1974–75 Seattle SuperSonics season

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1974–75 Seattle SuperSonics season
Head coachBill Russell
General managerBill Russell
ArenaSeattle Center Coliseum
Results
Record43–39 (.524)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Pacific)
Conference: 4th (Western)
Playoff finishWest Semifinals
(lost to Warriors 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKTNT-TV
RadioKOMO
< 1973–74 1975–76 >

The 1974–75 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 8th season of the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In their second season with Bill Russell as head coach and with rookies comprising half the roster, the SuperSonics finished the regular season in 4th place in the Western Conference with a 43–39 record and reached the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. After defeating the Detroit Pistons in three games in the first round in a best-of-three series, the team fell to the eventual NBA champions Golden State Warriors in six games.

Offseason[edit]

Head coach Bill Russell anticipated a roster overhaul during the offseason.[1] After trading Dick Snyder on draft day to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange of the Cavs' first round selection, the SuperSonics selected center Tommy Burleson with the 3rd overall pick.[2]

Draft picks[edit]

Main article: 1974 NBA draft

Note: only draft picks who participated in at least one game in the NBA are listed.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 3 Tommy Burleson Center  United States North Carolina State
2 26 Leonard Gray Forward  United States Long Beach State
3 44 Talvin Skinner Guard / forward  United States Maryland Eastern Shore
5 80 Dean Tolson Forward  United States Arkansas
5 98 Wardell Jackson Forward  United States Ohio State
10 169 Rod Derline Guard  United States Seattle

Roster[edit]

1974–75 Seattle SuperSonics roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
G/F 40 Brisker, John 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1947–06–15 Toledo
SG 32 Brown, Fred 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 182 lb (83 kg) 1948–08–07 Iowa
C 16 Burleson, Tommy 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1952–02–24 NC State
G 21 Clark, Archie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1941–07–15 Minnesota
G 25 Derline, Rod 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1952–03–11 Seattle
F/C 31 Fox, Jim 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1943–04–07 South Carolina
F 11 Gray, Leonard 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1951–12–19 Long Beach State
F/C 24 Haywood, Spencer 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1949–04–22 Detroit Mercy
F/C 42 Hummer, John 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1948–05–04 Princeton
F 30 Jackson, Wardell 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1951–07–18 Ohio State
G/F 22 Skinner, Talvin 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1952–09–10 Maryland Eastern Shore
F 20 Tolson, Dean 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1951–11–25 Arkansas
PG 13 Watts, Donald 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1951–07–22 Xavier (LA)
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season[edit]

Season standings[edit]

Pacific Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Golden State Warriors 48 34 .585 – 31–10 17–24 19–11
x-Seattle SuperSonics 43 39 .524 5 24–16 19–23 18–12
Portland Trail Blazers 38 44 .463 10 29–13 9–31 16–14
Phoenix Suns 32 50 .390 16 22–19 10–31 12–18
Los Angeles Lakers 30 52 .366 18 21–20 9–32 10–20
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Golden State Warriors 48 34 .585 –
2 y-Chicago Bulls 47 35 .573 1
3 x-Kansas City–Omaha Kings 44 38 .537 4
4 x-Seattle SuperSonics 43 39 .524 5
5 x-Detroit Pistons 40 42 .488 8
6 Portland Trail Blazers 38 44 .463 10
6 Milwaukee Bucks 38 44 .463 10
8 Phoenix Suns 32 50 .390 16
9 Los Angeles Lakers 30 52 .366 18
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents[edit]

1974–75 NBA records
Team ATL BOS BUF CHI CLE DET GSW HOU KCO LAL MIL NOJ NYK PHI PHO POR SEA WAS
Atlanta — 0–4 1–3 0–4 3–4 2–2 1–3 2–5 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–5 0–4 2–2 4–0 1–3 3–1 3–5
Boston 4–0 — 5–4 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–3 4–0 2–2 4–0 4–0 4–0 7–2 5–3 3–1 4–0 2–2 2–2
Buffalo 3–1 4–5 — 1–3 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 1–3 4–0 1–3 4–0 5–3 6–3 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2
Chicago 4–0 1–3 3–1 — 2–2 4–5 3–1 2–2 4–5 3–1 3–5 4–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 4–0 1–3
Cleveland 4–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 — 2–2 2–2 4–4 2–2 2–2 1–3 6–1 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–5
Detroit 2–2 1–3 2–2 5–4 2–2 — 1–3 2–2 2–6 3–1 3–6 4–0 2–2 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 1–3
Golden State 3–1 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 3–1 — 2–2 2–2 5–2 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 5–3 5–3 4–3 1–3
Houston 5–2 0–4 2–2 2–2 4–4 2–2 2–2 — 4–0 2–2 3–1 5–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–5
Kansas City-Omaha 2–2 2–2 3–1 5–4 2–2 6–2 2–2 0–4 — 3–1 6–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 1–3 1–3
Los Angeles 2–2 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–5 2–2 1–3 — 4–0 3–1 0–4 3–1 4–4 2–5 2–6 1–3
Milwaukee 2–2 0–4 3–1 5–3 3–1 6–3 1–3 1–3 3–6 0–4 — 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4
New Orleans 5–3 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–6 0–4 2–2 3–5 2–2 1–3 1–3 — 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–7
New York 4–0 2–7 3–5 1–3 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 4–0 1–3 2–2 — 4–5 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3
Philadelphia 2–2 3–5 3–6 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 5–4 — 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3
Phoenix 0–4 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–5 2–2 1–3 4–4 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 — 1–6 4–3 1–3
Portland 3–1 0–4 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–5 2–2 1–3 5–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 6–1 — 2–6 1–3
Seattle 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 2–2 3–4 3–1 3–1 6–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–4 6–2 — 1–3
Washington 5–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 5–3 3–1 3–1 5–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 7–0 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 —

Game log[edit]

1974–75 game log
Total: 43–39 (home: 24–16; road: 19–23; Neutral: 1–0)
October: 6–2 (home: 4–0; road: 2–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 October 17 @ Phoenix L 97–114 Archie Clark (27) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,215		 0–1
2 October 18 Detroit L 95–100 Spencer Haywood (23) Seattle Center Coliseum
9,537		 0–2
3 October 20 Cleveland W 100–93 Fred Brown (31) Seattle Center Coliseum
10,241		 1–2
4 October 23 Portland W 107–97 Archie Clark (19) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,283		 2–2
5 October 25 Phoenix W 106–97 Spencer Haywood (27) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,191		 3–2
6 October 27 @ Portland L 94–120 Fred Brown (32) Memorial Coliseum
10,870		 3–3
7 October 30 Los Angeles W 117–97 Spencer Haywood (40) Seattle Center Coliseum
8,938		 4–3
November : 7–10 (home: 3–3; road: 4–7)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
8 November 1 Golden State L 88–99 Spencer Haywood (28) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,777		 4–4
9 November 3 Milwaukee W 101–89 Fred Brown (28) Seattle Center Coliseum
11,839		 5–4
10 November 7 @ Golden State W 104–93 Fred Brown (31) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
5,391		 6–4
11 November 10 Philadelphia W 109–95 Spencer Haywood (27) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,825		 7–4
12 November 13 Los Angeles W 108–103 Spencer Haywood (24) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,004		 8–4
13 November 15 @ Detroit L 103–117 Archie Clark (25) Cobo Arena
6,789		 8–5
14 November 16 @ New York L 94–104 Spencer Haywood (34) Madison Square Garden
18,932		 8–6
15 November 19 @ Atlanta L 113–122 Spencer Haywood (31) Omni Coliseum
3,769		 8–7
16 November 20 @ New Orleans W 99–95 Three players (18) Municipal Auditorium
4,318		 9–7
17 November 22 Chicago L 89–93 Spencer Haywood (32) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,082		 9–8
18 November 23 @ Portland W 117–110 Fred Brown (40) Memorial Coliseum
11,825		 10–8
19 November 24 Houston L 109–124 Spencer Haywood (30) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,082		 10–9
20 November 26 @ Cleveland L 94–102 Spencer Haywood (29) Coliseum at Richfield
4,537		 10–10
21 November 27 @ Boston L 99–104 Fred Brown (29) Boston Garden
10,543		 10–11
22 November 29 @ Philadelphia W 121–119 (OT) Fred Brown (40) The Spectrum
8,660		 11–11
23 November 30 @ Washington L 90–122 Archie Clark (23) Capital Centre
8,865		 11–12
December : 5–7 (home: 2–4; road: 3–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
24 December 2 @ Kansas City-Omaha W 110–106 Spencer Haywood (26) Omaha Civic Auditorium
4,721		 12–12
25 December 4 @ Milwaukee W 112–103 Spencer Haywood (37) MECCA Arena
10,497		 13–12
26 December 6 New Orleans W 121–108 james (22) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,082		 14–12
27 December 7 @ Golden State L 96–132 Spencer Haywood (20) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
12,608		 14–13
28 December 8 Atlanta L 95–102 Spencer Haywood (18) Seattle Center Coliseum
11,575		 14–14
29 December 11 Cleveland L 95–97 Archie Clark (22) Seattle Center Coliseum
10,033		 14–15
30 December 13 @ Los Angeles L 93–109 Fred Brown (16) The Forum
10,296		 14–16
31 December 17 @ Chicago L 84–87 Fred Brown (23) Chicago Stadium
5,591		 14–17
32 December 18 @ Detroit W 100–97 Fred Brown (34) Cobo Arena
4,365		 15–17
33 December 22 Detroit W 108–90 Rowe (22) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,346		 16–17
34 December 27 Kansas City-Omaha L 98–108 Fred Brown (37) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,260		 16–18
35 December 29 Boston L 101–121 Spencer Haywood (30) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,082		 16–19
January : 7–7 (home: 3–3; road: 4–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
36 January 1 Washington W 123–118 (OT) Spencer Haywood (32) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,363		 17–19
37 January 3 @ Portland W 98–93 Fred Brown (32) Memorial Coliseum
10,695		 18–19
38 January 4 New Orleans W 111–89 Spencer Haywood (20) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,474		 19–19
39 January 8 New York L 102–113 Spencer Haywood (38) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,203		 19–20
40 January 10 Golden State L 94–119 Fred Brown (27) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,055		 19–21
41 January 12 Chicago L 123–127 (2OT) Fred Brown, Spencer Haywood (24) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,082		 19–22
42 January 16 @ Houston W 127–125 (OT) Fred Brown (36) Hofheinz Pavilion
2,274		 20–22
43 January 17 @ New Orleans L 109–113 Jim Fox (28) Municipal Auditorium
3,120		 20–23
44 January 19 @ Atlanta L 109–117 Fred Brown (22) Omni Coliseum
5,651		 20–24
45 January 21 @ Buffalo L 108–118 jackson (18) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
10,271		 20–25
46 January 24 @ Chicago L 81–86 Fred Brown (24) Chicago Stadium
7,107		 20–26
47 January 26 @ Cleveland W 96–93 Fred Brown, Tommy Burleson (21) Coliseum at Richfield
4,219		 21–26
48 January 29 @ Phoenix W 99–85 Fred Brown (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
4,273		 22–26
49 January 31 Portland W 106–103 John Brisker (28) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,082		 23–26
February : 7–8 (home: 4–4; road: 3–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
50 February 1 @ Portland W 93–91 Fred Brown (28) Memorial Coliseum
11,870		 24–26
51 February 2 @ Los Angeles W 119–112 Archie Clark (22) The Forum
11,586		 25–26
52 February 5 Phoenix L 102–107 Fred Brown (18) Seattle Center Coliseum
10,002		 25–27
53 February 6 @ Phoenix L 105–112 Fred Brown (36) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,865		 25–28
54 February 7 Washington L 76–99 Spencer Haywood (22) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,720		 25–29
55 February 9 Buffalo L 93–99 (OT) Spencer Haywood (29) Seattle Center Coliseum
11,082		 25–30
56 February 12 Houston W 104–103 Spencer Haywood (31) Seattle Center Coliseum
8,595		 26–30
57 February 14 @ Portland L 88–90 Spencer Haywood (23) Memorial Coliseum
11,885		 26–31
58 February 16 Los Angeles W 109–87 Spencer Haywood (24) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,053		 27–31
59 February 19 Boston W 121–95 Tommy Burleson (28) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,680		 28–31
60 February 21 Atlanta W 110–108 Spencer Haywood (39) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,082		 29–31
61 February 23 Philadelphia L 100–114 Fred Brown (25) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,871		 29–32
62 February 25 @ New York W 102–101 Spencer Haywood (37) Madison Square Garden
17,096		 30–32
63 February 26 @ Washington L 98–104 Spencer Haywood (20) Capital Centre
6,202		 30–33
64 February 28 @ Philadelphia L 111–112 Spencer Haywood (32) The Spectrum
7,682		 30–34
March : 9–5 (home: 6–1; road: 3–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
65 March 2 @ Boston W 104–97 Spencer Haywood (30) Hartford, CT
11,283		 31–34
66 March 4 @ Buffalo L 97–104 Leonard Gray (33) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
12,665		 31–35
67 March 6 @ Milwaukee L 92–102 Fred Brown (25) MECCA Arena
10,938		 31–36
68 March 8 @ Kansas City-Omaha W 103–99 Fred Brown (24) Municipal Auditorium
12,389		 32–36
69 March 11 @ Houston W 122–117 (OT) Leonard Gray (25) Hofheinz Pavilion
6,153		 33–36
70 March 14 Buffalo W 125–105 Tommy Burleson, Spencer Haywood (22) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,082		 34–36
71 March 15 @ Golden State L 84–120 Fred Brown (23) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
9,594		 34–37
72 March 16 New York W 97–94 Fred Brown (37) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,082		 35–37
73 March 19 Milwaukee W 101–100 Leonard Gray (20) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,082		 36–37
74 March 21 @ Los Angeles L 109–112 (OT) Archie Clark (29) The Forum
10,102		 36–38
75 March 23 Phoenix L 96–102 Spencer Haywood (23) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,082		 36–39
76 March 26 Los Angeles W 110–89 Archie Clark (24) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,128		 37–39
77 March 28 Golden State W 96–92 Tommy Burleson (22) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,082		 38–39
78 March 30 Portland W 98–88 Spencer Haywood (40) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,082		 39–39
April : 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
79 April 2 Kansas City-Omaha W 99–96 Spencer Haywood (25) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,628		 40–39
80 April 4 @ Los Angeles W 111–102 Tommy Burleson (25) The Forum
10,946		 41–39
81 April 5 @ Golden State W 109–108 Tommy Burleson (26) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
11,064		 42–39
82 April 6 Phoenix W 114–111 Archie Clark (31) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,082		 43–39
1974–75 season schedule

Playoffs[edit]

Main article: 1975 NBA playoffs
1975 playoff game log
First Round: 2–1 (home: 2–0; road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 8 Detroit W 90–77 Fred Brown (23) Spencer Haywood (14) Slick Watts (6) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,082 		1–0
2 April 10 @ Detroit L 106–122 Fred Brown (30) Tommy Burleson (10) Slick Watts (8) Cobo Arena
10,490 		1–1
3 April 12 Detroit W 100–93 Tommy Burleson (23) Tommy Burleson (16) Slick Watts (6) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,082 		2–1
Conference semifinals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 14 @ Golden State L 96–123 Leonard Gray (20) Leonard Gray (8) Watts, Brown (4) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
12,279 		0–1
2 April 16 @ Golden State W 100–99 Spencer Haywood (28) Spencer Haywood (15) Slick Watts (7) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
12,787 		1–1
3 April 17 Golden State L 96–105 Tommy Burleson (25) Tommy Burleson (11) Slick Watts (9) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,082 		1–2
4 April 19 Golden State W 111–94 Fred Brown (37) Tommy Burleson (15) Slick Watts (10) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,082 		2–2
5 April 22 @ Golden State L 100–124 three players tied (15) Tommy Burleson (8) Leonard Gray (5) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
12,787 		2–3
6 April 24 Golden State L 96–105 Slick Watts (24) Tommy Burleson (11) Slick Watts (11) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,082 		2–4
1975 schedule

Player statistics[edit]

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[edit]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
John Brisker 21 13.1 .426 .857 1.6 .9 .3 .1 7.7
Fred Brown 81 33.0 .480 .831 4.2 3.5 2.3 .2 21.0
Tommy Burleson 82 23.0 .417 .687 7.0 1.4 .8 1.9 10.1
Archie Clark 77 32.2 .495 .834 3.1 5.6 1.4 .1 13.9
Rod Derline 58 11.5 .428 .768 1.0 .8 .4 .1 5.6
Jim Fox 75 23.5 .469 .802 6.5 1.8 .6 .2 9.0
Leonard Gray 75 30.4 .489 .722 6.4 2.2 .8 .3 11.5
Spencer Haywood 68 37.2 .459 .811 9.3 2.0 .8 1.6 22.4
John Hummer 43 13.2 .380 .275 2.4 .9 .2 .2 2.2
Wardell Jackson 56 16.8 .397 .718 2.4 .5 .5 .1 4.3
Kennedy McIntosh 6 16.8 .207 .667 2.5 1.2 .7 .5 3.0
Talvin Skinner 73 21.6 .409 .649 4.7 1.2 .7 .2 4.8
Dean Tolson 19 4.6 .432 .647 1.2 .3 .2 .3 2.3
Slick Watts 82 25.1 .421 .608 3.2 6.1 2.3 .1 6.8

Playoffs[edit]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Fred Brown 8 30.0 .496 .844 4.5 2.9 2.1 .1 20.6
Tommy Burleson 9 40.4 .513 .750 10.7 1.4 .8 2.0 20.7
Archie Clark 9 29.9 .436 .900 3.6 3.4 .7 .1 7.0
Rod Derline 6 10.7 .545 .857 2.2 1.2 .3 .0 7.0
Jim Fox 8 5.0 .286 .571 1.1 .3 .0 .1 1.5
Leonard Gray 9 29.2 .488 .846 5.0 2.2 1.3 .6 9.9
Spencer Haywood 9 37.4 .359 .770 9.0 2.0 .8 1.2 15.7
John Hummer 6 11.3 .000 1.5 .7 .3 .0 .0
Talvin Skinner 9 23.4 .467 .737 4.2 1.3 1.0 .2 6.2
Dean Tolson 4 5.5 .125 1.000 1.8 .3 .0 .0 1.0
Slick Watts 9 31.1 .462 .538 3.7 7.1 3.0 .4 11.1

Awards and records[edit]

Transactions[edit]

Overview[edit]

Players added

Via draft

Via trade

Players lost

Via draft
(1974 NBA Expansion Draft)

Via trade

Via free agency

Waived

Trades[edit]

May 28, 1974 To Seattle SuperSonics
1974 first round pick 		To Cleveland Cavaliers
Dick Snyder
1974 first round pick
August 20, 1974 [3] To Seattle SuperSonics
Archie Clark 		To Washington Bullets
Dick Gibbs
1975 third round pick

References[edit]

  1. ^ Program may be needed to identify 'new' Sonics, Ellensburg Daily Record. May 30, 1974. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  2. ^ Sonics draft Burleson, Ellensburg Daily Record. May 28, 1974. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  3. ^ Seattle acquires Clark from Bullets, Bangor Daily News. August 20, 1974. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
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