We live in a big world. There’s the oversized food, the Super Duper Looper roller coaster, Superman, Superwoman, and even Superdog. Meanwhile, the NBA has the Seattle Supersonics. For more than three decades, the Supersonics have represented Seattle. While the team’s best season was 1978-1979, the Supersonics always strive to win another NBA Finals.
The 1967-1968 season was the first campaign of the Seattle Supersonics in the NBA. They would be one of a pair of new expansion teams in the NBA. The name “Supersonics” refers to Seattle’s aerospace industry, and in particular to Supersonic Transport (SST). A supersonic plane can travel faster than the speed of sound. The Sonics’ first season was a tough one, as they finished with a 23-59 record.
A decade after entering the NBA, the Sonics had a new head coach (Bob Hopkins) and several new players for the 1977-1978 season. They finished the regular season with an admirable 47-35 record. In the playoffs, the Sonics topped the Los Angeles Lakers (2-1), defeated the defending champion Portland Trailblazers (4-2) and soundly defeated the Denver Nuggets (4-2). Then, during the Finals, the Sonics took a 3-2 series lead against the Washington Bullets, but would ultimately lose the series (4-3).
For the next season, the Seattle Supersonics were a team on a mission. They completed the regular season with a 52-30 record and won the division crown. Seattle would defeat the Los Angles Lakers (4-2) and then overcome a 3-2 deficit to beat the Phoenix Suns (4-3). The NBA Finals featured a rematch between the Supersonics and the Bullets. However, this time the Sonics were faster (and better) than the Bullets, and avenged their loss a year earlier (4-3).
The Seattle Sonics would return to the NBA Finals, during the 1995-1996 season. Their 64-18 regular season record was the best in the West. In the playoffs, the Sonics would dethrone the Sacramento Kings (3-1), topple the Houston Rockets (4-0), and then silence the Utah Jazz in a squeaker (4-3). The Supersonics were a solid team, but they were bested by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals (4-2).
Throughout their tenure in Seattle, the Supersonics have retired the jersey numbers of six players:
o Fred “Downtown Freddie” Brown – #32 (Guard): 1971/1972-1983/1984
Famous for his accurate outside shooting and played in the 1976 All-Star Game.
o Spencer Haywood – #24 (Forward): 1970-1975
Four All-Star games and two All-NBA first teams
o Nate McMillan – #10 (Guard): 1986,1987-1997,1998
He played 12 years with the Sonics and was their head coach for five years.
o Jack Sikma – #43 (Center): 1977/1978-1985/1986
Seven NBA All-Star games (1979-1985)
o Lenny Wilkens – #19 (Guard): 1968/1969-1971/1972
He also served as the head coach (1978-1985) and general manager (1985-1986) of the Supersonics.
o Gus Williams – #1 (Guard): 1977-1980, 1981-1984
Two NBA All-Star teams and one All-NBA First Team (1982)
The Sonics play to win their next NBA Finals. Wear Seattle Supersonics merchandise to cheer on the team as they superspeed toward their next NBA championship!