Last Updated on September 13, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
League Search Page > NBA > Seattle SuperSonics > Roster & Statistics
The Seattle SuperSonics 1997–98 paired a high-powered offense with balanced production, led by Gary Payton’s scoring, playmaking, and defensive impact. Vin Baker and Detlef Schrempf supplied reliable secondary scoring and rebounding, while Hersey Hawkins stretched the floor with efficient perimeter shooting. The team’s statistics reflect strong offensive efficiency, effective ball movement, and solid overall defense, supporting one of the league’s best regular-season records.
Roster
| NO. | PLAYER NAME | POS | HT | WT | DATE OF BIRTH | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Greg Anthony | PG | 6-0 | 176 | November 15, 1967 | University of Portland, UNLV |
| 4 | James Cotton | SG | 6-5 | 220 | December 14, 1975 | Cal State Long Beach |
| 7 | Jerome Kersey | SF | 6-7 | 215 | June 26, 1962 | Longwood University |
| 9 | Dale Ellis | SF | 6-7 | 205 | August 6, 1960 | Tennessee |
| 10 | Nate McMillan | SG | 6-5 | 195 | August 3, 1964 | NC State |
| 11 | Detlef Schrempf | SF | 6-10 | 235 | January 21, 1963 | Washington |
| 13 | Eric Snow | PG | 6-3 | 190 | April 24, 1973 | Michigan State |
| 14 | Sam Perkins | PF | 6-9 | 235 | June 14, 1961 | UNC |
| 15 | Aaron Williams | PF | 6-9 | 220 | October 2, 1971 | Xavier |
| 20 | Gary Payton | PG | 6-4 | 180 | July 23, 1968 | Oregon State |
| 22 | Jim McIlvaine | C | 7-1 | 240 | July 30, 1972 | Marquette |
| 25 | David Wingate | SG | 6-5 | 185 | December 15, 1963 | Georgetown |
| 33 | Hersey Hawkins | SG | 6-3 | 190 | September 29, 1966 | Bradley |
| 42 | Vin Baker | C | 6-11 | 232 | November 23, 1971 | University of Hartford |
| 44 | Stephen Howard | SF | 6-9 | 225 | July 15, 1970 | DePaul |
| 52 | George Zídek | C | 7-0 | 250 | August 2, 1973 | UCLA |
Regular Season Per Game
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Payton | PG | 29 | 82 | 82 | 38.4 | 19.2 | 4.6 | 8.3 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 2.8 | 15.6 | 7.1 | .453 | 4.8 | 1.6 | .338 | 4.6 | 3.4 | .744 |
| Vin Baker | C | 26 | 82 | 82 | 35.9 | 19.2 | 8.0 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 14.2 | 7.7 | .542 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .143 | 6.4 | 3.8 | .591 |
| Detlef Schrempf | SF | 35 | 78 | 78 | 35.2 | 15.8 | 7.1 | 4.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 11.5 | 5.6 | .487 | 1.9 | 0.8 | .415 | 4.5 | 3.8 | .844 |
| Dale Ellis | SF | 37 | 79 | 0 | 24.5 | 11.8 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 8.9 | 4.4 | .497 | 3.5 | 1.6 | .464 | 1.8 | 1.4 | .782 |
| Hersey Hawkins | SG | 31 | 82 | 82 | 31.7 | 10.5 | 4.1 | 2.7 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 7.8 | 3.4 | .440 | 3.7 | 1.5 | .415 | 2.5 | 2.2 | .868 |
| Sam Perkins | PF | 36 | 81 | 0 | 20.7 | 7.2 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 5.8 | 2.4 | .416 | 2.7 | 1.1 | .392 | 1.6 | 1.2 | .789 |
| Greg Anthony | PG | 30 | 80 | 0 | 12.8 | 5.2 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 1.1 | 4.4 | 1.9 | .430 | 2.0 | 0.8 | .415 | 1.0 | 0.7 | .663 |
| Aaron Williams | PF | 26 | 65 | 9 | 11.6 | 4.6 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 1.8 | .523 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 1.3 | 1.0 | .776 |
| Jim McIlvaine | C | 25 | 78 | 72 | 15.5 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 1.3 | .453 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 1.0 | 0.6 | .556 |
| Jerome Kersey | SF | 35 | 37 | 2 | 19.4 | 6.3 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 6.3 | 2.6 | .416 | 0.3 | 0.0 | .100 | 1.8 | 1.1 | .600 |
| David Wingate | SG | 34 | 58 | 2 | 9.4 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 1.1 | .471 | 0.1 | 0.1 | .429 | 0.5 | 0.3 | .517 |
| Nate McMillan | SG | 33 | 18 | 1 | 15.5 | 3.4 | 2.2 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 3.7 | 1.3 | .343 | 1.9 | 0.8 | .441 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.000 |
| Eric Snow | PG | 24 | 17 | 0 | 4.4 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.6 | .435 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.6 | 0.3 | .500 |
| Stephen Howard | SF | 27 | 13 | 0 | 4.1 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 0.6 | .381 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 0.7 | .500 | |
| James Cotton | SG | 22 | 9 | 0 | 3.7 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 0.9 | .381 | 0.4 | 0.0 | .000 | 1.0 | 0.9 | .889 |
| George Zídek | C | 24 | 6 | 0 | 3.7 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 2.3 | 0.5 | .214 | 0.3 | 0.2 | .500 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.000 |
| Team Totals | 82 | 82 | 240.9 | 100.6 | 38.5 | 24.2 | 9.8 | 4.6 | 14.0 | 78.8 | 37.2 | .473 | 19.1 | 7.6 | .396 | 25.7 | 18.5 | .721 |
Playoff Per Game
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Payton | PG | 29 | 10 | 10 | 42.8 | 24.0 | 3.4 | 7.0 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 2.6 | 18.3 | 8.7 | .475 | 5.0 | 1.9 | .380 | 5.0 | 4.7 | .940 |
| Detlef Schrempf | SF | 35 | 10 | 10 | 37.5 | 16.1 | 7.7 | 3.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 2.2 | 12.5 | 6.4 | .512 | 1.4 | 0.2 | .143 | 3.8 | 3.1 | .816 |
| Vin Baker | C | 26 | 10 | 10 | 37.1 | 15.8 | 9.4 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 13.4 | 7.1 | .530 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.8 | 1.6 | .421 | |
| Hersey Hawkins | SG | 31 | 10 | 10 | 33.7 | 13.4 | 5.7 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 8.8 | 4.1 | .466 | 4.3 | 1.7 | .395 | 4.0 | 3.5 | .875 |
| Jerome Kersey | SF | 35 | 10 | 5 | 21.3 | 7.8 | 4.0 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 7.2 | 3.1 | .431 | 0.3 | 0.0 | .000 | 1.9 | 1.6 | .842 |
| Dale Ellis | SF | 37 | 10 | 0 | 17.0 | 5.6 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 5.3 | 2.0 | .377 | 2.6 | 1.1 | .423 | 0.6 | 0.5 | .833 |
| Sam Perkins | PF | 36 | 10 | 1 | 21.0 | 5.4 | 3.2 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 4.2 | 1.6 | .381 | 2.4 | 1.0 | .417 | 2.0 | 1.2 | .600 |
| Greg Anthony | PG | 30 | 9 | 0 | 13.1 | 3.6 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 4.4 | 1.3 | .300 | 2.1 | 0.6 | .263 | 0.9 | 0.3 | .375 |
| Nate McMillan | SG | 33 | 7 | 0 | 14.1 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2.6 | 0.9 | .333 | 1.7 | 0.3 | .167 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.000 |
| Jim McIlvaine | C | 25 | 6 | 4 | 9.8 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 3.3 | 1.0 | .300 | 0.2 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.3 | 0.2 | .500 |
| David Wingate | SG | 34 | 3 | 0 | 4.3 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | .400 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1.3 | .667 | |
| Aaron Williams | PF | 26 | 3 | 0 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.000 | |
| Team Totals | 10 | 10 | 240.0 | 95.2 | 38.8 | 22.0 | 8.7 | 4.3 | 12.7 | 78.3 | 35.6 | .455 | 19.2 | 6.6 | .344 | 23.1 | 17.4 | .753 |
Regular Season Per 36 Mins
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MP | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Payton | PG | 29 | 82 | 82 | 3145 | 18.0 | 4.3 | 7.8 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 2.6 | 14.6 | 6.6 | .453 | 4.5 | 1.5 | .338 | 4.3 | 3.2 | .744 |
| Vin Baker | C | 26 | 82 | 82 | 2944 | 19.2 | 8.0 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 14.2 | 7.7 | .542 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .143 | 6.4 | 3.8 | .591 |
| Detlef Schrempf | SF | 35 | 78 | 78 | 2742 | 16.2 | 7.3 | 4.5 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 11.8 | 5.7 | .487 | 1.9 | 0.8 | .415 | 4.6 | 3.9 | .844 |
| Dale Ellis | SF | 37 | 79 | 0 | 1939 | 17.3 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 13.0 | 6.5 | .497 | 5.1 | 2.4 | .464 | 2.6 | 2.1 | .782 |
| Hersey Hawkins | SG | 31 | 82 | 82 | 2597 | 11.9 | 4.6 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 8.8 | 3.9 | .440 | 4.2 | 1.7 | .415 | 2.8 | 2.5 | .868 |
| Sam Perkins | PF | 36 | 81 | 0 | 1675 | 12.5 | 5.5 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 10.1 | 4.2 | .416 | 4.8 | 1.9 | .392 | 2.8 | 2.2 | .789 |
| Greg Anthony | PG | 30 | 80 | 0 | 1021 | 14.8 | 3.9 | 7.2 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 3.2 | 12.3 | 5.3 | .430 | 5.6 | 2.3 | .415 | 2.8 | 1.9 | .663 |
| Aaron Williams | PF | 26 | 65 | 9 | 757 | 14.1 | 7.0 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 10.5 | 5.5 | .523 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 4.0 | 3.1 | .776 |
| Jim McIlvaine | C | 25 | 78 | 72 | 1211 | 7.3 | 7.7 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 4.1 | 1.6 | 6.6 | 3.0 | .453 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .000 | 2.4 | 1.3 | .556 |
| Jerome Kersey | SF | 35 | 37 | 2 | 717 | 11.7 | 6.8 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 11.7 | 4.9 | .416 | 0.5 | 0.1 | .100 | 3.3 | 2.0 | .600 |
| David Wingate | SG | 34 | 58 | 2 | 546 | 9.9 | 5.2 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 2.4 | 9.2 | 4.4 | .471 | 0.5 | 0.2 | .429 | 1.9 | 1.0 | .517 |
| Nate McMillan | SG | 33 | 18 | 1 | 279 | 8.0 | 5.2 | 7.1 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 8.6 | 3.0 | .343 | 4.4 | 1.9 | .441 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.000 |
| Eric Snow | PG | 24 | 17 | 0 | 74 | 12.2 | 1.9 | 6.3 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 5.8 | 11.2 | 4.9 | .435 | 0.5 | 0.0 | .000 | 4.9 | 2.4 | .500 |
| Stephen Howard | SF | 27 | 13 | 0 | 53 | 17.0 | 8.2 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 4.1 | 14.3 | 5.4 | .381 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12.2 | 6.1 | .500 | |
| James Cotton | SG | 22 | 9 | 0 | 33 | 26.2 | 6.5 | 0.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 6.5 | 22.9 | 8.7 | .381 | 4.4 | 0.0 | .000 | 9.8 | 8.7 | .889 |
| George Zídek | C | 24 | 6 | 0 | 22 | 18.0 | 6.5 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 22.9 | 4.9 | .214 | 3.3 | 1.6 | .500 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 1.000 |
Playoff Per 36 Mins
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MP | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Payton | PG | 29 | 10 | 10 | 428 | 20.2 | 2.9 | 5.9 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 2.2 | 15.4 | 7.3 | .475 | 4.2 | 1.6 | .380 | 4.2 | 4.0 | .940 |
| Detlef Schrempf | SF | 35 | 10 | 10 | 375 | 15.5 | 7.4 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 2.1 | 12.0 | 6.1 | .512 | 1.3 | 0.2 | .143 | 3.6 | 3.0 | .816 |
| Vin Baker | C | 26 | 10 | 10 | 371 | 15.3 | 9.1 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 13.0 | 6.9 | .530 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.7 | 1.6 | .421 | |
| Hersey Hawkins | SG | 31 | 10 | 10 | 337 | 14.3 | 6.1 | 3.8 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 9.4 | 4.4 | .466 | 4.6 | 1.8 | .395 | 4.3 | 3.7 | .875 |
| Jerome Kersey | SF | 35 | 10 | 5 | 213 | 13.2 | 6.8 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 12.2 | 5.2 | .431 | 0.5 | 0.0 | .000 | 3.2 | 2.7 | .842 |
| Dale Ellis | SF | 37 | 10 | 0 | 170 | 11.9 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 11.2 | 4.2 | .377 | 5.5 | 2.3 | .423 | 1.3 | 1.1 | .833 |
| Aaron Williams | PF | 26 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10.3 | 5.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 15.4 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10.3 | 10.3 | 1.000 | |
| Greg Anthony | PG | 30 | 9 | 0 | 118 | 9.8 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 3.4 | 12.2 | 3.7 | .300 | 5.8 | 1.5 | .263 | 2.4 | 0.9 | .375 |
| Sam Perkins | PF | 36 | 10 | 1 | 210 | 9.3 | 5.5 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 7.2 | 2.7 | .381 | 4.1 | 1.7 | .417 | 3.4 | 2.1 | .600 |
| Jim McIlvaine | C | 25 | 6 | 4 | 59 | 7.9 | 6.1 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 12.2 | 3.7 | .300 | 0.6 | 0.0 | .000 | 1.2 | 0.6 | .500 |
| Nate McMillan | SG | 33 | 7 | 0 | 99 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.5 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 6.5 | 2.2 | .333 | 4.4 | 0.7 | .167 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.000 |
| David Wingate | SG | 34 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 22.2 | 11.1 | 5.5 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 2.8 | 13.8 | 5.5 | .400 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 16.6 | 11.1 | .667 |
Regular Season Totals
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MP | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vin Baker | C | 26 | 82 | 82 | 2944 | 1574 | 656 | 152 | 91 | 86 | 174 | 1164 | 631 | .542 | 7 | 1 | .143 | 526 | 311 | .591 |
| Gary Payton | PG | 29 | 82 | 82 | 3145 | 1571 | 376 | 679 | 185 | 18 | 229 | 1278 | 579 | .453 | 397 | 134 | .338 | 375 | 279 | .744 |
| Detlef Schrempf | SF | 35 | 78 | 78 | 2742 | 1232 | 554 | 341 | 60 | 19 | 168 | 898 | 437 | .487 | 147 | 61 | .415 | 352 | 297 | .844 |
| Dale Ellis | SF | 37 | 79 | 0 | 1939 | 934 | 184 | 89 | 60 | 5 | 74 | 700 | 348 | .497 | 274 | 127 | .464 | 142 | 111 | .782 |
| Hersey Hawkins | SG | 31 | 82 | 82 | 2597 | 862 | 334 | 221 | 148 | 17 | 102 | 636 | 280 | .440 | 301 | 125 | .415 | 204 | 177 | .868 |
| Sam Perkins | PF | 36 | 81 | 0 | 1675 | 580 | 255 | 113 | 62 | 29 | 62 | 471 | 196 | .416 | 222 | 87 | .392 | 128 | 101 | .789 |
| Greg Anthony | PG | 30 | 80 | 0 | 1021 | 419 | 111 | 205 | 64 | 3 | 91 | 349 | 150 | .430 | 159 | 66 | .415 | 80 | 53 | .663 |
| Aaron Williams | PF | 26 | 65 | 9 | 757 | 296 | 147 | 14 | 19 | 38 | 50 | 220 | 115 | .523 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 85 | 66 | .776 |
| Jim McIlvaine | C | 25 | 78 | 72 | 1211 | 247 | 259 | 19 | 24 | 137 | 54 | 223 | 101 | .453 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 81 | 45 | .556 |
| Jerome Kersey | SF | 35 | 37 | 2 | 717 | 234 | 135 | 44 | 52 | 14 | 36 | 233 | 97 | .416 | 10 | 1 | .100 | 65 | 39 | .600 |
| David Wingate | SG | 34 | 58 | 2 | 546 | 150 | 79 | 37 | 21 | 3 | 37 | 140 | 66 | .471 | 7 | 3 | .429 | 29 | 15 | .517 |
| Nate McMillan | SG | 33 | 18 | 1 | 279 | 62 | 40 | 55 | 14 | 4 | 12 | 67 | 23 | .343 | 34 | 15 | .441 | 1 | 1 | 1.000 |
| Eric Snow | PG | 24 | 17 | 0 | 74 | 25 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 23 | 10 | .435 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 10 | 5 | .500 |
| Stephen Howard | SF | 27 | 13 | 0 | 53 | 25 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 21 | 8 | .381 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 9 | .500 | |
| James Cotton | SG | 22 | 9 | 0 | 33 | 24 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 21 | 8 | .381 | 4 | 0 | .000 | 9 | 8 | .889 |
| George Zídek | C | 24 | 6 | 0 | 22 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 3 | .214 | 2 | 1 | .500 | 4 | 4 | 1.000 |
| Team Totals | 82 | 82 | 19755 | 8246 | 3156 | 1986 | 804 | 376 | 1114 | 6458 | 3052 | .473 | 1569 | 621 | .396 | 2109 | 1521 | .721 |
Playoff Totals
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MP | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Payton | PG | 29 | 10 | 10 | 428 | 240 | 34 | 70 | 18 | 1 | 26 | 183 | 87 | .475 | 50 | 19 | .380 | 50 | 47 | .940 |
| Detlef Schrempf | SF | 35 | 10 | 10 | 375 | 161 | 77 | 39 | 7 | 1 | 22 | 125 | 64 | .512 | 14 | 2 | .143 | 38 | 31 | .816 |
| Vin Baker | C | 26 | 10 | 10 | 371 | 158 | 94 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 22 | 134 | 71 | .530 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 16 | .421 | |
| Hersey Hawkins | SG | 31 | 10 | 10 | 337 | 134 | 57 | 36 | 18 | 1 | 9 | 88 | 41 | .466 | 43 | 17 | .395 | 40 | 35 | .875 |
| Jerome Kersey | SF | 35 | 10 | 5 | 213 | 78 | 40 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 72 | 31 | .431 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 19 | 16 | .842 |
| Dale Ellis | SF | 37 | 10 | 0 | 170 | 56 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 53 | 20 | .377 | 26 | 11 | .423 | 6 | 5 | .833 |
| Sam Perkins | PF | 36 | 10 | 1 | 210 | 54 | 32 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 42 | 16 | .381 | 24 | 10 | .417 | 20 | 12 | .600 |
| Greg Anthony | PG | 30 | 9 | 0 | 118 | 32 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 40 | 12 | .300 | 19 | 5 | .263 | 8 | 3 | .375 |
| Nate McMillan | SG | 33 | 7 | 0 | 99 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 6 | .333 | 12 | 2 | .167 | 2 | 2 | 1.000 |
| Jim McIlvaine | C | 25 | 6 | 4 | 59 | 13 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 20 | 6 | .300 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 2 | 1 | .500 |
| David Wingate | SG | 34 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | .400 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | .667 | |
| Aaron Williams | PF | 26 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1.000 | |
| Team Totals | 10 | 10 | 2400 | 952 | 388 | 220 | 87 | 43 | 121 | 783 | 356 | .455 | 192 | 66 | .344 | 231 | 174 | .753 |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Regular Season Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Payton | Franchise Floor General (1.1) | 38.4 | High (1.2) | 19.2 | 4.6 | 8.3 | 2.5 | 91.08 | Seattle’s entire attack revolved around Payton’s command of the ball, with George Karl trusting him to dictate pace, pressure opposing guards and initiate virtually every half-court action. National coverage consistently praised the way he blended elite perimeter defense with increasingly polished post play against smaller guards. | All-Star (1998), All-NBA First Team (1998), NBA All-Defensive First Team (1998), MVP Voting – 3rd (1998), Defensive Player of the Year Voting – 2nd (1998) |
| Vin Baker | Interior Offensive Hub (1.1) | 35.9 | High (1.2) | 19.2 | 8.0 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 82.37 | Baker functioned as Seattle’s primary interior scorer, thriving on deep seals, quick spins and transition finishes. Writers regularly highlighted how his mobility separated him from traditional centers, giving the Sonics a frontcourt scorer who could punish mismatches before defenses became set. | All-Star (1998), All-NBA Second Team (1998), MVP Voting – 8th (1998) |
| Detlef Schrempf | Secondary Offensive Creator (1.05) | 35.2 | Medium (1.1) | 15.8 | 7.1 | 4.4 | 1.0 | 65.16 | Schrempf quietly connected every lineup through smart passing and floor spacing, often becoming the release valve when defenses trapped Payton. Independent season coverage repeatedly pointed to his versatility as one of the reasons Seattle’s offense remained difficult to scheme against. | — |
| Hersey Hawkins | Starting Two-Way Wing (1.05) | 31.7 | Medium (1.1) | 10.5 | 4.1 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 44.58 | Rather than chasing shots, Hawkins embraced an off-ball role built around perimeter spacing and disciplined wing defense. Coaches frequently trusted him with difficult backcourt assignments while relying on his efficient catch-and-shoot game to keep driving lanes open. | — |
| Dale Ellis | Sixth Man Marksman (1.0) | 24.5 | Medium (1.1) | 11.8 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 35.42 | Ellis gave Seattle instant shooting whenever the second unit entered, and opposing defenses continued to stay attached to him well beyond the arc. Local reporting often described his professionalism and veteran shot-making as invaluable despite reduced minutes. | Sixth Man of the Year Voting – 3rd (1998) |
| Sam Perkins | Stretch Frontcourt Veteran (1.0) | 20.7 | Low (1.0) | 7.2 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 25.80 | Perkins stretched opposing big men away from the basket and remained one of the league’s more respected pick-and-pop forwards. His value came from spacing, experience and defensive positioning rather than high-volume scoring opportunities. | — |
| Jerome Kersey | Defensive Utility Forward (1.0) | 19.4 | Low (1.0) | 6.3 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 25.80 | Kersey accepted a physical defensive role, frequently matching up with stronger forwards while bringing energy in transition. Contemporary reporting emphasized his leadership and willingness to fill whatever role the roster required. | — |
| Greg Anthony | Reserve Tempo Guard (1.0) | 12.8 | Low (1.0) | 5.2 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 20.00 | Anthony’s responsibility was to keep the offense organized without disrupting Seattle’s rhythm. His aggressive point-of-attack defense and steady ball handling made him a dependable second-unit organizer. | — |
| Jim McIlvaine | Rim-Protecting Specialist (1.05) | 15.5 | Low (1.0) | 3.2 | 3.3 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 18.06 | McIlvaine’s minutes were tied almost entirely to interior defense, with George Karl using him as a situational shot blocker. Analysts remained divided on his offensive limitations, but his paint protection was the clear reason he stayed in the rotation. | — |
| Aaron Williams | Energy Frontcourt Reserve (1.0) | 11.6 | Low (1.0) | 4.6 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 16.00 | Williams earned trust through hustle plays, offensive rebounds and physical interior defense. His offensive responsibilities stayed deliberately simple, allowing him to focus on rebounding and finishing around the basket. | — |
| Nate McMillan | Veteran Defensive Guard (1.0) | 15.5 | Low (1.0) | 3.4 | 2.2 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 19.40 | Near the end of his career, McMillan remained a calming defensive presence whose leadership extended well beyond the box score. Teammates and reporters routinely praised his professionalism and basketball IQ. | — |
| David Wingate | Reserve Wing Defender (1.0) | 9.4 | Low (1.0) | 2.6 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 10.20 | Wingate filled occasional defensive assignments on the perimeter whenever depth was needed. Contemporary independent coverage of his season was limited, reflecting his situational role in the rotation. | — |
| James Cotton | Developmental Shooting Guard (1.0) | 3.7 | Low (1.0) | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 7.20 | Cotton appeared only briefly and spent most of the year outside the regular rotation. Independent reporting from the season was sparse, with available coverage focusing mainly on his developmental status. | — |
| Stephen Howard | End-of-Rotation Forward (1.0) | 4.1 | Low (1.0) | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 6.60 | Howard saw limited opportunities in a veteran roster loaded with experienced forwards. Contemporary independent discussion was minimal, reflecting his emergency depth role during the season. | — |
| George Zídek | Developmental Reserve Center (1.0) | 3.7 | Low (1.0) | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 5.40 | Zídek played only in brief appearances while adjusting to the NBA game. Independent coverage of his rookie campaign was limited, with most attention directed toward his long-term development rather than immediate production. | — |
| Eric Snow | Rookie Reserve Floor General (1.0) | 4.4 | Low (1.0) | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 5.20 | Snow spent most of the season learning behind experienced guards, showing flashes of the defensive toughness and composure that scouts believed would eventually translate into a larger role. His opportunities were understandably scarce on a veteran contender. | — |
| Team Totals | — | 240.9 | — | 100.6 | 38.5 | 24.2 | 14.4 | 497.29 | Seattle paired Gary Payton’s elite two-way leadership with a balanced veteran rotation built around interior scoring, floor spacing and disciplined perimeter defense, producing one of the Western Conference’s deepest regular-season teams. | — |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Playoff Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Payton | Primary Playoff Shot Creator (1.1) | 42.8 | High (1.2) | 24.0 | 3.4 | 7.0 | 1.9 | 95.30 | Everything Seattle created in the postseason flowed through Payton’s ball handling, late-clock decision-making and relentless point-of-attack defense. Even after the second-round loss, postseason coverage praised how he shouldered virtually every perimeter creation responsibility while continuing to pressure opposing guards. (CBS News) | — |
| Detlef Schrempf | Half-Court Offensive Connector (1.05) | 37.5 | Medium (1.1) | 16.1 | 7.7 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 65.11 | Schrempf quietly held Seattle’s offense together as a secondary creator, spacing the floor and making quick passing reads whenever defenses loaded up on Payton. His versatility remained one of George Karl’s most dependable playoff counters. (CBS News) | — |
| Vin Baker | Low-Post Scoring Hub (1.1) | 37.1 | High (1.2) | 15.8 | 9.4 | 1.8 | 3.3 | 79.46 | Baker carried the interior scoring load and attacked the offensive glass with far more force than during stretches of the regular season. George Karl openly discussed his pregame nerves before Baker responded with an outstanding playoff debut, reinforcing the coaching staff’s confidence in him. | — |
| Hersey Hawkins | Two-Way Floor Spacer (1.05) | 33.7 | Medium (1.1) | 13.4 | 5.7 | 3.6 | 1.9 | 56.56 | Hawkins balanced difficult perimeter defensive assignments with timely spot-up shooting, rarely forcing offense outside the flow of the game. His playoff value came from dependable spacing and disciplined team defense more than volume scoring. | — |
| Jerome Kersey | Physical Rotation Forward (1.0) | 21.3 | Low (1.0) | 7.8 | 4.0 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 29.40 | Kersey supplied toughness off the bench, defending multiple frontcourt matchups while crashing the glass whenever Seattle needed extra physicality. His role remained rooted in effort plays rather than offensive creation. | — |
| Sam Perkins | Veteran Stretch Big (1.0) | 21.0 | Low (1.0) | 5.4 | 3.2 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 21.60 | Perkins continued pulling opposing big men away from the basket with his perimeter shooting, although his playoff influence was more tactical than statistical. Seattle relied on his spacing to create driving lanes for Payton. | — |
| Dale Ellis | Bench Shooting Specialist (1.0) | 17.0 | Low (1.0) | 5.6 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 15.40 | Ellis entered looking for quick perimeter opportunities, forcing defenses to respect his range despite limited touches. His veteran shooting reputation continued to shape how opponents guarded Seattle’s second unit. | — |
| Greg Anthony | Change-of-Pace Backup Guard (1.0) | 13.1 | Low (1.0) | 3.6 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 13.00 | Anthony handled brief reserve minutes, bringing defensive pressure and tempo whenever Payton rested. His offensive role stayed intentionally modest throughout the playoff run. | — |
| Nate McMillan | Veteran Defensive Organizer (1.0) | 14.1 | Low (1.0) | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 14.80 | McMillan’s minutes reflected experience more than athleticism, with George Karl trusting him to steady the second unit defensively and make the right decision with the ball. His leadership remained evident even in a limited role. | — |
| Jim McIlvaine | Situational Rim Protector (1.0) | 9.8 | Low (1.0) | 2.2 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 10.80 | McIlvaine was deployed almost exclusively for interior defense and shot blocking, matching up against larger frontcourts whenever Seattle wanted extra rim protection. Offensive responsibilities remained minimal by design. | — |
| David Wingate | Emergency Rotation Wing (1.0) | 4.3 | Low (1.0) | 2.7 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 10.00 | Wingate appeared only in brief stretches as additional wing depth. Contemporary independent playoff coverage discussing his individual role was limited because of his small workload. | — |
| Aaron Williams | Reserve Interior Hustler (1.0) | 2.3 | Low (1.0) | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.60 | Williams saw only spot duty, entering primarily to provide energy and physicality around the basket. Independent postseason coverage of his contributions was understandably sparse given his limited minutes. | — |
| Team Totals | — | 240.0 | — | 95.2 | 38.8 | 22.0 | 13.0 | 413.03 | Seattle leaned heavily on Gary Payton’s perimeter creation while surrounding him with experienced veterans, versatile forwards and disciplined defenders during its 1998 playoff run, advancing past Minnesota before falling to the Lakers. | — |