No. 1 1978-79 Sonics vs. No. 9 2018-19 Thunder
1 seed: 1978-79
Regular season record: 52-30
Playoff result: Won NBA Finals
In the only championship in franchise history, the Sonics were led by a young guard duo in Gus Williams, who would be a two-time All-NBA player, and Dennis Johnson, a future Hall of Famer. In the post was Hall of Fame center Jack Sikma.
Key Players:
Dennis Johnson — The 24-year-old, in his third season, made his first All-Star appearance and averaged 15.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Johnson won Finals MVP.
Gus Williams — Williams, 25, averaged 19 points, four assists and three rebounds per game while shooting 49.5% as a point guard.
Jack Sikma — The center with modern shooting and passing traits averaged 15.6 points, 12.4 points, 3.2 assists per game. He made his first of seven straight All-Star games with Seattle.
Fred Brown — The guard averaged 14 points on 46.9% shooting.
Lonnie Shelton — Shelton averaged a block and a steal per game while scoring 13.5 points and shot above 50% from the field.
Paul Silas — The five-time All-Defensive player won his third championship this season, his second-to-last year in the NBA.
John Johnson — The two-time All-Star averaged 29 minutes, 11 points, five rebounds, and four assists per game.
9 seed: 2018-19
Regular season record: 49-33
Playoff result: Lost Western Conference First Round
Paul George emerged as a legitimate MVP candidate in his second year with the Thunder and Russell Westbrook continued to rack up triple-doubles, but Oklahoma City was unable to get out of the first round of the playoffs.
Key players:
Paul George – George was one of the best two-way players in the league in 2018-19, averaging 28 points with 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 2.2 steals and lockdown defense. He was named to the All-NBA First Team.
Russell Westbrook – Westbrook averaged a triple-double for the third year in a row and led the league in assists for the second year in a row, posting 22.9 points, 10.7 assists and 11.1 rebounds per game. He was named to the All-NBA Third Team.
Dennis Schroder – Schroder provided a much-needed bench boon for the Thunder, averaging 15.5 points, 4.1 assists and 3.6 boards per game.
Steven Adams – Adams posted 13.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks per game and averaged more offensive rebounds (4.9) than defensive (4.6).
Jerami Grant – Grant averaged 13.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and about one steal and block apiece per game while shooting 49.7% from the field and 39.2% from three.
Terrance Ferguson – The second-year player started all 74 games he appeared in and averaged 6.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.0 steal in about 26 minutes per game.
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