From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

1996–97 Seattle SuperSonics season

NBA professional basketball team season

Fox Sports Northwest (lost to Rockets 3–4)

The 1996–97 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 29th season for the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association. The SuperSonics entered the regular season as runners-up in the 1996 NBA Finals, having lost to the Chicago Bulls in six games. During the off-season, the SuperSonics signed free agent center Jim McIlvaine to a 7-year $33.6 million contract, which was controversial as McIlvaine previously played a reserve role for the Washington Bullets in his first two seasons of his NBA career; he only averaged 2.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game during the previous season. The team also signed other free agents, Craig Ehlo, and Larry Stewart, and then later on signed former All-Star forward Terry Cummings in January.

Coming off their trip to the NBA Finals, the SuperSonics posted an 11-game winning streak after losing two of their first three games of the regular season. The team later on posted a nine-game winning streak in January, then won seven straight games in February, and held a 32–15 record at the All-Star break. The SuperSonics won their third Division title in four years, finishing in first place in the Pacific Division with a 57–25 record, earning the second seed in the Western Conference, and qualifying for the NBA playoffs for the seventh consecutive year. The SuperSonics had the sixth best team defensive rating in the NBA.

Gary Payton averaged 21.8 points, 7.1 assists and 2.4 steals per game, contributed 119 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, and to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, while Shawn Kemp averaged 18.7 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, and Detlef Schrempf provided the team with 16.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game, but only played 61 games due to a foot injury. In addition, Hersey Hawkins contributed 13.9 points and 1.9 steals per game, and led the SuperSonics with 143 three-point field goals, while off the bench, sixth man Sam Perkins provided with 11.0 points per game and 122 three-point field goals, Cummings averaged 8.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in 45 games, Stewart provided with 4.3 points per game, and McIlvaine, who was the team's starting center, contributed 3.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and led them with 2.0 blocks per game. Defensive guard Nate McMillan only played just 37 games this season due to a torn right abductor muscle, as he averaged 4.6 points, 3.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, Payton, Kemp and Schrempf were all selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Western Conference All-Star team; it was Schrempf's third and final All-Star appearance. Meanwhile, Perkins participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout. Payton finished in sixth place in Most Valuable Player voting, and also finished in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, behind Dikembe Mutombo of the Atlanta Hawks, while Kemp finished tied in sixth place, and Perkins finished tied in fifth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.

In the Western Conference First Round of the 1997 NBA playoffs, the SuperSonics faced off against the 7th-seeded Phoenix Suns, a team that featured Kevin Johnson, Rex Chapman, and All-Star guard Jason Kidd. The SuperSonics lost Game 1 at home, 106–101 at the KeyArena at Seattle Center, but then defeated the Suns in Game 2 by a 44-point margin, 122–78. The SuperSonics faced elimination as the Suns won Game 3 at the America West Arena to take a 2–1 series lead; however, the SuperSonics managed to win Game 4 on the road in overtime, 122–115 to even the series. The SuperSonics then won Game 5 over the Suns at home, 116–92 to win the series in five hard-fought games.

In the Western Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the 3rd–seeded Houston Rockets, who were led by the All-Star trio of Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley and Clyde Drexler; despite both teams finishing with the same record during the regular season, and with the SuperSonics winning the Pacific Division title, the Rockets had home-court advantage in the series. The Rockets took a 3–1 series lead over the SuperSonics, defeating them in Game 4 at the KeyArena at Seattle Center in overtime, 110–106. However, the SuperSonics managed to win the next two games to even the series at 3–3, but then lost Game 7 to the Rockets, 96–91 at The Summit, thus losing in a hard-fought seven-game series.

The SuperSonics finished 13th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 699,952 at the KeyArena at Seattle Center during the regular season. This season was Kemp's final season with the SuperSonics, as he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team trade the following year. Also following the season, Cummings signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers, while Stewart was released to free agency, and Ehlo retired.

Draft picks

Main article: 1996 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
2	35	Joseph Blair	C	United States	Arizona
2	45	Joe Vogel	C	United States	Colorado State
2	47	Ron Riley	SG/SF	United States	Arizona State
2	57	Drew Barry	PG	United States	Georgia Tech

Roster

George Karl
Dwane Casey
Tim Grgurich
Terry Stotts
Bob Weiss

Regular season

Season standings

Game log

|- | 1 | November 1 | @ Utah | L 91–99 | | | |

0–1
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
-
6
-
7
-
8
-
9
-
10
-
11
-
12
-
13
-
14
-
15
-
16
-
17
-
18
-
19
-
20
-
21
-
22
-
23
-
24
-
25
-
26
-
27
-
28
-
29
-
30
-
31
-
32
-
33
-
34
-
35
-
36
-
37
-
38
-
39
-
40
-
41
-
42
-
43
-
44
-
45
-
46
-
47
-
48
-
49
-
50
-
51
-
52
-
53
-
54
-
55
-
56
-
57
-
58
-
59
-
60
-
61
-
62
-
63
-
64
-
65
-
66
-
67
-
68
-
69
-
70
-
71
-
72
-
73
-
74
-
75
-
76
-
77
-
78
-
79
-
80
-
81
-
82
April 19
@ L. A. Clippers
W 125–100

| | | | | 57–25

Playoffs

3–2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
1
May 5
@ Houston
L 102–112
Shawn Kemp (24)
Shawn Kemp (11)
Eric Snow (7)
The Summit
16,285
0–1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
2
May 7
@ Houston
W 106–101
Shawn Kemp (22)
Shawn Kemp (15)
Gary Payton (9)
The Summit
16,285
1–1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
3
May 9
Houston
L 93–97
Payton, Kemp (28)
Shawn Kemp (10)
Payton, Kemp (5)
KeyArena
17,072
1–2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
4
May 11
Houston
L 106–110 (OT)
Gary Payton (27)
Kemp, Cummings (9)
Gary Payton (11)
KeyArena
17,072
1–3
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
5
May 13
@ Houston
W 100–94
Hersey Hawkins (23)
Shawn Kemp (10)
Gary Payton (11)
The Summit
16,285
2–3
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
6
May 15
Houston
W 99–96
Shawn Kemp (22)
Shawn Kemp (11)
Gary Payton (13)
KeyArena
17,072
3–3
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
7
May 17
@ Houston
L 91–96
Gary Payton (27)
Shawn Kemp (10)
Gary Payton (7)
The Summit
16,285
3–4
-

Player statistics

Season

GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
82	82	39.2	.476	.313	.715	4.6	7.1	2.4	.2	21.8
82	82	33.6	.464	.403	.875	3.9	3.0	1.9	.1	13.9
82	79	18.0	.471	.143	.495	4.0	.3	.5	2.0	3.8
81	75	34.0	.510	.364	.742	10.0	1.9	1.5	1.0	18.7
81	4	24.4	.439	.395	.817	3.7	1.3	.9	.6	11.0
70	21	14.0	.444	.243	.720	2.4	.7	.4	.3	4.3
67	0	11.6	.451	.267	.712	1.0	2.4	.6	.0	3.0
65	2	14.3	.416	.352	.825	1.1	1.2	.7	.1	3.6
62	0	13.7	.351	.284	.500	1.8	1.1	.6	.1	3.5
61	60	35.9	.492	.354	.801	6.5	4.4	1.0	.3	16.8
45	3	18.4	.486	.600	.695	4.1	.9	.7	.2	8.2
37	2	21.6	.409	.333	.655	3.2	3.8	1.6	.2	4.6
28	0	7.0	.363	.290	.650	.5	.4	.4	.0	3.3
7	0	4.1	.857		.500	.4	.0	.0	.0	1.9
6	0	4.3	.455		.833	1.7	.2	.0	.7	2.5
1	0	5.0	.000			.0	.0	1.0	.0	.0

Playoffs

GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
12	12	45.5	.412	.333	.820	5.4	8.7	2.2	.3	23.8
12	12	40.3	.470	.458	.914	4.5	2.8	2.5	.3	15.3
12	12	38.3	.472	.552	.815	5.8	3.4	1.1	.1	16.9
12	12	36.8	.486	.200	.829	12.3	3.0	1.2	1.3	21.6
12	6	28.3	.337	.311	.862	4.4	1.3	1.0	1.0	8.4
12	6	24.3	.489		.667	6.0	1.2	.9	.5	8.8
12	0	16.0	.424	.387	.692	3.1	1.2	.4	.3	6.4
8	0	6.0	.455	.500	.500	.3	1.5	.5	.0	1.6
6	0	7.2	.286	.250	.750	.8	1.0	.3	.0	2.0
5	0	5.6	.571		.500	.4	.0	.2	.4	1.8
4	0	4.0	.833	.500	1.000	.3	.5	.5	.3	3.3
3	0	13.7	.000	.000		1.7	1.0	.3	.0	.0

Player statistics citation:

Awards and records

Awards

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

Records

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Additions

Subtractions

References

[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SEA/1997.html 1996–97 Seattle SuperSonics]
Cour, Jim. (July 22, 1996). "Sonics Get Their Center: Jim McIlvaine". Associated Press.
Allen, Percy. (July 23, 1996). "McIlvaine Solution in Middle?". The Seattle Times.
Taylor, Phil. (November 11, 1996). "SPOTLIGHT: Jim McIlvaine; Seattle Is Gambling $35 Million on a Former Backup Center to Help It Hit the Jackpot". Sports Illustrated Vault.
(July 23, 1996). "Sonics Sign Free Agent Craig Ehlo". United Press International.
Blanchette, John. (October 24, 1996). "Journeyman Ehlo Takes Career Turn for the Better". The Spokesman-Review.
Smith, Theresa. (October 4, 1996). "Stewart Sets Blurry Sights on Making Sonics' Roster; Competition Getting Physical Among Seattle's Free Agents". The Spokesman-Review.
Underwood, Roger. (November 24, 1996). "ROGER UNDERWOOD'S NBA NOTEBOOK: Injured McMillan Helps from the Sonics' Bench". Kitsap Sun.
(January 12, 1997). "Seattle May Sign Cummings". Los Angeles Times.
(January 12, 1997). "Sonics Dump Pacers; Cummings May Sign Monday with Seattle". The Spokesman-Review.
(January 13, 1997). "Sonics Sign Terry Cummings". Associated Press.
"NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997". Basketball-Reference.
"1996–97 Seattle SuperSonics Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference.
"Teams Defense". [[NBA.com]].
(February 28, 1997). "Schrempf Lost at Least Five Games with Foot Injury". The Spokesman-Review.
(March 7, 1997). "Schrempf Says He'll Return Soon". The Spokesman-Review.
Howard-Cooper, Scott. (April 2, 1997). "Lakers Ease Pain with Key Victory". Los Angeles Times.
"1996–97 Seattle SuperSonics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.
(December 9, 1996). "So Far, Sonics Are Anything But Super". Deseret News.
(February 11, 1997). "Nate McMillan Rejoins NBA Team". Associated Press.
Fry, Darrell. (February 8, 1997). "On to the Next Stage". Tampa Bay Times.
(September 13, 2021). "1997 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com.
"1997 NBA All-Star Game: East 132, West 120". Basketball-Reference.
"NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners". Basketball-Reference.
Kawakami, Tim. (May 19, 1997). "MVP: Malone, the Standout Jazz Forward Known as Mailman, Edges Jordan in the Voting to Earn Stamp of Greatness". Los Angeles Times.
"1996–97 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference.
(April 25, 1997). "Mutombo Picks Up Defensive Award". The New York Times.
(April 24, 1997). "Knicks' Starks Turns Demotion Into Honor". The Spokesman-Review.
Friend, Tom. (April 30, 1997). "Sonics Fall in Familiar 2-1 Hole". The New York Times.
(April 30, 1997). "Suns Beat SuperSonics, Again". Los Angeles Times.
Reisner, Mel. (April 30, 1997). "Person Rises, Leads Suns Past Sonics". The Washington Post.
Friend, Tom. (May 4, 1997). "Sonics Beat Suns, Dousing Lights on Johnson's Career". The New York Times.
Moore, Jim. (May 4, 1997). "Sonics 116, Suns 92". The Washington Post.
"1997 NBA Western Conference First Round: Suns vs. SuperSonics". Basketball-Reference.
(May 12, 1997). "Rockets Are Almost Home Free After Overtime Victory". The New York Times.
Adande, J.A.. (May 12, 1997). "Rockets 110, SuperSonics 106". The Washington Post.
(May 12, 1997). "After Blowing Lead, Rockets Get O.T. Victory". Deseret News.
Friend, Tom. (May 16, 1997). "Fisticuffs Fever Spreads to Seattle". The New York Times.
(May 16, 1997). "It Gets Worse for Rockets". Los Angeles Times.
(May 16, 1997). "SuperSonics 99, Rockets 96". The Washington Post.
Howe Verhovek, Sam. (May 18, 1997). "Barkley Closer to Goal as Rockets Move Ahead". The New York Times.
(May 18, 1997). "Rockets Survive SuperSonic Scare". Los Angeles Times.
"1997 NBA Western Conference Semifinals: SuperSonics vs. Rockets". Basketball-Reference.
"1996–97 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.
Roberts, Selena. (September 26, 1997). "PRO BASKETBALL; Sonics' Kemp Gets Wish and Is Traded, to Cavs". The New York Times.
Baker, Chris. (September 26, 1997). "Kemp Is Key Player in Three-Way Trade". Los Angeles Times.
Sherwin, Bob. (September 26, 1997). "Shawn Kemp Moves On -- Reign Comes to an End -- Kemp Is a Cav, Baker Is a Sonic After 3-Way Deal". The Seattle Times.
(September 5, 1997). "Two Free Agents Sign". The New York Times.
Shapiro, Mark. (September 5, 1997). "76ers Sign Cummings to 2-Year Deal". Chicago Tribune.
(September 5, 1997). "NBA Referee Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Returns". Los Angeles Times.

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

seattle-supersonics-seasons

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about 1996–97 Seattle SuperSonics season — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report