1996 Seattle SuperSonics | The Best NBA Teams to Never Win a Title

Throughout this series we've talked about NBA teams from the 2020s, 2010s, 2000s, and 1990s, but we yet to talk about a team that now doesn't exist. Today we will be doing that as we take a look back at the 1996 Seattle Supersonics. The Sonics were led by their star duo of Gary Payton one of the best permitter defenders in NBA history and Shawn Kemp one of the best dunkers in NBA history. The 1996 Sonics won 64 games and advanced to the finals, but met the 72 win Chicago Bulls which are widely regarded as the best team in NBA history.

[@JD-iu6rv]

If the Sonics come back because of expansion I’m gonna be really excited. Seattle got screwed over and they deserve their team back

[@matthewsonguad3313]

Can they still use the Sonics name? I was under the impression that OKC took over the legacy of that franchise.

[@tedjarman4686]

Yeah they can, They were the supersonics so the new team could just be called the seattle sonics for example@@matthewsonguad3313

[@JD-iu6rv]

@@matthewsonguad3313 if I remember right both Seattle and Oklahoma City own the name. I know the Sonics championship banner and trophy is in a museum in Seattle and Seattle has an entire warehouse that sells Sonics merchandise so they must have ownership of the name somehow

[@LuhCremeGod]

OKC vs Sonics is going to become a iconic rivalry

[@justinr5989]

I don’t think the league should be expanding now, but I’d love for Seattle to get it back. Those Key Arena crowds were absolutely nuts!!

[@TheFrostbite324]

Ik they’re not a “forgotten” team per se, but a retrospective on the 04 Pistons would be nice. Obviously, we remember their accomplishments, but I think people forgot the insane circumstances that lead to that team coming together.

[@StrawberryDreamsicle]

i think they kinda are forgotten. never really hear many people talking about that team.

[@skywalker2676]

@@StrawberryDreamsiclethat’s cuz most of us were young asf when that team was together, I was 4-5 years old when they won that title, I remember them because my dad is a hoop fan and was a big chauncey billups fan

[@gilbertoflores7397]

I think there is a video discussing them, they're the biggest anomaly ever, their team had like no all stars or top 10 players, and best the Lakers in their prime, and came together as a bunch or rejects to become a powerhouse who got to the top for like 6 years.

[@justinfletcher7630]

I feel like that team was a massive surprise in the moment but once everyone saw it it was like everyone gave their selves the forehead bop and said duh of course that would work.. cuz they then made at least the conf finals for like what 5 consecutive yrs

[@hacehutton]

@@StrawberryDreamsiclefe❤dd w

[@TorontoWire]

The thing about George Karl teams, he won't completely let you down like Doc Rivers but he definetely doesn't know how to lead a championship team.

[@JohnDoe-gk7ok]

They would have won it all if they hadn’t been playing the greatest team in NBA history. They even managed to beat them twice in a row, but the team was derailed by a red eye flight.

[@user-jw5qj8kv2y]

I was very happy when Gary Payton won a championship when he was with the Heat. Since retiring in 2007, Payton has been considered one of the best point guards of all time, with Gail Goodrich praising him highly, saying, ``Payton is the greatest defensive craftsman ever.'' Kevin Johnson also praised Payton, saying, ``Gary Payton is scarier than Magic Johnson, Isaiah Thomas, Nate Archibald, or Maurice Cheeks.''

[@DerethAC]

Even though GP wasn't the same player then as he was with the Sonics, he still had enough in the tank to make two huge buckets that won that series.

[@BrandenJacoby]

Didn't they beat the Thunder those finals and Alonzo mourning finally got a ring with GP as well right.

[@markocenic299]

​@@BrandenJacoby They beat the Mavs in '06 with 2 of them . The finals you're thinking is 2012 Miami vs OKC.

[@bucksfan1945]

this team would be known as a top 5 team if Gary guarded mj that whole series 64 wins elite defense dpoy gp Shawn Kemp most underrated pf of all time would have been fmvp if they won such a underrated all time team

[@DerethAC]

Great video on a great team. Some thoughts: 1. Hersey Hawkins did improve chemistry, but he was also a better player than Kendall Gill. Hawkins has an All-Star appearance to Gill's zero, but he was also a significantly better perimeter shooter than Gill was, which is something that the Sonics really needed. Gill was probably a better overall defender, but Hawkins was a good defender too. 2. The Sonics lost to the Suns in the 1993 Finals after Phoenix was given an absurd 64 free throws by the refs. It was a record at the time if it isn't still a record. People always bring up the Lakers-Kings series in 2002, but that game was on the same level and it ended up with the NBA getting the Jordan-Barkley Finals that they undoubtedly wanted. 3. Kemp choked in Game 3 of the Nuggets series, missing free throws that would have iced the series. 4. George Karl's baffling decision in the 1996 Finals was even worse that you put in the video. He put Detlef Schrempf on Jordan to start the series, not Hawkins. You can even see a clip of this in your video at 11:33 when Jordan is taking that three pointer and in the clip right after it. That is Schrempf on MJ. He thought that they'd just let Jordan get his and try to shut down everyone else. Just an awful decision. 5. The 21-point loss in Game 4 was the worst Finals loss that Jordan ever took.

[@brucejohnson8434]

Always think its an interesting "what if?" after learning Seattle nearly traded Gill to Portland for Drexler.

[@Swimmincircls]

The story of the DRose bulls is one that still hurts to this day but it def deserves a video. 2012 was our year and even 2015 we had a chance to go up 3-1 on Bron but the David Blatt no TO call still haunts me.

[@slanda2262]

i still cant believe the bulls during the rose/thibodeau, they made the ecf ONCE. but management failed to get LeBron and Wade to chicago, they got Carlos Boozer instead of AMARE STOUDEMIRE, that PnR with Korver in the corner😭. Im still mad that the bulls FUMBLED on Melo, jfc. and yes drose having injuries killed us but i did not have confidence with those teams with him on the bench. Defensively, they had the team, but goddamn did they not figure out how hard holding a team to under 90 points every game is😭.

[@Swimmincircls]

@@slanda2262 and then after that team FAILED they brought in Wade 7 years too late and are still losing the Jimmy trade all these years later cuz Zach is a fraud.

[@SIGuy7480]

the SuperSonics had such a good look they should come back just for the Jersey's

[@FlaggermusMann_]

This hurts my soul, I miss my sonics so much and need them back in my life

[@MusicLover-my6fo]

Damn, I didn't know Seattle had it this bad. You talk about going from yearly contenders and always coming up short in the playoffs and finally getting to the finals and losing to what was then the best winning team in NBA history and going back to underperforming. Then you lose your team just so it can be put in a new city where they get beat by the Heat and spend the rest of the decade getting destroyed by the Warriors. That's tough.

[@hia5235]

Nobody from Seattle considers the Thunder to be the Sonics in any way + we are offended they use the sonics stats. Yes I speak for almost all Sonics fans.

[@martyflipman4737]

​@hia5235 God damn right. Sonics fan since the 80s. Thunder are NOT my team. I don't have a team.

[@justinmunson1412]

Used to play for a trophy against Portland every year miss the rilvalry and now I root for Portland I can’t believe it

[@michailchytiroglou287]

5:25 it was the Suns' second NBA finals appearance, their first one was in 1976 when they lost to the Celtics in 6.

[@joesmith8725]

I think these guys are young. They say a lot of wacky stuff on their videos. lol

[@strongarm_11]

Great video 👍 Seattle deserves to get the sonics back! I think your next video should probably be either the 97-98 jazz (2 finals appearance, ran into Jorden) or 02-03 nets (2 finals appearance, ran in to Kobe and Duncan).

[@Joswag]

Gary Payton honestly did a pretty good job on Mike

[@umarsadiqloyal828]

Pretty good?, I’m a Jordan Fan, but he was locking MJ up, Sonics win the series imo if that was the matchup the whole series

[@damienkirksey7026]

Not good enough

[@Bigedub101]

​@umarsadiqloyal828 As a MJ fan we watched basically all the games and Payton was a pest. Again another dumb coaching decision by Karl. By far MJ worst Finals

[@davidschmidt1793]

@@umarsadiqloyal828 Locking up is not the right term. Payton played great defense and certainly wore Jordan down, but Jordan's shooting % didn't drop directly because of Payton. Looking at the last 3 games, Jordan shot against Payton 2/6 in game 4, 4/6 in game 5 and 2/3 in game 6, so a total of 8/15. On the other hand he shot 1/8 against Hawkins in game 6. Jordan's shooting was just off, which combined with the suffocating defensive style of the Sonics and constant double teaming must have taken a toll on him. Most of Jordan's makes in the last 3 games were shots close to the rim, his jumpshots were not falling.

[@martinrosario4018]

@@umarsadiqloyal828idk man Jordan chuckled at that during the documentary when Payton said he was wearing him down lol

[@florianb.1382]

I felt old when I heard that you weren't alive for the Sonics-Nuggets serie 😅

[@Romeo_E]

Keep the grind up boys! The algorithm will hit and it will snowball from there. Consistency is key and you guys are killing it!

[@Murf_Workshop]

damn, crazy to see how the Glove situation could've been organized accordingly right away you never know how different that series could've gone. I'm a longtime Bulls fan, but I will say Seattle needs their team back, those 90s colors were the best looking, very unique, I hope can come back at some point, Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver used to be some goods teams to watch back in the day. now the northwest only has Rip City, I wish the Sonics can make a comeback and play Climate Pledge Arena where they belong.

[@josephthegamer6438]

Love y’all’s videos I watch every one 🔥

[@LuigiL75]

THIS was the team that got me INTO the NBA…I was stationed up in Seattle at the time and my Shipmates and I used to get MWR tickets to Sonic games for CHEAP!!! 🙌🏾

[@dippyfr3sh]

You guys make the best videos

[@jaylenbarnes2.079]

Solid Video as always

[@T47KER]

cant wait too watch this love yall vids

[@Ig0r582]

Been waiting for this one

[@dtrain8530]

Whats crazy to me is that if Gary Payton was actually guarding Jordan all series there’s a legitimate chance they could’ve won, Payton was the only dude who could give MJ fits

[@Guccimane0713]

Payton guarding Jordan was 2-1 but I believe the sonics were already down 3-0 at that point but they gave Jordan his worst finals and Shawn kemp was the best player that series

[@DerethAC]

@@Guccimane0713 100% right. Rodman was critical in the series because of his rebounding, but on defense he was completely helpless against Kemp. Kemp absolutely dominated him.

[@urbaindelva7869]

However, there is the concern that Payton would've worn down from defending Jordan and had very little left to give on the offensive end.

[@DerethAC]

@@urbaindelva7869 The Sonics offense was built to spread the ball around and didn't rely on Payton to score the same way that the Bulls relied on Jordan scoring. I think that the Sonics would take that trade all day long.

[@Bigedub101]

​@@DerethACyea it was terrible decision not starting Payton on MJ whole series

[@gfreshnit]

Wut? There's a kings video? Was going to recommend that, can't wait to watch! Weird cuz though I've seen all ur vids, but nice surprise!🎉

[@HunterOlson]

I would love to see you guys cover the 2004 Wolves. Not sure if you’d consider them what ifs or a team to never win a title but covering the KG era in Minnesota would be sweet!

[@TerryT0114]

I've just started to watch this. Thank you for it, I loved that team. Was in the building when they beat the Bulls in the regular season an game 4 of the finals. Was also there for game 7 against Utah an a playoff game against Houston I think, plus a bunch of other regular season games. Loved them. An they were damn good that year, better than everyone but the Bulls. I loved the Bulls that year too an knew they were going to beat my Sonics, that's how it was with MJ. We knew at the beginning of the season he was going to win, he was that dominate. I felt sick for a week after they lost to Denver, that was the first time an 8 seed beat a 1. Bought a seven game package the next year while they were in the Tacoma Dome, all I remember from that season was seeing Shaq an getting knocked out in the first round again by Nick The Quick an the Lakers. Kemp was a tyrant in the playoffs, his averages would go from 19.8 an 9.5 to 25 & 12. An he'd just dunk hard on everyone. Beautiful player. Vin Baker was good in the regular season, I was actually encouraged. Dude even made a few game winners at the end of games. But once he got in the playoffs he disappeared, he was the exact opposite of Kemp. Kemp didn't go far in the playoffs for Cleveland but his numbers were the same, he tore it up that first year. Even though they got their arena rebuilt it wasn't enough, ownership wanted to get out so they killed the team. You guys don't like George Karl, fine. Guess what? They won when he was coach, we felt like we had a chance despite two first round exits. When you win almost 60 games a year for five or six years an make the finals it builds confidence. Firing Karl was the beginning of the end an we still don't have a team. But, today's defense is so weak I'm not sure if I care anymore. I see guys saying "but you can double team an play zone, it's way tougher". Uh yeah, sorry, but no, it's not close to as tough. Go watch Pippen guarding Magic full court during the 91 finals or watch this video here of Payton trying to deny MJ the post pass. I understand it's a different game but they should still allow that kind of contact. Today's game is weak, there's no defense.

[@rjhaney2614]

I would love to see one of these on an older team like the 83/84 Jazz or the 88/89 Knicks.

[@dscotthoward7467]

Nate MacMillan (who didn't even get a mention?) was hurt for the final series. George K has even said that that was the main reason the Sonics lost to the Bulls. I was in the Key Arena for these playoffs, and I said the same at the time.

[@christiangwenner6384]

Exactly! The few minutes on pain killers he could go in game four made all the difference. Nate was the leader they desperately missed. Nate was hope.

[@72erys14]

idk if you guys did it before but the late 90s - early 2000s bucks with Ray Allen would be a fun video

[@leeartlee915]

I wouldn’t mind the late 80s/early 90s Blazers… because as a fan, I need to feel even more pain.

[@beemrmem3]

Love that shot of Payton and Jordan stare down

[@justinmunson1412]

Bring back our Sonics!

[@SifisoMazibuko]

First to watch and first to comment..!! 🙌🏿🙌🏿 PS: Shawn Kemp... low ley most underrated power forward ever...

[@RealTomahawk7]

I know everyone says this, but Seattle should get the Sonics back soon.

[@NikeDunkface]

Ever though about making one about the 09 Magic?? I know their reign was pretty short collectively speaking. But that playoff run they terrorized the East having a team with 3 big guys that created so many matchup issues, Dwight-Rashard-Hedo. Had some fun series against the Celtics and Cavs, but also Dwight Was such an unstoppable force for a few years there. The 09 playoffs Dwight averaged 20ppg 15rpg and 2.6bpg as a 23 year old 5th year player wow.

[@billzeekpop]

This might be a stretch, especially since this team didn’t even make the PLAYOFFS, but do you guys remember the ‘16-‘17 Heat starting the season 11-30 and ending the season 41-41?? I’ve been looking for someone to cover this and I will die on the hill that this team could’ve been a FORCE in the playoffs and another one of Erik Spoelstra’s coaching masterclasses

[@acnicodemus4734]

Nice, one down from my list of requests Best Teams to never win a title: 2000 Portland Trail blazers 1998 Utah Jazz 1995 Orlando Magic 1994 New York Knicks 1984 Los Angeles Lakers 1980 Philadelphia 76ers 2004 Indiana Pacers 2007 Dallas Mavericks 2011 Miami Heat 2011 Chicago Bulls 2013 New York Knicks 2014 Indiana Pacers 2016 Golden State Warriors 2020 Milwaukee Bucks 2022 Phoenix Suns 2017 Cleveland Cavaliers 2004 LA Lakers Rs

[@fyks669]

2017 cavs is genuinely one of the best teams ever just ran in to best team ever

[@carsalesman5897]

I don't think you know what "never" means. They only do cores that never won

[@tj5180]

If were going by teams in the 60s 70s and 80s. 1969 lakers 1971 knicks 1984 sixers 1985-86 bucks 1967 warriors 1978 blazers

[@fyks669]

oh i thought its just single season@@carsalesman5897

[@fyks669]

makes sense when i think about it now@@carsalesman5897

[@joesmith8725]

Yall must be young. Oregon State basketball was a powerhouse back in the '80s and early '90s. Payton is from the west coast.

[@pacdaman15557]

Rebuild celtics, the Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Al Horford, Kelly Olynkyk celtics, the "we shouldn't be in the conference finals but here we are" celtics should be a retrospective video

[@claytonphillips85]

Shawn Kemp is my favorite player of the 90s

[@user-tz5ck1xy5u]

Detlef Schrempf is my favorite basketball player ever.

[@jimbrown5091]

People pretend like Denver's altitude isn't a legit home court advantage. You do not want to be in the 4th quarter of a football or basketball game in Denver Colorado if you're from a sea-level city.

[@frankschaefer8890]

I know y'all are a basketball channel but if we get a CM Punk video I'd be ecstatic

[@lightingupthecinemafilmrev7956]

Death, taxes, the third Quarter Warriors, and 90s Mike. The only guarantees in life

[@renew1098]

The 2014-2015 Grizzlies are a good contender for Best Teams to not win a chip

[@tylerr6618]

Do My Knicks 90s Knicks next from the 90’s, literally could’ve won in 94

[@ant4613]

This team was so cool.

[@LincolnAKAVenox]

You guys should do the 2007 cavs as an april fools video for the best team to never win a ring

[@sevonwilliams6622]

You should do the 1998 pacers

[@ShaadsComicsandBeers]

I honestly don't think the results would've been different even if Gary did guard Jordan from Game 1 on which GP did actually guard MJ a lot more in the first 3 games but I digress

[@thomasmontgomery805]

Great video bro 🎉

[@darinvandenborn7278]

Big Smooth was so nice. Always looked baked as fuck .

[@christiangwenner6384]

And yet he completely crumbled in the finals, when they needed him most.

[@snakebandit]

Sad thing is the NBA is so unwatchable now I wouldn’t care much if the Sonics did return

[@danalvin29]

Can you guys do the Melo nuggets (another George Karl team) or the Dwight or Shaq Magic next video

[@calebellis7173]

88-92 Trail Blazers do them next

[@jpmtlhead39]

Yeap i agree,but personaly i also include the Karl Malone and John Stockton Utah Jazz on the same "debate". PS: And not only in 1996.

[@geordiejones5618]

I am absolutely convinced that if Payton guarded Jordan from opening tip game 1 instead of game 4 when they were down 0-3, that the 96 Sonics pull off the biggest upset of that decade. The Glove guarded Jordan 1 on 1 better than anyone else and made him work hard for points. They went 2-1 in those last three games where Payton was assigned Jordan.

[@davidschmidt1793]

Then you didn't pay attention enough. Jordan shot over 50% on Payton in the last 3 games. 2/6 in game 4, 4/6 in game 5 and 2/3 in game 6. Payton wasn't the main reason Jordan's efficiency dropped. The Sonics won games 4 and 5 because they managed to somewhat contain Jordan and the rest of the Bulls were just awful offensively. Game 6, Hawkins did a great job on Jordan, who shot 1/8 on him, but Jordan's playmaking and all around game combined with Rodman getting 19 boards and the rest of the team playing well, on both ends, put the series to an end. The Sonics's rebounding killed them in that series.

[@christiangwenner6384]

@@davidschmidt1793 Prime example of how statistics only help If you can read them properly. Gary's defense worked because Jordan didn't get his shot off more than six times a game. That's the point.

[@davidschmidt1793]

@@christiangwenner6384 But Payton was never exclusively on Jordan. MJ still averaged 20 shots a game in those last 3 games. It was more of a team effort than an individual one. We saw in several occasions: Payton,Hawkins(the main defender on him in the finals),Askew and Wingate on Jordan, not to mention the multitude of doubles. And of course I get your point. Defense is hard to put into numbers, it's visual. You gotta see it to understand what's going on. Off ball denial and 1v1 defense can't be quantified. The Sonics did one heck of a job on their doubles, forcing Jordan to pass whenever he got the ball and clogging the lanes. Add the fact that Payton was a hands on physical defender, him and the doubles definitely did a good job tiring Jordan out. He had 26 points on 50% shooting in game 5, but had only 1 FG in the entire 4th quarter, he looked gassed. I never denied Payton played good defense and so did the team as a whole, but Jordan's FG% drop in those games 4 and 6 had little to do with Payton.

[@christiangwenner6384]

@@davidschmidt1793 My introductory sentence was far too harsh. I really appreciate your contribution to the context. And in the end you have only shed light on one aspect in particular, which contributes greatly to understanding. My main aim was to make it clear how difficult it is to clearly interpret statistical values ​​in sport, as you have also pointed out very well. Jordan's good shooting percentages against Payton could be interpreted to mean that Payton defended poorly. But that's what happens in a defense that focuses on stopping the pass to the attacking player. He shoots less often, but when he gets past the defender he gets high percentage shots. It's a "pick your poison" situation. For context, you would ultimately have to look at the Bulls' relative passing rate compared to other final series, or look at the number of turnovers. This is all so much more complex than many observers believe, who understand statistics with a false understanding of duality. You clearly don't. As someone who works with statistics myself, it is very important to me to shed light on its limitations as well as its possibilities. And the fact that their validity ultimately depends on the correct translation. Since Moneyball, many people believe that we analysts are better scouts. While in reality the work of both groups can benefit so greatly from each other. Thanks for the exchange!

[@davidschmidt1793]

​@@christiangwenner6384 Yea, stats are only good with context, I always check them myself, but only after I've watched the game. Today, it seems only stats matter to most young fans, it's a shame. Really good comment, thanks aswell.

[@MiguelSantiago22]

GP the all time best trash talker in nba history😂

[@32ekoc]

You can talk about any team in the 80s that's not the Lakers Celtics or 76ers. Maybe you can about the 76ers the year they drafted Barkley. The one team I'd like you to talk about are the Warriors with Hardaway, Mullins, and Richmond.

[@tj5180]

Or the bucks

[@nitrobiz]

You're forgetting one of the biggest reasons the Sonics struggled in the first three games was that Nate McMillan was injured.

[@kevinoldfield4912]

George Karl is an absolute hack fraud of a coach. He benefitted from having generational talent and solid role playing veterans at every gig. His teams never played for him, they intentionally shunned his play calling to spite him and his lack of creativity and intelligence lead to them getting stonewalled in the playoffs. He's a smug, spiteful, insecure, narcissist who makes Larry Brown look well adjusted. Pleasentries aside, had Payton and McMillan not been reduced by injuries in the Bulls series I think they had a punchers chance of at least dragging it to 7.

[@tj5180]

Lol look how the nuggets players reacted when he got fired

[@thomaswood2418]

Look at Gp face and demeanor while bein the 1st pg to win Dpoy. Old Nba W

[@sinerge2832]

Sonics missed their shots the two years before. They dominated Houston those years that they won the title, but laid eggs in the playoffs.

[@scizorbullet8185]

Do you guys have a second channel

[@darylallen8946]

They were Rocket’s cryptonite in the 90s. Especially in the playoffs.

[@joesmith8725]

The Jazz and Suns were their kryptnite in the playoffs as well. The Nuggets also upset them one year, too.

[@HellfireHellesto]

Fun fact... yea the Sonics were the #1 seed, Denver the #8... but in the regular season Denver was 2-2 against Seattle... each team winning their home games. Which mirrored the playoff... UNTIL GAME 5 and Seattle couldnt hold homecourt. So not a total choke job. The Sonics Struggled during Karls time against a Halfcourt offense... like Denver and Utahs.

[@ShadowThe771]

Sonics would have won the championship in 96 if they had traded Kemp to the Bulls for Scottie Pippen 2 years earlier.

[@Stasis_lmao]

Better yet, there was a trade the Sonics declined with the Blazers which was pretty much Kendall Gill for Clyde Drexler, they make that trade and the team has a legitimate chance to become a dynasty

[@andresdelportillo9917]

Nah pippen not that good

[@davis2k1234]

Wrong Kemp was the 2nd best player in the 1996 Finals behind MJ he dominated Rodman

[@Kmonique27]

my suggestions: 2019 76ers: would have won if Kawhi didn't hit the game winner 2010 Celtics: would have won if they didn't run into Kobe 2015 Rockets: they ran into curry, if they didn't they would have won 2011 Heat: if they didn't choke a 2-0 against Dallas 2005 Pistons: Forced spurs to 7 in the finals 1998 Jazz: ran into MJ 2002 Kings: Rigged by refs 2005 Suns: had a chance in the wcf being up 3-2 2006 Mavericks: 2-1 lead in the finals but they lost the opportunity to win the series against wade and shaq

[@joesmith8725]

1998 - 2000 Pacers. Ran into the Bulls, Knicks, and Lakers.

[@r.b.6099]

“Hershey” Hawkins…lmao. Shoulda signed Hershey Almonds. Hersey Hawkins, boys.

[@kamicloudss]

Am I going crazy or did these guys not drop a video called “will the suns work” and deleted it?

[@ammarnapata2193]

Next team you should do is the early 2000s Clippers thats the og lob city team

[@Ahorsewithnoname1365]

Oh they did a 40 minute video on them. You should check that one out it's a great video.

[@davidschmidt1793]

The Payton overhype is huge. I love Payton, the best defensive PG my eyes have ever witnessed, but he was not the main reason Jordan's FG% dropped in those games 4 and 6. Firstly, Schrempf started on Jordan to start the series, not Hawkins, which was beyond dumb. Hawkins at the time was a really good perimeter defender, but putting Schrempf on MJ made no sense. I logged Jordan's shots in those finals and Jordan shot 6/8 on Schrempf and 2/2 on Payton in that game 1. Game 2 it was mostly Hawkins on him and he didn't do bad at all. Game 3 they tried everyone on him. He shot 1/4 against Payton and 2/6 against Hawkins as most of his points came against other defenders. Game 4 the Sonics constantly doubled and Payton guarded Jordan for some stretches and was his best game on Jordan during the series. However, out of Jordan's 19 FGs, only 6 of them were on Payton, making only 2 of them. Game 5 seems like an OK game, but Jordan had only 1 FG in the 4th quarter as he seemed exhausted. He shot 4/6 on Payton and 4/8 on Hawkins. Game 6 Hawkins guarded Jordan a lot more than Payton did. Jordan shot 2/3 on Payton and only 1/8 on Hawkins. Overall, I'd say the Sonics's team defense did a great job on Jordan with their efficient double teaming and certainly wore him out in those last 3 games, his jumper was certainly off as he also missed a lot of easy shots and open jumpers.

[@sammysabo6777]

I would have thought SHAQ had the finals record for rebounds the year he averaged 38 and 16 in the finals

[@mikeprolas2027]

Reggie miller pacers is also a team u could make a video about

[@jojijoestar7233]

12:15 actually he got 10 point there, which is basically Rodman going at full power on the offensive end

[@joshuamoultrie5404]

11pm from Thailand

[@IamJamesWade]

Shaq and Penny Magic - 94/95-95/96

[@o.a.rodriguez7484]

That Lakers team was pretty good , Vlade wasnt that old maybe 27? He was in his prime. Ceballos was an all star and Van Exel was clutch.

[@PanamaRedHerring]

Ceballos used to get 23 a game exclusively on baseline cuts 😂 van excel was a bomber

[@futureDreamer4]

Talk about the Bullets next. The NBA needs to bring this franchise back.

[@PanamaRedHerring]

Pervis Ellison😎

[@juanluis7310]

Talk about the bad boy pistons 88’ 89’ 90’ finals run

[@DavidThomas-dy3kq]

Do Karl Malone and John Stockton Jazz they went to the NBA Finals twice or do Shaquille O Neal and Penny Hardaway Orlando Magic

[@obilinx1620]

5:28 First NBA Finals? Who was in 1976 Finals then?

[@clintstewart5545]

American sports are so bizarre to me , how a guy can just move a team and then that team no longer exists , atrocious stuff ...

[@fyks669]

its just different name all the team records stayed

[@rdtworld9720]

Is that Roman Reigns' music at the end?!

[@dreadheadbm1990]

If Seattle had played any other team besides the 72-10 bulls, They would have won the championship in 96

[@drewlavay]

Thar was young Vlade on the Lakers lol..

[@dmcgo3]

5:26 *2nd NBA Finals. 1976 was the Suns' first

[@brrazzy8417]

The best team to never win a title still in my opinion has to be the 17-18 Rockets. 0-27 and Chris Paul hamstring prevented them from winning it

[@mrderp8308]

98 Pacers

[@Ryan-gq7bf]

I wanna see the Charles barkley Huston rockets

[@youtuber3328]

i'll rank these elite teams in this EXACT order the #1 86 celtics #2 96 bulls #3 86 rockets #4 86 lakers #5 96 sonics #6 1986 bucks #7 96 jazz and #8 96 magic and these individual stats go in this EXACT order the #1 scoring from kareem abdul-jabbar #2 scoring from michael jordan #3 passing from magic johnson #4 scoring from larry bird #5 shotblocking from hakeem olajuwon and #6 scoring from shaquille o'neal

[@brettrossi034]

Baffling to this day how Karl didn't think putting DPOY Gary Payton on Jordan from the get go. Its the NBA FINALS and you want the best chance to get leverage and to win. But ya know, they wouldn't be in a best team to never win the NBA title series if they didn't make decisions that cost them. Could have had a better chance of winning, even if they end up losing in the end after, they at least put their best forward

[@nvm9040]

Those sonics were solid teams but couldn’t get over the hump Well that year they made it to the finals they ran into the bulls and Mj was average but Rodman saved them

[@koves17]

88-91 Cavs teams. Another victim of Jordan but had the talent to go all the alway, IMO

[@billbosconovitch752]

Josh giddey video???

[@THERobertL2000]

14:48 The beginning of the end of the Seattle Supersonics.

[@brianstones6234]

Go Kings!!!

[@iliasVoolgaris]

"Even counting OKC" No. Noone's counting OKC

[@joupacabra]

Keep the George Karl roast train Rollin and do the early 00s Bucks and how he set our franchise back 20 years by making the owner pick between him and Ray Allen.