1988–89 Seattle SuperSonics season

The 1988–89 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 22nd season for the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association.

Season summary

Off-season The SuperSonics had the 15th overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, and selected point guard Gary Grant from the University of Michigan, but soon traded him to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Michael Cage on draft day. During the off-season, the team signed free agent John Lucas.

Regular season With the addition of Cage, the SuperSonics won their first three games of the regular season, but then lost five of their next six games afterwards. The team soon recovered and played above .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, posting a six-game winning streak in January, and later on holding a 28–18 record at the All-Star break. However, the SuperSonics posted a seven-game losing streak between March and April, but then posted an eight-game winning streak afterwards, finishing in third place in the Pacific Division with a 47–35 record, and earning the fourth seed in the Western Conference.

Dale Ellis averaged 27.5 points and 1.3 steals per game, led the SuperSonics with 162 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Xavier McDaniel played a sixth man role off the bench, averaging 20.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, and second-year forward Derrick McKey became the team's starting small forward, averaging 15.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. In addition, Cage provided the team with 10.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, while Sedale Threatt contributed 8.6 points and 3.8 assists per game, Alton Lister provided with 8.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game, Nate McMillan averaged 7.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 9.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game, and Jerry Reynolds contributed 7.6 points per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Houston Astrodome in Houston, Texas, Ellis was selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team; it was his first and only All-Star appearance. Ellis scored 27 points as the Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference, 143–134. In addition, Ellis also participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout for the fourth consecutive year, and won the competition. McDaniel finished in fifth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, while McKey finished tied in seventh place in Most Improved Player voting.

The SuperSonics finished 19th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 456,765 at the Seattle Center Coliseum during the regular season.

NBA playoffs In the Western Conference First Round of the 1989 NBA playoffs, the SuperSonics faced off against the 5th–seeded Houston Rockets, a team that featured the trio of All-Star center Akeem Olajuwon, Otis Thorpe and Sleepy Floyd. The SuperSonics won the first two games over the Rockets at home at the Seattle Center Coliseum, before losing Game 3 on the road, 126–107 at The Summit. The SuperSonics won Game 4 over the Rockets on the road, 98–96 to win the series in four games.

In the Western Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the top–seeded, and 2-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, who won the Pacific Division title; the team was led by the quartet of All-Star guard, and Most Valuable Player of the Year, Magic Johnson, All-Star forward James Worthy, Byron Scott, and All-Star center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The SuperSonics lost the first two games to the Lakers on the road at the Great Western Forum, before losing the next two games at home, including a Game 4 loss to the Lakers at the Seattle Center Coliseum, 97–95, thus losing the series in a four-game sweep.

The Lakers would advance to the NBA Finals for the third consecutive year, but would lose to the Detroit Pistons in a four-game sweep in the 1989 NBA Finals.

Aftermath Following the season, Lister was traded to the Golden State Warriors, while Lucas signed as a free agent with the Houston Rockets, and Reynolds was left unprotected in the 1989 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Orlando Magic expansion team.

Draft picks

At the 1988 Draft, the SuperSonics got the fifteenth overall pick behind the Phoenix Suns. With their first-round pick, the SuperSonics selected Gary Grant, but he would be traded on draft night along with a first-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers for Michael Cage. In the third round, they selected guard Corey Gaines.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 15 Gary Grant PG Michigan 3 65 Corey Gaines G Loyola Marymount

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

| 1 | | at Utah Jazz | 104–97 | Dale Ellis (46)

| Salt Palace12,444 | 1–0 |- | 2 | | Denver Nuggets | 142–141 (OT) | Xavier McDaniel (28)

| Seattle Center Coliseum14,269 | 2–0 |- | 3 | | at Sacramento Kings | 97–75 | Dale Ellis (28)

| ARCO Arena (II)16,517 | 3–0 |- | 4 | | Golden State Warriors | 108–113 | John Lucas (25)

| Seattle Center ColiseumNot announced | 3–1 |- | 5 | | at L.A. Lakers | | Xavier McDaniel (20)

| Great Western Forum17,505 | 3–2 |- | 6 | | at Denver Nuggets | 129–141 | Dale Ellis (29)

| McNichols Sports Arena12,401 | 3–3 |- | 7 | | L.A. Lakers | | Dale Ellis (27)

| Seattle Center Coliseum14,576 | 4–3 |- | 8 | | Dallas Mavericks | 106–112 | Xavier McDaniel (31)

| Seattle Center Coliseum11,608 | 4–4 |- | 9 | | Portland Trail Blazers | 104–125 | Dale Ellis (22)

| Seattle Center Coliseum10,956 | 4–5 |- | 10 | | at Golden State Warriors | 93–85 | Dale Ellis (36)

| Oakland—Alameda County Coliseum Arena13,770 | 5–5 |- | 11 | | at Phoenix Suns | 105–110 | Dale Ellis (28)

| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum10,710 | 5–6 |- | 12 | | Utah Jazz | 109–102 | Dale Ellis (31)

| Seattle Center Coliseum12,336 | 6–6 |- | 13 | | at L.A. Lakers | | Dale Ellis (36)

| Great Western Forum17,505 | 6–7

| 14 | | Los Angeles Clippers | 154–104 | Dale EllisXavier McDaniel(27)

| Seattle Center ColiseumNot announced | 7–7 |- | 15 | | Golden State Warriors | 136–106 | Dale Ellis (36)

| Seattle Center Coliseum10,571 | 8–7 |- | 16 | | at San Antonio Spurs | 112–107 | Dale Ellis (28)

| HemisFair ArenaNot announced | 9–7 |- | 17 | | at Dallas Mavericks | 98–102 | Dale Ellis (26)

| Reunion Arena17,007 | 9–8 |- | 18 | | at Houston Rockets | 91–110 | Dale Ellis (26)

| The Summit16,611 | 9–9 |- | 19 | | Phoenix Suns | 126–116 | Dale Ellis (33)

| Seattle Center Coliseum13,500 | 10–9 |- | 20 | | San Antonio Spurs | 122–107 | Dale Ellis (28)

| Seattle Center ColiseumNot announced | 11–9 |- | 21 | | Sacramento Kings | 141–111 | Dale Ellis (27)

| Seattle Center ColiseumNot announced | 12–9 |- | 22 | | at Atlanta Hawks | 118–121 | Dale Ellis (30)

| The Omni14,808 | 12–10 |- | 23 | | at Miami Heat | 109–101 | Xavier McDaniel (23)

| Miami Arena15,008 | 13–10 |- | 24 | | at Cleveland Cavaliers | 107–119 (OT) | Dale Ellis (32)

| Richfield Coliseum15,857 | 13–11 |- | 25 | | at Los Angeles Clippers | 100–104 | Dale Ellis (24)

| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena11,505 | 13–12 |- | 26 | | Miami Heat | 129–99 | Dale EllisXavier McDaniel(25)

| Seattle Center Coliseum14,794 | 14–12

| 27 | | L.A. Lakers | | Dale Ellis (42)

| Seattle Center Coliseum14,645 | 15–12 |- | 28 | | Sacramento Kings | 120–106 | Dale Ellis (49)

| Seattle Center ColiseumNot announced | 16–12 |- | 29 | | Portland Trail Blazers | 129–123 | Xavier McDaniel (29)

| Seattle Center Coliseum14,726 | 17–12 |- | 30 | | Cleveland Cavaliers | 105–103 | Derrick McKey (32)

| Seattle Center Coliseum13,119 | 18–12 |- | 31 | | at Portland Trail Blazers | 109–125 | Michael Cage (24)

| Memorial Coliseum12,848 | 18–13 |- | 32 | | Dallas Mavericks | 130–95 | Dale Ellis (36)

| Seattle Center Coliseum14,290 | 19–13 |- | 33 | | at Sacramento Kings | 102–93 | Dale Ellis (31)

| ARCO Arena (II)16,517 | 20–13 |- | 34 | | at Golden State Warriors | 117–146 | Dale Ellis (26)

| Oakland—Alameda County Coliseum Arena12,340 | 20–14 |- | 35 | | Los Angeles Clippers | 130–107 | Dale Ellis (28)

| Seattle Center Coliseum11,402 | 21–14 |- | 36 | | Houston Rockets | 124–108 | Xavier McDaniel (29)

| Seattle Center Coliseum11,146 | 22–14 |- | 37 | | New York Knicks | 121–119 | Xavier McDaniel (36)

| Seattle Center Coliseum14,810 | 23–14 |- | 38 | | at Portland Trail Blazers | 103–100 | Derrick McKey (34)

| Memorial Coliseum12,848 | 24–14 |- | 39 | | Atlanta Hawks | 119–112 | Derrick McKey (28)

| Seattle Center Coliseum23,362 | 25–14 |- | 40 | | Milwaukee Bucks | 112–106 | Derrick McKey (23)

| Seattle Center Coliseum20,009 | 26–14 |- | 41 | | New Jersey Nets | 112–118 | Dale Ellis (33)

| Seattle Center ColiseumNot announced | 26–15

| 42 | | at Miami Heat | 100–93 | Dale Ellis (30)

| Miami Arena14,798 | 27–15 |- | 43 | | at Charlotte Hornets | 106–108 | Dale Ellis (27)

| Charlotte Coliseum23,388 | 27–16 |- | 44 | | at Boston Celtics | 89–87 | Dale Ellis (30)

| Boston Garden14,890 | 28–16 |- | 45 | | at New Jersey Nets | 99–109 | Dale Ellis (34)

| Brendan Byrne ArenaNot announced | 28–17 |- | 46 | | at Philadelphia 76ers | 102–109 | Dale Ellis (30)

| The Spectrum11,224 | 28–18 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Game |- | 47 | | San Antonio Spurs | 129–113 | Xavier McDaniel (30)

| Seattle Center Coliseum11,506 | 29–18 |- | 48 | | at Phoenix Suns | 112–135 | Dale Ellis (21)

| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,800 | 29–19 |- | 49 | | Washington Bullets | 126–112 | Derrick McKey (26)

| Seattle Center Coliseum12,570 | 30–19 |- | 50 | | at Portland Trail Blazers | 116–115 | Xavier McDaniel (37)

| Memorial Coliseum12,848 | 31–19 |- | 51 | | Boston Celtics | 96–91 | Dale Ellis (30)

| Seattle Center Coliseum14,546 | 32–19 |- | 52 | | Sacramento Kings | 94–97 | Xavier McDaniel (26)

| Seattle Center Coliseum11,780 | 32–20 |- | 53 | | at Sacramento Kings | 116–107 | Dale EllisDerrick McKey(27)

| ARCO Arena (II)16,517 | 33–20 |- | 54 | | Indiana Pacers | 106–108 | Dale Ellis (30)

| Seattle Center ColiseumNot announced | 33–21

| 55 | | Houston Rockets | 118–108 | Dale Ellis (39)

| Seattle Center Coliseum14,415 | 34–21 |- | 56 | | Philadelphia 76ers | 118–104 | Xavier McDaniel (25)

| Seattle Center Coliseum14,688 | 35–21 |- | 57 | | at Indiana Pacers | 110–92 | Dale Ellis (27)

| Market Square ArenaNot announced | 36–21 |- | 58 | | at Detroit | | Derrick McKey (21)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills21,454 | 36–22 |- | 59 | | at Milwaukee Bucks | 90–102 | Russ Schoene (18)

| Bradley Center18,633 | 36–23 |- | 60 | | at Chicago Bulls | 88–105 | Dale Ellis (26)

| Chicago Stadium18,291 | 36–24 |- | 61 | | at Washington Bullets | 101–106 | Dale Ellis (28)

| Capital CentreNot announced | 36–25 |- | 62 | | at New York Knicks | 110–116 | Xavier McDaniel (34)

| Madison Square Garden (IV)18,759 | 36–26 |- | 63 | | Charlotte Hornets | 108–88 | Dale Ellis (32)

| Seattle Center ColiseumNot announced | 37–26 |- | 64 | | at Phoenix Suns | 104–122 | Dale Ellis (29)

| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum14,471 | 37–27 |- | 65 | | Utah Jazz | 101–96 | Dale Ellis (31)

| Seattle Center Coliseum14,500 | 38–27 |- | 66 | | Los Angeles Clippers | 115–112 | Dale Ellis (39)

| Seattle Center Coliseum10,349 | 39–27 |- | 67 | | Chicago Bulls | 110–111 | Dale Ellis (30)

| Seattle Center Coliseum14,810 | 39–28 |- | 68 | | at Utah Jazz | 105–124 | Dale EllisXavier McDaniel(16)

| Salt Palace12,444 | 39–29 |- | 69 | | at Houston Rockets | 117–120 | Dale Ellis (36)

| The Summit16,611 | 39–30 |- | 70 | | at Denver Nuggets | 116–123 | Dale Ellis (26)

| McNichols Sports Arena14,851 | 39–31 |- | 71 | | Detroit | | Dale Ellis (30)

| Seattle Center Coliseum14,810 | 39–32

| 72 | | L.A. Lakers | | Dale EllisDerrick McKey(23)

| Seattle Center Coliseum14,810 | 39–33 |- | 73 | | Phoenix Suns | 119–126 | Xavier McDaniel (37)