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1977–78 Seattle SuperSonics season

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

Roster

Standings

Game log

Regular season

|- | 1 | October 19 | @ Golden State | L 84–116 | Fred Brown 21 | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena<br>8,871 | 0–1 |- | 2 | | Portland | | Bruce Seals (28) | Slick Watts (7) | ' (5) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>12,156 | 0–2 |- | 3 | | San Antonio | | Bruce Seals (19) | Mike Green (8) | Slick Watts (10) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>10,422 | 0–3 |- | 4 | | @ Phoenix | | Bruce Seals (20) | Marvin Webster(11) | SlLick Watts (9) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>10,917 | 0–4 |- | 5 | October 26 | Buffalo | W 97–92 | Fred Brown 37 | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>8,689 | 1–4 |- | 6 | October 29 | @ Chicago | L 97–101 | Slick Watts 16 | | | Chicago Stadium<br>12,871 | 1–5 |- | 7 | | @ Milwaukee | | Gus Williams (21) | Marvin Webster (15) | Paul Silas (6) | MECCA Arena<br>10,107 | 1–6

|- | 8 | | @ Atlanta | | Mike Green (17) | Marvin Webster (29) | Slick Watts (6) | The Omni<br>7,782 | 1–7 |- | 9 | November 2 | @ Indiana | W 106–104 (OT) | Gus Williams 27 | | | Market Square Arena<br>11,753 | 2–7 |- | 10 | | New York | | Fred Brown (31) | Marvin Webster (14) | Slick Watts (5) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>13,895 | 2–8 |- | 11 | | @ Portland | | Marvin Webster (23) | Marvin Webster (19) | Gus Williams (4) | Memorial Coliseum<br>12,666 | 2–9 |- | 12 | November 6 | Kansas City | L 83–99 | Fred Brown 14 | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>11,276 | 2–10 |- | 13 | November 11 | Indiana | W 117–111 | Fred Brown,<br>Gus Williams 20 | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>9,349 | 3 10 |- | 14 | November 13 | New Orleans | W 117–83 | Three players 20 | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>9,637 | 4–10 |- | 15 | | @ Washington | | Gus Williams (23) | Marvin Webster (13) | ' (3) | Capital Centre<br>5,593 | 4–11 |- | 16 | | @ Philadelphia | | ' (17) | Marvin Webster (19) | ' (5) | The Spectrum<br>13,314 | 4–12 |- | 17 | November 17 | @ New Orleans | L 116–127 | Slick Watts 18 | | | Louisiana Superdome<br>8,112 | 4–13 |- | 18 | | Cleveland | | Fred Brown (31) | Jack Sikma (9) | Bruce Seals (3) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>10,005 | 4–14 |- | 19 | | Los Angeles | | Fred Brown (21) | Marvin Webster (18) | Slick Watts (11) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>9,373 | 5–14 |- | 20 | November 25 | Chicago | L 89–106 | Gus Williams 20 | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>9,384 | 5–15 |- | 21 | November 27 | New Jersey | L 96–99 | Gus Williams 36 | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>9,475 | 5–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 22 | | @ Denver | | Wally Walker (18) | ' (8) | Slick Watts (7) | McNichols Sports Arena<br>13,122 | 5–17 |- | 23 | November 30 | @ Kansas City | W 86–84 | Gus Williams 24 | | | Kemper Arena<br>7,692 | 6–17

|- | 24 | December 2 | @ Boston | W 111–89 | Dennis Johnson 24 | | | Boston Garden<br>11,101 | 7–17 |- | 25 | December 3 | @ Buffalo | W 102–95 | Gus Williams 29 | | | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium<br>6,841 | 8–17 |- | 26 | | Atlanta | | Gus Williams (26) | Marvin Webster (19) | Gus Williams (6) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>10,285 | 9–17 |- | 27 | | Milwaukee | | Gus Williams (33) | Jack Sikma (17) | Gus Williams (9) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>12,946 | 10–17 |- | 28 | December 11 | Houston | W 116–84 | Marvin Webster 17 | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>12,154 | 11–17 |- | 29 | | @ Cleveland | | Fred Brown (23) | Marvin Webster (13) | Marvin Webster (7) | Richfield Coliseum<br>6,666 | 11–18 |- | 30 | December 14 | @ Detroit | W 102–92 | Gus Williams 37 | | | Cobo Arena<br>4,503 | 12–18 |- | 31 | | @ Los Angeles | | Fred Brown (24) | Marvin Webster (21) | Gus Williams (7) | The Forum<br>10,029 | 13–18 |- | 32 | | Washington | | Marvin Webster (21) | Marvin Webster (23) | Marvin Webster (7) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>13,563 | 14–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 33 | | Denver | | ' (18) | Marvin Webster (15) | John Johnson (6) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>11,825 | 15–18 |- | 34 | December 22 | Boston | W 132–99 | Bruce Seals,<br>Jack Sikma 21 | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>11,970 | 16–18 |- | 35 | | Los Angeles | | John Johnson (22) | Marvin Webster (18) | Marvin Webster (6) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,096 | 16–19 |- | 36 | | @ Phoenix | | Fred Brown (28) | Marvin Webster (9) | Marvin Webster (6) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,543 | 16–20 |- | 37 | | Phoenix | | Dennis Johnson (24) | Marvin Webster (18) | Fred Brown (7) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 17–20

|- | 38 | January 1 | Chicago | W 114–96 | Gus Williams 32 | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>11,419 | 18–20 |- | 39 | January 4 | Kansas City | W 116–110 | Fred Brown 20 | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>9,979 | 19–20 |- | 40 | January 8 | Golden State | W 99–91 | Marvin Webster 17 | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 20–20 |- | 41 | January 11 | Detroit | W 106–100 | Marvin Webster 21 | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>10,127 | 21–20 |- | 42 | | Cleveland | | Fred Brown (23) | Marvin Webster (14) | Marvin Webster (7) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>12,683 | 22–20 |- | 43 | | New York | | Gus Williams (30) | Marvin Webster (14) | ' (6) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>12,538 | 23–20 |- | 44 | | @ San Antonio | | Jack Sikma (26) | Marvin Webster (14) | John Johnson (7) | HemisFair Arena<br>8,677 | 23–21 |- | 45 | January 18 | @ Houston | W 106–104 | Fred Brown 23 | | | The Summit<br>7,046 | 24–21 |- | 46 | January 22 | @ Boston | W 103–92 | Gus Williams 29 | | | Boston Garden<br>12,058 | 25–21 |- | 47 | | Philadelphia | | John Johnson (23) | Jack Sikma (15) | ' (6) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 25–22 |- | 48 | January 27 | New Jersey | W 95–90 | Fred Brown 25 | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>13,013 | 26–22 |- | 49 | | Milwaukee | | Gus Williams (22) | Marvin Webster (11) | John Johnson (4) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 27–22

|- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Game |- | 50 | | Washington | | Gus Williams (21) | Paul Silas (13) | Paul Silas (4) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>12,126 | 27–23 |- | 51 | | Denver | | Marvin Webster (26) | Marvin Webster (14) | ' (4) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>13,795 | 28–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 52 | | @ Philadelphia | | Gus Williams (28) | Marvin Webster (21) | Fred Brown (4) | The Spectrum<br>16,101 | 28–24 |- | 53 | February 14 | @ Buffalo | L 100–101 | Fred Brown 20 | | | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium<br>4,127 | 28–25 |- | 54 | February 16 | @ New Jersey | L 92–101 | Gus Williams 24 | | | Rutgers Athletic Center<br>3,117 | 28–26 |- | 55 | February 17 | @ Chicago | W 106–98 | Gus Williams 23 | | | Chicago Stadium<br>17,211 | 29–26 |- | 56 | | @ Milwaukee | | Gus Williams (23) | Marvin Webster (14) | Paul Silas (5) | MECCA Arena<br>10,938 | 30–26 |- | 57 | | @ New York | | Gus Williams (24) | Marvin Webster (11) | John Johnson (7) | Madison Square Garden<br>12,287 | 30–27 |- | 58 | February 22 | @ New Jersey | W 94–83 | Gus Williams 31 | | | Rutgers Athletic Center<br>2,789 | 31–27 |- | 59 | February 25 | Detroit | W 118–104 | Gus Williams 22 | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 32–27 |- | 60 | | Philadelphia | | Fred Brown (32) | Marvin Webster (11) | ' (4) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 33–27 |- | 61 | February 28 | @ Kansas City | W 114–107 (OT) | Gus Williams 27 | | | Kemper Arena<br>5,371 | 34–27

|- | 62 | March 3 | @ Indiana | L 111–115 | Gus Williams 20 | | | Market Square Arena<br>10,087 | 34–28 |- | 63 | March 4 | @ New Orleans | L 104–113 | Dennis Johnson 23 | | | Louisiana Superdome<br>16,232 | 34–29 |- | 64 | | @ Atlanta | | ' (20) | Marvin Webster (15) | Dennis Johnson (4) | The Omni<br>3,018 | 34–30 |- | 65 | | @ San Antonio | | Dennis Johnson (27) | Paul Silas (15) | ' (4) | HemisFair Arena<br>9,113 | 35–30 |- | 66 | March 11 | @ Houston | W 93–91 | Fred Brown 25 | | | The Summit<br>7,144 | 36–30 |- | 67 | | @ Washington | | Dennis Johnson (26) | Marvin Webster (13) | Gus Williams (6) | Capital Centre<br>7,804 | 36–31 |- | 68 | March 16 | New Orleans | W 123–98 | Gus Williams 19 | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 37–31 |- | 69 | | @ Los Angeles | | Dennis Johnson (23) | Paul Silas (14) | Fred Brown (5) | The Forum<br>12,997 | 38–31 |- | 70 | | San Antonio | | Fred Brown (20) | Marvin Webster (19) | Wally Walker (5) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 39–31 |- | 71 | | @ Portland | | John Johnson 26 | Jack Sikma (13) | Gus Williams (6) | Memorial Coliseum<br>12,666 | 39–32 |- | 72 | March 22 | Buffalo | W 97–92 | Gus Williams 25 | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>13,179 | 40–32 |- | 73 | March 24 | Indiana | W 104–102 | Jack Sikma 28 | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 41–32 |- | 74 | March 26 | Boston | W 112–101 | Gus Williams 34 | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 42–32 |- | 75 | | @ Cleveland | | Dennis Johnson (21} | Dennis Johnson (11) | Marvin Webster (5) | Richfield Coliseum<br>9,765 | 42–33 |- | 76 | March 29 | @ Detroit | L 116–121 | Gus Williams 32 | | | Cobo Arena<br>4,620 | 42–34 |- | 77 | | @ Denver | | John Johnson (25) | Paul Silas (12) | Gus Williams (8) | McNichols Sports Arena<br>17,270 | 43–34

|- | 78 | | Portland | | Gus Williams (29) | Marvin Webster (13) | ' (3) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 44–34 |- | 79 | April 5 | Houston | W 113–100 | Gus Williams 22 | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>12,846 | 45–34 |- | 80 | | Phoenix | | Fred Brown (16) | ' (9) | ' (6) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 46–34 |- | 81 | April 8 | @ Golden State | L 87–102 | Gus Williams 20 | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena<br>13,327 | 46–35 |- | 82 | April 9 | Golden State | W 111–105 | Fred Brown 24 | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>13,285 | 47–35

Playoffs

|- | 1 | | Los Angeles | | Gus Williams (23) | Marvin Webster (14) | Fred Brown (5) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 1–0 |- | 2 | | @ Los Angeles | | Dennis Johnson (21) | Marvin Webster (10) | ' (4) | The Forum<br>15,051 | 1–1 |- | 3 | | Los Angeles | | Jack Sikma (24) | Marvin Webster (18) | Gus Williams (8) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 2–1 |-

|- | 1 | | @ Portland | | Marvin Webster (24) | Jack Sikma (11) | Dennis Johnson (4) | Memorial Coliseum<br>12,666 | 1–0 |- | 2 | | @ Portland | | Gus Williams (31) | Marvin Webster (15) | Marvin Webster (7) | Memorial Coliseum<br>12,666 | 1–1 |- | 3 | | Portland | | ' (18) | Marvin Webster (23) | Fred Brown (4) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 2–1 |- | 4 | | Portland | | Jack Sikma (28) | Jack Sikma (10) | Dennis Johnson (8) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 3–1 |- | 5 | | @ Portland | | Marvin Webster (16) | Paul Silas (10) | Gus Williams (4) | Memorial Coliseum<br>12,666 | 3–2 |- | 6 | | Portland | | Dennis Johnson (20) | Marvin Webster (11) | Gus Williams (7) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 4–2 |-

|- | 1 | | @ Denver | | Marvin Webster (28) | Marvin Webster (16) | Gus Williams (8) | McNichols Sports Arena<br>17,387 | 0–1 |- | 2 | | @ Denver | | Fred Brown (26) | Paul Silas (12) | Fred Brown (6) | McNichols Sports Arena<br>17,838 | 1–1 |- | 3 | | Denver | | John Johnson (20) | Marvin Webster (16) | ' (3) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 2–1 |- | 4 | | Denver | | Dennis Johnson (31) | Paul Silas (14) | John Johnson (7) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 3–1 |- | 5 | | @ Denver | | Gus Williams (31) | Marvin Webster (12) | ' (6) | McNichols Sports Arena<br>17,006 | 3–2 |- | 6 | | Denver | | Fred Brown (26) | Paul Silas (13) | Dennis Johnson (7) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 4–2 |-

|- | 1 | | Washington | | Fred Brown (30) | Marvin Webster (14) | Dennis Johnson (5) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 1–0 |- | 2 | | @ Washington | | Gus Williams (24) | Marvin Webster (12) | ' (4) | Capital Centre<br>19,035 | 1–1 |- | 3 | | @ Washington | | ' (20) | Paul Silas (14) | ' (2) | Capital Centre<br>19,035 | 2–1 |- | 4 | | Washington | | Dennis Johnson (33) | Marvin Webster (15) | Paul Silas (6) | Kingdome<br>39,457 | 2–2 |- | 5 | | Washington | | Fred Brown (26) | Marvin Webster (13) | John Johnson (7) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 3–2 |- | 6 | | @ Washington | | Fred Brown (17) | Marvin Webster (12) | Gus Williams (6) | Capital Centre<br>19,035 | 3–3 |-" | 7 | | Washington | | Marvin Webster (27) | Marvin Webster (19) | Gus Williams (5) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 3–4 |-

Awards and honors

Player statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

References