1987–88 Seattle SuperSonics season

1987–88 Seattle SuperSonics season
1987–88 Seattle SuperSonics season
Head coach	Bernie Bickerstaff
General manager	Bob Whitsitt
Arena	Seattle Center Coliseum
Results
Record	44–38 (.537)
Place	Division: 3rd (Pacific); Conference: 7th (Western)
Playoff finish	West First Round; (Lost to Nuggets 2–3)
	Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	KIRO-TV; KTZZ-TV
Radio	KJR
< 1986–87	1988–89 >

The 1987–88 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 21st season of the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). It was Bernie Bickerstaff's first season with a winning percentage above .500, coaching the Sonics to a 44–38 record. However, in the 1988 NBA Playoffs, they lost in five games to the Denver Nuggets in the first round. Xavier McDaniel was selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game.

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.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	5	Scottie Pippen	SF	United States	Central Arkansas
1	9	Derrick McKey	F	United States	Alabama
3	55	Tommy Amaker			Duke
4	78	Todd Linder			Tampa
5	101	Michael Tait			Clemson
6	124	Tom Gneiting			BYU
7	147	Mike Giomi			North Carolina State

Roster

Seattle SuperSonics 1987–88 roster

Players

Coaches

Pos.	#	Name	Ht.	Wt.	DOB	From
F/C	24	Chambers, Tom	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	1959–06–21	Utah
G/F	3	Ellis, Dale	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	1960–08–06	Tennessee
F/C	45	Johnson, Clemon	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	240 lb (109 kg)	1956–09–12	Florida A&M
F/C	53	Lister, Alton	7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)	240 lb (109 kg)	1958–10–01	Arizona State
F	34	McDaniel, Xavier	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	1963–06–04	Wichita State
F/C	31	McKey, Derrick	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	1966–10–10	Alabama
G/F	10	McMillan, Nate	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	1964–08–03	NC State
F/C	23	Polynice, Olden	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	1964–11–21	Virginia
F/C	40	Schoene, Russ	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	1960–04–16	Chattanooga
G	4	Threatt, Sedale	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	1961–09–10	West Virginia Tech
G	30	Williams, Kevin	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	1961–09–11	St. John's
G	22	Young, Danny	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	1962–07–26	Wake Forest

Head coach

Bernie Bickerstaff
(San Diego)

Legend

(DP) Unsigned draft pick
(FA) Free agent
(S) Suspended
Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers	62	20	.756	–	36–5	26–15	23–7
x-Portland Trail Blazers	53	29	.646	9	33–8	20–21	23–7
x-Seattle SuperSonics	44	38	.537	18	32–9	12–29	19–11
Phoenix Suns	28	54	.341	34	22–19	6–35	11–19
Golden State Warriors	20	62	.244	42	16–25	4–37	7–23
Los Angeles Clippers	17	65	.207	45	14–27	3–38	7–23

#	Western Conference v t e
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Los Angeles Lakers	62	20	.756	–
2	y-Denver Nuggets	54	28	.659	8
3	x-Dallas Mavericks	53	29	.646	9
4	x-Portland Trail Blazers	53	29	.646	9
5	x-Utah Jazz	47	35	.573	15
6	x-Houston Rockets	46	36	.561	16
7	x-Seattle SuperSonics	44	38	.537	18
8	x-San Antonio Spurs	31	51	.378	31

9	Phoenix Suns	28	54	.341	34
10	Sacramento Kings	24	58	.293	38
11	Golden State Warriors	20	62	.244	42
12	Los Angeles Clippers	17	65	.207	45

Record vs. opponents

1987–88 NBA records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIL	NJN	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	2–4	2–3	5–1	2–0	1–1	2–4	2–0	1–1	4–2	2–0	0–2	3–3	5–0	3–3	6–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	3–3
Boston	4–2	—	3–3	2–3	2–0	0–2	3–3	2–0	1–1	5–0	2–0	0–2	3–3	5–1	5–1	4–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	5–1
Chicago	3–2	3–3	—	3–3	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–0	2–0	3–3	2–0	1–1	5–1	5–1	3–2	4–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–3
Cleveland	1–5	3–2	3–3	—	1–1	1–1	1–5	0–2	1–1	4–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	5–1	2–4	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	6–0
Dallas	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	—	3–3	1–1	4–1	4–2	2–0	5–0	1–4	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–0	3–2	5–1	5–1	3–2	3–3	1–1
Denver	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–3	—	1–1	4–1	4–2	1–1	5–0	3–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	3–2	2–3	4–2	5–1	4–1	2–4	2–0
Detroit	4–2	3–3	4–2	5–1	1–1	1–1	—	2–0	1–1	3–3	1–1	0–2	4–2	5–1	4–2	4–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–2
Golden State	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–4	1–4	0–2	—	0–5	0–2	3–3	0–6	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–4	1–5	2–3	3–2	1–5	1–4	0–2
Houston	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–4	1–1	5–0	—	2–0	3–2	1–4	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–1	4–1	4–2	2–4	3–2	3–3	2–0
Indiana	2–4	0–5	3–3	2–4	0–2	1–1	3–3	2–0	0–2	—	1–1	1–1	3–3	6–0	2–3	2–4	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–4
L.A. Clippers	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–5	0–5	1–1	3–3	2–3	1–1	—	1–5	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–4	0–6	3–2	0–5	1–5	1–4	0–2
L.A. Lakers	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–1	2–3	2–0	6–0	4–1	1–1	5–1	—	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	5–1	3–3	4–1	5–0	4–2	4–1	1–1
Milwaukee	3–3	3–3	1–5	4–2	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–0	0–2	3–3	2–0	2–0	—	3–2	3–3	2–4	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–1
New Jersey	0–5	1–5	1–5	1–5	1–1	0–2	1–5	0–2	1–1	0–6	2–0	0–2	2–3	—	3–3	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–6
New York	3–3	1–5	2–3	4–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–0	0–2	3–3	3–3	—	3–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–3
Philadelphia	0–6	2–4	2–4	2–3	1–1	0–2	1–4	1–1	1–1	4–2	1–1	0–2	4–2	4–2	3–3	—	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–3
Phoenix	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–5	2–3	0–2	4–2	1–4	0–2	4–2	1–5	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	—	0–6	3–2	2–3	2–4	2–3	0–2
Portland	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–3	3–2	1–1	5–1	1–4	2–0	6–0	3–3	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	6–0	—	4–1	5–0	3–3	1–4	2–0
Sacramento	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–5	2–4	0–2	3–2	2–4	0–2	2–3	1–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–3	1–4	—	3–3	1–4	1–5	0–2
San Antonio	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–5	1–5	1–1	2–3	4–2	0–2	5–0	0–5	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	0–5	3–3	—	3–2	3–3	0–2
Seattle	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–3	1–4	1–1	5–1	2–3	1–1	5–1	2–4	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–2	3–3	4–1	2–3	—	1–4	2–0
Utah	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–3	4–2	0–2	4–1	3–3	1–1	4–1	1–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	3–2	4–1	5–1	3–3	4–1	—	2–0
Washington	3–3	1–5	3–3	0–6	1–1	0–2	2–3	2–0	0–2	4–2	2–0	1–1	1–4	6–0	3–3	3–3	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	0–2	—

Game log

Playoffs

West First Round

(2) Denver Nuggets vs. (7) Seattle SuperSonics: Nuggets win series 3-2

Game 1 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (April 29): Denver 126, Seattle 123
Game 2 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (May 1): Seattle 111, Denver 91
Game 3 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (May 3): Denver 124, Seattle 115
Game 4 @ Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle (May 5): Seattle 127, Denver 117
Game 5 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (May 7): Denver 115, Seattle 96

Last Playoff Meeting: 1978 Western Conference Finals (Seattle won 4-2)

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
Tom Chambers	82	82	32.7	.448	.303	.807	6.0	2.6	1.1	.6	20.4
Dale Ellis	75	73	37.2	.503	.413	.767	4.5	2.6	1.0	.1	25.8
Clemon Johnson	74	26	9.8	.467	.000	.688	2.4	.2	.2	.3	1.6
Alton Lister	82	55	22.1	.504	.500	.606	7.6	.7	.3	1.7	5.6
Xavier McDaniel	78	77	34.7	.488	.280	.715	6.6	3.4	1.2	.7	21.4
Derrick McKey	82	4	20.8	.491	.367	.772	4.0	1.3	.9	.8	8.5
Nate McMillan	82	82	29.9	.474	.375	.707	4.1	8.6	2.1	.6	7.6
Olden Polynice	82	0	13.2	.465	.000	.639	4.0	.4	.4	.3	4.1
Russ Schoene	81	2	12.0	.458	.293	.810	2.4	.7	.5	.2	6.0
Sedale Threatt¹	26	0	13.6	.519	.143	.833	1.3	2.0	1.3	.2	7.5
Sam Vincent¹	43	0	12.7	.474	.385	.767	1.1	3.2	.5	.1	4.5
Kevin Williams	80	9	13.6	.442	.143	.844	1.6	1.2	.8	.1	6.3
Danny Young	77	0	12.3	.408	.286	.811	1.0	2.8	.7	.0	3.2

1.^ Statistics with the SuperSonics.

Playoffs

Player	GP	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Tom Chambers	5	25.8	.549	.000	.829	6.2	2.2	.6	.2	25.8
Dale Ellis	5	34.4	.482	.250	.724	4.6	3.0	.6	.4	20.8
Clemon Johnson	5	7.8	.429	.000	.500	1.4	.0	.2	.2	1.4
Alton Lister	5	15.4	.706	.000	.800	5.8	1.0	.2	1.0	5.6
Xavier McDaniel	5	36.0	.556	.500	.500	9.6	5.0	.6	.2	21.2
Derrick McKey	5	21.8	.632	.333	.588	4.0	1.6	.6	1.0	12.0
Nate McMillan	5	25.4	.343	.000	.643	4.2	6.6	.4	.6	6.6
Olden Polynice	5	13.2	.455	.000	.000	1.6	.0	.6	.0	2.0
Russ Schoene	5	7.8	.583	.500	.000	1.4	.4	.2	.0	3.2
Sedale Threatt	5	16.0	.412	.000	1.000	2.2	2.2	.2	.0	6.4
Kevin Williams	5	14.0	.438	.000	.000	1.6	1.8	.6	.0	2.8
Danny Young	5	19.0	.524	.000	1.000	2.0	3.8	.4	.4	6.4

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

Players Added

Via draft

Via free agency

Ricky Wilson

Via trade

Players Lost

Via free agency

Maurice Lucas

Via trade

Sam Vincent

Via waiver

Trades

October 16, 1987	To Seattle SuperSonics Sam Vincent Scott Wedman	To Boston Celtics Conditional 1988 second round pick
February 25, 1988	To Seattle SuperSonics Sedale Threatt	To Chicago Bulls Sam Vincent

Free agents

Additions

Player	Signed	Former team
Ricky Wilson	October 7, 1987

Subtractions

Player	Left	New team
Maurice Lucas²	November 10, 1987	Portland Trail Blazers

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

1987–88 Seattle SuperSonics season

Offseason

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Playoffs

West First Round

Statistics

Season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Transactions

Overview

Trades

Free agents

Additions

Subtractions

References

See also