Greatest Sonic of all Time?

Kane2111 · Post #1 » by **Kane2111** » Mon Jul 7, 2008 6:25 pm

Well now that the franchise is dead we can ask questions like, "Who was the greatest Seattle SuperSonic player of all time?". I say it's unquestionably Gary Payton even though he didn't win a title until going to Miami. Maybe someone from that 1979 team, but that was kind of the low point of the NBA before it's golden age with Bird/Magic. Ray Allen was awesome, but I think history will remember him as Celtic since his 2008 title run is more relevant than his 5 year stint on a bad/mediocre Seattle team.

It would have unquestionably been Kevin Durant, but sadly we'll never have the luxury of watching him here. He now belongs to Oklahoma (or wherever he ends up in 3 years as a free agent). To me, this is the biggest travesty of the entire situation. It's one thing to lose a doormat franchise at the lowpoint of their history. It's another thing to lose a franchise phenom with the potential to be the greatest scorer the game has ever seen. This is like if the Cavs lost LeBron after his rookie year. But I digress...

Gary Payton? Greatest Sonic ever? That 1996 Sonics team was my favorite Sonics team of all time. Gary Payton was a god to me back then. If Seattle built a statue in Seattle Center of one player... it'd have to be Payton, right?

jenn_gp · Post #2 » by **jenn_gp** » Mon Jul 7, 2008 6:40 pm

You all know what my answer is..

And I'm not so sure the "Greatest Sonic of all Time" would have unquestionably been Durant. He's good, but he has a few things he needs to work on. As someone who wasn't born in 1979 and didn't get to experience the championship runs of '78 & '79, my best memories will always go back to the '90s.

Gary Payton IS the Sonics IMO, and always will be.

No mention of Kemp?

Kane2111 · Post #3 » by **Kane2111** » Mon Jul 7, 2008 6:56 pm

jenn_gp wrote:You all know what my answer is..

And I'm not so sure the "Greatest Sonic of all Time" would have unquestionably been Durant. He's good, but he has a few things he needs to work on. As someone who wasn't born in 1979 and didn't get to experience the championship runs of '78 & '79, my best memories will always go back to the '90s.

Gary Payton IS the Sonics IMO, and always will be.

No mention of Kemp?

I loved Kemp too, but Gary was always better. Kemp got more hype, because of the dunks... but that team was always Gary Payton.

My comment on Durant might have been a little off. I guess I can't say "unquestionably" until we see how he progresses. But personally I think the kid is a lock to end up on the Kobe/LeBron level. He'll be dropping 40's and 50's nightly in Oklahoma. So in 15-20 years when that kid retires I definitely expect his career will have been more impressive than any player to ever wear a Sonic uniform. It's just a crying shame he will not have that career in Seattle.

So Gary Payton has to be the guy.

Ex-hippie · Post #4 » by **Ex-hippie** » Mon Jul 7, 2008 8:17 pm

1. Gary Payton
2. Jack Sikma
3. Shawn Kemp
4. Gus Williams
5. Xavier McDaniel
6. Dennis Johnson
7. Detlef Schrempf
8. Tom Chambers
9. Ray Allen
10. Slick Watts
11. Fred Brown
12. Lenny Wilkens
13. Dale Ellis
14. Bob Rule
15. Nate McMillan
16. Walt Hazzard
17. Rashard Lewis
18. Ricky Pierce
19. Hersey Hawkins
20. Lonnie Shelton
....
37. Derrick McKey
...
83. Alton Lister
...
112. Desmond Mason
...
177. Bill Hanzlik
...
249. Russ Schoene
...
311. Luke Ridnour
...
338. Jim McIlvaine

jenn_gp · Post #5 » by **jenn_gp** » Mon Jul 7, 2008 8:21 pm

^Hippie, where does Robert Swift rate for you? I can't believe you forgot the "Great One.."

I have to keep it happy, no matter what we're discussing.

Kane2111 · Post #6 » by **Kane2111** » Mon Jul 7, 2008 10:15 pm

jenn_gp wrote:^Hippie, where does Robert Swift rate for you? I can't believe you forgot the "Great One.."

I have to keep it happy, no matter what we're discussing.

I had a dream he showed up as a 20 and 10 franchise center and was forever known as the "pride of Oklahoma City"

Ex-hippie · Post #7 » by **Ex-hippie** » Mon Jul 7, 2008 10:42 pm

I made a greatness list, not a hugeness list. If it's a hugeness list, I think it should be something like this:

1. Robert Swift
2. Robert Swift
3. Robert Swift
4. Benoit Benjamin
5. Robert Swift
6. Jerome James
7. Olden Polynice
8. Jim McIlvaine
9. Michael Cage
10. Robert Swift

jenn_gp · Post #8 » by **jenn_gp** » Mon Jul 7, 2008 11:42 pm

^lol there ya go!

No Sam Perkins on the hugeness list though? He was the only center I truly loved watching hit three after three..Big Smooth

TheUrbanZealot · Post #9 » by **TheUrbanZealot** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 12:23 am

Ex-hippie wrote:1. Gary Payton
2. Jack Sikma
3. Shawn Kemp
4. Gus Williams
5. Xavier McDaniel
6. Dennis Johnson
7. Detlef Schrempf
8. Tom Chambers
9. Ray Allen
10. Slick Watts
11. Fred Brown
12. Lenny Wilkens
13. Dale Ellis
14. Bob Rule
15. Nate McMillan
16. Walt Hazzard
17. Rashard Lewis
18. Ricky Pierce
19. Hersey Hawkins
20. Lonnie Shelton
....
37. Derrick McKey
...
83. Alton Lister
...
112. Desmond Mason
...
177. Bill Hanzlik
...
249. Russ Schoene
...
311. Luke Ridnour
...
338. Jim McIlvaine

Agree w/ the players, and most of the list, however there is no way X, Schremph and Watts should be over Dale Ellis, Fred Brown, Lenny Wilkens. Ellis not only led the big 3, but he WAS the Sonics in 88-89. My top 10 would be something like this:

1. Payton
2. Kemp
3. Gus Williams
4. Jack Sikma
5. Ray Allen
6. Lenny Wilkens
7. Dale Ellis
8. Fred Brown
9. Tom Chambers
10. Dennis Johnson / X - Man

BenjaminH · Post #10 » by **BenjaminH** » Tue Jul 8, 2008 1:31 am

Whether greatness or hugeness ... Robert Swift is the Alpha and Omega, i.e., He is ranked number 1 and infinity plus 1. May He have mercy on you for suggesting otherwise.