1989–90 Seattle SuperSonics season

Draft picks

Main article: 1989 NBA draft

Seattle drafted future All-Stars Dana Barros and Shawn Kemp as their only two picks of the 1989 Draft. Kemp would go on to have a successful 8-year run with the Sonics.

Roster

|-

• Bernie Bickerstaff
• Bob Kloppenburg
• Tom Newell
• Gary Wortman

Regular season

Season standings

Game log

|- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 1 || November 3, 1989 || Minnesota Timberwolves || 106–94 || Ellis (33) || Cage (11) || Threatt (6) || 13,805 (Seattle, Washington) || 1–0 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 2 || November 4, 1989 || at Sacramento Kings || 100–107 || Cage (24) || Cage (13) || McMillan and Barros (4) || 17,104 (Sacramento, California) || 1-1 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 3 || November 7, 1989 || Charlotte Hornets || 128–88 || McDaniel and Ellis (23) || Cage (14) || McMillan (9) || 9,521 (Seattle, Washington) || 2–1 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 4 || November 9, 1989 || at Milwaukee Bucks || 154–155 (5OT) || Ellis (53) || McDaniel (13) || McMillan (10) || 14,012 (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) || 2-2 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 5 || November 11, 1989 || at Chicago Bulls || 102–109 || Ellis (30) || Cage (10) || McMillan (10) || 16,676 (Chicago, Illinois) || 2–3 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 6 || November 12, 1989 || at Minnesota Timberwolves || 108–97 || McKey (32) || Cage (16) || McMillan (12) || 21,702 (Minneapolis, Minnesota) || 3-3 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 7 || November 14, 1989 || Dallas Mavericks || 109–113 (OT) || McDaniel (31) || Cage (10) || McDaniel and McMillan (5) || 9,880 (Seattle, Washington) || 3–4 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 8 || November 16, 1989 || Washington Bullets || 111–98 || McDaniel (26) || McKey (11) || Barros (6) || 9,562 (Seattle, Washington) || 4-4 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 9 || November 18, 1989 || Chicago Bulls || 119–110 || McDaniel (36) || Cage (10) || McMillan (10) || 14,708 (Seattle, Washington) || 5–4 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 10 || November 19, 1989 || at Portland Trail Blazers || 109–119 || Ellis and Cage (17) || Cage (15) || Ellis (6) || 12,884 (Portland, Oregon) || 5-5 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 11 || November 21, 1989 || New Jersey Nets || 114–84 || McDaniel (26) || Cage (15) || McMillan (11) || 12,109 (Seattle, Washington) || 6–5 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 12 || November 24, 1989 || at Denver Nuggets || 109–122 || Barros (18) || Cage and Kemp (8) || Johnson (10) || 13,061 (Denver, Colorado) || 6-6 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 13 || November 25, 1989 || at Dallas Mavericks || 117–70 || McDaniel (22) || Cage (14) || McMillan (8) || 17,007 (Dallas, Texas) || 7–6 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 14 || November 28, 1989 || at San Antonio Spurs || 104–117 || Ellis (37) || McMillan (11) || McMillan (14) || 12,115 (San Antonio, Texas) || 7-7 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 15 || November 30, 1989 || New York Knicks || 127–122 || McDaniel (37) || McKey and McMillan (8) || McMillan (13) || 13,583 (Seattle, Washington) || 8–7 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 16 || December 2, 1989 || Detroit Pistons || 120–95 || Ellis (30) || McDaniel (10) || McMillan (14) || 14,546 (Seattle, Washington) || 9–7 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 17 || December 5, 1989 || Houston Rockets || 133–123 || McDaniel (36) || McDaniel (10) || McMillan (11) || 9,241 (Seattle, Washington) || 10–7 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 18 || December 9, 1989 || Los Angeles Clippers || 104–100 || Ellis (28) || Cage (15) || McMillan (6) || 12,548 (Seattle, Washington) || 11–7 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 19 || December 13, 1989 || at Boston Celtics || 97–109 || Ellis (32) || Ellis and Cage (9) || McMillan (7) || 14,890 (Boston, Massachusetts) || 11–8 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 20 || December 15, 1989 || at Cleveland Cavaliers || 101–120 || McKey (20) || Cage (13) || Johnson (5) || 15,072 (Richfield, Ohio) || 11–9 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 21 || December 16, 1989 || at New York Knicks || 97–118 || Cage (19) || Cage (10) || Johnson (5) || 18,212 (New York City, New York) || 11–10 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 22 || December 19, 1989 || at Detroit Pistons || 77–94 || Threatt (18) || Cage (9) || McMillan (7) || 21,454 (Auburn Hills, Michigan) || 11-11 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 23 || December 21, 1989 || Portland Trail Blazers || 123–102 || Ellis (23) || Cage (13) || McMillan (14) || 13,190 (Seattle, Washington) || 12–11 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 24 || December 23, 1989 || Indiana Pacers || 95–98 || McDaniel (29) || Cage (12) || McMillan (11) || 14,377 (Seattle, Washington) || 12-12 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 25 || December 27, 1989 || Philadelphia 76ers || 110–106 || Ellis (33) || Cage (13) || Threatt (7) || 14,381 (Seattle, Washington) || 13–12 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 26 || December 29, 1989 || Boston Celtics || 89–96 || McDaniel (26) || Cage (14) || McMillan (7) || 14,708 (Seattle, Washington) || 13-13 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 27 || January 3, 1990 || Utah Jazz || 108–119 || McDaniel (25) || Cage (19) || Johnson (8) || 12,314 (Seattle, Washington) || 13–14 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 28 || January 5, 1990 || Miami Heat || 140–110 || Ellis (26) || Kemp (9) || Johnson (17) || 9,819 (Seattle, Washington) || 14-14 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 29 || January 6, 1990 || Phoenix Suns || 120–110 || McDaniel (29) || Cage (10) || Johnson (11) || 14,430 (Seattle, Washington) || 15–14 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 30 || January 8, 1990 || at Dallas Mavericks || 96–110 || McDaniel (19) || McDaniel and Polynice (8) || Johnson (9) || 16,561 (Dallas, Texas) || 15-15 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 31 || January 9, 1990 || at Houston Rockets || 90–97 || Ellis (22) || McMillan (9) || McMillan (8) || 15,251 (Houston, Texas) || 15–16 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 32 || January 11, 1990 || Dallas Mavericks || 98–87 || Ellis (29) || Cage and McMillan (8) || McMillan (10) || 9,397 (Seattle, Washington) || 16-16 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 33 || January 13, 1990 || Atlanta Hawks || 113–106 || McDaniel (33) || McDaniel (14) || Johnson (11) || 14,330 (Seattle, Washington) || 17–16 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 34 || January 15, 1990 || Houston Rockets || 105–101 || McDaniel (25) || Cage (11) || Johnson (7) || 11,404 (Seattle, Washington) || 18–16 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 35 || January 17, 1990 || at Los Angeles Lakers || 90–100 || Threatt (26) || McDaniel (7) || McMillan (9) || 17,505 (Inglewood, California) || 18–17 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 36 || January 18, 1990 || at Los Angeles Clippers || 95–105 || McDaniel (30) || McDaniel and McKey (8) || Threatt (6) || 11.150 (Los Angeles, California) || 18-18 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 37 || January 20, 1990 || at Phoenix Suns || 98–117 || Threatt (21) || Cage (8) || McMillan (6) || 14,487 (Phoenix, Arizona) || 18–19 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 38 || January 24, 1990 || Milwaukee Bucks || 112–119 || McDaniel (32) || McMillan (9) || McDaniel (8) || 10,903 (Seattle, Washington) || 18–20 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 39 || January 26, 1990 || at Golden State Warriors || 102–114 || Threatt (36) || McDaniel (15) || McDaniel (7) || 15,025 (Oakland, California) || 18–21 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 40 || January 27, 1990 || San Antonio Spurs || 109–98 || McDaniel (34) || Cage (9) || McMillan (8) || 14,519 (Seattle, Washington) || 19–21 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 41 || January 31, 1990 || at Minnesota Timberwolves || 82–110 || McKey (16) || McKey (9) || McMillan (8) || 24,153 (Minneapolis, Minnesota) || 19–22 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 42 || February 2, 1990 || at Indiana Pacers || 87–86 || McDaniel (25) || Cage (12) || McMillan and Barros (4) || 12,858 (Indianapolis, Indiana) || 20–22 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 43 || February 3, 1990 || at Washington Bullets || 94–92 || McDaniel (29) || McDaniel and Cage (8) || McMillan (8) || 12,066 (Landover, Maryland) || 21–22 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 44 || February 5, 1990 || at Charlotte Hornets || 101–100 || McDaniel (22) || Cage (10) || McMillan, McDaniel, Sellers (4) || 23,901 (Charlotte, North Carolina) || 22-22 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 45 || February 7, 1990 || Phoenix Suns || 124–128 || McKey (26) || Polynice (8) || McMillan (8) || 11,420 (Seattle, Washington) || 22–23 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 46 || February 13, 1990 || Portland Trail Blazers || 106–110 || McDaniel (35) || McKey and Cage (10) || McMillan (15) || 12,717 (Seattle, Washington) || 22–24 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 47 || February 15, 1990 || at New Jersey Nets || 103–92 || McKey (31) || McKey (14) || McMillan (9) || 9,304 (East Rutherford, New Jersey) || 23–24 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 48 || February 16, 1990 || at Philadelphia 76ers || 96–100 (OT) || McDaniel (25) || McKey (13) || McMillan (12) || 16,190 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) || 23–25 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 49 || February 18, 1990 || at Charlotte Hornets || 85–70 || McDaniel (20) || Cage (11) || McMillan (4) || 23,901 (Charlotte, North Carolina) || 24–25 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 50 || February 20, 1990 || at Orlando Magic || 117–102 || McDaniel (27) || McDaniel and Cage (10) || McMillan (17) || 15,077 (Orlando, Florida) || 25-25 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 51 || February 21, 1990 || at Miami Heat || 92–85 || Barros (18) || Cage (12) || McMillan (7) || 15,008 (Miami, Florida) || 26–25 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 52 || February 23, 1990 || Sacramento Kings || 97–85 || McKey (24) || Cage (20) || McMillan (9) || 13,023 (Seattle, Washington) || 27–25 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 53 || February 25, 1990 || Golden State Warriors || 110–102 || McKey (33) || Cage (13) || McMillan (8) || 11,775 (Seattle, Washington) || 28–25 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 54 || February 27, 1990 || at Los Angeles Clippers || 99–103 || Barros (28) || McKey (10) || McKey and McMillan (5) || 10,826 (Los Angeles, California) || 28–26 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 55 || February 28, 1990 || Los Angeles Lakers || 107–112 || Barros (20) || McKey (11) || McMillan (7) || 14,542 (Seattle, Washington) || 28–27 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 56 || March 2, 1990 || Minnesota Timberwolves || 99–83 || McKey (18) || McKey (9) || McMillan (10) || 11,272 (Seattle, Washington) || 29–27 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 57 || March 3, 1990 || at Portland Trail Blazers || 98–110 || McKey (22) || McMillan and Cage (10) || McMillan (7) || 12,884 (Portland, Oregon) || 29–28 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 58 || March 6, 1990 || Cleveland Cavaliers || 95–90 || Barros (23) || Cage (13) || McKey, McMillan, Barros (4) || 12,019 (Seattle, Washington) || 30–28 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 59 || March 8, 1990 || at Houston Rockets || 97–111 || Cage (20) || Cage (14) || Barros (6) || 16,611 (Houston, Texas) || 30–29 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 60 || March 9, 1990 || at Atlanta Hawks || 97–107 || Barros (26) || Cage (10) || Barros (10) || 14,625 (Atlanta, Georgia) || 30-30 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 61 || March 12, 1990 || Orlando Magic || 130–105 || Ellis (24) || McMillan and Kemp (9) || McMillan (11) || 10,178 (Seattle, Washington) || 31–30 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 62 || March 14, 1990 || Charlotte Hornets || 103–100 || Farmer (26) || Cage (14) || McMillan (13) || 8,115 (Seattle, Washington) || 32–30 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 63 || March 15, 1990 || at Utah Jazz || 95–117 || Polynice (18) || Kemp (8) || McKey (4) || 12,616 (Salt Lake City, Utah) || 32–31 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 64 || March 18, 1990 || at Golden State Warriors || 121–116 || Ellis (30) || McKey (11) || McMillan (7) || 15,025 (Oakland, California) || 33–31 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 65 || March 20, 1990 || San Antonio Spurs || 106–128 || Kemp (20) || Cage (9) || McMillan and Barros (6) || 14,541 (Seattle, Washington) || 33–32 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 66 || March 22, 1990 || Denver Nuggets || 125–118 || McDaniel (24) || Cage (15) || McMillan (16) || 9,830 (Seattle, Washington) || 34–32 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 67 || March 24, 1990 || at Phoenix Suns || 95–121 || Kemp (16) || McKey (9) || McMillan (4) || 14,487 (Phoenix, Arizona) || 34–33 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 68 || March 25, 1990 || at Los Angeles Lakers || 94–116 || Kemp (19) || Cage (9) || McMillan (6) || 17,505 (Inglewood, California) || 34-34 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 69 || March 27, 1990 || at San Antonio Spurs || 103–115 || Ellis (36) || Cage (7) || McMillan (14) || 14,345 (San Antonio, Texas) || 34–35 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 70 || March 30, 1990 || Golden State Warriors || 139–108 || McDaniel (34) || Cage (12) || Threatt (13) || 13,542 (Seattle, Washington) || 35-35 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 71 || April 1, 1990 || at Los Angeles Clippers || 103–104 || Ellis (39) || Cage (21) || McMillan (8) || 11,815 (Los Angeles, California) || 35–36 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 72 || April 3, 1990 || Portland Trail Blazers || 136–134 (OT) || Ellis (30) || Kemp (8) || McMillan (4) || 11,414 (Seattle, Washington) || 36-36 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 73 || April 5, 1990 || Utah Jazz || 101–91 || Threatt (19) || McDaniel (12) || Barros (5) || 12,573 (Seattle, Washington) || 37–36 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 74 || April 6, 1990 || at Denver Nuggets || 103–119 || Threatt (22) || Cage (11) || McMillan (8) || 16,212 (Denver, Colorado) || 37-37 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 75 || April 9, 1990 || Sacramento Kings || 105–106 || Ellis (33) || Cage (12) || McMillan (12) || 11,678 (Seattle, Washington) || 37–38 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 76 || April 10, 1990 || at Utah Jazz || 102–114 || Ellis (30) || McKey (6) || Ellis (6) || 12,616 (Salt Lake City, Utah) || 37–39 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 77 || April 12, 1990 || Denver Nuggets || 113–103 || McDaniel (26) || Cage (14) || McKey (7) || 10,617 (Seattle, Washington) || 38–39 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 78 || April 14, 1990 || Phoenix Suns || 96–89 || Ellis (30) || Cage (13) || Threatt (11) || 12,903 (Seattle, Washington) || 39-39 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 79 || April 17, 1990 || Los Angeles Lakers || 101–102 || Ellis (28) || Cage (12) || McMillan (10) || 14,489 (Seattle, Washington) || 39–40 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 80 || April 19, 1990 || at Sacramento Kings || 130–118 (OT) || Ellis (43) || Cage (11) || Threatt (12) || 17,014 (Sacramento, California) || 40-40 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" || 81 || April 20, 1990 || Los Angeles Clippers || 121–99 || Ellis (36) || Cage (12) || McMillan (10) || 12,090 (Seattle, Washington) || 41–40 |- bgcolor="#edbebf" || 82 || April 22, 1990 || at Golden State Warriors || 122-124 || Ellis (33) || McDaniel (14) || McDaniel and Threatt (6) || 15,025 (Oakland, California) || 41-41 |-

Player statistics

Legend

• GP: Games played
• GS: Games started
• MPG: Minutes per game
• FG%: Field goal percentage
• 3FG%: 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

:1. Statistics with the SuperSonics.

Player statistics citation:

Awards, records, and honors

The Sonics did not have any awards, records, and honors.

Transactions

Overview

Trades

Free agents

Additions

Subtractions

Player Transactions Citation:

References

References

1. "1989–90 Seattle SuperSonics".
2. Goldaper, Sam. (June 28, 1989). "Kings Take Ellison First in N.B.A. Draft; Clippers Pick Ferry". The New York Times.
3. McManis, Sam. (June 28, 1989). "THE NBA DRAFT: The Other Teams: Sacramento's Secret Is Out: It's Ellison". Los Angeles Times.
4. "1989 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference.
5. (November 10, 1989). "Bucks Defeat SuperSonics in 5 Overtimes". The New York Times.
6. (November 10, 1989). "After Five Overtimes, Milwaukee Gets Win Over Seattle, 155-154". Los Angeles Times.
7. "Seattle SuperSonics at Milwaukee Bucks Box Score, November 9, 1989". Basketball-Reference.
8. "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1990". Basketball-Reference.
9. "1989–90 Seattle SuperSonics Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference.
10. (April 23, 1990). "Rockets Land a Berth". The New York Times.
11. Hafner, Dan. (April 23, 1990). "NBA ROUNDUP: Rockets Get Last Spot, Lakers in 1st Round". Los Angeles Times.
12. (January 12, 1990). "Dale Ellis in Car Crash -- Arrested on Suspicion of DWI". The Seattle Times.
13. (January 13, 1990). "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Sonics' Ellis Is Injured in Traffic Accident". The New York Times.
14. (January 13, 1990). "SuperSonics' Ellis Hurt in Crash; DWI Alleged". Los Angeles Times.
15. "1989–90 Seattle SuperSonics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.
16. (February 9, 1990). "NBA All-Star Weekend". The Hour.
17. "NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners". Basketball-Reference.
18. (December 8, 1990). "X Marks Suns' Spot in Trade with Seattle: Pro Basketball: McDaniel to Phoenix. SuperSonics Get Eddie Johnson, Two No. 1 Picks". Los Angeles Times.
19. Peoples, John. (December 8, 1990). "Sonics Say So Long to X-Man -- McDaniel Traded to Suns". The Seattle Times.
20. (December 8, 1990). "X-Man Traded to Suns for E.J., 2 1st-Round Picks". Deseret News.
21. [https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1990.html 1989-90 NBA Season Summary]
22. "1989–90 Seattle SuperSonics Transactions". Basketball-Reference.