List of Seattle SuperSonics seasons

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KeyArena during the 2007–08 season

The

1980 playoffs game.[5][6]

The team returned to the Seattle Center Coliseum in 1985 as attendance at the Kingdome declined and the stadium's scheduling and layout caused issues for fans.[6][7] A major renovation of the Coliseum began in 1994 and displaced the Sonics, who played for two seasons at the Tacoma Dome, a suburban arena that was expanded to 16,296 seats.[8] The renovated Coliseum, renamed to KeyArena, had the NBA's smallest seating capacity at 17,072 and hosted its first regular season game on November 4, 1995.[5][9] The team played their final home game at KeyArena on April 13, 2008.[10] After the end of the 2007–08 season, the Sonics were relocated by its new ownership group to Oklahoma City. A lawsuit to halt the relocation and enforce the team's 15-year lease at KeyArena was filed by the Seattle city government but dropped as part of a settlement in July 2008.[11][12] The team has played since the 2008–09 season as the Oklahoma City Thunder;[13] as part of the settlement, the SuperSonics name and history was left with the city for use by a future team.[11]

In their 41

points leader is Gary Payton with 18,207 points; he also holds the most assists in Sonics history at 7,384.[17]

The Sonics had a 23–59 record during their

Washington Bullets.[21] Seattle lost the first final, but defeated Washington in the rematch after finishing first in the Western Conference.[22] Lenny Wilkens, who led the team to both finals appearances, was replaced as head coach in 1985 after missing the playoffs by finishing with a 31–51 record, which his successor Bernie Bickerstaff equaled the following season.[23] The Sonics made an unexpected run to the Western Conference Final in the 1987 playoffs, only to lose to the Los Angeles Lakers.[24]

The 1990s brought more consistent success, including eight consecutive playoff appearances, with head coach

upset to the eighth-seeded Denver Nuggets in the opening round of the playoffs.[26] The team reached the 1996 NBA Finals—their third and final apperance—after clinching first in the Western Conference standings but lost to the Chicago Bulls in six games.[27] The Sonics were eliminated in the conference semifinals two more times under Karl before he left the team along with Kemp by 1998.[25] The team, now under coach Paul Westphal, missed the playoffs in the shortened 1998–99 season, but returned the following year as a seventh-seed.[28][29] Westphal was replaced early in the 2000–01 season by assistant coach and former Sonics player Nate McMillan, who led the team through rebuilds and to their two final playoff appearances: in 2002–03 and 2004–05 as the Northwest Division champions with 52 wins.[30][31] The team's final three seasons in Seattle all finished with losing records and no playoff berths under the three different head coaches.[32] The Sonics had 20 wins and 62 losses during their 2007–08 season, their worst record in franchise history, shortly before moving to Oklahoma City.[16]

Table key

Seasons

Seattle SuperSonics record by season, 1967–2008
Year Season Conference Fin. Division Fin. Regular season[32] Playoff results[33] Awards
Head coach[32]
 Ref.
W L Pct. GB
1967–68 1967–68 — — Western[a] 5th 23 59 .280 33 DNQ — Al Bianchi [34]
1968–69 1968–69 — — Western[a] 6th 30 52 .366 25 DNQ — [35]
1969–70 1969–70 — — Western[a] 5th 36 46 .439 12 DNQ — Lenny Wilkens[c] [36]
1970–71 1970–71 Western 8th Pacific 4th 38 44 .463 10 DNQ
AMVP)[37]
 [38]
1971–72 1971–72 Western 6th Pacific 3rd 47 35 .573 22 DNQ — [39]
1972–73 1972–73 Western 8th Pacific 4th 26 56 .317 34 DNQ — Tom Nissalke (13–32)
Bucky Buckwalter (13–24) 		[40]
1973–74 1973–74 Western 6th Pacific 3rd 36 46 .439 11 DNQ — Bill Russell [41]
1974–75 1974–75 Western 4th ¤ Pacific 2nd 43 39 .524 5 Won First Round vs. Detroit, 2–1
Lost Conf. Semis vs. Golden State, 2–4 		— [42]
1975–76 1975–76 Western 2nd ¤ Pacific 2nd 43 39 .524 16 Lost Conf. Semis vs. Phoenix, 2–4 Slick Watts (JWKC)[43] [44]
1976–77 1976–77 Western 8th Pacific 4th 40 42 .488 13 DNQ — [45]
1977–78  †1977–78 *  †Western * 4th ¤ Pacific 3rd 47 35 .514 11 Won
Washington
, 3–4 * 		— Bob Hopkins (5–17)
Lenny Wilkens (42–18) 		[46]
1978–79  †1978–79 †  †Western * 1st ¤ Pacific 1st ^ 52 30 .634 — Won
Washington
, 4–1 †
FMVP)[47]
 Lenny Wilkens [48]
1979–80 1979–80 Western 2nd ¤ Pacific 2nd 56 26 .683 4 Won First Round vs. Portland, 2–1
Won Conf. Semis vs. Milwaukee, 4–3
Lost Conf. Finals vs. LA Lakers, 1–4 		— [49]
1980–81 1980–81 Western 10th Pacific 6th 34 48 .415 23 DNQ — [50]
1981–82 1981–82 Western 2nd ¤ Pacific 2nd 52 30 .634 5 Won First Round vs. Houston, 2–1
Lost Conf. Semis vs. San Antonio, 1–4 		— [51]
1982–83 1982–83 Western 4th ¤ Pacific 3rd 48 34 .585 10 Lost First Round vs. Portland, 0–2 Zollie Volchok (EOY)[52] [53]
1983–84 1983–84 Western 5th ¤ Pacific 3rd 42 40 .512 12 Lost First Round vs. Dallas, 2–3 — [54]
1984–85 1984–85 Western 10th Pacific 4th[d] 31 51 .378 31 DNQ — [55]
1985–86 1985–86 Western 11th Pacific 5th 31 51 .378 31 DNQ — Bernie Bickerstaff [56]
1986–87 1986–87 Western 7th ¤ Pacific 4th 39 43 .476 26 Won First Round vs. Dallas, 3–1
Won Conf. Semis vs. Houston, 4–2
Lost Conf. Finals vs. LA Lakers, 0–4
AMVP)[37]
Dale Ellis (MIP)[57]
 [58]
1987–88 1987–88 Western 7th ¤ Pacific 3rd 44 38 .537 18 Lost First Round vs. Denver, 2–3 — [59]
1988–89 1988–89 Western 4th ¤ Pacific 3rd 47 35 .573 10 Won First Round vs. Houston, 3–1
Lost Conf. Semis vs. LA Lakers, 0–4 		— [60]
1989–90 1989–90 Western 9th Pacific 4th 41 41 .500 22 DNQ — [61]
1990–91 1990–91 Western 8th ¤ Pacific 5th 41 41 .500 22 Lost First Round vs. Portland, 2–3 — K. C. Jones [62]
1991–92 1991–92 Western 6th ¤ Pacific 4th 47 35 .573 10 Won First Round vs. Golden State, 3–1
Lost Conf. Semis vs. Utah, 1–4 		— K. C. Jones (18–18)
Bob Kloppenburg (2–2)
George Karl (27–15) 		[63]
1992–93 1992–93 Western 3rd ¤ Pacific 2nd 55 27 .671 7 Won First Round vs. Utah, 3–2
Won Conf. Semis vs. Houston, 3–4
Lost Conf. Finals vs. Phoenix, 3–4 		— George Karl [64]
1993–94 1993–94 Western 1st ¤ Pacific 1st ^ 63 19 .768 — Lost First Round vs. Denver, 2–3 Bob Whitsitt (EOY)[52] [65]
1994–95 1994–95 Western 4th ¤ Pacific 2nd 57 25 .695 2 Lost First Round vs. LA Lakers, 1–3 — [66]
1995–96  †1995–96 *  †Western * 1st ¤ Pacific 1st ^ 64 18 .780 — Won First Round vs. Sacramento, 3–1
Won Conf. Semis vs. Rockets, 4–0
Won Conf. Finals vs. Utah, 4–3
Lost NBA Finals vs. Chicago, 2–4 * 		Gary Payton (DPOY)[67] [68]
1996–97 1996–97 Western 3rd ¤ Pacific 1st ^ 57 25 .695 — Won First Round vs. Phoenix, 3–2
Lost Conf. Semis vs. Houston, 3–4 		— [69]
1997–98 1997–98 Western 2nd ¤ Pacific 1st ^[e] 61 21 .744 — Won First Round vs. Phoenix, 3–2
Lost Conf. Semis vs. LA Lakers, 1–4 		— [71]
1998–99[f] 1998–99 Western 9th Pacific 5th 25 25 .500 10 DNQ Hersey Hawkins (SPOR)[73] Paul Westphal [74]
1999–2000 1999–2000 Western 7th ¤ Pacific 4th 45 37 .549 22 Lost First Round vs. Utah, 2–3 — [75]
2000–01 2000–01 Western 10th Pacific 5th 44 38 .537 12 DNQ — Paul Westphal (6–9)
Nate McMillan (38–29) 		[76]
2001–02 2001–02 Western 7th ¤ Pacific 4th 45 37 .549 16 Lost First Round vs. San Antonio, 2–3 — Nate McMillan [77]
2002–03 2002–03 Western 10th Pacific 5th 40 42 .488 19 DNQ Ray Allen (SPOR)[73] [78]
2003–04 2003–04 Western 12th Pacific 5th[g] 37 45 .451 19 DNQ — [79]
2004–05 2004–05 Western 4th ¤ Northwest 1st ^ 52 30 .634 — Won First Round vs. Sacramento, 4–1
Lost Conf. Semis vs. San Antonio, 2–4 		— [80]
2005–06 2005–06 Western 11th Northwest 3rd 35 47 .427 9 DNQ — Bill Weiss (13–17)
Bob Hill (22–30) 		[81]
2006–07 2006–07 Western 14th Northwest 5th 31 51 .378 20 DNQ — Bob Hill [82]
2007–08 2007–08 Western 15th Northwest 5th 20 62 .244 34 DNQ Kevin Durant (ROY)[83] P. J. Carlesimo [84]
Totals (41 seasons) 1,745 1,585 .524 All-time regular season record (1967–2008)[17]
107 110 .493 All-time playoffs record (1967–2008)[14]
1,852 1,695 .522 All-time overall record (1967–2008)[14]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d The Western Conference was established in 1970; prior to that, the Sonics played in the Western Division.[3]
  2. ^ The formula is as follows:
  3. player–coach for the SuperSonics from 1969 to 1972 and later returned solely as head coach in 1977.[21]
  4. ^ The Seattle SuperSonics and Los Angeles Clippers finished with identical 31–51 records, but Seattle won the tiebreaker to finish fourth.[55]
  5. ^ The Seattle SuperSonics and Los Angeles Lakers finished with identical 61–21 records, but Seattle won the head-to-head tiebreaker to place first in the Pacific Division.[70]
  6. ^ The 1998–99 season was shortened to 50 games due to a player lockout that lasted until January 1999.[72]
  7. ^ The Seattle SuperSonics and Golden State Warriors finished with identical 37–45 records, but Seattle lost the tiebreaker to finish fifth.[79]

References

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  2. ^ "N.B.A. Realigned Into 4 Divisions". The New York Times. Associated Press. March 17, 1970. p. 69. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  3. ^ Eskenazi, Stuart (March 22, 2001). "One thing seems certain: Seattle will never be the same". The Seattle Times. p. A1. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Homes of the Sonics". The Seattle Times. July 10, 2008. p. E7. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Raley, Dan (March 27, 2000). "Basketball had its Dome moments, too". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. E5. Retrieved March 5, 2024 – via NewsBank.
  6. ^ McCready, Eldredge (April 6, 1985). "So long, Kingdome". The Seattle Times. p. C1.
  7. ^ "Sonics enjoy change of scenery". The Bellingham Herald. Associated Press. November 9, 1994. p. D1. Retrieved March 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Harris, Craig (February 7, 2007). "Renton courts Sonics owners". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. A1. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  9. ^ Cnossen, Alex (October 12, 2017). "Nostalgia: Remembering the Sonics on their 50th anniversary". Crosscut.com. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Johns, Greg; Galloway, Angela (July 3, 2008). "Hoopless: Sonics are Oklahoma City-bound". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. A1. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  11. ^ Chan, Sharon Pian (July 15, 2008). "Seattle council terminates Sonics' KeyArena lease". The Seattle Times. p. B3. Archived from the original on August 4, 2008. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  12. ^ Schoenfeld, Bruce (October 24, 2008). "Where the Thunder Comes Dribbling Down the Plain". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  13. ^ a b c d Stephens, Michael (June 3, 2018). "Further Review: Seattle SuperSonics". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  14. ^ Allen, Percy (May 31, 2019). "40 years ago, an unheralded group of Sonics brought Seattle its only NBA title. Here's how they did it". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Brewer, Jerry (June 11, 2012). "As Thunder enter Finals, Seattle sulks over team's bitter departure". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
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  17. ^ Baker, Geoff (October 11, 2021). "Kraken will aim higher in inaugural season than most previous Seattle expansion teams". The Seattle Times. p. G4. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  18. ^ Anderson, Lenny (November 30, 1976). "Sports Action: Mariners Say They Are Color-Blind". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. C4.
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  23. ^ a b Pentz, Matt (March 7, 2024). "1990s Sonics: A high-flying, shit-talking time capsule for city on verge of massive change". The Athletic. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  24. ^ Monroe, Mike (May 8, 1994). "Stunning! No. 8 Denver Nuggets' overtime win upsets No. 1 seed Seattle SuperSonics". The Denver Post. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
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  37. ^ "1971–72 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  38. ^ "1972–73 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  39. ^ "1973–74 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  40. ^ "1974–75 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
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  44. ^ "1977–78 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
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  47. ^ "1979–80 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  48. ^ "1980–81 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
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  56. ^ "1986–87 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
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  59. ^ "1989–90 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
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