A report on Gary Payton and 1996 NBA Finals

Payton (left) during his stint with the Lakers

Payton playing in the NBA Asia Challenge 2010 in the Philippines

The SuperSonics were led by Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, with George Karl as head coach.

- 1996 NBA Finals

In 1996, Payton and the SuperSonics, under coach George Karl, reached the NBA Finals after winning a franchise record 64 games and lost in six games to Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls.

- Gary Payton

4 related topics with Alpha

Chicago Bulls

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American professional basketball team based in Chicago.

Michael Jordan was drafted third overall by the Bulls in 1984. He won six championships and six Finals MVPs for Chicago.

Michael Jordan v Los Angeles Lakers at the 1991 NBA Finals

Bulls head coach Phil Jackson consulting Michael Jordan in 1997

Luol Deng made his first All-Star appearance with the team in 2012 and his second in 2013.

Joakim Noah was drafted by the Bulls in 2007. He was named an All Star for the first time in 2013 and for the second time in 2014.

Derrick Rose was drafted first overall by the Bulls in 2008. He was the 2010–11 NBA MVP.

Tom Thibodeau coached the Bulls to 62 wins in his first season.

Fred Hoiberg was the 22nd head coach in the franchise's history.

The team triumphed over the Miami Heat in the first round, the New York Knicks in the second round, the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals and finally Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp and the Seattle SuperSonics for their fourth title.

Michael Jordan

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American businessman and former professional basketball player.

Jordan in training with the Scottsdale Scorpions in 1994

Plaque at the United Center that chronicles Jordan's career achievements

Jordan as a member of the Washington Wizards, April 14, 2003

James Worthy, Jordan, and Dean Smith in 2007 at a North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball game honoring the 1957 and 1982 men's basketball teams

Jordan receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama at the White House

Jordan abruptly retired from basketball before the 1993–94 NBA season to play Minor League Baseball but returned to the Bulls in March 1995 and led them to three more championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998, as well as a then-record 72 regular season wins in the 1995–96 NBA season.

He was also a fixture of the NBA All-Defensive First Team, making the roster nine times (NBA record shared with Gary Payton, Kevin Garnett, and Kobe Bryant).

Shawn Kemp

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American former professional basketball player who played for the Seattle SuperSonics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers, and Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Kemp playing for the Concord High School varsity basketball team in 1987–88

Together with Gary Payton, Eddie Johnson, Ricky Pierce and Nate McMillan, they became a highly successful squad.

Kemp's career peaked in 1995–96, when he and Payton led the SuperSonics to a franchise-record 64 wins and their first NBA Finals appearance since 1979.

Karl coaching the Denver Nuggets in 2011

George Karl

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American former professional basketball coach and player.

While he never won an NBA championship, Karl made the postseason 22 times with five different teams, which included a trip to the 1996 NBA Finals with the Seattle SuperSonics.

Led by All-Stars Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton, the latter named Defensive Player of the Year, the SuperSonics defeated the Sacramento Kings three games to one in the first round, and then swept the two-time reigning champions Houston Rockets to advance to the Western Conference Finals.