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1987–88 Seattle SuperSonics season

NBA professional basketball team season

NBA professional basketball team season

(lost to Nuggets 2–3)

  • KIRO-TV
  • KTZZ-TV

The 1987–88 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 21st season for the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association. The SuperSonics received the fifth overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft, and selected small forward Scottie Pippen from the University of Central Arkansas, but soon traded him to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for rookie center, and top draft pick Olden Polynice from the University of Virginia; the SuperSonics also had the ninth overall pick, and selected small forward Derrick McKey from the University of Alabama. During the off-season, the team acquired Sam Vincent from the Boston Celtics.

The SuperSonics lost three of their first four games of the regular season, but later on posted a six-game winning streak in January, and held a 25–20 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, the team traded Vincent to the Bulls in exchange for Sedale Threatt. Despite losing 9 of their 13 games in February, the SuperSonics finished in third place in the Pacific Division with a 44–38 record, and earned the seventh seed in the Western Conference; it was head coach Bernie Bickerstaff's first season with a record above .500 in winning percentage.

Dale Ellis led the team in scoring averaging 25.8 points per game, and also led them with 107 three-point field goals, while Xavier McDaniel averaged 21.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, and Tom Chambers provided the team with 20.4 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. In addition, second-year guard Nate McMillan contributed 7.6 points, 8.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game, and Alton Lister provided with 5.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. Off the bench, McKey averaged 8.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team, while Kevin Williams contributed 6.3 points per game, Russ Schoene provided with 6.0 points per game, Polynice averaged 4.1 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, and Danny Young contributed 3.2 points and 2.8 assists per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois, McDaniel was selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team; it was his first and only All-Star appearance. Meanwhile, Ellis participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout for the third consecutive year. McMillan finished tied in eighth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

However, in the Western Conference First Round of the 1988 NBA playoffs, the SuperSonics lost in five games to the Denver Nuggets. Following the season, Chambers signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns, while Williams was left unprotected in the 1988 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Miami Heat expansion team, and Young signed with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Offseason

Draft picks

Main article: 1987 NBA draft

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.

Seattle SuperSonics}}" width="10%"RoundSeattle SuperSonics}}" width="10%"PickSeattle SuperSonics}}" width="20%"PlayerSeattle SuperSonics}}" width="15%"PositionSeattle SuperSonics}}" width="15%"NationalitySeattle SuperSonics}}" width="20%"College
15Scottie Pippen (traded to Chicago)SFUnited StatesCentral Arkansas
19Derrick McKeyFUnited StatesAlabama

Roster

  • Bernie Bickerstaff

1987–88 Salaries

Player1987–88 Salary
Tom Chambers$950,000
Xavier McDaniel$875,000
Alton Lister$835,000
Clemon Johnson$502,000
Derrick McKey$355,000
Olden Polynice$350,000
Dale Ellis$325,000
Sedale Threatt$270,000
Russ Schoene$250,000
Danny Young$130,000
Nate McMillan$129,000
Kevin Williams$125,000
**TOTAL****$5,096,000**

Sources:

  • Basketball Reference: SEA Salaries

Regular season

Season standings

Game log

|- | 1 | November 6 | @ L. A. Lakers | L 109–113 | Tom Chambers (20) | Xavier McDaniel (9) | Nate McMillan (12) | The Forum 17,505

0–1
2
November 7
Phoenix
W 112–96
Dale Ellis (27)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 14,252

1–1
3
November 10
Dallas
L 101–117
Dale Ellis (28)
Alton Lister (8)
Sam Vincent (6)
Seattle Center Coliseum
10,447
1–2
-
4
November 12
vs San Antonio
L 118–123
Xavier McDaniel (23)

| | | HemisFair Arena 6,399

1–3
5
November 13
@ Dallas
W 103–95
Dale Ellis (22)
Alton Lister (8)
Nate McMillan (11)
Reunion Arena
17,007
2–3
-
6
November 15
vs Houston
L 106–108
Dale Ellis (34)

| | | The Summit 16,611

2–4
7
November 18
Portland
W 120–114
Xavier McDaniel (32)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 8,461

3–4
8
November 20
Milwaukee
W 99–97
Xavier McDaniel (30)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 14,601

4–4
9
November 21
Washington
W 124–103
Xavier McDaniel (28)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 13,437

5–4
10
November 24
L. A. Lakers
W 103–85
Xavier McDaniel (34)
Alton Lister (13)
Nate McMillan (10)
Seattle Center Coliseum
14,634
6–4
-
11
November 27
@ Boston
L 112–117
Dale Ellis (37)
Dale Ellis (9)
Nate McMillan (10)
Boston Garden
14,890
6–5
-
12
November 28
vs Indiana
L 115–131
Dale Ellis (29)

| | | Market Square Arena 11,538

6–6
-
13
December 1
vs New York
W 112–109
Dale Ellis (37)

| | | Madison Square Garden 11,424

7–6
14
December 2
vs Cleveland
L 102–104
Dale Ellis (25)

| | | Coliseum at Richfield 6,207

7–7
15
December 4
vs Philadelphia
L 105–118
Tom Chambers (24)

| | | The Spectrum 13,115

7–8
16
December 5
vs Washington
W 115–99
Xavier McDaniel (26)

| | | Capital Centre 11,604

8–8
17
December 8
Cleveland
W 107–96
Dale Ellis
Xavier McDaniel
(25)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 8,520

9–8
18
December 10
vs L. A. Clippers
L 96–113
Dale Ellis (20)

| | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 5,852

9–9
19
December 12
L. A. Clippers
W 116–95
Xavier McDaniel (35)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 10,623

10–9
20
December 14
@ Utah
L 95–116
Dale Ellis (29)

| | | Salt Palace 12,212

10–10
21
December 15
vs Portland
L 109–128
Xavier McDaniel (22)

| | | Memorial Coliseum 12,666

10–11
22
December 17
Sacramento
W 114–109
Tom Chambers (42)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 10,238

11–11
23
December 19
vs Golden State
W 129–102
Xavier McDaniel (32)

| | | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,998

12–11
24
December 20
@ L. A. Lakers
L 94–103
Dale Ellis (24)
Xavier McDaniel (11)
Xavier McDaniel (7)
The Forum
17,505
12–12
-
25
December 23
vs Phoenix
W 103–102
Dale Ellis (35)

| | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,351

13–12
26
December 26
@ Denver
L 111–115
Xavier McDaniel (26)

| | | McNichols Sports Arena 12,403

13–13
27
December 28
Denver
W 108–100
Xavier McDaniel (30)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 13,007

14–13
28
December 30
Boston
W 111–105
Tom Chambers (31)
Alton Lister (12)
Sam Vincent (9)
Seattle Center Coliseum
14,850
15–13
-
-
29
January 2
Philadelphia
Xavier McDaniel (35)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 14,250

16–13
30
January 5
vs Portland
L 114–126
Dale Ellis (32)

| | | Memorial Coliseum 12,666

16–14
31
January 6
Houston
W 110–95
Tom Chambers (46)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 11,289

17–14
32
January 9
San Antonio
W 141–133
Dale Ellis (47)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 11,565

18–14
33
January 10
vs Sacramento
L 108–109
Dale Ellis (30)

| | | ARCO Arena (I) 10,333

18–15
34
January 13
Golden State
W 144–115
Xavier McDaniel (30)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 7,909

19–15
35
January 15
Utah
W 124–105
Dale Ellis (39)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 10,418

20–15

| 36 | January 16 | vs L. A. Clippers | W 114–112 (OT) | Dale Ellis (41) | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 8,697

21–15
37
January 18
Indiana
W 115–105
Dale Ellis (29)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 10,151

22–15
38
January 20
New York
W 108–96
Xavier McDaniel (41)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 11,767

23–15
39
January 22
Detroit
W 109–106
Dale Ellis (47)
Alton Lister (13)
Nate McMillan (14)
Seattle Center Coliseum
14,737
24–15
-
40
January 24
L. A. Lakers
L 109–116
Xavier McDaniel (35)
Tom Chambers (10)
Nate McMillan (11)
Seattle Center Coliseum
14,739
24–16
-
41
January 26
vs Sacramento
W 116–100
Dale Ellis (42)

| | | ARCO Arena (I) 10,333

25–16
42
January 29
@ Dallas
L 109–117
Dale Ellis (35)
Alton Lister (9)
Nate McMillan (10)
Reunion Arena
17,007
25–17
-
43
January 30
vs San Antonio
L 102–112 (OT)
Xavier McDaniel
Tom Chambers
(27)

| | | HemisFair Arena 8,319

25–18
-
44
February 1
@ Utah
L 100–105
Dale Ellis (40)

| | | Salt Palace 12,212

25–19
45
February 4
Atlanta
L 109–119
Dale Ellis (36)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 14,611

25–20
46
February 9
vs Portland
L 123–139
Tom Chambers (21)

| | | Memorial Coliseum 12,666

25–21
47
February 11
Houston
W 120–115
Tom Chambers (36)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 13,038

26–21
48
February 13
vs Golden State
W 109–95
Dale Ellis (28)

| | | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,502

26–22
49
February 15
Dallas
L 122–128 (OT)
Tom Chambers (29)
Xavier McDaniel (7)
Sam Vincent (12)
Seattle Center Coliseum
13,492
26–23
-
50
February 17
vs Milwaukee
L 93–115
Dale Ellis (26)

| | | MECCA Arena 11,052

26–24
51
February 18
@ Detroit
L 95–108
Tom Chambers (24)
Olden Polynice (6)
Nate McMillan (9)
Pontiac Silverdome
24,482
26–25
-
52
February 20
vs New Jersey
W 113–101
Dale Ellis (30)

| | | Brendan Byrne Arena 11,137

27–25
53
February 21
@ Atlanta
L 113–129
Dale Ellis (31)

| | | The Omni 15,437

27–26
54
February 23
@ Chicago
L 97–104 (OT)
Dale Ellis (34)

| | | Chicago Stadium 17,648

27–27
55
February 26
Sacramento
W 133–130
Dale Ellis (37)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 11,632

28–27
56
February 27
Golden State
W 114–111
Dale Ellis (30)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 10,752

29–27
57
March 1
L. A. Lakers
W 114–100
Dale Ellis (26)
Xavier McDaniel (12)
Nate McMillan (17)
Seattle Center Coliseum
14,850
30–27
-
58
March 4
Utah
L 110–125
Tom Chambers (29)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 11,268

30–28
59
March 5
Denver
L 102–115
Dale Ellis (27)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 13,287

30–29
60
March 8
vs Golden State
W 121–116 (OT)
Dale Ellis (29)

| | | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 11,178

31–29
61
March 9
vs Sacramento
W 106–97
Dale Ellis (24)

| | | ARCO Arena (I) 10,333

32–29
62
March 13
New Jersey
W 115–102
Tom Chambers (25)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 9,040

33–29
63
March 15
vs Phoenix
L 90–111
Dale Ellis (38)

| | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,159

33–30
64
March 17
vs Houston
L 106–115
Tom Chambers (24)

| | | The Summit 16,611

33–31
65
March 18
vs San Antonio
W 118–110 (OT)

| | | HemisFair Arena 7,353

34–31
66
March 20
@ Denver
L 95–108
Dale Ellis (23)

| | | McNichols Sports Arena 13,117

34–32
67
March 23
Portland
W 118–108
Dale Ellis (35)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 14,250

35–32
68
March 26
L. A. Clippers
W 131–98
Dale Ellis (27)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 11,650

36–32
69
March 29
Chicago
W 106–103
Chambers (34)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 14,850

37–32
70
March 31
San Antonio
L 115–117
Dale Ellis
Tom Chambers
(27)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 9,210

37–33
71
April 2
Phoenix
W 151–107
Xavier McDaniel (26)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 9,790

38–33
72
April 5
@ L. A. Lakers
L 90–94
Tom Chambers (21)
Alton Lister (14)
Xavier McDaniel,
Nate McMillan (4)
The Forum
17,505
38–34
-
73
April 6
Golden State
102–114
Derrick McKey (18)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 9,520

39–34
74
April 8
Portland
W 114–100
Xavier McDaniel (34)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 14,438

40–34
75
April 9
Houston
L 104–108
Xavier McDaniel (27)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 13,584

40–35
76
April 13
L. A. Clippers
W 113–92
Xavier McDaniel (23)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum Not announced

41–35
77
April 15
Dallas
W 115–88
Alton Lister (19)
Alton Lister,
Xavier McDaniel (7)
Nate McMillan (8)
Seattle Center Coliseum
12,576
42–35
-
78
April 16
vs Phoenix
L 119–121 (OT)
Sedale Threatt (31)

| | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,406

42–36
79
April 19
@ Denver
L 114–134
Tom Chambers (29)

| | | McNichols Sports Arena 14,478

42–37
80
April 20
Phoenix
W 121–98
Dale Ellis (24)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum Not announced

43–37
81
April 22
Utah
L 109–110
Dale Ellis (20)

| | | Seattle Center Coliseum 14,250

43–38
82
April 24
@ L.A. Clippers
W 109–100
Russ Schoene
Tom Chambers
(20)

| | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena Not announced | 44–38

Playoffs

|- | 1 | April 29 | @ Denver | L 123–126 | Tom Chambers (29) | Xavier McDaniel (10) | Xavier McDaniel, Nate McMillan (8) | McNichols Sports Arena 17,022

0–1
2
May 1
@ Denver
W 111–91
Dale Ellis (24)
Xavier McDaniel (17)
Nate McMillan (6)
McNichols Sports Arena
17,022
1–1
-
3
May 3
Denver
L 114–125
Tom Chambers (34)
Xavier McDaniel (12)
Nate McMillan (9)
Seattle Center Coliseum
14,250
1–2
-
4
May 5
Denver
W 127–117
Xavier McDaniel (27)
Derrick McKey (7)
Danny Young (8)
Seattle Center Coliseum
14,250
2–2
-
5
May 7
@ Denver
L 96–115
Tom Chambers (23)
Alton Lister (8)
Xavier McDaniel (5)
McNichols Sports Arena
16,040
2–3

Statistics

Season

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82**82**32.7.448.303.8076.02.61.1.620.4
7573**37.2**.503.413.7674.52.61.0.1**25.8**
74269.8.467.000.6882.4.2.2.31.6
825522.1.504**.500**.606**7.6**.7.3**1.7**5.6
787734.7.488.280.7156.63.41.2.721.4
82420.8.491.367.7724.01.3.9.88.5
82**82**29.9.474.375.7074.1**8.6****2.1**.67.6
82013.2.465.000.6394.0.4.4.34.1
81212.0.458.293.8102.4.7.5.26.0
26013.6**.519**.143.8331.32.01.3.27.5
43012.7.474.385.7671.13.2.5.14.5
80913.6.442.143**.844**1.61.2.8.16.3
77012.3.408.286.8111.02.8.7.03.2

:1. Statistics with the SuperSonics.

Playoffs

Seattle SuperSonics}}" width="10%"PlayerSeattle SuperSonics}}" width="6%"GPSeattle SuperSonics}}" width="6%"GSSeattle SuperSonics}}" width="6%"MPGSeattle SuperSonics}}" width="6%"FG%Seattle SuperSonics}}" width="6%"3FG%Seattle SuperSonics}}" width="6%"FT%Seattle SuperSonics}}" width="6%"RPGSeattle SuperSonics}}" width="6%"APGSeattle SuperSonics}}" width="6%"SPGSeattle SuperSonics}}" width="6%"BPGSeattle SuperSonics}}" width="6%"PPG
525.8.549.000.8296.22.2.6.2**25.8**
534.4.482.250.7244.63.0.6.420.8
57.8.429.000.5001.4.0.2.21.4
515.4**.706**.000.8005.81.0.2**1.0**5.6
5**36.0**.556**.500**.500**9.6**5.0.6.221.2
521.8.632.333.5884.01.6.6**1.0**12.0
525.4.343.000.6434.2**6.6**.4.66.6
513.2.455.000.0001.6.0.6.02.0
57.8.583**.500**.0001.4.4.2.03.2
516.0.412.000**1.000**2.22.2.2.06.4
514.0.438.000.0001.61.8.6.02.8
519.0.524.000**1.000**2.03.8.4.46.4

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****Players Lost**

Trades

February 25, 1988To **Seattle SuperSonics**Sedale ThreattTo **Chicago Bulls**Sam Vincent

Free agents

Additions

Ricky WilsonOctober 7, 1987Mississippi Jets

Subtractions

Eddie JohnsonDecember 6, 1987(Suspended/Retired)

:2. Received a conditional 1990 second round pick as compensation. :3. Suspended on December 6, 1987 due to failed mandatory drug counseling; later retired altogether.

References

References

  1. Goldaper, Sam. (June 23, 1987). "Guards Dominate Draft, But Robinson Goes First". The New York Times.
  2. Edes, Gordon. (June 23, 1987). "Only Surprise in the NBA Draft Is the Big Demand for Guards". Los Angeles Times.
  3. "1987 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference.
  4. (October 17, 1987). "Sonics Deal". The Spokesman-Review.
  5. "NBA Games Played on February 4, 1988". Basketball-Reference.
  6. Goldaper, Sam. (February 26, 1988). "Suns Trade Nance to the Cavaliers". The New York Times.
  7. (February 26, 1988). "Bulls Get Sam Vincent, Send Threatt to Sonics". Chicago Tribune.
  8. (February 26, 1988). "Bulls Deal Threatt for Vincent". Chicago Tribune.
  9. "1987–88 Seattle SuperSonics Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference.
  10. "1987–88 Seattle SuperSonics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.
  11. Barnard, Bill. (February 7, 1988). "Today's NBA All-Star Game Will Be Homecoming of Sorts for 3 Players". Los Angeles Times.
  12. (September 13, 2021). "1988 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com.
  13. "1988 NBA All-Star Game: East 138, West 133". Basketball-Reference.
  14. (January 13, 1988). "Field Set for NBA Dunk Contest". The Daily Record.
  15. "NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners". Basketball-Reference.
  16. "1987–88 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference.
  17. "1988 NBA Western Conference First Round: SuperSonics vs. Nuggets". Basketball-Reference.
  18. (July 6, 1988). "Chambers Joins Suns". The New York Times.
  19. (July 6, 1988). "Unrestricted Chambers Signs with the Suns". Los Angeles Times.
  20. Kragthorpe, Kurt. (July 6, 1988). "Tom's Rich Chambers Spurns Jazz, Signs 5-Year, $9 Million Pact with Suns". Deseret News.
  21. Goldaper, Sam. (June 24, 1988). "Miami Chooses "Who?" First". The New York Times.
  22. Edes, Gordon. (June 24, 1988). "Billy Thompson Goes to Miami; Valentine Winds Up in Cleveland". Los Angeles Times.
  23. "1988 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference.
  24. (August 1, 1989). "Blazers Sign Young to Three-Year Deal". United Press International.
  25. "1987-88 Seattle SuperSonics Salaries". Basketball Reference.
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