He loved to talk, so it always got to the point that he wouldn’t let you out-talk him.”, Mike Gastineau, KJR sports radio personality: “One time George told me, ‘Gas, you don’t understand. The Sonics were the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs. That set up everything for how we were going to be that season.”, Vincent Askew, guard: “George Karl loved that. The Sonics were still good, even potent. The Sonics were without versatile guard Nate McMillan, who had a back injury. There are selfish players you play with that don’t serve the team, that don’t make you better. The six-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA player needed only 14 shots to finish with 25 points and 13 rebounds before his postgame interview at the Garden. Dwane Casey, assistant coach: “(Being back at KeyArena) was huge, because we didn’t have to make the trek down to the Tacoma Dome every game. I remember we came in at halftime of a game up 12, and he’s screaming at us like we did something wrong or we’re not playing. I don’t know why he named it that, but he was juking or something. “Is this a favorite place for you to play?”“Yeah, it’s one of my favorite places to play because we only get a chance to come out here once a year. The Sonics won the first game but lost the second after Kemp returned. I have just good memories of living, and the Sonics were just ever-present during that time when I really started falling in love with the area.”, Gary Payton, guard (from a 2013 Seattle Times article): “In 1996, I made my mark. Every day of my life starts with a 30-minute argument with Gary Payton about something.’ ”, Marc Moquin, Sonics media relations: “As Gary used to say, his dad was the craziest guy he ever played for, but George was second.”, Frank Brickowski, center: “George Karl is a tough coach in that he’s a little crazy. Whether it’s been on the court as a highly decorated high school and college player, a multi-time NBA All-Star, or in the broadcast booth as one of the game’s best analysts, his career has circled from his California home to the Midwest (and back) quite a few times. They had so much respect for each other.”, Frank Brickowski, center: “Gary was a selfish player that served the team. It was me, Gary, Kemp, Detlef and Nate. The fans are here, and the guys on our team get excited about coming to New York because they’re such a physical team. He went and signed McIlvaine, and it just blew the team up because he gave him so much money, and it pissed everybody off. It wasn’t the same team.”. Traded • 1977 first round pick (#3-Marques Johnson) to Bucks for • Swen Nater • 1977 first round pick (#13-Tate Armstrong) on 1977-06-07. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. It wasn’t quite state of the art. It was a really unique experience at KeyArena. I like Peter, but he wants to sell papers and create waves.”, Nate McMillan, guard: “He later apologized for that, because he was off base. We had to take some risks to do that. (Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times), A worker dusts in the upper level of the renovated KeyArena in 1995. ! The Sonics re-signed Payton to a new contract that summer, but they also signed Jim McIlvaine to a six-year contract worth more than $30 million. It got better after that.”. You like playing here, don’t you?”“That’s the thing you know,” Kemp replied. We couldn’t stand still and think we could come back. The Sonics faced Karl Malone, John Stockton and the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference finals. But the one thing I recall: We were out on the tarmac, and we were getting a police escort through Chicago’s traffic straight to the hotel. I played for George before I got to Seattle in the CBA and in Spain. “They beat us there in Seattle this year, they played physical with us there, so we just wanted to come back and return the favor.”“It looks like you’re looking to shoot the jump shot a little bit more over the last two or three weeks. I thought the success we had during that run was a great time for basketball.”, Ervin Johnson, center: “I wish we could all be back together and play again. After a 41-41 record as a rookie in ‘89, Shawn and GP led the Supersonics to at least 55 wins five times before Kemp left Seattle in 1997. But he drove us, and he competed every night. We were like, ‘Man, when we come back, we’re winning next year.’ But I went on a cruise the next week, and I got traded that week. MC Geologic, member of the hip-hop group Blue Scholars: “I was 16 during that season. (Game 2) was a Sunday afternoon game, and I got a late-night call (from Ackerley): ‘What is this?’ So the next game at Sacramento we are down eight with like five minutes to go.”, Vincent Askew, guard: “We huddled up, and I’ll never forget who was in the huddle. He coached at Natchitoches Central High School, the pre-integration black school in town. Tom Savage, Sonics director of public relations, declined comment on a persistent rumor that the club is negotiating with former color man Marques Johnson to team up with Calabro again. I’ve been in so many freaking fights in camps. The Sonics’ reward for winning the Western Conference? Billy McKinney, vice president of basketball operations: “The last time we played Utah during the regular season, we were in Utah and not getting any calls. “You seem to thrive here. Even though Shawn was only 26 years old at the time, he’d never return to basketball’s biggest stage after that. Payton was one of the NBA’s best defenders and most resolute competitors; Kemp was one of the league’s high-flying big men. “So I got a chance to get out and run early. (Mike Siegel / The Seattle Times), Sonics coach George Karl and point guard Gary Payton in 1996. It turned out to be the peak. 11.4: Average rebounds for Kemp, a team high. I didn’t have it, but there were two doctors who told me I needed it.”, Detlef Schrempf, forward: “That hurt us a lot, because (Nate) was a big part of what made us go on both offense and defense.”, Marques Johnson, broadcaster: “Gary was the heart of the team, but Nate was the soul.”, Ervin Johnson, center: “Nate, Detlef and Sam (Perkins) were the true captains of that team.”, Terry Stotts, assistant coach: “Game 3 in the Finals was very disappointing for us, because we had played two competitive games in Games 1 and 2 in Chicago. 60. The Sonics’ leader, of course, was Gary Payton, who never backed down, not even from his coach. 1 seed to lose to an eight seed. I’m not really sure why we switched. I’m not 12 years old, so the All Star Game doesn’t mean anything to … Definitely the ’79 championship; that was cool. One of them was Emmitt Smith. Bulls. 2 overall pick by Seattle the summer after Kemp’s rookie year was witty and confident with the basketball. But even if Kemp is one of those great talents to never win a title, we should never allow ring culture to dim the ultimate brightness of his star. Tap to unmute. Sign up for the Basketball Interviews Monthly Newsletter, The Kobe Bryant 81-point game and a legacy that will live forever, Kemba Walker interview after Celtics become first team to advance in 2020 NBA Playoff Bubble, Marques Johnson interviews Shawn Kemp at peak of his reign in Seattle, Supersonics TV analyst and five-time NBA All-Star Marques Johnson said as he greeted Shawn Kemp at MSG. Gary Payton kept teammates loose while backing up a lot of talk with even more game. (Mark Harrison/The Seattle Times), Sonics center Frank Brickowski defends against Utah point guard John Stockton in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals. His rebounding prowess was staggering: Barkley collected 24 rebounds while the Sonics as a team … It was different. Describe what that must feel like as a player.”“Oh man, I’ll tell you what. We blew a lot of teams out that year, and he’d come over and starting telling me the names of his moves.”. We hated each other. Here we go again. Despite their youthful brilliance, Kemp, Payton and Seattle would ultimately fall to the Chicago Bulls in six games during those NBA Finals in ’96. Gary wasn’t about to back down, and he talked stuff to Jordan. I remember that feeling of trepidation kind of creeping in like, ‘Oh, boy. The Reign Man had just overwhelmed the New York Knicks while earning another statement victory. But that was the end of the run. He made guys on the team play hard because he played hard.”, Mike Gastineau, KJR sports radio personality: “I never saw a guy whose posture actually led with his chin. 7.5: Average assists for Gary Payton, a team high. Johnson was a five-time NBA All-Star and an NCAA champion under John Wooden at UCLA. They won 61 games the season after that and again won a playoff series. It wasn’t just pushing. (Seattle Times file), Sonics forward Shawn Kemp dunks after snatching a pass above the rim from Gary Payton in a game against the Chicago Bulls. Latest stories including team news, game recaps, and writer features. Got the opportunity to pass, and felt good out there today.” “What about the electricity of playing in the Garden?” Johnson asked. During one stretch, they won 20 of 21 games. But that didn’t feel right. (Rod Mar/The Seattle Times), Nate McMillan was sidelined during the 1996 NBA Finals because of a back injury. But you will rarely find them on the court again, and definitely not throwing down a dunk or two, but Marques Johnson is the exception. NBA commissioner David Stern attended the opener against the Lakers, and during the TV broadcast, infamously complimented the arena he later viewed as a problem. There were some words exchanged, and then we went on to win the game. It wasn’t the same chemistry. I remember that feeling of trepidation kind of creeping in like, 'Oh, boy. By the start of the 1995-96 season, the Sonics were at a crossroads. 64: Regular-season wins, second-most in the NBA that season behind the 72-win Chicago Bulls. SHAWN KEMP POSTGAME INTERVIEW | SONICS vs KNICKS April 8, 1996.“Shawn, great game tonight,” Supersonics TV analyst and five-time NBA All-Star Marques Johnson said as he greeted Shawn Kemp at MSG during what would become a 64-win season.“You seem to thrive here. If you made him upset, he dominated practices.”, George Karl, coach: “He wasn’t always the most desirous of practice.”, Eric Snow, guard: “That was my job: to get him to practice. The Supersonics’ Lonnie Shelton (8) reaches for a rebound along with teammate John Johnson (27) as the Bucks’ Marques Johnson (8) looks on during a … 104.5: Points per game, second in the NBA. But Jordan and the Bulls clinched the title in Game 6. Info. The Sonics finished the season 64-18, second only to Jordan’s Bulls. I had one fan come up to me and say, ‘Red is Portland’s color. Jack was named an NBA All-Star in seven consecutive seasons from 1979 through 1985. If the Sonics weren’t in chaos, they were a team squandering potential. RAY: How did you get started playing basketball? And I did that with John. When he missed the first one, I didn’t think it could get any louder. They lost Brickowski and Ervin Johnson in free agency and traded Askew after he and Karl clashed in the Finals. If we would have maybe moved the mental toughness of our team two years earlier, I think we’d maybe have an NBA championship.”, Detlef Schrempf, forward:“I think there were a couple years where we had some issues with chemistry and guys not playing for the right reasons. Sikma was traded to the Bucks following the 1986 season. It had too many colors. He loved guys who went at it in practice, and our practices were R-rated, buddy.”. If he told Coach he didn’t want to practice, I’d challenge him and talk trash to him to get him going. I loved it. And this was during games. The next season, playing all their home games at the Tacoma Dome while KeyArena was being renovated, the Sonics won 57 games. You need to smoke a joint or something.’ He didn’t know what to say.”, Ervin Johnson, center: “Gary could be a handful, but I really believe George depended on him, and I think Gary knew George was in his corner even though they went at each other. The ghosts of ’94 and ’95 were hanging over them.”, Marques Johnson, Sonics broadcaster: “You just didn’t take first-round playoff series for granted. Charles Barkley, 1993 Western Conference Finals, game 7 (44 points, 24 rebounds, 12 for 20 from the field, 19 for 22 from the line): In the biggest game of his career (up to that point), Barkley played up to his MVP credentials, dominating the Sonics and sending the Suns to their second Finals appearance. The No. George Karl told me I had to play him one on one every day when I got there and beat on him a little. You dudes are getting ready to choke another one away.’ ”, Wally Walker, general manager: “Ownership was worried. But they didn’t have Kemp, who was suspended for the opening game of the first round vs. Sacramento after getting in a fight during the regular-season finale. But I remember saying to myself, ‘I don’t know if we are ready for this.’ ”, Dwane Casey, assistant coach: “We had a very confident, borderline overconfident group. “They’re so physical that they beat you up a little bit. Why are you guys doing that?’”, Billy McKinney, vice president of basketball operations: “While there were mixed reviews, I thought it was a nice change. Last year you had a great game rebounding and scoring in New York. We then bring in guest Marques Johnson onto the show and he and KC make pure podcasting gold with their ebb and flow conversation about the NBA. 45. Howard Schultz bought the team in 2001. Kendall was always trying to get more of the pie, and Hersey came in and was just happy to be on a winning team.”. In 1995-96, the Sonics finally acquired the right pieces on the court, solved their chemistry issues off it and unleashed a team that lost to the 72-win Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals. Top User Quizzes in Sports. Paul Westhead was an assistant coach in the team's last season in Seattle. Because if there were a team still known as the Sonics, we might more often recall an accurate description of Kemp’s reign in Seattle. The Sonics won only one playoff series after 1998, and they played their final season in Seattle in 2008, leaving behind memories of the 1995-96 season. And that’s an understatement. Defensively he was kind of a quarterback, a coach on the floor. The 1978 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1977-78 season.The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Washington Bullets defeating the Western Conference champion Seattle SuperSonics 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals. I was probably the target demographic for that switch.”, Marc Moquin, Sonics media relations: “The red in it reminded people of Portland’s colors. But what created the biggest boom were his precise and thunderous debauchery of rims as a Sonic. Probably not. It led to a tense Game 3 in Sacramento. Cummings was very athletic, had a great face-up game, and should be a perfect fit in the starting lineup. 14th: Rank among 29 teams in attendance with 17,007 per game at KeyArena. I remember getting hit, and I remember landing a couple. The further I got away from it, the more I appreciated Gary Payton.”, Vincent Askew, guard: “If I could pick anybody to go play a game with — one game to win for your life — I’ll pick Gary because Gary’s not afraid of anything. I had a legit back injury. For its time, it was a hell of a facility.”, Eric Snow, guard: “Even now, I hear stories about guys who would look at the schedule and they’d count a game at KeyArena as a loss.”, Billy McKinney, vice president of basketball operations: “When I first accepted the position that year, one of the things I said to Wally Walker was, ‘I wonder when there’s going to be a logo or uniform change.’ That logo and uniform had been around for many years. Got some free baskets. They won 57 games and a playoff series the following year. 40 jersey that Shawn Kemp made iconic should be hanging next to GP’s in Seattle’s NBA basketball arena. (Seattle Times file), From left, Sam Perkins, Hersey Hawkins, Detlef Schrempf and Frank Brickowski sit on the bench during a 1996 postseason game. ” Thanks for the post Todd. That prompted NBC broadcaster and New York Post columnist Peter Vecsey to question the severity of McMillan’s injury. “Shawn, great game tonight,” Supersonics TV analyst and five-time NBA All-Star Marques Johnson said as he greeted Shawn Kemp at MSG during what would become a 64-win season. The Bucks won the second game 114-112 in overtime and Game 3 by 95-91 when the series moved to Milwaukee. Name every Fifa World Cup host country 1,625; Pundit Arena Daily Sports Brainteaser Challenge Day 319 1,578; Liverpool FC: Reds who scored on debut since 1992 1,276; Name Every Golf Major Winner Of The 21st Century 1,126; Name a footballer who... 1,049 Oldest Premier League scorers 849; Most followed footballers on Instagram 822; The 92 - 2020-21 800 Former Seattle Sonics star is one of 13 finalists for induction to the 2019 Basketball Hall of Fame. It rattled our guys for just a little bit. I think that game was really the defining moment for the team.”, Frank Brickowski, center: “I remember early in Game 7, John Stockton came in the lane. … I was close to having back surgery. The Sonics also unveiled a new logo for the first time in 20 years and introduced new uniforms with red and bronze. Is that something by design that you’re doing offensively?”“Yeah, what I’ve done since I came back from my foot injury is try to shoot the ball from the outside to try to open up the drive a little bit. You don’t get a police escort at any time during the season except for the Finals, so everybody was excited and enjoying the moment. A meeting with Michael Jordan and his record-setting Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals. The Sonics finished the 1993-94 season with the NBA’s best record, yet they became the first No. At SF I picked Marques Johnson. Sikma averaged 15.6 and 9.8 rebounds in 14 NBA seasons. We weren’t that far away. They were young and talented, paced by superstars Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. In the Western Conference Finals, Seattle beat the Utah Jazz who were led by the dynamic duo of John Stockton and Karl Malone. He was also not afraid to loosen the defense up by taking a jumper. 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