Hoops Habit
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Each NBA team’s most clutch player of all-time

By Josh Cornelissen

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images /
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Gary Payton, OKC Thunder
Gary Payton, OKC Thunder (Photo credit should read DAN LEVINE/AFP/Getty Images) /

Most clutch player in Oklahoma City Thunder/Seattle Supersonics history: Gary Payton

The Oklahoma City Thunder, previously the Seattle Supersonics, have had plenty of offensive talent wear their jersey — from Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in modern days to Dennis Johnson and Jack Sikma on the 1979 title team.

Yet, the most clutch player in franchise history, while no offensive slouch, made his impact felt defensively in a massive way. Gary Payton was one of the league’s best defensive guards, and in many important situations he locked down an opposing player and prevented them from any clutch-time heroics.

Key Moment: In 1996 the Sonics overcame the Utah Jazz in seven games to earn a chance to knock off Michael Jordan and the 72-win Bulls. Although the Sonics would lose the series in six games, Payton’s defense on Jordan was otherworldly, and the Bulls did not win because Jordan was unstoppable.

Payton never played fewer than 44 minutes in the series, marking Jordan every step of the way. Jordan shot just 41.4 percent for the series and 36.6 percent over the final three games. Although the Sonics did not have enough firepower to stop the entire Bulls squad, Payton elevated his game on the biggest stage and did his part in giving his team a chance to win.