Sonics Rising: All Posts by Joanna Nesgoda
The sane voice of the Sonics' return to Seattle
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2014-01-08T18:33:35-08:00
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2014-01-08T18:33:35-08:00
2014-01-08T18:33:35-08:00
Greatest of All-Time: The 1976 Seattle Supersonics
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mWRzM7Pzxks66Ui1iqn1peD83U0=/0x16:490x343/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26464079/seattle-mourns-loss-of-possible-nba-champions-he1km3ei-x-large.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>USAToday</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Over the next few weeks SonicsRising will be running reviews of the 22 Seattle Supersonics teams that made the playoffs. This second installment focuses on the 1976 Sonics.</p> <p><span class="bold_text"></span></p>
<p>The 1976 Sonics team faced the departure of Spencer Haywood, who went to the Knicks that year. However, the team continued to benefit from the skills of Fred Brown and Slick Watts; Brown was selected to the All-Star Game in 1976 and Watts led the league in both steals and assists. The team also enjoyed the coaching skills of Bill Russell (though they would be the last Sonics team with that privilege). The '76 Sonics made the Western Conference Semi-finals, but ultimately lost in six games to a Phoenix Suns team featuring Paul Westphal and Alvan Adams.</p>
<p>Take a look at the 1976 Supersonics' Stats:</p>
<p><b>Record:</b> 43-39, Finished 2nd in Pacific Division</p>
<p><b>Coach:</b> Bill Russell</p>
<p align="center"><b>ROSTER</b></p>
<table width="603" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="43" valign="top">
<p align="center"><b>#</b></p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top">
<p align="center"><b>Player</b></p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center"><b>Pos</b></p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center"><b>Ht</b></p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center"><b>Wt</b></p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center"><b>Exp</b></p>
</td>
<td width="204" valign="top">
<p align="center"><b>College</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43" valign="top">
<p align="center">40</p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top">
<p align="center">Mike Bantom</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">PF</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">6-9</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">200</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td width="204" valign="top">
<p align="center">Saint Joseph's University</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43" valign="top">
<p align="center">3</p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top">
<p align="center">Herm Gilliam</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">SG</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">6-3</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">190</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">6</p>
</td>
<td width="204" valign="top" align="center">Purdue University<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43" valign="top">
<p align="center">32</p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top">
<p align="center">Fred Brown</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">SG</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">6-3</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">182</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">4</p>
</td>
<td width="204" valign="top">
<p align="center">University of Iowa</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43" valign="top">
<p align="center">16</p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top">
<p align="center">Tom Burleson</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">C</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">7-2</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">225</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td width="204" valign="top">
<p align="center">North Carolina State University</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43" valign="top">
<p align="center">11</p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top">
<p align="center">Leonard Gray</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">PF</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">6-8</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">240</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td width="204" valign="top">
<p align="center">Cal State-Long Beach</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43" valign="top">
<p align="center">35</p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top">
<p align="center">Al Carlson</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">C</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">6-11</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">235</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">R</p>
</td>
<td width="204" valign="top">
<p align="center">University of Oregon</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43" valign="top">
<p align="center">42</p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top" align="center">John Hummer<br>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">PF</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">6-9</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">230</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">5</p>
</td>
<td width="204" valign="top">
<p align="center">Princeton University</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43" valign="top">
<p align="center">20</p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top">
<p align="center">Gene Short</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">SF</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">6-6</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">200</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">R</p>
</td>
<td width="204" valign="top">
<p align="center">Jackson State University</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43" valign="top">
<p align="center">15</p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top">
<p align="center">Willie Norwood</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">SF</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">6-7</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">220</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">4</p>
</td>
<td width="204" valign="top">
<p align="center">Alcorn State University</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43" valign="top">
<p align="center">44</p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top">
<p align="center">Frank Oleynick</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">SG</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">6-2</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">185</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">R</p>
</td>
<td width="204" valign="top">
<p align="center">Seattle University</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43" valign="top">
<p align="center">45</p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top">
<p align="center">Bruce Seals</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">SF</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">6-8</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">210</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td width="204" valign="top">
<p align="center">Xavier University of Louisiana</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43" valign="top">
<p align="center">22</p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top">
<p align="center">Tal Skinner</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">SF</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">6-5</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">195</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td width="204" valign="top">
<p align="center">University of Maryland Eastern Shore</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43" valign="top">
<p align="center">13</p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top">
<p align="center">Slick Watts</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">PG</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">6-1</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">175</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td width="204" valign="top">
<p align="center">Xavier University of Louisiana</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43" valign="top">
<p align="center">25</p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top">
<p align="center">Rod Derline</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">SG</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">6</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">175</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td width="204" valign="top">
<p align="center">Seattle University</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="43" valign="top">
<p align="center">35</p>
</td>
<td width="141" valign="top" align="center">Zaid Abdul-Aziz<br>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">C</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">6-9</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">235</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">7</p>
</td>
<td width="204" valign="top">
<p align="center">Iowa State University</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p align="center"> </p>
<p align="center"><b>Stats</b></p>
<table width="561" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="141" valign="top" align="center">
<p><b>Player</b></p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center"><b>G</b></p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center"><b>MP</b></p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center"><b>FG%</b></p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center"><b>FT%</b></p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center"><b>TRB</b></p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center"><b>AST</b></p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center"><b>STL</b></p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center"><b>PPG</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="141" valign="top" align="center">
<p>Fred Brown</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">76</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">2516</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.488</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.869</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">317</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">207</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">143</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">23.1</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="141" valign="top" align="center">
<p>Slick Watts</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">82</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top" align="center">2776</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.427</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.578</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top" align="center">365</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">661</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">261</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">13</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="141" valign="top" align="center">
<p>Bruce Seals</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">81</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">2435</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.436</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.678</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">507</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">119</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">64</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">11.8</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="141" valign="top" align="center">
<p>Tom Burleson</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">82</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">2647</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.481</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.750</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">742</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">180</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">70</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">15.6</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="141" valign="top" align="center">Herm Gilliam<br>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">81</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">1644</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.442</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.776</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">220</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">202</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">82</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">8.5</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="141" valign="top" align="center">Tal Skinner<br>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">72</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">1224</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.463</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.613</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">264</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">67</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">50</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">4.3</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="141" valign="top" align="center">Rod Derline<br>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">49</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">339</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.403</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.804</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">27</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">26</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top" align="center">11</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">3.9</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="141" valign="top" align="center">
<p>Willie Norwood</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">64</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">1004</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.485</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.749</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">229</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">59</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">42</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">6.9</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="141" valign="top" align="center">Zaid Abdul-Aziz<br>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">27</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">223</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.467</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.552</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top" align="center">76</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">16</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">8</td>
<td width="51" valign="top" align="center">3.2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="141" valign="top" align="center">Gene Short<br>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">7</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">37</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.545</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.500</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top" align="center">7</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">0</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">1.9</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="141" valign="top" align="center">
<p>Mike Bantom</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">66</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">1503</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.471</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.675</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">368</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">102</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">26</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">8.4</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="141" valign="top" align="center">
<p>Leonard Gray</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">66</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">2139</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.474</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.746</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">398</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">203</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">75</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">13.8</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="141" valign="top" align="center">
<p>Frank Oleynick</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">52</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top" align="center">650</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.402</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.688</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">45</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">53</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">21</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">5.9</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="141" valign="top" align="center">John Hummer</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">29</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top" align="center">364</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.478</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.415</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">77</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">25</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">6</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">2.8</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="141" valign="top" align="center">Al Carlson<br>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">28</p>
</td>
<td width="61" valign="top">
<p align="center">279</p>
</td>
<td width="52" valign="top" align="center">.342</td>
<td width="52" valign="top">
<p align="center">.621</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">73</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">13</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">7</p>
</td>
<td width="51" valign="top">
<p align="center">2.6</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p align="center"> </p>
<p>I imagine this team was pretty amazing to watch. Do any of you have any memories of seeing them play that you would like to share?</p>
<p>Don't forget to vote in our poll and let us know where this team ranks among the top 22 Sonics teams!</p>
<p></p>
<p>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3604021/nextclicks.css"></p>
https://www.sonicsrising.com/all-time-sonics-team/2014/1/8/5286832/greatest-of-all-time-the-1976-seattle-supersonics
Joanna Nesgoda