Greatest moment in each NBA franchise’s history

Oklahoma City Thunder/Seattle Supersonics: Shawn Kemp destroying Alton Lister

I’m of the mind that the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Seattle Supersonics, though technically the same franchise, should be recognized as separate entities with their own legacy and history 99 percent of the time. In the interest of looking at the franchise’s history, though, I’m staying true to the fact that the Sonics history is technically the Thunder’s history as well.

That being said, the greatest moment in the history of the franchise comes from their days as the Supersonics. The relatively obvious pick would be to say that their 1979 NBA Championship would be the franchise’s greatest moment. Some may argue that their run with Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp in 1996 would be the franchise’s greatest moment. In my eyes, though, the greatest moment is just one play, though it does involve Kemp.

In 1992 when Kemp was a mere 22 years old, he was already one of the most physically imposing figures in the league. He was a ridiculous combination of speed, power, unparalleled athleticism, and supreme explosiveness. No one can attest to that more than Alton Lister.

Playing against Lister’s Warriors, Kemp got the ball kicked out to him at the top of the key and he set his sights on the rim. Lister stood in front of the rim, but that didn’t even slow Kemp down as the Sonics big man went just straight through Lister and then taunted him once he got back on the ground. It was the definition of someone getting dunked on.

If you’re wondering why that dunk is the greatest moment for a team with a storied history and past successes, it mostly has to do with how iconic that dunk has become. In terms of the NBA in general and in terms of reminiscing about the now relocated Sonics franchise, it’s that play that stands chief in the minds of most NBA fans. It was electrifying and still is 23 years later. It’s just a dunk, but it was a dunk so huge that I think it rightfully deserves it’s place as the greatest moment in the Sonics/Thunder’s history.

Next: Orlando Magic