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1978–79 Seattle SuperSonics season

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1978–79 Seattle SuperSonics season
NBA champions
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coachLenny Wilkens
General managerZollie Volchok
OwnersSam Schulman
ArenaKingdome
Results
Record52–30 (.634)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Pacific)
Conference: 1st (Western)
Playoff finishNBA Champions
(Defeated Bullets 4–1)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKTNT-TV
RadioKIRO
< 1977–78 1979–80 >

The 1978–79 Seattle SuperSonics season was the team's 12th since the franchise began, and their most successful, winning their only NBA title.

In the playoffs, the SuperSonics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in five games in the Semi-finals, then defeated the Phoenix Suns in seven games in the Conference Finals to reach the NBA Finals for a second consecutive season in a rematch of the 1978 NBA Finals, facing the defending NBA champion Washington Bullets whom they had lost to in seven games. The Sonics would go on to avenge their NBA Finals loss and defeat the Bullets in five games, winning their first and only NBA championship. Dennis Johnson was named the NBA Finals MVP.

They wouldn't reach another NBA Finals Until 1996 in which they were led by Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp.

This was Seattle's first professional sports championship since the Seattle Metropolitans victory in the Stanley Cup in 1917.

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Nationality School/Club Team
2 39 James Lee  United States Kentucky
5 105 Ralph Drollinger  United States UCLA

Roster

1978–79 Seattle SuperSonics roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
C 21 United States Awtrey, Dennis 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1948–02–22 Santa Clara
G 32 United States Brown, Fred 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 182 lb (83 kg) 1948–08–07 Iowa
G 10 United States Hassett, Joe 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1955–09–11 Providence
G 24 United States Johnson, Dennis 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1954–09–18 Pepperdine
F 27 United States Johnson, John 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1947–10–18 Iowa
F/C 23 United States LaGarde, Tom 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1955–02–10 North Carolina
F 22 United States Robinson, Jackie 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1955–05–20 UNLV
F 8 United States Shelton, Lonnie 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1955–10–19 Oregon State
F/C 43 United States Sikma, Jack 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1955–11–14 Illinois Wesleyan
F/C 35 United States Silas, Paul 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1943–07–12 Creighton
G/F 11 United States Snyder, Dick 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 207 lb (94 kg) 1944–02–01 Davidson
F 42 United States Walker, Wally 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1954–07–18 Virginia
G 1 United States Williams, Gus 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1953–10–10 USC
Head coach
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: 1979–06–26

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Seattle SuperSonics 52 30 .634 – 31–10 21–20 11–9
x-Phoenix Suns 50 32 .610 2 32–9 18–23 11–9
x-Los Angeles Lakers 47 35 .573 5 31–10 16–25 11–9
x-Portland Trail Blazers 45 37 .549 7 33–8 12–29 8–12
San Diego Clippers 43 39 .524 9 29–12 14–27 11–9
Golden State Warriors 38 44 .463 14 23–18 15–26 8–12
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Seattle SuperSonics 52 30 .634 –
2 y-Kansas City Kings 48 34 .585 4
3 x-Phoenix Suns 50 32 .610 2
4 x-Denver Nuggets 47 35 .573 5
5 x-Los Angeles Lakers 47 35 .573 5
6 x-Portland Trail Blazers 45 37 .549 7
7 San Diego Clippers 43 39 .524 9
8 Indiana Pacers 38 44 .463 14
9 Milwaukee Bucks 38 44 .463 14
10 Golden State Warriors 38 44 .463 14
11 Chicago Bulls 31 51 .378 21

Record vs. opponents

1978-79 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NJN NOJ NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SDC SEA WAS
Atlanta – 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–3 3–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 1–3 2–2
Boston 2–2 – 1–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–1 1–3 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–2 0–4 1–3 0–4 1–3 2–2 0–4
Chicago 1–3 2–1 – 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 4–0 0–3 0–4 0–4 1–3
Cleveland 1–3 2–2 3–1 – 1–2 1–3 2–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 0–4 0–4 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4
Denver 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–1 – 2–2 4–0 1–3 3–1 1–3 3–1 2–2 4–0 3–1 3–1 0–3 3–1 1–3 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3
Detroit 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 – 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–1 0–4 2–2 1–3 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–3 2–2 0–3 1–3
Golden State 3–1 1–2 1–3 1–2 0–4 3–1 – 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–2
Houston 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 – 0–4 3–1 2–1 2–2 3–1 4–0 4–0 0–4 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–1 2–2 2–2
Indiana 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 4–0 – 1–3 0–4 2–2 1–2 2–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 1–3 0–4 1–3
Kansas City 2–2 3–1 4–0 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 – 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–0
Los Angeles 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–2 4–0 2–2 – 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–0 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2
Milwaukee 0–3 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 – 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3
New Jersey 2–2 3–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 4–0 3–1 1–3 2–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 – 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–0 2–2 0–4 2–2 0–4 1–3
New Orleans 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–4 1–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 – 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 0–4 0–3 0–4
New York 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 1–3 0–4 2–2 1–2 0–3 3–1 3–1 2–2 – 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3
Philadelphia 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 3–0 3–1 1–3 4–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 – 1–3 1–2 3–1 3–1 1–3 3–1
Phoenix 1–2 4–0 3–1 4–0 1–3 4–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 0–3 3–1 4–0 3–1 – 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–3
Portland 2–2 3–1 0–4 4–0 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–1 1–3 – 2–1 2–2 1–3 3–1
San Antonio 1–3 4–0 3–0 4–0 1–3 3–1 3–1 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–2 3–1 4–0 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–2 – 4–0 2–2 1–3
San Diego 1–3 3–1 4–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 0–4 – 2–2 0–3
Seattle 3–1 2–2 4–0 2–2 1–3 3–0 1–3 2–2 4–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 4–0 3–0 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 – 2–2
Washington 2–2 4–0 3–1 4–0 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 0–3 2–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 3–1 1–3 3–1 1–3 3–1 3–0 2–2 —

Game log

# Date City @ Opponent Sonics score Opponent score OT Record
1 October 13 Seattle Chicago Bulls 104 86 1-0
2 October 15 Seattle Kansas City Kings 115 105 2-0
3 October 17 Manhattan @ New York Knicks 120 109 3-0
4 October 18 Indianapolis @ Indiana Pacers 99 92 4-0
5 October 20 Seattle San Antonio Spurs 133 117 5-0
6 October 25 Seattle Washington Bullets 121 92 6-0
7 October 27 Seattle Milwaukee Bucks 80 79 7-0
8 October 29 San Diego @ San Diego Clippers 100 103 7-1
9 November 2 Detroit @ Detroit Pistons 95 94 8-1
10 November 3 New Jersey @ New Jersey Nets 102 81 9-1
11 November 8 Seattle New York Knicks 100 104 9-2
12 November 10 Seattle Cleveland Cavs 109 95 10-2
13 November 15 Seattle New Orleans Jazz 135 118 11-2
14 November 17 Seattle Indiana Pacers 126 115 12-2
15 November 18 Oakland @ Golden State Warriors 104 112 12-3
16 November 19 Seattle Portland Trail Blazers 88 85 13-3
17 November 22 Seattle Chicago Bulls 98 96 14-3
18 November 24 Seattle Denver Nuggets 100 103 14-4
19 November 25 Denver @ Denver Nuggets 110 104 15-4
20 November 26 Seattle Houston Rockets 103 108 15-5
21 November 29 Seattle New Jersey Nets 125 111 16-5
22 December 1 Boston @ Boston Celtics 80 87 16-6
23 December 2 Philadelphia @ Philadelphia 76ers 100 97 17-6
24 December 8 Seattle Atlanta Hawks 107 106 18-6
25 December 10 Seattle San Antonio Spurs 112 99 19-6
26 December 13 Seattle Los Angeles Lakers 117 107 20-6
27 December 15 Los Angeles @ Los Angeles Lakers 98 100 20-7
28 December 17 Cleveland @ Cleveland Cavs 91 101 20-8
29 December 19 Milwaukee @ Milwaukee Bucks 99 128 20-9
30 December 20 Kansas City @ Kansas City Kings 95 114 20-10
31 December 22 Seattle Philadelphia 76ers 95 103 20-11
32 December 25 Seattle San Diego Clippers 118 123 20-12
33 December 27 Seattle New Orleans Jazz 122 103 21-12
34 December 29 Seattle Phoenix Suns 119 92 22-12
35 January 1 Seattle Golden State Warriors 97 110 22-13
36 January 2 Portland @ Portland Trail Blazers 109 108 23-13
37 January 3 Seattle Boston Celtics 123 116 24-13
38 January 5 Seattle Denver Nuggets 92 95 24-14
39 January 10 Seattle Indiana Pacers 118 98 25-14
40 January 11 Phoenix @ Phoenix Suns 109 106 26-14
41 January 14 Seattle Los Angeles Lakers 99 108 26-15
42 January 17 Indianapolis @ Indiana Pacers 112 102 27-15
43 January 20 Chicago @ Chicago Bulls 107 101 28-15
44 January 23 Washington D.C. @ Washington Bullets 103 100 29-15
45 January 25 Atlanta @ Atlanta Hawks 100 98 30-15
46 January 26 San Antonio @ San Antonio Spurs 108 125 30-16
47 January 27 Houston @ Houston Rockets 99 94 31-16
48 January 31 Seattle Portland Trail Blazers 115 112 32-16
49 February 1 Seattle New Jersey Nets 107 102 33-16
50 February 2 Seattle Milwaukee Bucks 104 102 34-16
51 February 6 Manhattan @ New York Knicks 99 108 34-17
52 February 7 Boston @ Boston Celtics 100 107 34-18
53 February 9 Milwaukee @ Milwaukee Bucks 116 118 OT 34-19
54 February 10 Houston @ Houston Rockets 101 113 34-20
55 February 14 Seattle Atlanta Hawks 116 104 35-20
56 February 16 Seattle Phoenix Suns 119 104 36-20
57 February 18 Seattle Washington Bullets 94 105 36-21
58 February 20 San Antonio @ San Antonio Spurs 102 118 36-22
59 February 21 New Orleans @ New Orleans Jazz 96 94 37-22
60 February 23 Washington D.C. @ Washington Bullets 110 132 37-23
61 February 25 Kansas City @ Kansas City Kings 106 114 37-24
62 February 27 Denver @ Denver Nuggets 106 121 37-25
63 February 28 Seattle Philadelphia 76ers 97 93 38-25
64 March 2 Seattle Cleveland Cavs 109 111 38-26
65 March 4 Seattle Houston Rockets 119 109 39-26
66 March 7 Detroit @ Detroit Pistons 99 93 40-26
67 March 9 New Jersey @ New Jersey Nets 108 100 41-26
68 March 11 Atlanta @ Atlanta Hawks 111 113 OT 41-27
69 March 14 Philadelphia @ Philadelphia 76ers 99 96 42-27
70 March 15 Cleveland @ Cleveland Cavs 104 98 43-27
71 March 17 Chicago @ Chicago Bulls 106 88 44-27
72 March 22 Seattle Boston Celtics 112 110 45-27
73 March 25 Seattle Kansas City Kings 111 101 46-27
74 March 27 Seattle San Diego Clippers 115 109 47-27
75 March 28 Seattle New York Knicks 111 105 48-27
76 March 30 Phoenix @ Phoenix Suns 111 113 OT 48-28
77 March 31 Seattle Detroit Pistons 123 102 49-28
78 April 1 Seattle Golden State Warriors 102 97 50-28
79 April 3 Portland @ Portland Trail Blazers 106 102 50-29
80 April 4 San Diego @ San Diego Clippers 115 107 51-29
81 April 6 Los Angeles @ Los Angeles Lakers 113 93 52-29
82 April 8 Oakland @ Golden State Warriors 86 89 52-30

Playoffs

The SuperSonics had a first round bye, then defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Semi-finals, the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Finals, and the Washington Bullets in the NBA Finals. Dennis Johnson of the SuperSonics was the Most Valuable Player of the Finals while teammate Gus Williams was the leading scorer, averaging 28.6 points per game.

Game log

1979 playoff game log
Conference Semi-finals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 17 Los Angeles W 112–101 Dennis Johnson (26) Lonnie Shelton (12) John Johnson (9) Kingdome
26,377 		1–0
2 April 18 Los Angeles W 108–103 (OT) Gus Williams (38) Jack Sikma (10) Jack Sikma (8) Kingdome
26,862 		2–0
3 April 20 @ Los Angeles L 112–118 (OT) Gus Williams (29) Paul Silas (13) Paul Silas (4) The Forum
17,505 		2–1
4 April 22 @ Los Angeles W 117–115 Gus Williams (30) D. Johnson, Sikma (11) Dennis Johnson (7) The Forum
17,505 		3–1
5 April 25 Los Angeles W 106–100 Gus Williams (30) Jack Sikma (10) Jack Sikma (6) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		4–1
Conference Finals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 1 Phoenix W 108–93 Gus Williams (27) Jack Sikma (10) John Johnson (9) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		1–0
2 May 4 Phoenix W 103–97 John Johnson (21) Lonnie Shelton (15) Gus Williams (6) Kingdome
31,964 		2–0
3 May 6 @ Phoenix L 103–113 Gus Williams (22) J. Johnson, Sikma (9) Gus Williams (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660 		2–1
4 May 8 @ Phoenix L 100–91 Gus Williams (22) Lonnie Shelton (10) three players tied (3) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660 		2–2
5 May 11 Phoenix L 93–99 Dennis Johnson (24) Jack Sikma (12) John Johnson (5) Kingdome
28,935 		2–3
6 May 13 @ Phoenix W 106–105 Dennis Johnson (23) Jack Sikma (10) Dennis Johnson (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,660 		3–3
7 May 17 Phoenix W 114–110 Jack Sikma (33) Jack Sikma (11) Fred Brown (5) Kingdome
37,552 		4–3
NBA Finals: 4–1 (home: 2–0; road: 2–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 20 @ Washington L 97–99 Gus Williams (32) John Johnson (11) Dennis Johnson (7) Capital Centre
19,035 		0–1
2 May 24 @ Washington W 92–82 Gus Williams (23) Jack Sikma (13) D. Johnson, J. Johnson (6) Capital Centre
19,035 		1–1
3 May 27 Washington W 105–95 Gus Williams (31) Jack Sikma (17) Dennis Johnson (9) Kingdome
35,928 		2–1
4 May 29 Washington W 114–112 (OT) Gus Williams (36) Jack Sikma (17) John Johnson (13) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,098 		3–1
5 June 1 @ Washington W 97–93 Gus Williams (23) Jack Sikma (17) John Johnson (6) Capital Centre
19,035 		4–1
1979 schedule

Awards and records

References

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