clock menu more-arrow no yes

Filed under:

History of the Seattle Supersonics

A complete year by year history of the Seattle Supersonics.

Year by Year History of the Seattle Supersonics
Year Draft Record Playoffs Coach General Manager Owner Arena Play by Play Mascot
1967-68 Results 23-59 Al Bianchi Don Richman Sam Schulman Seattle Center Coliseum Bob Blackburn The Wheedle
1968-69 Results 30-52 Al Bianchi Don Vertlieb Sam Schulman Seattle Center Coliseum Bob Blackburn The Wheedle
1969-70 Results 36-46 Lenny Wilkens Don Vertlieb Sam Schulman Seattle Center Coliseum Bob Blackburn The Wheedle
1970-71 Results 38-44 Lenny Wilkens Bob Houbregs Sam Schulman Seattle Center Coliseum Bob Blackburn The Wheedle
1971-72 Results 47-35 Lenny Wilkens Bob Houbregs Sam Schulman Seattle Center Coliseum Bob Blackburn The Wheedle
1972-73 Results 26-56 Tom Nissalke/Bucky Buckwalter Bob Houbregs Sam Schulman Seattle Center Coliseum Bob Blackburn The Wheedle
1973-74 Results 36-46 Bill Russell Bill Russell Sam Schulman Seattle Center Coliseum Bob Blackburn The Wheedle
1974-75 Results 43-39 Pistons (2-1), Warriors (2-4) Bill Russell Bill Russell Sam Schulman Seattle Center Coliseum Bob Blackburn The Wheedle
1975-76 Results 43-39 Suns (2-4) Bill Russell Bill Russell Sam Schulman Seattle Center Coliseum Bob Blackburn The Wheedle
1976-77 Results 40-42 Bill Russell Bill Russell Sam Schulman Seattle Center Coliseum Bob Blackburn The Wheedle
1977-78 Results 47-35 Lakers (2-1), Blazers (4-2), Nuggets (4-2), Bullets (3-4) Bob Hopkins/Lenny Wilkens Zollie Volchock Sam Schulman King Dome Bob Blackburn The Wheedle
1978-79 Results 52-30 Lakers (4-1), Suns (4-3), Bullets (4-1) Lenny Wilkens Zollie Volchock Sam Schulman King Dome Bob Blackburn The Wheedle
1979-80 Results 56-26 Blazers (2-1), Bucks (4-3), Lakers (1-4) Lenny Wilkens Zollie Volchock Sam Schulman King Dome Bob Blackburn The Wheedle
1980-81 Results 34-48 Lenny Wilkens Zollie Volchock Sam Schulman King Dome Bob Blackburn The Wheedle
1981-82 Results 52-30 Rockets (2-1), Spurs (1-4) Lenny Wilkens Zollie Volchock Sam Schulman King Dome Bob Blackburn The Wheedle
1982-83 Results 48-34 Blazers (0-2) Lenny Wilkens Zollie Volchock Sam Schulman King Dome Bob Blackburn The Wheedle
1983-84 Results 42-40 Mavericks (2-3) Lenny Wilkens Les Habegger Barry Ackerly King Dome Bob Blackburn The Wheedle
1984-85 Results 31-51 Lenny Wilkens Les Habegger Barry Ackerly King Dome Bob Blackburn The Wheedle
1985-86 Results 31-51 Bernie Bickerstaff Lenny Wilkens Barry Ackerly Seattle Center Coliseum Bob Blackburn
1986-87 Results 39-43 Mavericks (3-1), Rockets (4-2), Lakers (0-4) Bernie Bickerstaff Bob Whitsitt Barry Ackerly Seattle Center Coliseum Bob Blackburn
1987-88 Results 44-38 Nuggets (2-3) Bernie Bickerstaff Bob Whitsitt Barry Ackerly Seattle Center Coliseum Bob Blackburn/Kevin Calabro
1988-89 Results 47-35 Rockets (3-1), Lakers (0-4) Bernie Bickerstaff Bob Whitsitt Barry Ackerly Seattle Center Coliseum Bob Blackburn/Kevin Calabro
1989-90 Results 41-41 Bernie Bickerstaff Bob Whitsitt Barry Ackerly Seattle Center Coliseum Bob Blackburn/Kevin Calabro
1990-91 Results 41-41 Blazers (2-3) K.C. Jones Bob Whitsitt Barry Ackerly Seattle Center Coliseum Bob Blackburn/Kevin Calabro
1991-92 Results 47-35 Warriors (3-1), Jazz (1-4) K.C. Jones/Bob Kloppenburg/George Karl Bob Whitsitt Barry Ackerly Seattle Center Coliseum Kevin Calabro
1992-93 Results 55-27 Jazz (3-2), Rockets (4-3), Suns (3-4) George Karl Bob Whitsitt Barry Ackerly Seattle Center Coliseum Kevin Calabro
1993-94 Results 63-19 Nuggets (2-3) George Karl Bob Whitsitt Barry Ackerly Tacoma Dome Kevin Calabro Squatch
1994-95 Results 57-25 Lakers (1-3) George Karl Wally Walker Barry Ackerly Tacoma Dome Kevin Calabro Squatch
1995-96 Results 64-18 Kings (3-1), Rockets (4-0), Jazz (4-3), Bulls (2-4) George Karl Wally Walker Barry Ackerly Key Arena Kevin Calabro Squatch
1996-97 Results 57-25 Suns (3-2), Rockets (3-4) George Karl Wally Walker Barry Ackerly Key Arena Kevin Calabro Squatch
1997-98 Results 61-21 Timberwolves (3-2), Lakers (1-4) George Karl Wally Walker Barry Ackerly Key Arena Kevin Calabro Squatch
1998-99 Results 25-25 Paul Westphal Wally Walker Barry Ackerly Key Arena Kevin Calabro Squatch
1999-00 Results 45-37 Jazz (2-3) Paul Westphal Wally Walker Barry Ackerly Key Arena Kevin Calabro Squatch
2000-01 Results 44-38 Paul Westphal/Nate McMillan Wally Walker Barry Ackerly Key Arena Kevin Calabro Squatch
2001-02 Results 45-37 Spurs (2-3) Nate McMillan Rick Sund Howard Schultz Key Arena Kevin Calabro Squatch
2002-03 Results 40-42 Nate McMillan Rick Sund Howard Schultz Key Arena Kevin Calabro Squatch
2003-04 Results 37-45 Nate McMillan Rick Sund Howard Schultz Key Arena Kevin Calabro Squatch
2004-05 Results 52-30 Kings (4-1), Spurs (2-4) Nate McMillan Rick Sund Howard Schultz Key Arena Kevin Calabro Squatch
2005-06 Results 35-47 Bob Weiss/Bob Hill Rick Sund Howard Schultz Key Arena Kevin Calabro Squatch
2006-07 Results 31-51 Bob Hill Rick Sund Clay Bennett Key Arena Kevin Calabro Squatch
2007-08 Results 20-62 P.J. Carlesimo Sam Presti Clay Bennett Key Arena Kevin Calabro Squatch

Single Game Record Holders
Record Amount Holder Opponent Date
Points 58 Fred Brown Golden State Warriors 3/23/1974
Rebounds 30 Jim Fox Los Angeles Lakers 12/26/1973
Assists 25 Nate McMillan Los Angeles Clippers 2/23/1987
Steals 10 Fred Brown Philadelphia 76ers 12/3/2025
10 Gus Williams New Jersey Nets 2/22/1978

Single Season Record Holders
Record Holder Amount Season
Points Dale Ellis 2,253 1988-89
Points per Game Spencer Haywood 29.2 1972-73
Rebounds Jack Sikma 1,038 1981-82
Rebounds per Game Spencer Haywood 13.4 1973-74
Assists Lenny Wilkens 766 1971-72
Assists per Game Lenny Wilkens 9.6 1971-72
Steals Slick Watts 261 1975-76
Steals per Game Slick Watts 3.16 1975-77

Top 25 Scorers in Seattle Supersonics History
Rank Player Points Rank Player Points Rank Player Points Rank Player Points Rank Player Points
1 Gary Payton 18,207 6 Gus Williams 9,676 11 Ray Allen 7,237 16 Bob Rule 5,646 21 Lonnie Shelton 4,460
2 Fred Brown 14,018 7 Dale Ellis 9,405 12 Detlef Schrempf 6,870 17 Vin Baker 5,054 22 Ricky Pierce 4,393
3 Jack Sikma 12,258 8 Xavier McDaniel 8,438 13 Dick Snyder 6,507 18 Sam Perkins 4,844 23 Brent Barry 4,107
4 Rashard Lewis 12,034 9 Spencer Haywood 8,131 14 Derrick McKey 6,159 19 Nate McMillan 4,733 24 Tom Meschery 4,050
5 Shawn Kemp 10,148 10 Tom Chambers 8,028 15 Lenny Wilkens 6,010 20 Dennis Johnson 4,590 25 Hersey Hawkins 3,798

Seattle Supersonic Franchise Record Holders
Record Player Total Record Player Total Record Player Total
Games Gary Payton 999 3-Point FG Attempted Gary Payton 2,855 Assists Gary Payton 7,384
Minutes Gary Payton 36,858 Free Throws Made Jack Sikma 3,044 Steals Gary Payton 2,107
Points Gary Payton 18,207 Free Throws Attempted Shawn Kemp 3,808 Blocks Shawn Kemp 959
Field Goals Made Gary Payton 7,292 Offensive Rebounds Shawn Kemp 2,145 Turnovers Gary Payton 2,507
Field Goal Attempts Gary Payton 15,562 Defensive Rebounds Jack Sikma 5,948 Personal Fouls Gary Payton 2,557
3-Point FG Made Rashard Lewis 918 Total Rebounds Jack Sikma 7,729

Seattle Supersonic Franchise Record Holders Per Game
Record Player Total Record Player Total Record Player Total
Minutes Played Spencer Haywood 40.36 Free Throws Made Lenny Wilkens 6.25 Steals Slick Watts 2.47
Points Per Game Ray Allen 26.44 Free Throws Attempted Lenny Wilkens 7.99 Blocks Alton Lister 2.09
Field Goals Made Spencer Haywood 9.72 Offensive Rebounds Marvin Webster 4.4 Turnovers Marvin Webster 3.13
Field Goals Attempted Spencer Haywood 21.01 Defensive Rebounds Jack Sikma 8.32 Personal Fouls Danny Fortson 4.01
3-Point FG Made Ray Allen 3.58 Total Rebounds Marvin Webster 12.62
3-Point FG Attempted Ray Allen 9.20 Assists Lenny Wilkens 9.02

Seattle Supersonic Franchise Record Holders Per 48
Record Player Total Record Player Total Record Player Total
Points Ricky Pierce 31.29 Free Throws Made Danny Fortson 9.44 Assists Avery Johnson 13.03
Field Goals Made Xavier McDaniel 12.18 Free Throws Attempted Danny Fortson 10.93 Steals Slick Watts 4.13
Field Goals Attempted Walt Hazzard 27.31 Offensive Rebounds Danny Fortson 6.83 Blocks Jim McIlvaine 5.38
3-Point FG Made Ray Allen 2.58 Defensive Rebounds Jack Sikma 11.56 Turnovers Mark Radford 6.89
3-Point FG Attempted Ray Allen 9.20 Total Rebounds Pete Cross 19.39 Personal Fouls Danny Fortson 12.38

Individual Awards
Player Year
Finals MVP
Dennis Johnson 1979
NBA Defensive Player of the Year
Gary Payton 1996
NBA Rookie of the Year
Kevin Durant 2008
NBA Executive of the Year
Zollie Volchuck 1983
Bob Whitsitt 1994
All-Star Game MVP
Lenny Wilkens 1971
Tom Chambers 1987
J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award
Slick Watts 1976
NBA Most Improved Player
Dale Ellis 1987
All-NBA First Team
Spencer Haywood 1972, 1973
Gus Williams 1982
Gary Payton 1998, 2000
All-NBA Second Team
Spencer Haywood 1974, 1975
Dennis Johnson 1980
Shawn Kemp 1994, 1995, 1996
Gary Payton 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002
Vin Baker 1998
Ray Allen 2005
All-NBA Third Team
Dale Ellis 1989
Gary Payton 1994, 2001
Detlef Schrempf 1995
NBA All-Defensive First Team
Slick Watts 1976
Dennis Johnson 1979, 1980
Gary Payton 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
NBA All-Defensive Second Team
Lonnie Shelton 1982
Jack Sikma 1982
Danny Vranes 1985
Nate McMillan 1994, 1995
NBA Rookie First Team
Al Tucker 1968
Bob Rule 1968
Art Harris 1969
Tom Burleson 1975
Jack Sikma 1978
Xavier McDaniel 1986
Derrick McKey 1988
Jeff Green 2008
Kevin Durant 2008
NBA Rookie Second Team
Gary Payton 1991
Desmond Mason 2001
Vladimir Radmanovic 2002