Seattle SuperSonics History Online Information and NBA Betting Odds at WagerWeb Sportsbook

NBA Seattle SuperSonics History betting odds at WagerWeb Sportsbook

NBA Seattle SuperSonics History History Beginnings On December 20, 1966, Los Angeles businessmen Sam Schulman and Eugene V. Klein and a group of minority partners were awarded the NBA franchise for the city of Seattle. Schulman would serve as the active partner and head of team operations. Named the SuperSonics after Boeing's recently awarded contract for the SST project (later cancelled), they were Seattle's first professional sports franchise. Beginning play in October of 1967, the SuperSonics were coached by Al Bianchi and featured All-Star guard Walt Hazzard and All-Rookie Team members Bob Rule and Al Tucker.

The expansion team stumbled to a 23–59 record, and Hazzard was traded to the Atlanta Hawks before the start of the next season for future Hall-of-Famer Lenny Wilkens. Wilkens brought a strong all-around game to the SuperSonics, averaging 22.4 points per game, 8.2 assists per game, and 6.2 rebounds per game for Seattle in the 1968–69 season. Rule, meanwhile, improved on his rookie statistics with 24.0 points per game and 11.5 rebounds per game. The SuperSonics, however, only won 30 games and Bianchi was replaced by Wilkens as coach during the off-season.

1990s

The SuperSonics began setting a new foundation with the drafting of forward Shawn Kemp in 1989 and guard Gary Payton in 1990, and the trading of Dale Ellis and Xavier McDaniel to other teams during the 1990–91 season. It was George Karl's arrival as head coach in 1992, however, that marked a return to regular season and playoff competitiveness for the SuperSonics. With the continued improvement of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, the SuperSonics posted a 55–27 record in the 1992-93 season and took the Phoenix Suns to seven games in the Western Conference Finals.

The next year, the SuperSonics had the best record in the NBA in 1994 at 63–19 record, but suffered a humiliating first round loss to the Denver Nuggets, becoming the first #1 seed to lose a playoff series to a #8 seed. After playing the 1994–95 season in the Tacoma Dome the team moved to the renamed Key Arena for the 1995–96 season. Perhaps the strongest roster the Supersonics ever had was the 1995–96 team, which had a franchise best 64–18 record. With a deep roster comprised of All-NBA Second Team selections Kemp and Payton, forward Detlef Schrempf, center Sam Perkins, guard Hersey Hawkins, and guard Nate McMillan, the team reached the NBA Finals, but lost to the Chicago Bulls in six games. Seattle continued to be a Western Conference powerhouse during the next two seasons, winning 57 games in 1996–97 and 61 games in 1997–98 for their second and third straight Pacific Division titles. At the end of the 1997–98 season long-time Sonic and defensive specialist Nate McMillan retired.

2000s

Disagreements with management led to Karl leaving Seattle after the 1997–98 season, and the SuperSonics again descended into an extended period of mediocrity. The 2002–03 season saw All-Star Gary Payton traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, and it also marked the end to the Sonics 11-year streak of having a season with a winning percentage of at least .500, the second longest current streak in the NBA at the time. The 2004–05 team surprised many when it won the organization's sixth division title under the leadership of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, winning 52 games. During the off-season in 2005, head coach Nate McMillan left the Sonics to accept a high-paying position to coach the Portland Trail Blazers. After his departure, the team regressed the following season with a 35–47 record, missing the playoffs.

On May 22, 2007, the Supersonics were awarded the 2nd pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, equaling the highest draft position the team has ever held. They selected Kevin Durant out of Texas. On June 28, 2007, the SuperSonics traded Ray Allen and the 35th pick of the 2nd round (Glen Davis) in the 2007 NBA Draft to the Boston Celtics for rights to the 5th pick Jeff Green, Wally Szczerbiak, and Delonte West. On July 11, 2007, the Sonics and the Orlando Magic agreed to a sign and trade for Rashard Lewis. The Sonics received a future second-round draft pick and a $9.5 million trade exception from the Magic. On July 20 the Sonics used the trade exception and a second-round draft pick to acquire Kurt Thomas and two first-round draft picks from the Phoenix Suns.

Season-by-season records

Season	W	L	%	Playoffs	Results
Seattle SuperSonics
1990-91	41	41	.500	Lost First Round	Portland 3, Seattle 2
1991-92	47	35	.573	Won First Round Lost Conference Semifinals	Seattle 3, Golden State 1 Utah 4, Seattle 1
1992-93	55	27	.671	Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Lost Conference Finals	Seattle 3, Utah 2 Seattle 4, Houston 3 Phoenix 4, Seattle 3
1993-94	63	19	.768	Lost First Round	Denver 3, Seattle 2
1994-95	57	25	.695	Lost First Round	L.A. Lakers 3, Seattle 1
1995-96	64	18	.780	Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Lost NBA Finals	Seattle 3, Sacramento 1 Seattle 4, Houston 0 Seattle 4, Utah 3 Chicago 4, Seattle 2
1996-97	57	25	.695	Won First Round Lost Conference Semifinals	Seattle 3, Phoenix 2 Houston 4, Seattle 3
1997-98	61	21	.744	Won First Round Lost Conference Semifinals	Seattle 3, Minnesota 2 L.A. Lakers 4, Seattle 1
1998-99	25	25	.500
1999-2000	45	37	.549	Lost First Round	Utah 3, Seattle 2
2000-01	44	38	.537
2001-02	45	37	.549	Lost First Round	San Antonio 3, Seattle 2
2002-03	40	42	.488
2003-04	37	45	.451
2004-05	52	30	.634	Won First Round Lost Conference Semifinals	Seattle 4, Sacramento 1 San Antonio 4, Seattle 2
2005-06	35	47	.427
2006-07	31	51	.383
2007-08	0	0	.000
Totals	1725	1522	.531
Playoffs	109	109	.500	1 Championship

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