1977–78 Seattle SuperSonics season

1977–78 Seattle SuperSonics season
Conference champions
Head coachBob Hopkins,
Lenny Wilkens
General managerZollie Volchok
OwnersSam Schulman
ArenaSeattle Center Coliseum
Results
Record47–35 (.573)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Pacific)
Conference: 4th (Western)
Playoff finishNBA Finals
(lost to Bullets 3–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionKTNT-TV
RadioKOMO

The 1977–78 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 11th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). With a disappointing 5–17 start, the Sonics replaced coach Bob Hopkins with future Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens, who led the team to a 47–35 finish. In the playoffs, the SuperSonics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in three games in the First Round, then upset the defending NBA champions Portland Trail Blazers in six games in the Western Conference semifinals, before finally defeating the Denver Nuggets in six games in the conference finals, making their first trip to the NBA Finals in franchise history, where they lost the series to the Washington Bullets in 7 games.

Offseason

Draft

Main article: 1977 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 8 Jack Sikma Forward/Center  United States Illinois Wesleyan
3 52 Joe Hassett Guard  United States Providence

Roster

1977–78 Seattle SuperSonics roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
G 32 Fred Brown 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 182 lb (83 kg) 1948–08–07 Iowa
F 30 Al Fleming 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1954–04–05 Arizona
G 10 Joe Hassett 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1955–09–11 Providence
G 24 Dennis Johnson 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1954–09–18 Pepperdine
SF 27 John Johnson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1947–10–18 Iowa
F 45 Bruce Seals 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1953–06–18 Xavier (LA)
F/C 43 Jack Sikma 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1955–11–14 Illinois Wesleyan
F/C 35 Paul Silas 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1943–07–12 Creighton
SF 42 Wally Walker 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1954–07–18 Virginia
C 40 Marvin Webster 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1952–04–13 Morgan State
PG 1 Gus Williams 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1953–10–10 USC
Head coach
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Standings

Pacific Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Portland Trail Blazers 58 24 .707 – 36–5 22–19 13–3
x-Phoenix Suns 49 33 .598 9 34–7 15–26 8–8
x- 47 35 .573 11 31–10 16–25 8–8
x-Los Angeles Lakers 45 37 .549 13 29–12 16–25 6–10
Golden State Warriors 43 39 .524 15 30–11 13–28 5–11
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Portland Trail Blazers 58 24 .707 –
2 y-Denver Nuggets 48 34 .585 10
3 x-Phoenix Suns 49 33 .598 9
4 x- 47 35 .573 11
5 x-Los Angeles Lakers 45 37 .549 13
6 x-Milwaukee Bucks 44 38 .537 14
7 Golden State Warriors 43 39 .524 15
8 Chicago Bulls 40 42 .488 18
9 Detroit Pistons 38 44 .463 20
10 Indiana Pacers 31 51 .378 27
11 Kansas City Kings 31 51 .378 27

Game log

Regular season

1977–78 game log
Total: 47–35 (home: 31–10; road: 16–25)
October: 1–6 (home: 1–2; road: 0–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 October 19 @ Golden State L 84–116 Fred Brown 21 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
8,871 		0–1
2 October 21 Portland L 99–106 Bruce Seals 28 Seattle Center Coliseum
12,156 		0–2
3 October 23 San Antonio L 94–112 Bruce Seals 19 Seattle Center Coliseum
10,422 		0–3
4 October 25 @ Phoenix L 86–93 Bruce Seals 20 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10,917 		0–4
5 October 26 Buffalo W 97–92 Fred Brown 37 Seattle Center Coliseum
8,689 		1–4
6 October 29 @ Chicago L 97–101 Slick Watts 16 Chicago Stadium
12,871 		1–5
7 October 30 @ Milwaukee L 95–108 Gus Williams 21 MECCA Arena
10,107 		1–6
November : 5–11 (home: 3–5; road: 2–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
8 November 1 @ Atlanta L 99–102 Mike Green 17 Omni Coliseum
7,782 		1–7
9 November 2 @ Indiana W 106–104 (OT) Gus Williams 27 Market Square Arena
11,753 		2–7
10 November 4 New York L 92–95 Fred Brown 31 Seattle Center Coliseum
13,895 		2–8
11 November 5 @ Portland L 94–116 Marvin Webster 23 Memorial Coliseum
12,666 		2–9
12 November 6 Kansas City L 83–99 Fred Brown 14 Seattle Center Coliseum
11,276 		2–10
13 November 11 Indiana W 117–111 Fred Brown,
Gus Williams 20 		Seattle Center Coliseum
9,349 		3 10
14 November 13 New Orleans W 117–83 Three players 20 Seattle Center Coliseum
9,637 		4–10
15 November 15 @ Washington L 109–111 Gus Williams (23) Marvin Webster (13) Slick Watts,
Marvin Webster (3) 		Capital Centre
5,593 		4–11
16 November 16 @ Philadelphia L 96–101 Slick Watts,
Marvin Webster (17) 		Marvin Webster (19) Fred Brown,
John Johnson (5) 		The Spectrum
13,314 		4–12
17 November 17 @ New Orleans L 116–127 Slick Watts 18 Louisiana Superdome
8,112 		4–13
18 November 20 Cleveland L 108–115 Fred Brown 31 Seattle Center Coliseum
10,005 		4–14
19 November 23 L. A. Lakers W 113–89 Fred Brown 21 Seattle Center Coliseum
9,373 		5–14
20 November 25 Chicago L 89–106 Gus Williams 20 Seattle Center Coliseum
9,384 		5–15
21 November 27 New Jersey L 96–99 Gus Williams 36 Seattle Center Coliseum
9,475 		5–16
22 November 29 @ Denver L 99–115 Wally Walker (18) Jack Sikma,
Marvin Webster (8) 		Slick Watts (7) McNichols Sports Arena
13,122 		5–17
23 November 30 @ Kansas City W 86–84 Gus Williams 24 Kemper Arena
7,692 		6–17
December : 11–3 (home: 7–1; road: 4–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
24 December 2 @ Boston W 111–89 Dennis Johnson 24 Boston Garden
11,101 		7–17
25 December 3 @ Buffalo W 102–95 Gus Williams 29 Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
6,841 		8–17
26 December 5 Atlanta W 99–88 Gus Williams 26 Seattle Center Coliseum
10,285 		9–17
27 December 9 Milwaukee W 136–123 Gus Williams 33 Seattle Center Coliseum
12,946 		10–17
28 December 11 Houston W 116–84 Marvin Webster 17 Seattle Center Coliseum
12,154 		11–17
29 December 13 @ Cleveland L 104–116 Fred Brown 23 Coliseum at Richfield
6,666 		11–18
30 December 14 @ Detroit W 102–92 Gus Williams 37 Cobo Arena
4,503 		12–18
31 December 16 @ L. A. Lakers W 98–90 Fred Brown 24 The Forum
10,029 		13–18
32 December 18 Washington W 111–109 (OT) Marvin Webster (21) Marvin Webster (23) Marvin Webster (7) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,563 		14–18
33 December 20, 1977 Denver W 93–88 Fred Brown,
Dennis Johnson (18) 		Marvin Webster (15) John Johnson (6) Seattle Center Coliseum
11,825 		15–18
34 December 22 Boston W 132–99 Bruce Seals,
Jack Sikma 21 		Seattle Center Coliseum
11,970 		16–18
35 December 25 L. A. Lakers L 96–111 John Johnson 22 Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		16–19
36 December 27 @ Phoenix L 105–131 Fred Brown 28 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,543 		16–20
37 December 30 Phoenix W 121–110 Dennis Johnson Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		17–20
January : 10–2 (home: 8–1; road: 2–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
38 January 1 Chicago W 114–96 Gus Williams 32 Seattle Center Coliseum
11,419 		18–20
39 January 4 Kansas City W 116–110 Fred Brown 20 Seattle Center Coliseum
9,979 		19–20
40 January 8 Golden State W 99–91 Marvin Webster 17 Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		20–20
41 January 11 Detroit W 106–100 Marvin Webster 21 Seattle Center Coliseum
10,127 		21–20
42 January 13 Cleveland W 104–98 Fred Brown 23 Seattle Center Coliseum
12,683 		22–20
43 January 15 New York W 108–102 Gus Williams 30 Seattle Center Coliseum
12,538 		23–20
44 January 17 @ San Antonio L 113–119 Jack Sikma 26 HemisFair Arena
8,677 		23–21
45 January 18 @ Houston W 106–104 Fred Brown 23 The Summit
7,046 		24–21
46 January 22 @ Boston W 103–92 Gus Williams 29 Boston Garden
12,058 		25–21
47 January 25 Philadelphia L 125–128 John Johnson (23) Jack Sikma (15) Three players (6) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		25–22
48 January 27 New Jersey W 95–90 Fred Brown 25 Seattle Center Coliseum
13,013 		26–22
49 January 29 Milwaukee W 103–101 Gus Williams 22 Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		27–22
February : 7–5 (home: 3–1; road: 4–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
All-Star Break
50 February 8 Washington L 100–106 Gus Williams (21) Paul Silas (13) Paul Silas (4) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,126 		27–23
51 February 10 Denver W 126–123 (OT) Marvin Webster (26) Marvin Webster (14) Three players (4) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,795 		28–23
52 February 12 @ Philadelphia L 99–109 Gus Williams (28) Marvin Webster (21) Fred Brown (4) The Spectrum
16,101 		28–24
53 February 14 @ Buffalo L 100–101 Fred Brown 20 Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
4,127 		28–25
54 February 16 @ New Jersey L 92–101 Gus Williams 24 Rutgers Athletic Center
3,117 		28–26
55 February 17 @ Chicago W 106–98 Gus Williams 23 Chicago Stadium
17,211 		29–26
56 February 19 @ Milwaukee W 108–103 Gus Williams 23 MECCA Arena
10,938 		30–26
57 February 21 @ New York L 120–122 Gus Williams 24 Madison Square Garden
12,287 		30–27
58 February 22 @ New Jersey W 94–83 Gus Williams 31 Rutgers Athletic Center
2,789 		31–27
59 February 25 Detroit W 118–104 Gus Williams 22 Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		32–27
60 February 26 Philadelphia W 99–97 Fred Brown (32) Marvin Webster (11) Three players (4) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		33–27
61 February 28 @ Kansas City W 114–107 (OT) Gus Williams 27 Kemper Arena
5,371 		34–27
March : 9–7 (home: 5–0; road: 4–7)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
62 March 3 @ Indiana L 111–115 Gus Williams 20 Market Square Arena
10,087 		34–28
63 March 4 @ New Orleans L 104–113 Dennis Johnson 23 Louisiana Superdome
16,232 		34–29
64 March 5 @ Atlanta L 94–101 Fred Brown,
Jack Sikma 20 		Omni Coliseum
3,018 		34–30
65 March 8 @ San Antonio W 95–94 Dennis Johnson 27 HemisFair Arena
9,113 		35–30
66 March 11 @ Houston W 93–91 Fred Brown 25 The Summit
7,144 		36–30
67 March 14 @ Washington L 115–120 Dennis Johnson (26) Marvin Webster (13) Gus Williams (6) Capital Centre
7,804 		36–31
68 March 16 New Orleans W 123–98 Gus Williams 19 Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		37–31
69 March 17 @ L. A. Lakers W 105–98 Dennis Johnson 23 The Forum
12,997 		38–31
70 March 19 San Antonio W 116–98 Fred Brown 20 Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		39–31
71 March 21 @ Portland L 96–102 John Johnson 26 Memorial Coliseum
12,666 		39–32
72 March 22 Buffalo W 97–92 Gus Williams 25 Seattle Center Coliseum
13,179 		40–32
73 March 24 Indiana W 104–102 Jack Sikma 28 Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		41–32
74 March 26 Boston W 112–101 Gus Williams 34 Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		42–32
75 March 28 @ Cleveland L 100–112 Dennis Johnson 21 Coliseum at Richfield
9,765 		42–33
76 March 29 @ Detroit L 116–121 Gus Williams 32 Cobo Arena
4,620 		42–34
77 March 31 @ Denver W 111–109 John Johnson (25) Paul Silas (12) Gus Williams (8) McNichols Sports Arena
17,270 		43–34
April : 4–1 (home: 4–0; road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
78 April 2 Portland W 101–86 Gus Williams 29 Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		44–34
79 April 5 Houston W 113–100 Gus Williams 22 Seattle Center Coliseum
12,846 		45–34
80 April 7 Phoenix W 95–83 Fred Brown 16 Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		46–34
81 April 8 @ Golden State L 87–102 Gus Williams 20 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
13,327 		46–35
82 April 9 Golden State W 111–105 Fred Brown 24 Seattle Center Coliseum
13,285 		47–35
1977–78 season schedule

Playoffs

1978 playoff game log
First Round: 2–1 (home: 2–0; road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 12 Los Angeles W 102–90 Gus Williams (23) Marvin Webster (14) Fred Brown (5) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		1–0
2 April 14 @ Los Angeles L 99–105 Dennis Johnson (21) Marvin Webster (10) Sikma, Williams (4) The Forum
15,051 		1–1
3 April 16 Los Angeles W 111–102 Jack Sikma (24) Marvin Webster (18) Gus Williams (8) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		2–1
Conference semifinals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 18 @ Portland W 104–95 Marvin Webster (24) Jack Sikma (11) Dennis Johnson (4) Memorial Coliseum
12,666 		1–0
2 April 21 @ Portland L 93–96 Gus Williams (31) Marvin Webster (15) Marvin Webster (7) Memorial Coliseum
12,666 		1–1
3 April 23 Portland W 99–84 J. Johnson, Brown (18) Marvin Webster (23) Fred Brown (4) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		2–1
4 April 26 Portland W 100–98 Jack Sikma (28) Jack Sikma (10) Dennis Johnson (8) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		3–1
5 April 30 @ Portland L 89–113 Marvin Webster (16) Paul Silas (10) Gus Williams (4) Memorial Coliseum
12,666 		3–2
6 May 1 Portland W 105–94 Dennis Johnson (20) Marvin Webster (11) Gus Williams (7) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		4–2
Conference finals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 5 @ Denver L 107–116 Marvin Webster (28) Marvin Webster (16) Gus Williams (8) McNichols Sports Arena
17,387 		0–1
2 May 7 @ Denver W 121–111 Fred Brown (26) Paul Silas (12) Fred Brown (6) McNichols Sports Arena
17,838 		1–1
3 May 10 Denver W 105–91 John Johnson (20) Marvin Webster (16) Dennis Johnson,
Marvin Webster (3) 		Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		2–1
4 May 12 Denver W 100–94 Dennis Johnson (31) Paul Silas (14) John Johnson (7) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		3–1
5 May 14 @ Denver L 114–123 Gus Williams (31) Marvin Webster (12) John Johnson,
Gus Williams (6) 		McNichols Sports Arena
17,006 		3–2
6 May 17 Denver W 123–108 Fred Brown (26) Paul Silas (13) Dennis Johnson (7) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		4–2
NBA finals: 3–4 (home: 2–2; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 21 Washington W 106–102 Fred Brown (30) Marvin Webster (14) Dennis Johnson (5) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		1–0
2 May 25 @ Washington L 98–106 Gus Williams (24) Marvin Webster (12) Three players (4) Capital Centre
19,035 		1–1
3 May 28 @ Washington W 93–92 Marvin Webster,
Gus Williams (20) 		Paul Silas (14) Five players (2) Capital Centre
19,035 		2–1
4 May 30 Washington L 116–120 (OT) Dennis Johnson (33) Marvin Webster (15) Paul Silas (6) Kingdome
39,457 		2–2
5 June 2 Washington W 98–94 Fred Brown (26) Marvin Webster (13) John Johnson (7) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		3–2
6 June 4 @ Washington L 82–117 Fred Brown (17) Marvin Webster (12) Gus Williams (6) Capital Centre
19,035 		3–3
7 June 7 Washington L 99–105 Marvin Webster (27) Marvin Webster (19) Gus Williams (5) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		3–4
1978 schedule
The Seattle SuperSonics playing the Portland Trail Blazers during the 1978 NBA playoffs.

Awards and honors

Player statistics

Legend
GP Games played RPG Rebounds per game BPG Blocks per game
MIN Minutes played APG Assists per game TPG Turnovers per game
PPG Points per game SPG Steals per game FPG Field goals per game

Regular season

Player GP MIN PPG RPG APG SPG BPG TPG FPG
Fred Brown 72 27.3 16.6 2.6 3.3 1.5 0.3 2.3 7.1
Al Fleming 20 4.9 2.0 1.5 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.8 0.8
Joe Hassett 48 8.4 4.0 0.8 0.9 0.4 0.0 0.7 1.9
Dennis Johnson 81 27.3 12.7 3.6 2.8 1.5 0.6 2.0 4.5
John Johnson 76 23.8 10.7 4.0 2.8 0.6 0.3 2.2 4.5
Bruce Seals 73 18.1 7.8 3.1 1.1 0.6 0.5 1.4 3.2
Jack Sikma 82 27.3 10.7 8.3 1.6 0.8 0.5 2.3 4.2
Paul Silas 82 26.5 5.8 8.1 1.8 0.8 0.2 1.9 2.2
Wally Walker 68 14.8 6.5 3.0 1.0 0.4 0.1 1.0 2.7
Marvin Webster 82 35.5 14.0 12.6 2.5 0.6 2.0 3.1 5.2
Gus Williams 79 32.6 18.1 3.2 3.7 2.3 0.5 2.4 7.6

Playoffs

Player GP MIN PPG RPG APG SPG BPG TPG FPG
Fred Brown 22 26.1 17.3 2.1 2.4 1.0 0.1 1.4 7.0
Al Fleming 5 4.2 1.4 0.8 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.4 0.4
Joe Hassett 8 2.8 1.8 0.3 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.9
Dennis Johnson 22 37.6 16.1 4.6 3.3 1.0 1.0 2.5 5.5
John Johnson 22 27.1 10.1 4.5 2.5 0.4 0.3 2.4 4.3
Bruce Seals 9 10.2 3.0 2.2 0.9 0.2 0.2 0.7 1.3
Jack Sikma 22 31.9 13.7 8.1 1.2 0.8 0.5 1.6 5.2
Paul Silas 22 27.5 4.9 8.5 1.6 0.5 0.3 1.4 1.5
Wally Walker 20 13.1 4.7 1.9 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.9 1.8
Marvin Webster 22 41.1 16.1 13.1 2.6 0.3 2.6 3.4 6.2
Gus Williams 22 31.9 18.3 3.9 4.0 2.0 0.5 2.5 7.4

References

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