1997–98 Seattle SuperSonics season

1997–98 Seattle SuperSonics season
Head coach	George Karl
General manager	Wally Walker
Arena	KeyArena at Seattle Center
Results
Record	61–21 (.744)
Place	Division: 1st (Pacific) Conference: 2nd (Western)
Playoff finish	West Semifinals (eliminated 1-4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	Fox Sports Northwest, KOMO-TV
Radio	KOMO-AM and FM

The 1997–98 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 30th season of the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Sonics traded Shawn Kemp to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and acquired Vin Baker from the Milwaukee Bucks in a three team trade during the offseason. In his first year with the Sonics, Baker averaged 19.2 points per game and was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game along with teammate Gary Payton. The Sonics finished first place in the Pacific Division with a 61-21.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Sonics struggled as they trailed 2-1 to the #7 seed Minnesota Timberwolves, but managed to win the series in five games. However, they would lose in five games to the Los Angeles Lakers in the semifinals after taking Game 1. Following the season, George Karl left to coach the Bucks as his "favorite player" Nate McMillan retired.

Draft picks

Main article: 1997 NBA Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	23	Bobby Jackson	PG/SG	United States	Minnesota
2	41	Ed Elisma	F	United States	Georgia Tech
2	55	Mark Blount	C	United States	Pittsburgh

Roster

Seattle SuperSonics roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From PG 2 Anthony, Greg 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 176 lb (80 kg) UNLV PF 42 Baker, Vin 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 232 lb (105 kg) Hartford SG 4 Cotton, James 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Long Beach State SG 3 Ellis, Dale 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Tennessee SG 33 Hawkins, Hersey 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Bradley PF 44 Howard, Stephen 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) DePaul SF 7 Kersey, Jerome 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Longwood C 22 McIlvaine, Jim 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Marquette SG 10 McMillan, Nate 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) NC State PG 20 Payton, Gary 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Oregon State C 14 Perkins, Sam 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) North Carolina SF 11 Schrempf, Detlef 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 214 lb (97 kg) Washington PF 15 Williams, Aaron 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Xavier SF 25 Wingate, David 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Georgetown

Head coach George Karl (North Carolina) Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Seattle SuperSonics	61	21	.744	–	35–6	26–15	19–5
x-Los Angeles Lakers	61	21	.744	–	33–8	28–13	16–8
x-Phoenix Suns	56	26	.683	5	30–11	26–15	17–7
x-Portland Trail Blazers	46	36	.561	15	26–15	20–21	14–10
Sacramento Kings	27	55	.329	34	21–20	6–35	6–18
Golden State Warriors	19	63	.232	42	12–29	7–34	6–18
Los Angeles Clippers	17	65	.207	44	11–30	6–35	6–18

#	Western Conference
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Utah Jazz	62	20	.756	–
2	y-Seattle SuperSonics	61	21	.744	1
3	x-Los Angeles Lakers	61	21	.744	1
4	x-Phoenix Suns	56	26	.683	6
5	x-San Antonio Spurs	56	26	.683	6
6	x-Portland Trail Blazers	46	36	.561	16
7	x-Minnesota Timberwolves	45	37	.549	17
8	x-Houston Rockets	41	41	.500	21
9	Sacramento Kings	27	55	.329	35
10	Dallas Mavericks	20	62	.244	42
11	Vancouver Grizzlies	19	63	.232	43
11	Golden State Warriors	19	63	.232	43
13	Los Angeles Clippers	17	65	.207	45
14	Denver Nuggets	11	71	.134	51

Playoffs

West First Round

(2) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (7) Minnesota Timberwolves Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the SuperSonics and Timberwolves.

Game	Date	Home	Score	Visitor	Score	Record (SEA-MIN)	Venue	Box score	Television
1	April 24	Seattle	108	Minnesota	83	1-0	KeyArena, Seattle, Washington	1	TBS 9:30et
2	April 26	Seattle	93	Minnesota	98	1-1	KeyArena, Seattle, Washington	2	TNT 9:00et
3	April 28	Minnesota	98	Seattle	90	1-2	Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota	3	TBS 9:30et
4	April 30	Minnesota	88	Seattle	92	2-2	Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota	4	TBS 9:30et
5	May 2	Seattle	97	Minnesota	84	3-2	KeyArena, Seattle, Washington	5	NBC 3:30et
Seattle wins series 3–2

West Conference Semifinals

(2) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (3) Los Angeles Lakers Last Playoff Meeting: 1995 Western Conference First Round (Los Angeles won 3-1)

Game	Date	Home	Score	Visitor	Score	Record (SEA-LAL)	Venue	Box score	Television
1	May 4	Seattle	106	Los Angeles	92	1-0	KeyArena, Seattle, Washington	1	TNT 9:00et
2	May 6	Seattle	68	Los Angeles	92	1-1	KeyArena, Seattle, Washington	2	TNT 10:30et
3	May 8	Los Angeles	119	Seattle	103	1-2	Great Western Forum, Los Angeles, California	3	TNT 10:30et
4	May 10	Los Angeles	112	Seattle	100	1-3	Great Western Forum, Los Angeles, California	4	NBC 3:00et
5	May 12	Seattle	95	Los Angeles	110	1-4	KeyArena, Seattle, Washington	5	TNT 10:30et
Los Angeles wins series 4–1

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
Greg Anthony
Vin Baker
James Cotton
Dale Ellis
Hersey Hawkins
Stephen Howard
Jerome Kersey
Jim McIlvaine
Nate McMillan
Gary Payton
Sam Perkins
Detlef Schrempf
Eric Snow
Aaron Williams
David Wingate
George Zidek

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Greg Anthony
Vin Baker
Dale Ellis
Hersey Hawkins
Jerome Kersey
Jim McIlvaine
Nate McMillan
Gary Payton
Sam Perkins
Detlef Schrempf
Eric Snow
Aaron Williams
David Wingate

Awards and records

Awards

• Gary Payton, All-NBA First Team
• Gary Payton, NBA All-Defensive First Team

Transactions

Free Agents

Additions

Player Signed Former team

Subtractions

Player	Left	New team

See also

• 1997-98 NBA season