Meneur
Point guard and Defensive Player of the Year Gary Payton, and power forward Shawn Kemp were both selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game, and to the All-NBA Second Team. Payton was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team averaging 19.3 points, 7.5 assists and 2.9 steals per game, and became the first and only point guard ever to win the Defensive Player of the Year award, while Kemp led the team with 19.6 points, 11.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. Detlef Schrempf averaged 17.1 points per game, while Hawkins provided the team with 15.6 points and 1.8 steals per game. Sixth man Sam Perkins provided scoring off the bench averaging 11.8 points per game. This Sonics team is regarded as one of the best defensive teams in the late 90s.