1987–88 Seattle SuperSonics season

The 1987–88 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 21st season for the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association. The SuperSonics received the fifth overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft, and selected small forward Scottie Pippen from the University of Central Arkansas, but soon traded him to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for rookie center, and top draft pick Olden Polynice from the University of Virginia; the SuperSonics also had the ninth overall pick, and selected small forward Derrick McKey from the University of Alabama. During the off-season, the team acquired Sam Vincent from the Boston Celtics.

With the addition of McKey, the SuperSonics lost three of their first four games of the regular season, but later on posted a six-game winning streak in January, and held a 25–20 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, the team traded Vincent to the Bulls in exchange for Sedale Threatt. Despite losing 9 of their 13 games in February, the SuperSonics finished in third place in the Pacific Division with a 44–38 record, and earned the seventh seed in the Western Conference; it was head coach Bernie Bickerstaff's first season with a record above .500 in winning percentage.

Dale Ellis led the SuperSonics in scoring averaging 25.8 points per game, and also led them with 107 three-point field goals, while Xavier McDaniel averaged 21.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, and Tom Chambers provided the team with 20.4 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. In addition, second-year guard Nate McMillan contributed 7.6 points, 8.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game, and Alton Lister provided with 5.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. Off the bench, McKey averaged 8.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team, while Kevin Williams contributed 6.3 points per game, Russ Schoene provided with 6.0 points per game, Polynice averaged 4.1 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, and Danny Young contributed 3.2 points and 2.8 assists per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois, McDaniel was selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team; it was his first and only All-Star appearance. Meanwhile, Ellis participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout for the third consecutive year. McMillan finished tied in eighth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

In the Western Conference First Round of the 1988 NBA playoffs, the SuperSonics faced off against the 2nd–seeded, and Midwest Division champion Denver Nuggets, who were led by the trio of All-Star forward Alex English, All-Star guard Fat Lever, and sixth man Jay Vincent. The Nuggets took a 2–1 series lead, but the SuperSonics managed to win Game 4 at home, 127–117 at the Seattle Center Coliseum to even the series. However, the SuperSonics lost Game 5 to the Nuggets on the road, 115–96 at the McNichols Sports Arena, thus losing in a hard-fought five-game series.

The SuperSonics finished 16th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 475,983 at the Seattle Center Coliseum during the regular season. Following the season, Chambers signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns, while Williams was left unprotected in the 1988 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Miami Heat expansion team, and Young signed with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Offseason

Draft picks

Seattle selected future hall of famer Scottie Pippen in the first round thanks to a pick acquired from the New York Knicks, but traded him on draft day to the Chicago Bulls for Olden Polynice and two future conditional draft picks.

Roster

1987–88 Salaries

Sources:

• Basketball Reference: SEA Salaries

Regular season

Season standings

Game log

|- | 1 | November 6 | @ L. A. Lakers | L 109–113 | Tom Chambers (20) | Xavier McDaniel (9) | Nate McMillan (12) | The Forum<br>17,505 | 0–1 |- | 2 | November 7 | Phoenix | W 112–96 | Dale Ellis (27) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,252 | 1–1 |- | 3 | November 10 | Dallas | L 101–117 | Dale Ellis (28) | Alton Lister (8) | Sam Vincent (6) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>10,447 | 1–2 |- | 4 | November 12 | vs San Antonio | L 118–123 | Xavier McDaniel (23) | | | HemisFair Arena<br>6,399 | 1–3 |- | 5 | November 13 | @ Dallas | W 103–95 | Dale Ellis (22) | Alton Lister (8) | Nate McMillan (11) | Reunion Arena<br>17,007 | 2–3 |- | 6 | November 15 | vs Houston | L 106–108 | Dale Ellis (34) | | | The Summit<br>16,611 | 2–4 |- | 7 | November 18 | Portland | W 120–114 | Xavier McDaniel (32) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>8,461 | 3–4 |- | 8 | November 20 | Milwaukee | W 99–97 | Xavier McDaniel (30) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,601 | 4–4 |- | 9 | November 21 | Washington | W 124–103 | Xavier McDaniel (28) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>13,437 | 5–4 |- | 10 | November 24 | L. A. Lakers | W 103–85 | Xavier McDaniel (34) | Alton Lister (13) | Nate McMillan (10) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,634 | 6–4 |- | 11 | November 27 | @ Boston | L 112–117 | Dale Ellis (37) | Dale Ellis (9) | Nate McMillan (10) | Boston Garden<br>14,890 | 6–5 |- | 12 | November 28 | vs Indiana | L 115–131 | Dale Ellis (29) | | | Market Square Arena<br>11,538 | 6–6 |-

|- | 13 | December 1 | vs New York | W 112–109 | Dale Ellis (37) | | | Madison Square Garden<br>11,424 | 7–6 |- | 14 | December 2 | vs Cleveland | L 102–104 | Dale Ellis (25) | | | Coliseum at Richfield<br>6,207 | 7–7 |- | 15 | December 4 | vs Philadelphia | L 105–118 | Tom Chambers (24) | | | The Spectrum<br>13,115 | 7–8 |- | 16 | December 5 | vs Washington | W 115–99 | Xavier McDaniel (26) | | | Capital Centre<br>11,604 | 8–8 |- | 17 | December 8 | Cleveland | W 107–96 | Dale Ellis<br>Xavier McDaniel<br>(25) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>8,520 | 9–8 |- | 18 | December 10 | vs L. A. Clippers | L 96–113 | Dale Ellis (20) | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena<br>5,852 | 9–9 |- | 19 | December 12 | L. A. Clippers | W 116–95 | Xavier McDaniel (35) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>10,623 | 10–9 |- | 20 | December 14 | @ Utah | L 95–116 | Dale Ellis (29) | | | Salt Palace<br>12,212 | 10–10 |- | 21 | December 15 | vs Portland | L 109–128 | Xavier McDaniel (22) | | | Memorial Coliseum<br>12,666 | 10–11 |- | 22 | December 17 | Sacramento | W 114–109 | Tom Chambers (42) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>10,238 | 11–11 |- | 23 | December 19 | vs Golden State | W 129–102 | Xavier McDaniel (32) | | | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena<br>12,998 | 12–11 |- | 24 | December 20 | @ L. A. Lakers | L 94–103 | Dale Ellis (24) | Xavier McDaniel (11) | Xavier McDaniel (7) | The Forum<br>17,505 | 12–12 |- | 25 | December 23 | vs Phoenix | W 103–102 | Dale Ellis (35) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>10,351 | 13–12 |- | 26 | December 26 | @ Denver | L 111–115 | Xavier McDaniel (26) | | | McNichols Sports Arena<br>12,403 | 13–13 |- | 27 | December 28 | Denver | W 108–100 | Xavier McDaniel (30) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>13,007 | 14–13 |- | 28 | December 30 | Boston | W 111–105 | Tom Chambers (31) | Alton Lister (12) | Sam Vincent (9) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,850 | 15–13 |-

|- | 29 | January 2 | Philadelphia || W 116–114 | Xavier McDaniel (35) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,250 | 16–13 |- | 30 | January 5 | vs Portland | L 114–126 | Dale Ellis (32) | | | Memorial Coliseum<br>12,666 | 16–14 |- | 31 | January 6 | Houston | W 110–95 | Tom Chambers (46) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>11,289 | 17–14 |- | 32 | January 9 | San Antonio | W 141–133 | Dale Ellis (47) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>11,565 | 18–14 |- | 33 | January 10 | vs Sacramento | L 108–109 | Dale Ellis (30) | | | ARCO Arena (I)<br>10,333 | 18–15 |- | 34 | January 13 | Golden State | W 144–115 | Xavier McDaniel (30) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>7,909 | 19–15 |- | 35 | January 15 | Utah | W 124–105 | Dale Ellis (39) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>10,418 | 20–15 |-

| 36 | January 16 | vs L. A. Clippers | W 114–112 (OT) | Dale Ellis (41) | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena<br>8,697 | 21–15 |- | 37 | January 18 | Indiana | W 115–105 | Dale Ellis (29) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>10,151 | 22–15 |- | 38 | January 20 | New York | W 108–96 | Xavier McDaniel (41) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>11,767 | 23–15 |- | 39 | January 22 | Detroit | W 109–106 | Dale Ellis (47) | Alton Lister (13) | Nate McMillan (14) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,737 | 24–15 |- | 40 | January 24 | L. A. Lakers | L 109–116 | Xavier McDaniel (35) | Tom Chambers (10) | Nate McMillan (11) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,739 | 24–16 |- | 41 | January 26 | vs Sacramento | W 116–100 | Dale Ellis (42) | | | ARCO Arena (I)<br>10,333 | 25–16 |- | 42 | January 29 | @ Dallas | L 109–117 | Dale Ellis (35) | Alton Lister (9) | Nate McMillan (10) | Reunion Arena<br>17,007 | 25–17 |- | 43 | January 30 | vs San Antonio | L 102–112 (OT) | Xavier McDaniel<br>Tom Chambers<br>(27) | | | HemisFair Arena<br>8,319 | 25–18 |-

|- | 44 | February 1 | @ Utah | L 100–105 | Dale Ellis (40) | | | Salt Palace<br>12,212 | 25–19 |- | 45 | February 4 | Atlanta | L 109–119 | Dale Ellis (36) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,611 | 25–20 |- | 46 | February 9 | vs Portland | L 123–139 | Tom Chambers (21) | | | Memorial Coliseum<br>12,666 | 25–21 |- | 47 | February 11 | Houston | W 120–115 | Tom Chambers (36) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>13,038 | 26–21 |- | 48 | February 13 | vs Golden State | W 109–95 | Dale Ellis (28) | | | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena<br>13,502 | 26–22 |- | 49 | February 15 | Dallas | L 122–128 (OT) | Tom Chambers (29) | Xavier McDaniel (7) | Sam Vincent (12) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>13,492 | 26–23 |- | 50 | February 17 | vs Milwaukee | L 93–115 | Dale Ellis (26) | | | MECCA Arena<br>11,052 | 26–24 |- | 51 | February 18 | @ Detroit | L 95–108 | Tom Chambers (24) | Olden Polynice (6) | Nate McMillan (9) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>24,482 | 26–25 |- | 52 | February 20 | vs New Jersey | W 113–101 | Dale Ellis (30) | | | Brendan Byrne Arena<br>11,137 | 27–25 |- | 53 | February 21 | @ Atlanta | L 113–129 | Dale Ellis (31) | | | The Omni<br>15,437 | 27–26 |- | 54 | February 23 | @ Chicago | L 97–104 (OT) | Dale Ellis (34) | | | Chicago Stadium<br>17,648 | 27–27 |- | 55 | February 26 | Sacramento | W 133–130 | Dale Ellis (37) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>11,632 | 28–27 |- | 56 | February 27 | Golden State | W 114–111 | Dale Ellis (30) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>10,752 | 29–27

|- | 57 | March 1 | L. A. Lakers | W 114–100 | Dale Ellis (26) | Xavier McDaniel (12) | Nate McMillan (17) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,850 | 30–27 |- | 58 | March 4 | Utah | L 110–125 | Tom Chambers (29) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>11,268 | 30–28 |- | 59 | March 5 | Denver | L 102–115 | Dale Ellis (27) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>13,287 | 30–29 |- | 60 | March 8 | vs Golden State | W 121–116 (OT) | Dale Ellis (29) | | | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena<br>11,178 | 31–29 |- | 61 | March 9 | vs Sacramento | W 106–97 | Dale Ellis (24) | | | ARCO Arena (I)<br>10,333 | 32–29 |- | 62 | March 13 | New Jersey | W 115–102 | Tom Chambers (25) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>9,040 | 33–29 |- | 63 | March 15 | vs Phoenix | L 90–111 | Dale Ellis (38) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>11,159 | 33–30 |- | 64 | March 17 | vs Houston | L 106–115 | Tom Chambers (24) | | | The Summit<br>16,611 | 33–31 |- | 65 | March 18 | vs San Antonio | W 118–110 (OT) || Xavier McDaniel (31) | | | HemisFair Arena<br>7,353 | 34–31 |- | 66 | March 20 | @ Denver | L 95–108 | Dale Ellis (23) | | | McNichols Sports Arena<br>13,117 | 34–32 |- | 67 | March 23 | Portland | W 118–108 | Dale Ellis (35) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,250 | 35–32 |- | 68 | March 26 | L. A. Clippers | W 131–98 | Dale Ellis (27) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>11,650 | 36–32 |- | 69 | March 29 | Chicago | W 106–103 | Chambers (34) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,850 | 37–32 |- | 70 | March 31 | San Antonio | L 115–117 | Dale Ellis<br>Tom Chambers<br>(27) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>9,210 | 37–33

|- | 71 | April 2 | Phoenix | W 151–107 | Xavier McDaniel (26) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>9,790 | 38–33 |- | 72 | April 5 | @ L. A. Lakers | L 90–94 | Tom Chambers (21) | Alton Lister (14) | Xavier McDaniel,<br>Nate McMillan (4) | The Forum<br>17,505 | 38–34 |- | 73 | April 6 | Golden State | 102–114 | Derrick McKey (18) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>9,520 | 39–34 |- | 74 | April 8 | Portland | W 114–100 | Xavier McDaniel (34) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,438 | 40–34 |- | 75 | April 9 | Houston | L 104–108 | Xavier McDaniel (27) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>13,584 | 40–35 |- | 76 | April 13 | L. A. Clippers | W 113–92 | Xavier McDaniel (23) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>Not announced | 41–35 |- | 77 | April 15 | Dallas | W 115–88 | Alton Lister (19) | Alton Lister,<br>Xavier McDaniel (7) | Nate McMillan (8) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>12,576 | 42–35 |- | 78 | April 16 | vs Phoenix | L 119–121 (OT) | Sedale Threatt (31) | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>11,406 | 42–36 |- | 79 | April 19 | @ Denver | L 114–134 | Tom Chambers (29) | | | McNichols Sports Arena<br>14,478 | 42–37 |- | 80 | April 20 | Phoenix | W 121–98 | Dale Ellis (24) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>Not announced | 43–37 |- | 81 | April 22 | Utah | L 109–110 | Dale Ellis (20) | | | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,250 | 43–38 |- | 82 | April 24 | @ L.A. Clippers | W 109–100 | Russ Schoene<br>Tom Chambers<br>(20) | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena<br>Not announced | 44–38

Playoffs

|- | 1 | April 29 | @ Denver | L 123–126 | Tom Chambers (29) | Xavier McDaniel (10) | Xavier McDaniel,<br>Nate McMillan (8) | McNichols Sports Arena<br>17,022 | 0–1 |- | 2 | May 1 | @ Denver | W 111–91 | Dale Ellis (24) | Xavier McDaniel (17) | Nate McMillan (6) | McNichols Sports Arena<br>17,022 | 1–1 |- | 3 | May 3 | Denver | L 114–125 | Tom Chambers (34) | Xavier McDaniel (12) | Nate McMillan (9) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,250 | 1–2 |- | 4 | May 5 | Denver | W 127–117 | Xavier McDaniel (27) | Derrick McKey (7) | Danny Young (8) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,250 | 2–2 |- | 5 | May 7 | @ Denver | L 96–115 | Tom Chambers (23) | Alton Lister (8) | Xavier McDaniel (5) | McNichols Sports Arena<br>16,040 | 2–3

Statistics

Season

1. Statistics with the SuperSonics.

Playoffs

Awards and records

Awards

• Derrick McKey earned an NBA All-Rookie First Team selection.
• Xavier McDaniel was selected to participate in the 1988 NBA All-Star Game.

Records

Transactions

Overview

Trades

Free agents

Additions

Subtractions

2. Received a conditional 1990 second round pick as compensation.

3. Suspended on December 6, 1987 due to failed mandatory drug counseling; later retired altogether.

See also

• 1987–88 NBA season

References