This NBA Tuesday entry focuses on the Oklahoma City Thunder, with the former Seattle SuperSonics folded into the fray. We have an uneven “blend” of both eras in organizational history: in Washington where the team won its only NBA title (1979) and in Oklahoma where the franchise hasn’t made the postseason since 2020—but is currently poised to do so in fine fashion with a 52-22 record as we “go to print” here today.

No. 10: Nate McMillan, PG/SG—50.2 WS (1986-1998)

A lifer with the Sonics, he was a second-round draft pick who hung around as a glue guy for 12 seasons. Never an All Star, McMillan nonetheless topped the NBA in steals once (1994) while averaging 5.9 ppg, 6.1 apg, 4.0 rpg, and 1.9 spg over 796 regular-season games—not bad for a guy who only took 5.2 shots per game. He was doing something right as he played in 98 playoff games for Seattle, too. That’s a lot of success.

No. 9: Gus Williams, PG—52.1 WS (1977-1980, 1981-1984)

A 2nd-round pick for the defending champion Golden State Warriors in 1975, he came to Seattle early in his career and thrived. Twice an All Star with the Sonics (1982, 1983), he also lost a full year of his career due to a contract holdout in 1980-1981. In addition to leading the team to the ’79 crown, he averaged 20.3 ppg, 6.0 apg, and 2.3 spg in 6 seasons for the team, and in 69 playoff games, he put up 23.2 ppg, 5.3 apg, and 2.0 spg.

No. 8: Detlef Schrempf, SF—53.7 WS (1993-1999)

Two times an All Star with the Sonics (1995, 1997), the Grand Teuton was a first rounder who spent 8 seasons with 2 other teams before settling in for a stretch in the Pacific Northwest. In those 6 seasons in Seattle, he averaged 16.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, and 4.0 apg in 415 regular-season games (399 starts), while adding 16.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, and 3.3 apg in 52 playoff games (all starts). Not a bad stat line for a mid-to-late career stop in the NBA.

No. 7: Rashard Lewis, SF/PF—58.9 WS (1998-2007)

He skipped college as the Sonics drafted him 32nd overall in the draft, and he reached 1 All-Star Game (2005) with Seattle before moving on to other NBA cities. In 617 regular-season games with the franchise, he posted 16.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, and 1.1 spg, and in 16 playoff games, he also contributed 15.6 ppg and 5.3 rpg. This was a low stretch for the organization, precipitating the move to Oklahoma City soon after he left.

No. 6: Fred Brown, PG/SG—63.2 WS (1971-1984)

He has the fun distinction to have been the NBA 3-point percentage leader in the first season of the shot’s existence (1979-1980). Otherwise, his claims to fame include making the 1976 All-Star Team and then winning the league championship with the Sonics in 1979. Overall? 14.6 ppg, 3.3 apg, and 1.4 spg in 963 regular-season games and 14.4 ppg in 83 playoff games are his statistical legacies. Not a bad career, for sure.

No. 5: Shawn Kemp, PF—67.6 WS (1989-1997)

The No. 17 pick in the draft, he made 5 consecutive All-Star teams (1993-1997) as a Sonics star before leaving town for other destinations. The Reign Man helped the team to the 1996 NBA Finals, but the team ran into history in the making there. Overall, he played in 625 regular-season games (16.2 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 1.2 spg) and 74 postseason games (18.8 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 1.8 bpg, 1.3 spg) with the team, leaving a legacy behind.

No. 4: Jack Sikma, PF/C—79.0 WS (1977-1986)

For a decade, he was an NBA force in the middle for Seattle, helping the team to the 1979 championship after being the No. 8 overall pick. He reached 7 consecutive All-Star games (1979-1985) and played in all 82 regular-season games 6 times in his first 7 seasons. In the end, he put up 16.8 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.1 spg, and 1.0 bpg in 715 regular-season games—and 15.0 ppg, 9.8 rpg, and 2.4 apg in 69 postseason contests.

No. 3: Russell Westbrook, PG—96.9 WS (2008-2019)

The only one on this list to play exclusively with the Thunder, he’s been a controversial figure throughout his career … as the No. 4 overall pick in the draft, though, he was awesome in OKC: 8-time All Star, 2-time scoring champ (2015, 2017), 2-time assists leader (2018, 2019), and 4 straight seasons averaging a triple double (2016-2019). He was voted the 2017 NBA MVP, and he led the team to the 2012 NBA Finals as well.

No. 2: Kevin Durant, SG/SF—107.9 WS (2007-2016)

He was a rookie on the final SuperSonics roster in Seattle, before spending the rest of his days with the franchise in Oklahoma City. He was voted the 2008 NBA ROTY and the NBA MVP (2014). We also gave him our 2013 NBA MVP, by the way. He was also a 4-time scoring champ with the Thunder: 2010-2012, 2014. He reached those 2012 NBA Finals and then led the NBA the following season in FT percentage, too: a badass.

No. 1: Gary Payton, PG—123.8 WS (1990-2003)

The Glove was the leader of that 1996 NBA Finals squad after being named the DPOY that year. The No. 2 overall pick, he was a 9-time All Star in Seattle and topped the league in steals once (1996). In 999 regular-season games with the franchise, he posted 18.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 4.2 rpg, and 2.1 spg. In the postseason (94 contests), he added 17.7 ppg, 6.1 apg, 4.4 rpg, and 1.7 spg. Disclosure: he dunked on us in high school. Fact.