, I’m not
going to convolute this discussion.
Generational reminders
Being on the Sonics/Thunder during a season of being a contender
does not get you a hall pass on this team. However, being on the
Sonics/Thunder during a bad season is no deterrent to getting a spot
on this team. Winning or losing eras, all high-level performers get
considered.
To further the challenge, the modern game has evolved into
positionless basketball. The roster will comprise 15 players
encompassing all eras. The starting lineup will be position specific,
after that it will be the best of the rest with four years playing for the
franchise being the first requirement.
So, if you want to make a case for a player being on the team, don’t
just tell me he should be there and why, tell me who you would
remove. Before you make a case to put someone on the list, ask
yourself, “Who do I take off the list at that position?”
Starters
Point guard: Gary Payton
You might be wondering why Russell Westbrook is not starting?
Westbrook is one of the most spectacular offensive talents ever to
play but Payton is a more well-rounded player and one of the most
complete point guards in NBA history. Payton was nicknamed “The
Glove” because of his defensive prowess. Payton, however, was no
slouch offensively as he averaged 18.2 points, 7.4 assist and 2.1
steals in his 13 seasons with the Sonics. Whereas Westbrook plays
defense as if it were optional.
Payton and then teammate Shawn Kemp formed a spectacular duo
that also led the Sonics to the 1996 NBA finals. Payton is a Hall of
Famer, nine-time All-Star, Defensive Player of the Year in 1996 and
nine-time NBA All Defensive first-team. Payton led the NBA in steals
in 1996.
Shooting guard: Ray Allen
In a sense, Allen was ahead of his time. Today's game has become
about floor spacing and 3-point shooting. Allen is one of the best pure
shooters ever to play the game. Though Allen was a Sonic for only four
years, they were very impactful years. The Hall of Famer finished his
career in Seattle averaging 24.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists
per game. For the time being, Allen owns the NBA 3-point scoring
record.
Allen is a 10 time NBA All Star, two-time All NBA selection (one as a
second-teamer, one as a third teamer). While playing for the Sonics,
Allen became the 97th player in NBA history to score 15,000 career
points. He also moved into second place in the NBA's list of all-time
3-point field goals made. He is now fifth.
Small forward: Kevin Durant
Though Thunder fans were disappointed that Durant left the Thunder
as a free agent to join the rival Golden State Warriors, he remains a
legend in Oklahoma City. Durant gave the fans in Seattle one last
hurrah before the franchise left. Durant became the youngest scoring
champion in NBA history in 2010. Durant averaged 27.4 points and
7.0 rebounds in his nine seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder that
also included a trip to the NBA finals in 2012.
While Durant is one of the most spectacular scorers in NBA history,
he gradually became a much better defensive player. Durant is a
10-time All-Star, NBA MVP in 2014, nine-time All NBA (six as a first-
teamer), NBA Rookie of the Year in 2008 and four-time NBA scoring
champion. Durant, who is now a member of the Brooklyn Nets, is a
surefire Hall of Famer and an all-time great.
Power forward: Spencer Haywood
Haywood spent only five years with the Sonics but they were his most
productive years as an NBA player. Over the course of his time with
the franchise, Haywood set many records, specifically career records
in rebounds per game and minutes per game. He also holds various
franchise records including his 1973-1974 season averaging 13.4
rebounds per game.
In his career with the Sonics, Haywood averaged 24.9 points and 12.1
rebounds per contest. All four of Haywood's All-Star Seasons came
as a member of the Sonics. In that span, he was also a two-time All
NBA first team selection.
Center: Jack Sikma
Sikma was known for two things. For openers, nobody rocked the man
perm like he did. He was also known for his trademark reverse pivot
and then step back behind the head jumper. Sikma remains a Sonics
legend having played for the franchise for nine seasons including the
1979 NBA championship team.
Sikma helped the Sonics reach six playoff appearances. Sikma was a
seven-time All-Star, NBA All-Defensive second team in 1982 and NBA
All-Rookie first team in 1978. For his career, Sikma averaged 15.6
points and 9.8 rebounds per contest. In his time with the Sonics he
was especially known for his playoff performances with his best
coming in 1984, averaging 22.0 points and 10.2 rebounds.
Bench (alphabetical order)
Fred Brown: Nicknamed “Downtown Freddie Brown,” his career got
off to a slow start but averaged 14.6 points per game, 3.3 assists and
1.4 steals. When Brown retired in 1984, he was the franchise leader
in games played, points scored, field goals made, and free throws
made. Brown still holds the franchise's all-time record for points in a
regular-season game with 58, a record that Westbrook has since
equaled, points in a playoff game with 45, a record that Allen also
shares and steals in a game, 10, a record that Gus Williams also
shares. Brown also helped the franchise deliver an NBA
championship in 1979.
Dale Ellis: Ellis’ long range shooting prowess and emphasis on
floor spacing would make him perfect for today's game. Ellis spent
five seasons with the Sonics, averaging 20.9 points and 3.9 rebounds
in that span. Ellis was an All-Star and All NBA in 1989 and NBA Most
Improved Player in 1987.
Dennis Johnson: Johnson is most widely known for his Hall of Fame
career as a Boston Celtic but for his first four seasons in the NBA,
Johnson and teammate Gus Williams formed a very solid backcourt
duo. Johnson helped deliver a championship for the franchise in
1979. In that series, Johnson was NBA Finals MVP, two of his six
All-Star appearances came in a Sonic's uniform and so too did two
of his NBA All-Defensive first-team honors. In a Sonic's uniform,
Johnson averaged 14.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
Shawn Kemp: Kemp was nicknamed “The Reign Man” because of
his freakish athletic dominance. The Sonics picked Kemp with the
17th overall pick in the 1989 draft. After struggling as a rookie, Kemp
became a perennial All-Star. The Sonics were a consistent playoff
participant during his tenure and reached the NBA Finals in 1996.
In his career, Kemp averaged 14.6 points, 8.4 rebounds in 1.2 blocks.
All six of his All-Star seasons came in a Sonics uniform and he was
also a three-time All-NBA second team.
Rashard Lewis: Considering that Lewis was taken with the 32nd pick
of the 1998 NBA draft, the Sonics got some great value out of this pick.
Lewis helped the Sonic to three playoff appearances; his best season
came in 2006-2007 when he averaged 22.4 points and 6.6 rebounds.
Lewis is No. 2 in franchise history in three-pointers made in franchise
history. Lewis played a mixture of small forward and power forward.
Xavier McDaniel: McDaniel was the fourth overall pick in the 1985
NBA draft and in his career with the Sonics he averaged 20.7 points
and 7.0 rebounds per contest in his second seasons. He was one of
a threesome for the Sonics that averaged at least 20 points per game
along with teammate Dale Ellis and Tom Chambers. That season the
Sonics advanced the Western Conference Finals losing to the
eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers. McDaniel was NBA All-
Rookie first team in 1986 and an NBA All-Star in 1988.
Bob Rule: Rule was an original Sonic, drafted in 1967 and was one
of the franchises first great talents. In his four seasons with the
franchise, Rule averaged 21.4 points and 10.0 rebounds. His best
season was 1970-71 more than the averaged 29.8 points 18.5
rebounds. in his fourth season, however, Rule sustained torn Achilles
which curtailed his effectiveness as a player. Rule averaged over 20
points per game in three of his five seasons in Seattle.
Detlef Schrempf: Schrempf played 17 years in the NBA with four
different teams and was impactful on each and every one of them.
The Sonics were no exception from 1993-1999. One of those years,
his contributions helped lead the Sonics to the NBA finals in 1996.
All three of Schrempf’s career All-Star appearances came with the
Sonics and he was all NBA 3rd team in 1995. In his career with the
Sonics, he averaged 16.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest.
Russell Westbrook: Westbrook, who is now a Houston Rocket, is a
franchise Legend and one of the most athletically dominant point
guards in NBA history. In 11 years in Oklahoma City, Westbrook
compiled an average of 23.0 points, 8.4 assists, 7.0 rebounds and
1.8 steals. In 2016-201, Westbrook was the League's MVP becoming
the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double.
Westbrook is a nine-time All-Star, two-time All Star game MVP,
seven-time All NBA (two as a first teamer), two-time NBA scoring
champion and two-time NBA assist leader.
Gus Williams: Williams played seven seasons with the Sonics. He
formed a solid backcourt tandem with Dennis Johnson. Williams
helped deliver an NBA championship to Seattle in 1979. He was
also a two-time NBA All-Star and All-NBA first team in 1982. In his
career with the Sonics, Williams averaged at least 18 points per
game in five of those seasons. Williams was nicknamed “The Wizard.”
In the 1979 NBA finals, Williams averaged an eye-popping 28.6
points per game.
Coach: Lenny Wilkens.
Wilkens is an NBA icon. He has been inducted into the Hall of Fame
as a head coach, player and assistant coach for the 1992 Dream
Team. Wilkens has more victories, 478 regular season, in franchise
history. He also helped deliver a championship to the franchise in
1978-79. From 1969-1972, Wilkins was a player-coach as a Sonic.
After three seasons as the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers,
Wilkins returned for eight seasons with the Sonics. Wilkens coached
for six different teams. He compiled 2,487 regular season wins, 89
more than Don Nelson and over 400 more than any other coach in
NBA history.
Team: 1978-1979.
Though a case could be made for the 1995-1996 team that won 64
games and lost to the Chicago Bulls in the NBA finals 4-2. That Bulls
team won a regular season record 72 games, later broken by the
Warriors (73 in 2015-2016). However, until another team in franchise
history delivers a championship like the 1978-79 team, one will be
hard-pressed to go any other way. Buoyed by a 4-3 NBA Finals loss
one year earlier to the Washington Bullets, the Sonics atoned the
following year. The Sonics went 52-30, garnering the No. 1 seed in
the Western Conference. The Sonics disposed of the Lakers 4-1 in
the Conference Semifinals and outlasted the Phoenix Suns 4-3 in
the Conference Finals before defeating the Bullets 4-1 in the NBA
Finals in the rematch despite losing the first game of the series.
Williams led the team in scoring 19.2 points per game followed by
Hall of Famer Dennis Johnson averaging 15.9 points per contest.
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