Last Updated on September 13, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
League Search Page > NBA > Seattle SuperSonics > Roster & Statistics
The Seattle SuperSonics 1995–96 featured a balanced, high-powered attack led by Gary Payton’s scoring, playmaking, and elite perimeter defense, while Shawn Kemp dominated the interior as the team’s primary rebounder and a major scoring threat. Detlef Schrempf, Hersey Hawkins, and Sam Perkins added efficient shooting and versatile offensive support, with the statistics reflecting an up-tempo team that combined strong ball movement, efficient scoring, and one of the league’s stingiest defenses.
Roster
| NO. | PLAYER NAME | POS | HT | WT | DATE OF BIRTH | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sherell Ford | SF | 6-7 | 210 | August 26, 1972 | University of Illinois at Chicago |
| 2 | Vincent Askew | SG | 6-6 | 210 | February 28, 1966 | Memphis |
| 3 | Eric Snow | PG | 6-3 | 190 | April 24, 1973 | Michigan State |
| 10 | Nate McMillan | PG | 6-5 | 195 | August 3, 1964 | NC State |
| 11 | Detlef Schrempf | SF | 6-10 | 235 | January 21, 1963 | Washington |
| 14 | Sam Perkins | PF | 6-9 | 235 | June 14, 1961 | UNC |
| 20 | Gary Payton | PG | 6-4 | 180 | July 23, 1968 | Oregon State |
| 25 | David Wingate | SG | 6-5 | 185 | December 15, 1963 | Georgetown |
| 33 | Hersey Hawkins | SG | 6-3 | 190 | September 29, 1966 | Bradley |
| 34 | Frank Brickowski | C | 6-9 | 240 | August 14, 1959 | Penn State |
| 40 | Shawn Kemp | PF | 6-10 | 230 | November 26, 1969 | Trinity Valley CC, Kentucky |
| 50 | Ervin Johnson | C | 6-11 | 245 | December 21, 1967 | New Orleans |
| 55 | Steve Scheffler | C | 6-9 | 250 | September 3, 1967 | Purdue |
Regular Season Per Game
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TPG | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Payton | PG | 27 | 81 | 81 | 39.0 | 19.3 | 4.2 | 7.5 | 2.9 | 0.2 | 3.2 | 15.8 | 7.6 | .484 | 3.7 | 1.2 | .328 | 3.8 | 2.8 | .748 |
| Shawn Kemp | PF | 26 | 79 | 76 | 33.3 | 19.6 | 11.4 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 4.0 | 11.9 | 6.7 | .561 | 0.2 | 0.1 | .417 | 8.4 | 6.2 | .742 |
| Hersey Hawkins | SG | 29 | 82 | 82 | 34.4 | 15.6 | 3.6 | 2.7 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 2.0 | 11.4 | 5.4 | .473 | 4.6 | 1.8 | .384 | 3.5 | 3.0 | .874 |
| Detlef Schrempf | SF | 33 | 63 | 60 | 34.9 | 17.1 | 5.2 | 4.4 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 2.3 | 11.7 | 5.7 | .486 | 2.8 | 1.2 | .408 | 5.9 | 4.6 | .776 |
| Sam Perkins | PF | 34 | 82 | 20 | 26.5 | 11.8 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 9.7 | 4.0 | .408 | 4.4 | 1.6 | .355 | 2.9 | 2.3 | .793 |
| Vincent Askew | SG | 29 | 69 | 2 | 25.0 | 8.4 | 3.2 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 6.3 | 3.1 | .493 | 1.2 | 0.4 | .337 | 2.3 | 1.8 | .764 |
| Ervin Johnson | C | 28 | 81 | 60 | 18.8 | 5.5 | 5.3 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 4.3 | 2.2 | .511 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .333 | 1.6 | 1.0 | .669 |
| Frank Brickowski | C | 36 | 63 | 8 | 15.7 | 5.4 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 4.0 | 2.0 | .488 | 1.3 | 0.5 | .405 | 1.4 | 1.0 | .709 |
| Nate McMillan | PG | 31 | 55 | 14 | 22.9 | 5.0 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 4.3 | 1.8 | .420 | 2.2 | 0.8 | .380 | 0.7 | 0.5 | .707 |
| David Wingate | SG | 32 | 60 | 3 | 11.6 | 3.7 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 3.5 | 1.5 | .415 | 0.6 | 0.3 | .441 | 0.7 | 0.5 | .780 |
| Eric Snow | PG | 22 | 43 | 1 | 9.0 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 1.0 | .420 | 0.2 | 0.0 | .200 | 1.1 | 0.7 | .592 |
| Sherell Ford | SF | 23 | 28 | 1 | 5.0 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 2.9 | 1.1 | .375 | 0.9 | 0.1 | .160 | 1.2 | 0.9 | .765 |
| Steve Scheffler | C | 28 | 35 | 2 | 5.2 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 0.7 | .533 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .200 | 0.5 | 0.3 | .474 |
| Team Totals | 82 | 82 | 242.4 | 104.5 | 41.5 | 24.4 | 10.8 | 4.8 | 17.6 | 78.1 | 37.5 | .480 | 19.5 | 7.1 | .364 | 29.6 | 22.5 | .760 |
Playoff Per Game
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TPG | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Payton | PG | 27 | 21 | 21 | 43.4 | 20.7 | 5.1 | 6.8 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 3.0 | 15.9 | 7.7 | .485 | 4.8 | 2.0 | .410 | 5.2 | 3.3 | .633 |
| Shawn Kemp | PF | 26 | 20 | 20 | 36.0 | 20.9 | 10.4 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 12.9 | 7.4 | .570 | 0.2 | 0.0 | .000 | 7.8 | 6.2 | .795 |
| Detlef Schrempf | SF | 33 | 21 | 21 | 37.6 | 16.0 | 5.0 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 3.2 | 12.3 | 5.9 | .475 | 2.7 | 1.0 | .368 | 4.4 | 3.3 | .750 |
| Hersey Hawkins | SG | 29 | 21 | 21 | 34.0 | 12.3 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 8.0 | 3.6 | .452 | 3.0 | 1.0 | .344 | 4.5 | 4.0 | .895 |
| Sam Perkins | PF | 34 | 21 | 1 | 31.1 | 12.3 | 4.3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 9.3 | 4.3 | .459 | 4.1 | 1.5 | .368 | 2.9 | 2.2 | .754 |
| Nate McMillan | PG | 31 | 19 | 0 | 20.3 | 4.4 | 3.7 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 3.6 | 1.5 | .406 | 2.1 | 1.0 | .475 | 0.7 | 0.5 | .643 |
| Vincent Askew | SG | 29 | 19 | 0 | 18.2 | 3.7 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 3.7 | 1.3 | .343 | 1.2 | 0.3 | .261 | 1.5 | 0.9 | .607 |
| Ervin Johnson | C | 28 | 18 | 18 | 14.1 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 1.3 | .371 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.5 | .818 | |
| Frank Brickowski | C | 36 | 21 | 3 | 9.8 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.8 | .421 | 1.0 | 0.3 | .273 | 0.2 | 0.1 | .750 |
| David Wingate | SG | 32 | 13 | 0 | 5.2 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 0.5 | .438 | 0.2 | 0.1 | .500 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.000 |
| Eric Snow | PG | 22 | 10 | 0 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.1 | .143 | 0.2 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Steve Scheffler | C | 28 | 8 | 0 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | .000 | |
| Team Totals | 21 | 21 | 242.4 | 94.1 | 38.0 | 20.2 | 8.0 | 4.5 | 17.7 | 70.5 | 33.2 | .471 | 19.0 | 7.0 | .370 | 27.4 | 20.7 | .755 |
Regular Season Per 36 Mins
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shawn Kemp | PF | 26 | 79 | 76 | 2631 | 21.2 | 12.4 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 4.3 | 12.8 | 7.2 | .561 | 0.2 | 0.1 | .417 | 9.1 | 6.7 | .742 |
| Gary Payton | PG | 27 | 81 | 81 | 3162 | 17.8 | 3.9 | 6.9 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 3.0 | 14.5 | 7.0 | .484 | 3.4 | 1.1 | .328 | 3.5 | 2.6 | .748 |
| Hersey Hawkins | SG | 29 | 82 | 82 | 2823 | 16.3 | 3.8 | 2.8 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 11.9 | 5.6 | .473 | 4.8 | 1.9 | .384 | 3.6 | 3.2 | .874 |
| Sam Perkins | PF | 34 | 82 | 20 | 2169 | 16.1 | 6.1 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 13.2 | 5.4 | .408 | 6.0 | 2.1 | .355 | 4.0 | 3.2 | .793 |
| Detlef Schrempf | SF | 33 | 63 | 60 | 2200 | 17.7 | 5.4 | 4.5 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 2.4 | 12.1 | 5.9 | .486 | 2.9 | 1.2 | .408 | 6.1 | 4.7 | .776 |
| Ervin Johnson | C | 28 | 81 | 60 | 1519 | 10.6 | 10.3 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 2.3 | 8.3 | 4.3 | .511 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .333 | 3.0 | 2.0 | .669 |
| Vincent Askew | SG | 29 | 69 | 2 | 1725 | 12.1 | 4.5 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 9.1 | 4.5 | .493 | 1.8 | 0.6 | .337 | 3.4 | 2.6 | .764 |
| Frank Brickowski | C | 36 | 63 | 8 | 986 | 12.4 | 5.5 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 2.8 | 9.2 | 4.5 | .488 | 2.9 | 1.2 | .405 | 3.1 | 2.2 | .709 |
| David Wingate | SG | 32 | 60 | 3 | 695 | 11.6 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 11.0 | 4.6 | .415 | 1.8 | 0.8 | .441 | 2.1 | 1.7 | .780 |
| Sherell Ford | SF | 23 | 28 | 1 | 139 | 23.3 | 6.2 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 20.7 | 7.8 | .375 | 6.5 | 1.0 | .160 | 8.8 | 6.7 | .765 |
| Eric Snow | PG | 22 | 43 | 1 | 389 | 10.6 | 4.0 | 6.8 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 9.3 | 3.9 | .420 | 0.9 | 0.2 | .200 | 4.5 | 2.7 | .592 |
| Nate McMillan | PG | 31 | 55 | 14 | 1261 | 7.9 | 6.0 | 5.6 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 6.8 | 2.9 | .420 | 3.5 | 1.3 | .380 | 1.2 | 0.8 | .707 |
| Steve Scheffler | C | 28 | 35 | 2 | 181 | 11.5 | 6.6 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 9.0 | 4.8 | .533 | 1.0 | 0.2 | .200 | 3.8 | 1.8 | .474 |
Playoff Per 36 Mins
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shawn Kemp | PF | 26 | 20 | 20 | 720 | 20.9 | 10.4 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 12.9 | 7.3 | .570 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .000 | 7.8 | 6.2 | .795 |
| Gary Payton | PG | 27 | 21 | 21 | 911 | 17.2 | 4.3 | 5.7 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 13.2 | 6.4 | .485 | 4.0 | 1.6 | .410 | 4.3 | 2.7 | .633 |
| Detlef Schrempf | SF | 33 | 21 | 21 | 789 | 15.3 | 4.8 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 3.1 | 11.8 | 5.6 | .475 | 2.6 | 1.0 | .368 | 4.2 | 3.1 | .750 |
| Sam Perkins | PF | 34 | 21 | 1 | 654 | 14.2 | 5.0 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 10.8 | 5.0 | .459 | 4.8 | 1.8 | .368 | 3.4 | 2.5 | .754 |
| Hersey Hawkins | SG | 29 | 21 | 21 | 713 | 13.1 | 3.2 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 8.5 | 3.8 | .452 | 3.2 | 1.1 | .344 | 4.8 | 4.3 | .895 |
| Frank Brickowski | C | 36 | 21 | 3 | 206 | 7.2 | 5.2 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 6.6 | 2.8 | .421 | 3.8 | 1.0 | .273 | 0.7 | 0.5 | .750 |
| Nate McMillan | PG | 31 | 19 | 0 | 385 | 7.9 | 6.5 | 4.9 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 6.5 | 2.6 | .406 | 3.7 | 1.8 | .475 | 1.3 | 0.8 | .643 |
| Vincent Askew | SG | 29 | 19 | 0 | 345 | 7.4 | 4.3 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 7.3 | 2.5 | .343 | 2.4 | 0.6 | .261 | 2.9 | 1.8 | .607 |
| Ervin Johnson | C | 28 | 18 | 18 | 253 | 7.8 | 10.0 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 8.8 | 3.3 | .371 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 1.3 | .818 | |
| David Wingate | SG | 32 | 13 | 0 | 68 | 10.1 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 8.5 | 3.7 | .438 | 1.1 | 0.5 | .500 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 1.000 |
| Eric Snow | PG | 22 | 10 | 0 | 24 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 9.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 6.0 | 10.5 | 1.5 | .143 | 3.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Steve Scheffler | C | 28 | 8 | 0 | 22 | 0.0 | 9.8 | 3.3 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 6.5 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.3 | 0.0 | .000 |
Regular Season 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 | 27 | 81 | 81 | 3162 | 1563 | 339 | 608 | 231 | 19 | 260 | 1276 | 618 | .484 | 299 | 98 | .328 | 306 | 229 | .748 |
| Shawn Kemp | PF | 26 | 79 | 76 | 2631 | 1550 | 904 | 173 | 93 | 127 | 315 | 937 | 526 | .561 | 12 | 5 | .417 | 664 | 493 | .742 |
| Hersey Hawkins | SG | 29 | 82 | 82 | 2823 | 1281 | 297 | 218 | 149 | 14 | 164 | 936 | 443 | .473 | 380 | 146 | .384 | 285 | 249 | .874 |
| Detlef Schrempf | SF | 33 | 63 | 60 | 2200 | 1080 | 328 | 276 | 56 | 8 | 146 | 740 | 360 | .486 | 179 | 73 | .408 | 370 | 287 | .776 |
| Sam Perkins | PF | 34 | 82 | 20 | 2169 | 970 | 367 | 120 | 83 | 48 | 82 | 797 | 325 | .408 | 363 | 129 | .355 | 241 | 191 | .793 |
| Vincent Askew | SG | 29 | 69 | 2 | 1725 | 582 | 218 | 163 | 47 | 15 | 96 | 436 | 215 | .493 | 86 | 29 | .337 | 161 | 123 | .764 |
| Ervin Johnson | C | 28 | 81 | 60 | 1519 | 446 | 433 | 48 | 40 | 129 | 98 | 352 | 180 | .511 | 3 | 1 | .333 | 127 | 85 | .669 |
| Frank Brickowski | C | 36 | 63 | 8 | 986 | 339 | 151 | 58 | 26 | 8 | 78 | 252 | 123 | .488 | 79 | 32 | .405 | 86 | 61 | .709 |
| Nate McMillan | PG | 31 | 55 | 14 | 1261 | 275 | 210 | 197 | 95 | 18 | 75 | 238 | 100 | .420 | 121 | 46 | .380 | 41 | 29 | .707 |
| David Wingate | SG | 32 | 60 | 3 | 695 | 223 | 56 | 58 | 20 | 4 | 42 | 212 | 88 | .415 | 34 | 15 | .441 | 41 | 32 | .780 |
| Eric Snow | PG | 22 | 43 | 1 | 389 | 115 | 43 | 73 | 28 | 0 | 38 | 100 | 42 | .420 | 10 | 2 | .200 | 49 | 29 | .592 |
| Sherell Ford | SF | 23 | 28 | 1 | 139 | 90 | 24 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 80 | 30 | .375 | 25 | 4 | .160 | 34 | 26 | .765 |
| Steve Scheffler | C | 28 | 35 | 2 | 181 | 58 | 33 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 45 | 24 | .533 | 5 | 1 | .200 | 19 | 9 | .474 |
| Team Totals | 82 | 82 | 19880 | 8572 | 3403 | 1999 | 882 | 393 | 1408 | 6401 | 3074 | .480 | 1596 | 581 | .364 | 2424 | 1843 | .760 |
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 | 27 | 21 | 21 | 911 | 434 | 108 | 143 | 37 | 7 | 62 | 334 | 162 | .485 | 100 | 41 | .410 | 109 | 69 | .633 |
| Shawn Kemp | PF | 26 | 20 | 20 | 720 | 418 | 208 | 30 | 24 | 40 | 80 | 258 | 147 | .570 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 156 | 124 | .795 |
| Detlef Schrempf | SF | 33 | 21 | 21 | 789 | 336 | 105 | 67 | 14 | 5 | 67 | 259 | 123 | .475 | 57 | 21 | .368 | 92 | 69 | .750 |
| Hersey Hawkins | SG | 29 | 21 | 21 | 713 | 259 | 63 | 46 | 27 | 4 | 33 | 168 | 76 | .452 | 64 | 22 | .344 | 95 | 85 | .895 |
| Sam Perkins | PF | 34 | 21 | 1 | 654 | 258 | 90 | 35 | 15 | 6 | 30 | 196 | 90 | .459 | 87 | 32 | .368 | 61 | 46 | .754 |
| Nate McMillan | PG | 31 | 19 | 0 | 385 | 84 | 70 | 52 | 23 | 5 | 20 | 69 | 28 | .406 | 40 | 19 | .475 | 14 | 9 | .643 |
| Vincent Askew | SG | 29 | 19 | 0 | 345 | 71 | 41 | 26 | 13 | 8 | 28 | 70 | 24 | .343 | 23 | 6 | .261 | 28 | 17 | .607 |
| Ervin Johnson | C | 28 | 18 | 18 | 253 | 55 | 70 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 14 | 62 | 23 | .371 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 9 | .818 | |
| Frank Brickowski | C | 36 | 21 | 3 | 206 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 20 | 38 | 16 | .421 | 22 | 6 | .273 | 4 | 3 | .750 |
| David Wingate | SG | 32 | 13 | 0 | 68 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 7 | .438 | 2 | 1 | .500 | 4 | 4 | 1.000 |
| Eric Snow | PG | 22 | 10 | 0 | 24 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 1 | .143 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
| Steve Scheffler | C | 28 | 8 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | |
| Team Totals | 21 | 21 | 5090 | 1977 | 798 | 425 | 169 | 95 | 363 | 1481 | 697 | .471 | 400 | 148 | .370 | 576 | 435 | .755 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shawn Kemp | Two-Way Interior Superstar (1.1) | 33.3 | High (1.2) | 19.6 | 11.4 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 95.04 | Explosive interior finisher and elite rebounder, Kemp had developed a reliable short jumper to complement his low-post game and once-in-a-generation athleticism. His defense mattered too; Seattle’s scheme let him pressure the glass, protect the rim and run the floor without turning him into a conventional back-to-the-basket center. Contemporary retrospective coverage described him as a tenacious low-post player whose improved jumper made his offense harder to contain. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) | MVP voting: 8th; All-Star (1996); All-NBA Second Team |
| Gary Payton | Defensive Floor General (1.1) | 39.0 | High (1.2) | 19.3 | 4.2 | 7.5 | 3.1 | 90.02 | Lead guard, defensive tone-setter and Seattle’s second offensive option, Payton controlled games through pressure rather than sheer scoring volume. He led the league in steals, won Defensive Player of the Year and remained the team’s primary organizer, while his aggressive point-of-attack defense fit perfectly with George Karl’s trapping system. His 2.9 steals were not empty gambling numbers; the Sonics built their pressure defense around his ability to disrupt opposing guards. (NBA) | MVP voting: 6th; Defensive Player of the Year (1996); All-Star (1996); All-NBA Second Team; All-Defensive First Team |
| Detlef Schrempf | Versatile Frontcourt Creator (1.05) | 34.9 | Medium (1.1) | 17.1 | 5.2 | 4.4 | 1.0 | 63.99 | Point-forward skills made Schrempf an unusually valuable third option, particularly because he could stretch the floor without becoming a one-dimensional shooter. Seattle’s offense benefited from his passing and shooting on the wing, while his 6-foot-10 frame allowed Karl to use him in different frontcourt combinations. He missed 19 games with a knee problem, but independent Seattle coverage still described the season as one of the finest of his career. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) | None |
| Hersey Hawkins | Starting Two-Way Shooter (1.05) | 34.4 | Medium (1.1) | 15.6 | 3.6 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 55.21 | Perimeter spacer and defensive pest, Hawkins was an ideal fit for Seattle because he did not need to dominate possessions to matter. He accepted a fourth-option offensive role, knocked down 146 threes and produced 149 steals, a career high, while his defensive commitment helped him fit the Sonics’ trapping and switching approach. Seattle’s acquisition of Hawkins was specifically praised for adding professionalism and willingness to play within the team’s hierarchy. | None |
| Sam Perkins | Sixth Starter Stretch Big (1.05) | 26.5 | Medium (1.1) | 11.8 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 44.81 | Stretch big and veteran connector, Perkins was effectively Seattle’s sixth starter even though most of his games began on the bench. His transition from post scorer to perimeter shooter was complete, forcing opposing centers to defend beyond the arc and creating driving space for Payton and Kemp. Retrospective Seattle coverage also noted that his three-point shooting dipped sharply against Chicago in the Finals, a reminder of how important his spacing was to the Sonics’ attack. (Sonic’s Central) | None |
| Vincent Askew | Defensive Utility Wing (1.05) | 25.0 | Medium (1.1) | 8.4 | 3.2 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 34.42 | Physical backup wing and matchup defender, Askew gave Seattle a second-unit player who could guard bigger perimeter scorers without needing plays called for him. He was described as a two-way threat off the bench, with Seattle broadcaster Kevin Calabro recalling that Askew could handle high-scoring small forwards while also rebounding and contributing just enough offensively. | None |
| Nate McMillan | Veteran Defensive Organizer (1.05) | 22.9 | Low (1.0) | 5.0 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 30.24 | Defensive veteran and secondary ball-handler, McMillan remained useful because he could pressure opposing guards and settle the offense without demanding shots. His role was reduced by injuries, limiting him to 55 games, but contemporary Seattle coverage emphasized that his defensive intensity remained intact even as his quickness and steal production declined. (Sonic’s Central) | None |
| Ervin Johnson | Starting Rim Protector (1.05) | 18.8 | Low (1.0) | 5.5 | 5.3 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 28.35 | Paint defender and low-usage starting center, Johnson was asked to defend, rebound and stay out of the way offensively. That narrow job description suited Seattle’s lineup because Kemp and the perimeter players supplied the creation; Johnson’s value came from interior deterrence and second-chance possessions rather than post touches. Retrospective reporting specifically noted his 1.6 blocks and role as the team’s defensive center. | None |
| Frank Brickowski | Physical Stretch-Center Reserve (1.0) | 15.7 | Low (1.0) | 5.4 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 18.40 | Physical reserve big and occasional floor spacer, Brickowski supplied the toughness Seattle wanted after adding him to the frontcourt. He also became a surprisingly credible three-point threat, shooting over 40 percent from deep during the season, while his willingness to mix it up made him particularly useful in a physical matchup environment. | None |
| Eric Snow | Developing Backup Point Guard (1.0) | 9.0 | Low (1.0) | 2.7 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 12.20 | Developing reserve point guard, Snow was mostly asked to steady the second unit when McMillan was unavailable. Seattle’s staff valued his toughness and defensive instincts despite his limited offensive role, and retrospective reporting notes that the rookie eventually became a long-term NBA starter after beginning his career as a minor piece behind Payton and McMillan. | None |
| David Wingate | Defensive Swingman Reserve (1.0) | 11.6 | Low (1.0) | 3.7 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 12.00 | Defensive swingman and reserve shooter, Wingate’s primary value was guarding multiple perimeter positions rather than creating offense. Seattle’s season coverage described him as a tenacious defender whose offensive job was largely confined to occasional three-point shooting, making him useful when Karl needed another veteran defensive body. (Sonic’s Central) | None |
| Sherell Ford | Developmental Wing Reserve (1.0) | 5.0 | Low (1.0) | 3.2 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 9.20 | Developmental wing with a very limited rotation role, Ford struggled to translate his advertised outside shooting into NBA minutes. Independent season coverage noted that he played sparingly and failed to show the perimeter shooting Seattle had hoped for, leaving him outside the trusted rotation behind Hawkins, Schrempf and Askew. (Sonic’s Central) | None |
| Steve Scheffler | Emergency Interior Reserve (1.0) | 5.2 | Low (1.0) | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 6.00 | Emergency center and end-of-rotation presence, Scheffler had little tactical responsibility beyond providing size when the established frontcourt needed a breather. Contemporary retrospective coverage characterized him more as a popular locker-room and bench figure than a regular contributor, with his minutes largely confined to low-leverage situations. (Sonic’s Central) | None |
| Team Totals | 242.4 | 104.5 | 41.5 | 24.4 | 15.6 | Seattle’s regular-season identity was built around Payton’s elite perimeter defense and orchestration, Kemp’s interior dominance, and a deep collection of interchangeable wings and shooting bigs. The Sonics finished 64-18, won 30 of their final 36 games and reached the NBA Finals, with the roster’s defensive versatility allowing Karl to play aggressive trapping and switching basketball throughout the season. (NBA) | Western Conference Champion (1996) |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Playoff Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shawn Kemp | Primary Interior Scoring Force (1.1) | 36.0 | High (1.2) | 20.9 | 10.4 | 1.5 | 3.2 | 95.04 | Explosive interior scorer and rim protector, Kemp became Seattle’s most dependable frontcourt matchup problem against Chicago. He opened the Finals with 32 points and later scored 29 with 13 rebounds in Game 2, while his 20.9-point postseason line came alongside 10.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks, showing how much of the Sonics’ offense and interior defense rested on him. (Wikipedia) | NBA Western Conference Champion (1996) |
| Gary Payton | Franchise Defensive Floor General (1.1) | 43.4 | High (1.2) | 20.7 | 5.1 | 6.8 | 2.1 | 91.61 | Lead creator and point-of-attack defensive ace, Payton was asked to do almost everything for Seattle before finally receiving the Michael Jordan assignment in Game 4. That switch immediately changed the Finals, with Seattle winning 107-86 as Payton’s pressure helped disrupt Jordan and gave the Sonics the defensive edge they had been missing. (Wikipedia) | NBA Western Conference Champion (1996) |
| Detlef Schrempf | Point-Forward Matchup Creator (1.05) | 37.6 | Medium (1.1) | 16.0 | 5.0 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 57.98 | Skilled point-forward and half-court connector, Schrempf was the Sonics’ best answer when Chicago loaded up on Payton and Kemp. His size allowed Seattle to move the ball through the forward position, and he scored 16 points per game across the run while remaining a legitimate perimeter shooting threat. Seattle’s 1996 Finals coverage highlighted his polished all-around game and outside shooting as central pieces of the roster’s versatility. | NBA Western Conference Champion (1996) |
| Sam Perkins | Veteran Stretch-Big Starter (1.05) | 31.1 | Medium (1.1) | 12.3 | 4.3 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 44.58 | Stretch big and veteran floor-spacing option, Perkins became especially important once Chicago’s defense made Seattle’s interior routes difficult. Although he started only once, he averaged more than 31 minutes and supplied the spacing that allowed Kemp to operate inside; in Game 4 he erupted for 17 points in 33 minutes as Seattle finally broke through against the Bulls’ defense. (Basketball Reference) | NBA Western Conference Champion (1996) |
| Hersey Hawkins | Starting Perimeter Stopper (1.05) | 34.0 | Medium (1.1) | 12.3 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 43.89 | Perimeter stopper and complementary shooter, Hawkins fit Seattle’s trapping defense almost perfectly because he could chase guards without needing offensive touches. He had already established himself as a defensive fit during the regular season, ranking seventh in the league in steals, and his ability to space the floor remained important as Chicago concentrated on Payton and Kemp. | NBA Western Conference Champion (1996) |
| Nate McMillan | Veteran Defensive Quarterback (1.05) | 20.3 | Medium (1.1) | 4.4 | 3.7 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 28.41 | Defensive organizer and veteran secondary ball-handler, McMillan’s value became obvious when he returned from a back injury in Game 4 and helped Seattle change the tone of the Finals. He hit two three-pointers in that victory and provided the defensive leadership that had been missing during his absence, even though his physical limitations restricted his minutes throughout the series. (Wikipedia) | NBA Western Conference Champion (1996) |
| Vincent Askew | Versatile Defensive Utility Wing (1.05) | 18.2 | Medium (1.1) | 3.7 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 19.40 | Versatile defensive utility wing, Askew was the Sonics’ matchup piece rather than a conventional reserve scorer. Contemporary Seattle Times reporting described him as capable of defending positions one through four and specifically noted that he could imitate the games of Payton, Schrempf, Perkins and Kemp, which captures why Karl could use him to plug different lineup holes. (Seattle Times Archive) | NBA Western Conference Champion (1996) |
| Ervin Johnson | Starting Paint Deterrent (1.05) | 14.1 | Low (1.0) | 3.1 | 3.9 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 17.85 | Interior defender and low-usage center, Johnson’s assignment was straightforward: protect the paint, rebound and avoid taking possessions away from Seattle’s primary scorers. He started all 18 of his postseason appearances in this dataset, but his minutes fell sharply against Chicago as the Sonics favored more mobile combinations and leaned heavily on Kemp and Perkins. (Wikipedia) | NBA Western Conference Champion (1996) |
| Frank Brickowski | Physical Frontcourt Enforcer (1.0) | 9.8 | Low (1.0) | 2.0 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 8.80 | Physical reserve center, Brickowski was used to bring size and edge to a frontcourt battle that became increasingly confrontational against Chicago. His Finals role was reduced, and Game 1 ended with his ejection after a flagrant foul on Dennis Rodman, while Game 3 brought another ejection after a confrontation involving Rodman. | NBA Western Conference Champion (1996) |
| David Wingate | Veteran Perimeter Reserve (1.0) | 5.2 | Low (1.0) | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.40 | Veteran perimeter reserve, Wingate’s defensive experience kept him available for short matchup minutes, but Chicago’s size and Seattle’s preference for its primary wings left little room for him. His playing time dwindled to only a few minutes in the Finals, making his role essentially situational rather than part of the core rotation. (StatMuse) | NBA Western Conference Champion (1996) |
| Eric Snow | Developing Point-Guard Reserve (1.0) | 2.4 | Low (1.0) | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 2.80 | Developing point guard buried behind Payton and McMillan, Snow received only token minutes during the Finals. His larger significance was developmental: he was learning within a veteran backcourt while Seattle made its run to the championship series, a useful early NBA apprenticeship before his later emergence as a starting guard. (SI) | NBA Western Conference Champion (1996) |
| Steve Scheffler | Emergency Center Reserve (1.0) | 2.8 | Low (1.0) | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 2.40 | Emergency interior reserve, Scheffler had virtually no offensive responsibility and appeared only in short stretches when Seattle needed another big body. His eight postseason appearances were largely situational, with his Finals role shrinking to a few minutes as George Karl shortened the rotation. | NBA Western Conference Champion (1996) |
| Team Totals | 242.4 | 94.1 | 38.0 | 20.2 | 13.7 | Seattle’s postseason formula centered on Kemp’s interior force, Payton’s two-way control and a collection of versatile defenders and shooters. The Sonics reached the 1996 NBA Finals after sweeping Houston and then winning a seven-game Western Conference Finals against Utah, before Chicago captured the championship in six games. (Wikipedia) | Western Conference Champion (1996) |