1978–79 Seattle SuperSonics season

The 1978–79 Seattle SuperSonics season was the team's 12th since the franchise began, and their most successful, winning their only NBA title while being based in Seattle.

In the playoffs, the SuperSonics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in five games in the Semi-finals, then defeated the Phoenix Suns in seven games in the Conference Finals to reach the NBA Finals for a second consecutive season in a rematch of the 1978 NBA Finals, facing the defending NBA champion Washington Bullets whom they had lost to in seven games. The Sonics would go on to avenge their NBA Finals loss and defeat the Bullets in five games, winning their first and only NBA championship. Dennis Johnson was named the NBA Finals MVP.

They would not reach another NBA Finals until 1996 in which they were led by Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. They also would not win another until 2025 as the Oklahoma City Thunder.

This was Seattle's first professional sports championship since the Seattle Metropolitans won the Stanley Cup in 1917.

Off-season

Draft

Roster

Season standings

Game log

Regular season

|- | 1 | October 13 | Chicago | | Dennis Johnson (26) | Jack Sikma (12) | Jack Sikma (6) | Kingdome<br>15,219 | 1–0 |- | 2 | October 15 | Kansas City | | Fred Brown (26) | Lonnie Shelton (8) | Fred Brown (5) | Kingdome<br>11,609 | 2–0 |- | 3 | October 17 | @ New York | | ' (20) | Jack Sikma (12) | ' (5) | Madison Square Garden<br>10,155 | 3–0 |- | 4 | October 18 | @ Indiana | | Dennis Johnson (20) | Tom LaGarde (15) | ' (3) | Market Square Arena<br>7,683 | 4–0 |- | 5 | October 20 | San Antonio | | Tom LaGarde (32) | Tom LaGarde (13) | ' (6) | Kingdome<br>20,172 | 5–0 |- | 6 | October 25 | Washington | | Gus Williams (24) | Lonnie Shelton (15) | Dennis Johnson (4) | Kingdome<br>15,089 | 6–0 |- | 7 | October 27 | Milwaukee | | Fred Brown (20) | Jack Sikma (13) | Fred Brown (3) | Kingdome<br>19,060 | 7–0 |- | 8 | October 29 | @ San Diego | | John Johnson (20) | Jack Sikma (11) | ' (3) | San Diego Sports Arena<br>9,469 | 7–1

|- | 9 | November 2 | @ Detroit | | Jack Sikma (20) | Jack Sikma (17) | ' (4) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>7,432 | 8–1 |- | 10 | November 3 | @ New Jersey | | Gus Williams (27) | Tom LaGarde (16) | Gus Williams (6) | Rutgers Athletic Center<br>4,756 | 9–1 |- | 11 | November 8 | New York | | Jack Sikma (22) | John Johnson (8) | Dennis Johnson (5) | Kingdome<br>23,516 | 9–2 |- | 12 | November 10 | Cleveland | | Lonnie Shelton (19) | Jack Sikma (14) | Fred Brown (9) | Kingdome<br>16,384 | 10–2 |- | 13 | November 15 | New Orleans | | Fred Brown (20) | Tom LaGarde (14) | Dennis Johnson (6) | Kingdome<br>12,178 | 11–2 |- | 14 | November 17 | Indiana | | ' (25) | Tom LaGarde (13) | Dennis Johnson (7) | Kingdome<br>14,906 | 12–2 |- | 15 | November 18 | @ Golden State | | Gus Williams (24) | Jack Sikma (12) | ' (5) | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena<br>13,237 | 12–3 |- | 16 | November 19 | Portland | | John Johnson (21) | Jack Sikma (13) | Dennis Johnson (8) | Kingdome<br>17,809 | 13–3 |- | 17 | November 22 | Chicago | | Gus Williams (22) | Jack Sikma (11) | John Johnson (6) | Kingdome<br>13,253 | 14–3 |- | 18 | November 24 | Denver | | Jack Sikma (23) | Jack Sikma (9) | ' (4) | Kingdome<br>25,127 | 14–4 |- | 19 | November 25 | @ Denver | | Gus Williams (24) | Jack Sikma (16) | D. Johnson (8) | McNichols Sports Arena<br>17,109 | 15–4 |- | 20 | November 26 | Houston | | Gus Williams (23) | Jack Sikma (16) | ' (5) | Kingdome<br>18,159 | 15–5 |- | 21 | November 29 | New Jersey | | Fred Brown (26) | Jack Sikma (16) | Gus Williams (8) | Kingdome<br>13,011 | 16–5

|- | 22 | December 1 | @ Boston | | Jack Sikma (19) | Jack Sikma (15) | Dennis Johnson (5) | Boston Garden<br>11,198 | 16–6 |- | 23 | December 2 | @ Philadelphia | | Jack Sikma (29) | Jack Sikma (20) | Dick Snyder (5) | The Spectrum<br>15,068 | 17–6 |- | 24 | December 8 | Atlanta | | Lonnie Shelton (26) | Jack Sikma (17) | Fred Brown (9) | Kingdome<br>13,383 | 18–6 |- | 25 | December 10 | San Antonio | | Jack Sikma (23) | Jack Sikma (19) | John Johnson (7) | Kingdome<br>13,847 | 19–6 |- | 26 | December 13 | Los Angeles | | Fred Brown (28) | Paul Silas (15) | Jack Sikma (8) | Kingdome<br>20,178 | 20–6 |- | 27 | December 15 | @ Los Angeles | | Dennis Johnson (28) | Jack Sikma (8) | ' (7) | The Forum<br>11,149 | 20–7 |- | 28 | December 17 | @ Cleveland | | ' (17) | Jack Sikma (21) | Fred Brown (7) | Richfield Coliseum<br>8,209 | 20–8 |- | 29 | December 19 | @ Milwaukee | | Lars Hansen (19) | ' (8) | Paul Silas (6) | MECCA Arena<br>10,938 | 20–9 |- | 30 | December 20 | @ Kansas City | | Wally Walker (17) | Jack Sikma (11) | ' (4) | Kemper Arena<br>8,552 | 20–10 |- | 31 | December 22 | Philadelphia | | Jack Sikma (21) | Jack Sikma (16) | Dennis Johnson (7) | Kingdome<br>20,133 | 20–11 |- | 32 | December 25 | San Diego | | Dennis Johnson (28) | Jack Sikma (14) | Jack Sikma (6) | Kingdome<br>11,910 | 20–12 |- | 33 | December 27 | New Orleans | | Fred Brown (27) | Jack Sikma (11) | Dennis Johnson (8) | Kingdome<br>17,116 | 21–12 |- | 34 | December 29 | Phoenix | | Dennis Johnson (26) | Jack Sikma (12) | ' (7) | Kingdome<br>20,565 | 22–12

|- | 35 | January 1 | Golden State | | ' (17) | Jack Sikma (11) | John Johnson (6) | Kingdome<br>12,469 | 22–13 |- | 36 | January 2 | @ Portland | | Gus Williams (25) | Jack Sikma (8) | Gus Williams (5) | Memorial Coliseum<br>12,666 | 23–13 |- | 37 | January 3 | Boston | | Jack Sikma (21) | Jack Sikma (12) | ' (5) | Kingdome<br>13,398 | 24–13 |- | 38 | January 5 | Denver | | Jack Sikma (23) | Jack Sikma (23) | Fred Brown (5) | Kingdome<br>22,347 | 24–14 |- | 39 | January 10 | Indiana | | Jack Sikma (19) | Jack Sikma (15) | Dennis Johnson (7) | Kingdome<br>14,089 | 25–14 |- | 40 | January 11 | @ Phoenix | | Gus Williams (22) | John Johnson (10) | John Johnson (6) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 26–14 |- | 41 | January 14 | Los Angeles | | Dennis Johnson (27) | ' (9) | Gus Williams (6) | Kingdome<br>19,756 | 26–15 |- | 42 | January 17 | @ Indiana | | Gus Williams (26) | Jack Sikma (16) | John Johnson (6) | Market Square Arena<br>9,280 | 27–15 |- | 43 | January 20 | @ Chicago | | Dennis Johnson (29) | ' (7) | J. Johnson (6) | Chicago Stadium[<br>8,945 | 28–15 |- | 44 | January 23 | @ Washington | | Gus Williams (24) | Jack Sikma (8) | John Johnson (4) | Capital Centre<br>15,232 | 29–15 |- | 45 | January 25 | @ Atlanta | | Gus Williams (28) | Jack Sikma (15) | Dennis Johnson (10) | The Omni<br>4,576 | 30–15 |- | 46 | January 26 | @ San Antonio | | ' (21) | Jack Sikma (18) | ' (5) | HemisFair Arena<br>13,659 | 30–16 |- | 47 | January 27 | @ Houston | | Gus Williams (26) | ' (10) | Fred Brown (10) | The Summit<br>15,153 | 31–16 |- | 48 | January 31 | Portland | | Gus Williams (23) | Jack Sikma (15) | Jack Sikma (5) | Kingdome<br>19,540 | 32–16

|- | 49 | February 1 | New Jersey | | Jack Sikma (30) | ' (10) | Fred Brown (6) | Kingdome<br>17,332 | 33–16 |- | 50 | February 2 | Milwaukee | | Jack Sikma (22) | Jack Sikma (17) | Gus Williams (6) | Kingdome<br>24,332 | 34–16 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Game |- | 51 | February 6 | @ New York | | Gus Williams (26) | Jack Sikma (10) | Gus Williams (8) | Madison Square Garden<br>12,952 | 34–17 |- | 52 | February 7 | @ Boston | | GUs Williams (28) | Jack Sikma (12) | Gus Williams (5) | Boston Garden<br>6,902 | 34–18 |- | 53 | February 9 | @ Milwaukee | | Gus Williams (26) | Jack Sikma (9) | ' (6) | MECCA Arena<br>10,938 | 34–19 |- | 54 | February 10 | @ Houston | | Jack Sikma (27) | Jack Sikma (12) | Gus Williams (8) | The Summit<br>15,676 | 34–20 |- | 55 | February 14 | Atlanta | | ' (22) | ' (9) | Gus Williams (7) | Kingdome<br>15,223 | 35–20 |- | 56 | February 16 | Phoenix | | Dennis Johnson (30) | Jack Sikma (15) | Fred Brown (7) | Kingdome<br>23,103 | 36–20 |- | 57 | February 18 | Washington | | Gus Williams (22) | Paul Silas (16) | ' (5) | Kingdome<br>21,935 | 36–21 |- | 58 | February 20 | @ San Antonio | | Jack Sikma (20) | Jack Sikma (11) | ' (4) | HemisFair Arena<br>11,765 | 36–22 |- | 59 | February 21 | @ New Orleans | | Gus Williams (20) | Jack Sikma (19) | Fred Brown (6) | Louisiana Superdome<br>6,327 | 37–22 |- | 60 | February 23 | @ Washington | | Paul Silas (16) | Jack Sikma (11) | ' (3) | Capital Centre<br>19,035 | 37–23 |- | 61 | February 25 | @ Kansas City | | Gus Williams (33) | Paul Silas (12) | Gus Williams (6) | Kemper Arena<br>14,059 | 37–24 |- | 62 | February 27 | @ Denver | | ' (20) | ' (9) | D. Johnson (7) | McNichols Sports Arena<br>14,182 | 37–25 |- | 63 | February 28 | Philadelphia | | Gus Williams (28) | Jack Sikma (13) | John Johnson (6) | Kingdome<br>18,900 | 38–25

|- | 64 | March 2 | Cleveland | | Gus Williams (31) | Jack Sikma (22) | Jack Sikma (5) | Kingdome<br>21,337 | 38–26 |- | 65 | March 4 | Houston | | Lonnie Shelton (28) | Jack Sikma (11) | John Johnson (9) | Kingdome<br>21,219 | 39–26 |- | 66 | March 7 | @ Detroit | | Fred Brown (27) | Jack Sikma (19) | Gus Williams (7) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>7,069 | 40–26 |- | 67 | March 9 | @ New Jersey | | Gus Williams (38) | Jack Sikma (16) | Gus Williams (6) | Rutgers Athletic Center<br>6,235 | 41–26 |- | 68 | March 11 | @ Atlanta | | Gus Williams (32) | Jack Sikma (18) | Gus Williams (8) | The Omni<br>10,533 | 41–27 |- | 69 | March 14 | @ Philadelphia | | Gus Williams (23) | Jack Sikma (13) | ' (6) | The Spectrum<br>11,645 | 42–27 |- | 70 | March 15 | @ Cleveland | | Lonnie Shelton (28) | Jack Sikma (16) | John Johnson (7) | Richfield Coliseum<br>7,122 | 43–27 |- | 71 | March 17 | @ Chicago | | Gus Williams (27) | Paul Silas (9) | John Johnson (8) | Chicago Stadium<br>8,974 | 44–27 |- | 72 | March 22 | Boston | | Jack Sikma (24) | Jack Sikma (15) | John Johnson (8) | Kingdome<br>21,549 | 45–27 |- | 73 | March 25 | Kansas City | | Gus Williams (38) | ' (10) | John Williams (8) | Kingdome<br>21,497 | 46–27 |- | 74 | March 27 | San Diego | | Gus Williams (30) | Lonnie Shelton (12) | John Johnson (13) | Kingdome<br>20,087 | 47–27 |- | 75 | March 28 | New York | | Dennis Johnson (25) | Jack Sikma (9) | John Johnson (8) | Kingdome<br>20,075 | 48–27 |- | 76 | March 30 | @ Phoenix | | Fred Brown (20) | Lonnie Shelton (8) | John Johnson (6) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 48–28 |- | 77 | March 31 | Detroit | | ' (18) | Jack Sikma (14) | ' (6) | Kingdome<br>21,639 | 49–28

|- | 78 | April 1 | Golden State | | Dennis Johnson (24) | Jack Sikma (11) | ' (7) | Kingdome<br>24,802 | 50–28 |- | 79 | April 3 | @ Portland | | Gus Williams (28) | Jack Sikma (12) | Gus Williams (8) | Memorial Coliseum<br>12,666 | 50–29 |- | 80 | April 4 | @ San Diego | | Gus Williams (26) | Jack Sikma (20) | John Johnson (5) | San Diego Sports Arena<br>10,874 | 51–29 |- | 81 | April 6 | @ Los Angeles | | Gus Williams (31) | Jack Sikma (12) | Gus Williams (10) | The Forum<br>14,343 | 52–29 |- | 82 | April 8 | @ Golden State | | ' (16) | Jack Sikma (7) | Gus Williams (5) | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena<br>8,972 | 52–30

|- | 1 | April 17 | Los Angeles | | Dennis Johnson (26) | Lonnie Shelton (12) | John Johnson (9) | Kingdome<br>26,377 | 1–0 |- | 2 | April 18 | Los Angeles | | Gus Williams (38) | Jack Sikma (10) | Jack Sikma (8) | Kingdome<br>26,862 | 2–0 |- | 3 | April 20 | @ Los Angeles | | Gus Williams (29) | Paul Silas (13) | Paul Silas (4) | The Forum<br>17,505 | 2–1 |- | 4 | April 22 | @ Los Angeles | | Gus Williams (30) | ' (11) | Dennis Johnson (7) | The Forum<br>17,505 | 3–1 |- | 5 | April 25 | Los Angeles | | Gus Williams (30) | Jack Sikma (10) | Jack Sikma (6) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 4–1

|- | 1 | May 1 | Phoenix | | Gus Williams (27) | Jack Sikma (10) | John Johnson (9) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 1–0 |- | 2 | May 4 | Phoenix | | John Johnson (21) | Lonnie Shelton (15) | Gus Williams (6) | Kingdome<br>31,964 | 2–0 |- | 3 | May 6 | @ Phoenix | | Gus Williams (22) | ' (9) | Gus Williams (6) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 2–1 |- | 4 | May 8 | @ Phoenix | | Gus Williams (22) | Lonnie Shelton (10) | ' (3) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 2–2 |- | 5 | May 11 | Phoenix | | Dennis Johnson (24) | Jack Sikma (12) | John Johnson (5) | Kingdome<br>28,935 | 2–3 |- | 6 | May 13 | @ Phoenix | | Dennis Johnson (23) | Jack Sikma (10) | Dennis Johnson (6) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 3–3 |- | 7 | May 17 | Phoenix | | Jack Sikma (33) | Jack Sikma (11) | Fred Brown (5) | Kingdome<br>37,552 | 4–3

|- | 1 | May 20 | @ Washington | | Gus Williams (32) | John Johnson (11) | Dennis Johnson (7) | Capital Centre<br>19,035 | 0–1 |- | 2 | May 24 | @ Washington | | Gus Williams (23) | Jack Sikma (13) | ' (6) | Capital Centre<br>19,035 | 1–1 |- | 3 | May 27 | Washington | | Gus Williams (31) | Jack Sikma (17) | Dennis Johnson (9) | Kingdome<br>35,928 | 2–1 |- | 4 | May 29 | Washington | | Gus Williams (36) | Jack Sikma (17) | John Johnson (13) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 3–1 |- | 5 | June 1 | @ Washington | | Gus Williams (23) | Jack Sikma (17) | John Johnson (6) | Capital Centre<br>19,035 | 4–1