Seattle SuperSonics
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Seattle SuperSonics | |
 |
|
| Conference | Western Conference |
| Division | Northwest Division |
| Founded | 1967 |
| History | Seattle SuperSonics (1967–present) |
| Arena | KeyArena |
| City | Seattle, Washington |
| Team Colors | Green and Gold |
| Owner | Professional Basketball Club LLC |
| Head Coach | Bob Hill |
| Championships | 1 (1979) |
| Conference Titles | 3 (1978, 1979, 1996) |
| Division Titles | 6 (1979, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005) |
The Seattle SuperSonics (or simply Sonics or Supes) are a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Their mascot's name is squatch.
Contents |
[edit] Home arenas
- KeyArena (formerly Seattle Center Coliseum) 1967–1978, 1985–1994, 1995–Present
- Kingdome 1978–1985
- Tacoma Dome 1994–1995 (During KeyArena Remodel)
[edit] Franchise history
[edit] Beginnings
On December 20, 1966, Los Angeles businessmen Sam Schulman and Eugene V. Klein and a group of minority partners were awarded the NBA franchise for the city of Seattle. Schulman would serve as the active partner and head of team operations. Named the SuperSonics, they were Seattle's first professional sports franchise. Beginning play in October of 1967, the SuperSonics were coached by Al Bianchi and featured All-Star guard Walt Hazzard and All-Rookie Team members Bob Rule and Al Tucker. The expansion team stumbled to a 23–59 record, and Hazzard was traded to the Atlanta Hawks before the start of the next season for future Hall-of-Famer Lenny Wilkens. Wilkens brought a strong all-around game to the SuperSonics, averaging 22.4 points per game, 8.2 assists per game, and 6.2 rebounds per game for Seattle in the 1968–69 season. Rule, meanwhile, improved on his rookie statistics with 24.0 points per game and 11.5 rebounds per game. The SuperSonics, however, only won 30 games and Bianchi was replaced by Wilkens as coach during the off-season.
[edit] The 1970s
Wilkens and Rule both represented Seattle in the 1970 NBA All-Star Game, and Wilkens led the NBA in assists during the 1969–70 season. Early in the 1970–71 season, however, Rule tore his achilles tendon and was lost for the rest of the year. Wilkens was named the 1971 All-Star Game MVP, but the big news of the season came when owner Sam Schulman managed to land ABA Rookie of the Year and MVP Spencer Haywood following a lengthy court battle. The following season, the SuperSonics went on to record their first winning season at 47–35. The team, led by player-coach Wilkens and All-NBA forward Haywood, held a 46–27 mark on March 3, but late season injuries to starters Haywood, Dick Snyder, and Don Smith contributed to the team losing eight of its final nine games — otherwise, the 1972 team might very well have become the franchise's first playoff team. The following season, Wilkens was dealt to Cleveland in a highly unpopular trade, and without his leadership the Supersonics fell to a 26–56 record. One of the few bright spots of the season was Haywood's second consecutive All-NBA First Team selection, as he averaged a SuperSonics record 29.2 points per game and collected 12.9 rebounds per game.
The legendary Bill Russell was hired as the head coach in the following year, and in 1975 he coached the SuperSonics to the playoffs for the first time. The team, which starred Haywood, guards Fred Brown and Slick Watts, and rookie center Tommy Burleson, defeated the Detroit Pistons in a three game mini-series before falling to the eventual champion Golden State Warriors in six games. The next season, the SuperSonics traded Haywood to New York forcing the remaining players to pick up the offensive slack. Guard Fred Brown, now in his fifth season, was selected to the 1976 NBA All-Star Game and finished fifth in the league in scoring average and free throw percentage. Burleson's game continued to strengthen, while Watts led the NBA in both assists and steals and was named to the All-NBA Defensive First Team. The SuperSonics again made the playoffs, but lost to the Phoenix Suns in six games in spite of strong performances from both Brown (28.5 ppg) and Burleson (20.8 ppg) during the series.
Russell left the SuperSonics after the 1976–77 season, and under new coach Bob Hopkins the team started the season dismally at 5–17. Lenny Wilkens was brought back to replace Hopkins, and the team's fortunes immediately turned around. The SuperSonics won 11 of their first 12 games under Wilkens, finished the season at 47–35, won the Western Conference title, and actually led the Washington Bullets three games to two before losing in seven games in the 1978 NBA Finals. Other than the loss of center Marvin Webster to New York, the SuperSonics roster stayed largely intact during the off-season, and in the 1978–79 season they went on to win their first division title. In the playoffs, the Supersonics defeated the Phoenix Suns in a tough seven game conference final series to set up a rematch with the Washington Bullets in the finals. This time, the Bullets lost to the SuperSonics in five games to give Seattle its first, and so far only, NBA title. The championship team roster included the powerful backcourt tandem of Gus Williams and Finals MVP Dennis Johnson, second year All-Star center Jack Sikma, forwards John Johnson and Lonnie Shelton, and key reserves Fred Brown and Paul Silas.
[edit] The 1980s
The 1979–80 season saw the SuperSonics finish second in the Pacific Division to the Los Angeles Lakers with a strong 56–26 record. Fred Brown won the NBA's first three-point shooting percentage title, Jack Sikma played in the second of his seven career All-Star Games for Seattle, Gus Williams and Dennis Johnson were both named to the All-NBA Second Team, and Johnson was also named to the All-NBA First Defensive Team for the second consecutive year. The SuperSonics made it to the Western Conference Finals for the third straight season, but lost to the Lakers in seven games. It was the last time that the backcourt of Williams and Johnson would play together in SuperSonics uniforms, as Johnson was traded to the Phoenix Suns before the start of the 1980–81 season and Williams sat out the year due to a contract dispute. As a result, the SuperSonics fell to last place in the Pacific Division with a 34–48 mark. Williams returned for the 1981–82 season, and Seattle managed respectable 52–30 and 48–34 records during the next two years.
In October of 1983, original team owner Sam Schulman sold the SuperSonics to Barry Ackerley, initiating a period of decline and mediocrity for the franchise. 1984 saw Fred Brown retire after playing 13 productive seasons, all with Seattle. His career reflected much of the SuperSonics' history to that time, having been on the same team roster as Rule and Wilkens during his rookie season, playing a key role on Seattle's first playoff teams, and being the team's important sixth man during the championship series years. In recognition of his many contributions to the team, Brown's number was retired in 1986. Lenny Wilkens left the organization following the 1984–85 season, and when Jack Sikma was traded after the 1985–86 season, the last remaining tie to the SuperSonics' championship team (aside from trainer Frank Furtado) had been severed.
Among the few SuperSonics highlights of second half of the 1980s were Tom Chambers' All-Star Game MVP award in 1987, Seattle's surprise appearance in the 1987 Western Conference Finals, and the performance of the power trio of Chambers, Xavier McDaniel, and Dale Ellis. In 1987–88, the three players each averaged over 20 points per game with Ellis at 25.8 ppg, McDaniel at 21.4, and Chambers at 20.4. In the 1988–89 season, with Chambers traded to Phoenix, Ellis improved to his scoring average to 27.5 points per game and finished second in the league in three-point percentage. The SuperSonics finished with a 47–35 record, and made it to the second round of the 1989 playoffs.
[edit] 1990s
The SuperSonics began setting a new foundation with the drafting of forward Shawn Kemp in 1989 and guard Gary Payton in 1990, and the trading of Dale Ellis and Xavier McDaniel to other teams during the 1990–91 season. It was George Karl's arrival as head coach in 1992, however, that marked a return to regular season and playoff competitiveness for the SuperSonics. With the continued improvement of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, the SuperSonics posted a 55–27 record in the 1992-93 season and took the Phoenix Suns to seven games in the Western Conference Finals. The next year, the SuperSonics had the best record in the NBA in 1994 at 63–19 record, but suffered a humiliating first round loss to the Denver Nuggets, becoming the first #1 seed to lose a playoff series to a #8 seed. After playing the 1994–1995 season in the Tacoma Dome the team moved to the renamed Key Arena for the 1995–96 season. Perhaps the strongest roster the Supersonics ever had was the 1995–96 team, which had a franchise best 64–18 record. With a deep roster comprised of All-NBA Second Team selections Kemp and Payton, forward Detlef Schrempf, center Sam Perkins, and guard Nate McMillan, the team reached the NBA Finals, but lost to the Chicago Bulls in six games. Seattle continued to be a Western Conference powerhouse during the next two seasons, winning 57 games in 1996–97 and 61 games in 1997–98 for their second and third straight Pacific Division titles. At the end of the 1997–98 season long-time Sonic and defensive specialist Nate McMillan retired.
[edit] Post Karl
Disagreements with management led to Karl leaving Seattle after the 1997–98 season, and the SuperSonics again descended into an extended period of mediocrity. The 2002–03 season saw All-Star Gary Payton traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, and it also marked the end to the Sonics 11-year streak of having a season with a winning percentage of at least .500, the second longest current streak in the NBA at the time. The 2004–05 team surprised many when it won the organization's sixth division title under the leadership of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, winning 52 games. During the off-season in 2005, head coach Nate McMillan left the Sonics to accept a high-paying position to coach the Portland Trail Blazers. After his departure, the team regressed the following season with a 35–47 record, missing the playoffs.
The team has been owned by Sam Schulman (1967–1983), Barry Ackerley (1983–2001), and the Basketball Group of Seattle headed by Howard Schultz (the chairman of Starbucks Coffee, 2001–2006).
[edit] Ownership change and team future
Following disagreements between the Basketball Club of Seattle and the city of Seattle concerning the need to renovate the KeyArena, the Sonics and Seattle Storm were sold to an Oklahoma City group led by Clay Bennett on July 18, 2006 for US$350 million.[1] The sale was approved by the NBA owners on October 24 of that year. [2] The new ownership has said that upholding the Sonics' lease with KeyArena through 2009–10 is "a priority" and that "with the right dynamics on the court, the right business model and a financially committed ownership group that recognizes and respect Seattle, we can succeed here for decades to come." However, there is speculation that their intention is to move the team to Oklahoma City once the Hornets return to New Orleans, Louisiana.[3]
Seattle voters were not interested in keeping the teams in the area. Fans of the teams formed Save Our Sonics and Storm to show support and urge the regions leaders and the NBA to keep the teams in Seattle. On November 7, 2006 Seattle voters approved Initiative 91 to make a profit on-par with a 30-year treasury bond on any public investment on city owned facilities. While the Initiative would have no impact on the proposed arena, which will be owned and funded by the county and state, it is now unlikely that the team will stay inside the city limits. Officially the new ownership has stated it will explore options for building a new arena elsewhere in King County.[4] The fact that the new owners did not fight I-91 confirms that the new owners have no desire to remain in Key Arena after the lease expires in 2010.[5] The initiative was approved with 74.08% of the vote.[6]
November brought much news as to the Sonics future in the region with the selection of ICON Venture Group to manage the arena development [3], HOK Sport as architects to design the new facility [4], the narrowing of the list of potential sites down to three [5], and former Sonics player, and Coach, Lenny Wilkens being named as Vice Chairman. [6]
[edit] Season-by-season records
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, % = Win-Loss %
| Season | W | L | % | Playoffs | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle SuperSonics | |||||
| 1967-68 | 23 | 59 | .280 | ||
| 1968-69 | 30 | 52 | .366 | ||
| 1969-70 | 36 | 46 | .439 | ||
| 1970-71 | 38 | 44 | .463 | ||
| 1971-72 | 47 | 35 | .573 | ||
| 1972-73 | 26 | 56 | .317 | ||
| 1973-74 | 36 | 46 | .439 | ||
| 1974-75 | 43 | 39 | .524 | Won First Round Lost Conference Semifinals |
Seattle 2, Detroit 1 Golden State 4, Seattle 2 |
| 1975-76 | 43 | 39 | .524 | Lost Conference Semifinals | Phoenix 4, Seattle 2 |
| 1976-77 | 40 | 42 | .488 | ||
| 1977-78 | 47 | 35 | .573 | Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Lost NBA Finals |
Seattle 2, Los Angeles 1 Seattle 4, Portland 2 Seattle 4, Denver 2 Washington 4, Seattle 3 |
| 1978-79 | 52 | 30 | .634 | Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Won NBA Finals |
Seattle 4, Los Angeles 1 Seattle 4, Phoenix 3 Seattle 4, Washington 1 |
| 1979-80 | 56 | 26 | .683 | Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Lost Conference Finals |
Seattle 2, Portland 1 Seattle 4, Milwaukee 3 Los Angeles 4, Seattle 1 |
| 1980-81 | 34 | 48 | .415 | ||
| 1981-82 | 52 | 30 | .634 | Won First Round Lost Conference Semifinals |
Seattle 2, Houston 1 San Antonio 4, Seattle 1 |
| 1982-83 | 48 | 34 | .585 | Lost First Round | Portland 2, Seattle 0 |
| 1983-84 | 42 | 40 | .512 | Lost First Round | Dallas 3, Seattle 2 |
| 1984-85 | 31 | 51 | .378 | ||
| 1985-86 | 31 | 51 | .378 | ||
| 1986-87 | 39 | 43 | .476 | Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Lost Conference Finals |
Seattle 3, Dallas 1 Seattle 4, Houston 2 Los Angeles 4, Seattle 1 |
| 1987-88 | 44 | 38 | .537 | Lost First Round | Denver 3, Seattle 2 |
| 1988-89 | 47 | 35 | .573 | Won First Round Lost Conference Semifinals |
Seattle 3, Houston 1 Los Angeles 4, Seattle 0 |
| 1989-90 | 41 | 41 | .500 | ||
| 1990-91 | 41 | 41 | .500 | Lost First Round | Portland 3, Seattle 2 |
| 1991-92 | 47 | 35 | .573 | Won First Round Lost Conference Semifinals |
Seattle 3, Golden State 1 Utah 4, Seattle 1 |
| 1992-93 | 55 | 27 | .671 | Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Lost Conference Finals |
Seattle 3, Utah 2 Seattle 4, Houston 3 Phoenix 4, Seattle 3 |
| 1993-94 | 63 | 19 | .768 | Lost First Round | Denver 3, Seattle 2 |
| 1994-95 | 57 | 25 | .695 | Lost First Round | L.A. Lakers 3, Seattle 1 |
| 1995-96 | 64 | 18 | .780 | Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Lost NBA Finals |
Seattle 3, Sacramento 1 Seattle 4, Houston 0 Seattle 4, Utah 3 Chicago 4, Seattle 2 |
| 1996-97 | 57 | 25 | .695 | Won First Round Lost Conference Semifinals |
Seattle 3, Phoenix 2 Houston 4, Seattle 3 |
| 1997-98 | 61 | 21 | .744 | Won First Round Lost Conference Semifinals |
Seattle 3, Minnesota 2 L.A. Lakers 4, Seattle 1 |
| 1998-99 | 25 | 25 | .500 | ||
| 1999-2000 | 45 | 37 | .549 | Lost First Round | Utah 3, Seattle 2 |
| 2000-01 | 44 | 38 | .537 | ||
| 2001-02 | 45 | 37 | .549 | Lost First Round | San Antonio 3, Seattle 2 |
| 2002-03 | 40 | 42 | .488 | ||
| 2003-04 | 37 | 45 | .451 | ||
| 2004-05 | 52 | 30 | .634 | Won First Round Lost Conference Semifinals |
Seattle 4, Sacramento 1 San Antonio 4, Seattle 2 |
| 2005-06 | 35 | 47 | .427 | ||
| 2006-07 | 7 | 11 | .500 | ||
| Totals | 1694 | 1470 | .535 | ||
| Playoffs | 108 | 109 | .498 | 1 Championship | |
[edit] Current roster
| Seattle SuperSonics Current Roster |
||||
| Head Coach: Bob Hill | Edit | |||
| SG | 34 |  |
Ray Allen - Captain | (UConn) |
| PF | 4 | |
Nick Collison | (Kansas) |
| G | 33 | |
Desmon Farmer | (USC) |
| PF | 21 | |
Danny Fortson | (Cincinnati) |
| SF | 15 |  |
Mickael Gelabale | (France) |
| C | 35 |  |
Andreas Glyniadakis | (Greece) |
| SF | 7 | |
Rashard Lewis - Co-Captain | (Alief-Elsik HS, Houston, Texas) |
| C | 27 | |
Johan Petro | (France) |
| PG | 8 | |
Luke Ridnour | (Oregon) |
| C | 18 |  |
Mouhamed Sene | (Senegal) |
| C | 31 | |
Robert Swift  |
(Bakersfield HS, Bakersfield, CA) |
| PG | 25 | |
Earl Watson | (UCLA) |
| F/C | 54 | |
Chris Wilcox | (Maryland) |
| SF | 12 | |
Damien Wilkins | (Georgia) |
| PG | 29 | |
Mike Wilks (FA) | (Rice) |
| (FA) - Free Agent | Seattle SuperSonics | |||
| - Injured |
||||
STARTING LINEUP Luke Ridnour- PG Ray Allen- SG Rashard Lewis- SF Chris Wilcox- PF Robert Swift- C
[edit] Players of note
| Coach | Seasons active |
|---|---|
| Al Bianchi | 1967/68 – 1968/69 |
| Lenny Wilkens | 1969/70 – 1971/72 |
| Tom Nissalke | 1972/73 |
| Bucky Buckwalter | 1972/73 |
| Bill Russell | 1973/74 – 1976/77 |
| Bob Hopkins | 1977/78 |
| Lenny Wilkens | 1977/78 – 1984/85 |
| Bernie Bickerstaff | 1985/86 – 1988/89 |
| Tom Newell | 1988/89 |
| Bob Kloppenburg | 1988/89 |
| Bernie Bickerstaff | 1989/90 |
| K.C. Jones | 1990/91 – 1991/92 |
| Bob Kloppenburg | 1991/92 |
| George Karl | 1991/92 – 1997/98 |
| Paul Westphal | 1998/99 – 2000/01 |
| Nate McMillan | 2000/01 – 2004/05 |
| Bob Weiss | 2005/06 |
| Bob Hill | 2005/06 – present |
[edit] Basketball Hall of Famers
- Lenny Wilkens (player and head coach for the Sonics; inducted as both, coached the 1979 Championship Team)
[edit] Retired numbers
- 1 Gus Williams, G, 1977–1984
- 10 Nate McMillan, G, 1986–1998; Head Coach, 2000–2005
- 19 Lenny Wilkens, G, 1968–1972; Head Coach, 1969–1972 & 1977–1985
- 32 Fred Brown, G, 1971–1984
- 43 Jack Sikma, C, 1977–1986
[edit] All-Time Statistical Leaders
-
- Career Leaders
- Games: Gary Payton, 999
- Minutes Played: Gary Payton, 36,858
- Field Goals Made: Gary Payton, 7,292
- Field Goal Attempts: Gary Payton, 15,562
- 3-Point Field Goals Made: Gary Payton, 917
- 3-Point Field Goals Attempted: Gary Payton, 2,855
- Free Throws Made: Jack Sikma, 3,044
- Free Throws Attempted: Shawn Kemp, 3,808
- Offensive Rebounds: Shawn Kemp, 2,145
- Defensive Rebounds: Jack Sikma, 5,948
- Total Rebounds: Jack Sikma, 7,729
- Assists: Gary Payton, 7,384
- Steals: Gary Payton, 2,107
- Blocked Shots: Shawn Kemp, 959
- Turnovers: Gary Payton, 2,507
- Personal Fouls: Gary Payton, 2,577
- Points: Gary Payton, 18,207
-
- Per Game
- Minutes Played: Spencer Haywood, 40.36
- Field Goals Made: Spencer Haywood, 9.72
- Field Goal Attempts: Spencer Haywood, 21.01
- 3-Point Field Goals Made: Ray Allen, 2.92
- 3-Point Field Goal Attempts: Ray Allen, 7.51
- Free Throws Made: Lenny Wilkens, 6.25
- Free Throw Attempts: Lenny Wilkens, 7.99
- Offensive Rebounds: Marvin Webster, 4.40
- Defensive Rebounds: Jack Sikma, 8.32
- Total Rebounds: Marvin Webster, 12.62
- Assists: Lenny Wilkens, 9.02
- Steals: Slick Watts, 2.47
- Blocked Shots: Alton Lister, 2.09
- Turnovers: Marvin Webster, 3.13
- Personal Fouls: Danny Fortson, 4.01
- Points: Spencer Haywood, 24.94
-
- Per 48 Minutes
- Field Goals Made: Xavier McDaniel, 12.17
- Field Goals Attempted: Walt Hazzard, 27.31
- 3-Point Field Goals Made: Ray Allen, 3.58
- 3-Point Field Goal Attempts: Ray Allen, 9.20
- Free Throws Made: Danny Fortson, 9.44
- Free Throw Attempts: Danny Fortson, 10.93
- Offensive Rebounds: Danny Fortson, 6.83
- Defensive Rebounds: Jack Sikma, 11.56
- Total Rebounds: Pete Cross, 19.39
- Assists: Avery Johnson, 13.03
- Steals: Slick Watts, 4.13
- Blocked Shots: Jim McIlvaine, 5.38
- Turnovers: Mark Radford, 6.89
- Personal Fouls: Danny Fortson, 12.38
- Points: Ricky Pierce, 31.29
[edit] Additional players of note
|
[edit] 2006 NBA Draft
- 1 round 10 (10 overall) Saer Sene PF Senegal
- 2 round 10 (41 overall) Denham Brown G Connecticut
- 2 round 19 (53 overall) Yotam Halperin G Israel
[edit] See also
- Bob Blackburn, broadcaster, "The Voice of the Seattle Supersonics" 1967–1992
- Kevin Calabro, current broadcaster
[edit] Notes
- ^ Galloway, Angela, Cat Le, Phuong. "Sonics sold to ownership group from Oklahoma City", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 18, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-07-18. (in English)
- ^ "NBA approves sale of Sonics, Storm", ESPN, October 24, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-25. (in English)
- ^ Galloway, Angela, Harris, Craig and McGann, Chris. "Oklahoma group buys Sonics, Storm", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 19, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-07-19. (in English)
- ^ http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/2003375501_sonics09.html
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
[edit] External links
- Seattle SuperSonics official web site
- Save Our Sonics and Storm site
- Supersonicsoul - The original Sonics Blog and home of the infamous Danny Fortson comic
- SonicsCental.com - The Premier Sonics Fans Blog
- Pro Sports Daily
- Seattle Sonics News and Blog
- Sports E-Cyclopedia entry
