1977–78 Seattle SuperSonics season

1977–78 Seattle SuperSonics season
Conference Champions
Head coach	Bob Hopkins, Lenny Wilkens
General manager	Zollie Volchok
Owner(s)	Sam Schulman
Arena	Seattle Center Coliseum
Results
Record	47–35 (.573)
Place	Division: 3rd (Pacific) Conference: 4th (Western)
Playoff finish	NBA Finals (lost 3–4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	KIRO-TV
Radio	KOMO–AM

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. After upsetting the defending champions Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Semifinals, the Sonics made their first trip to the NBA Finals, where they fell to the Washington Bullets in 7 games.

Draft picks

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	8	Jack Sikma	Forward/Center	United States	Illinois Wesleyan
3	52	Joe Hassett	Guard	United States	Providence
4	74	Jim Cooper		United States	Alabama
5	96	Dale Haberman		United States	McKendree
6	118	Bucky O'Brien		United States	Seattle
7	138	Billy Reynolds		United States	Northwestern State
8	158	Jeff Frey		United States	Evansville

Roster

Seattle SuperSonics roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. DOB From G 32 Brown, Fred 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 182 lb (83 kg) 1948–08–07 Iowa F 30 Fleming, Al 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1954–04–05 Arizona G 10 Hassett, Joe 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1955–09–11 Providence G 24 Johnson, Dennis 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1954–09–18 Pepperdine F 27 Johnson, John 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1947–10–18 Iowa F 45 Seals, Bruce 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1953–06–18 Xavier (Louisiana) F/C 43 Sikma, Jack 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1955–11–14 Illinois Wesleyan F/C 35 Silas, Paul 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1943–07–12 Creighton F 42 Walker, Wally 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1954–07–18 Dayton C 40 Webster, Marvin 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1952–04–13 Morgan State G 1 Williams, Gus 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1953–10–10 South Carolina	Head coach Lenny Wilkens (Providence) Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Depth chart

Pos.	Starter	Bench	Reserve	Inactive
C	Marvin Webster	Paul Silas
PF	Jack Sikma	Bruce Seals	Al Fleming
SF	John Johnson	Wally Walker
SG	Dennis Johnson		Joe Hassett
PG	Gus Williams	Fred Brown

Regular season

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-Seattle SuperSonics	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-Seattle SuperSonics	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
10	Kansas City Kings	31	51	.378	27

Game log

1977–78 game log Total: 47–35 (Home: 31–10; Road: 16–25)
October : 1–6 (Home: 1–2; Road: 0–4) Game Date Time 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 Time 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 Capital Centre 5,593 4–11 16 November 16 @ Philadelphia L 96–101 Marvin Webster, Slick Watts 17 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 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 Time 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 Seattle Center Coliseum 13,563 14–18 33 December 20 Denver W 93–88 Dennis Johnson, Fred Brown 18 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 Time 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 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 Time Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 50 February 8 Washington L 100–106 Gus Williams 21 Seattle Center Coliseum 12,126 27–23 51 February 10 Denver W 126–123 (OT) Marvin Webster 26 Seattle Center Coliseum 13,795 28–23 52 February 12 @ Philadelphia L 99–109 Gus Williams 28 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 [[Louis Fred Brown Athletic Center|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 [[Louis Fred Brown Athletic Center|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 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 Time 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 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 McNichols Sports Arena 17,270 43–34
April : 4–1 (Home: 4–0; Road: 0–1) Game Date Time 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

West First Round

(4) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (5) Los Angeles Lakers: Sonics win series 2-1

• Game 1 @ Seattle: Seattle 102, Los Angeles 90
• Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 105, Seattle 99
• Game 3 @ Seattle: Seattle 111, Los Angeles 102

West Conference Semifinals

(1) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (4) Seattle SuperSonics: Sonics win series 4-2

• Game 1 @ Portland: Seattle 104, Portland 95
• Game 2 @ Portland: Portland 96, Seattle 93
• Game 3 @ Seattle: Seattle 99, Portland 84
• Game 4 @ Seattle: Seattle 100, Portland 98
• Game 5 @ Portland: Portland 113, Seattle 89
• Game 6 @ Seattle: Seattle 105, Portland 94

West Conference Finals

(2) Denver Nuggets vs. (4) Seattle SuperSonics: Sonics win series 4-2

• Game 1 @ Denver: Denver 116, Seattle 107
• Game 2 @ Denver: Seattle 121, Denver 111
• Game 3 @ Seattle: Seattle 105, Denver 91
• Game 4 @ Seattle: Seattle 100, Denver 94
• Game 5 @ Denver: Denver 123, Seattle 114
• Game 6 @ Seattle: Seattle 123, Denver 108

NBA Finals

(3) Washington Bullets vs. (4) Seattle SuperSonics: Bullets win series 4-3

• Game 1 @ Seattle: Seattle 106, Washington 102
• Game 2 @ Washington: Washington 106, Seattle 98
• Game 3 @ Washington: Seattle 93, Washington 92
• Game 4 @ Seattle: Washington 120, Seattle 116 (OT)
• Game 5 @ Seattle: Seattle 98, Washington 94
• Game 6 @ Washington: Washington 117, Seattle 82
• Game 7 @ Seattle: Washington 105, Seattle 99

Player statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Fred Brown
Al Fleming
Mike Green
Joe Hassett
Dennis Johnson
John Johnson
Bruce Seals
Jack Sikma
Paul Silas
Dean Tolson
Wally Walker
Slick Watts
Marvin Webster
Gus Williams
Willie Wise

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Fred Brown
Al Fleming
Joe Hassett
Dennis Johnson
John Johnson
Bruce Seals
Jack Sikma
Paul Silas
Wally Walker
Marvin Webster
Gus Williams

Awards and honors

• All-Rookie First Team: Jack Sikma

References

• SuperSonics on Basketball Reference