1978–79 Seattle SuperSonics season

1978–79 Seattle SuperSonics season
NBA champions
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coach	Lenny Wilkens
General manager	Zollie Volchok
Owners	Sam Schulman
Arena	Kingdome
Results
Record	52–30 (.634)
Place	Division: 1st (Pacific) Conference: 1st (Western)
Playoff finish	NBA champions (defeated Bullets 4–1)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	KIRO-TV 7 (Wayne Cody, Steve Jones)
Radio	KIRO–AM 710 (Bob Blackburn)

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

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 would not reach another NBA Finals until 1996 in which they were led by Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. They also would not win another until 2025 as the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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

Off-season

Draft

Main article: 1978 NBA draft

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. Player Height Weight DOB From C 21 Dennis Awtrey 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1948–02–22 Santa Clara G 32 Fred Brown 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 182 lb (83 kg) 1948–08–07 Iowa G 10 Joe Hassett 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1955–09–11 Providence G 24 Dennis Johnson 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1954–09–18 Pepperdine F 27 John Johnson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1947–10–18 Iowa F/C 23 Tom LaGarde 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1955–02–10 North Carolina F 22 Jackie Robinson 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1955–05–20 UNLV F 8 Lonnie Shelton 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1955–10–19 Oregon State F/C 43 Jack Sikma 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1955–11–14 Illinois Wesleyan F/C 35 Paul Silas 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1943–07–12 Creighton G/F 11 Dick Snyder 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 207 lb (94 kg) 1944–02–01 Davidson F 42 Wally Walker 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1954–07–18 Virginia G 1 Gus Williams 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1953–10–10 USC

Head coach Lenny Wilkens (Providence) Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: 1979–06–26

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

Game log

Regular season

1978–79 game log Total: 52–30 (Home: 31–10; Road: 21–20)
October: 7–1 (home: 5–0; road: 2–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 13 Chicago W 104–86 Dennis Johnson (26) Jack Sikma (12) Jack Sikma (6) Kingdome 15,219 1–0 2 October 15 Kansas City W 115–105 Fred Brown (26) Lonnie Shelton (8) Fred Brown (5) Kingdome 11,609 2–0 3 October 17 @ New York W 120–109 Tied (20) Jack Sikma (12) Tied (5) Madison Square Garden 10,155 3–0 4 October 18 @ Indiana W 99–92 Dennis Johnson (20) Tom LaGarde (15) Tied (3) Market Square Arena 7,683 4–0 5 October 20 San Antonio W 133–117 Tom LaGarde (32) Tom LaGarde (13) Tied (6) Kingdome 20,172 5–0 6 October 25 Washington W 121–92 Gus Williams (24) Lonnie Shelton (15) Dennis Johnson (4) Kingdome 15,089 6–0 7 October 27 Milwaukee W 80–79 Fred Brown (20) Jack Sikma (13) Fred Brown (3) Kingdome 19,060 7–0 8 October 29 @ San Diego L 100–103 John Johnson (20) Jack Sikma (11) Tied (3) San Diego Sports Arena 9,469 7–1
November: 9–4 (home: 6–3; road: 3–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 9 November 2 @ Detroit W 95–94 Jack Sikma (20) Jack Sikma (17) Tied (4) Pontiac Silverdome 7,432 8–1 10 November 3 @ New Jersey W 102–81 Gus Williams (27) Tom LaGarde (16) Gus Williams (6) Rutgers Athletic Center 4,756 9–1 11 November 8 New York L 100–104 Jack Sikma (22) John Johnson (8) Dennis Johnson (5) Kingdome 23,516 9–2 12 November 10 Cleveland W 109–95 Lonnie Shelton (19) Jack Sikma (14) Fred Brown (9) Kingdome 16,384 10–2 13 November 15 New Orleans W 135–118 Fred Brown (20) Tom LaGarde (14) Dennis Johnson (6) Kingdome 12,178 11–2 14 November 17 Indiana W 126–115 Tied (25) Tom LaGarde (13) Dennis Johnson (7) Kingdome 14,906 12–2 15 November 18 @ Golden State L 104–112 Gus Williams (24) Jack Sikma (12) Tied (5) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,237 12–3 16 November 19 Portland W 88–85 John Johnson (21) Jack Sikma (13) Dennis Johnson (8) Kingdome 17,809 13–3 17 November 22 Chicago W 98–96 Gus Williams (22) Jack Sikma (11) John Johnson (6) Kingdome 13,253 14–3 18 November 24 Denver L 100–103 Jack Sikma (23) Jack Sikma (9) Tied (4) Kingdome 25,127 14–4 19 November 25 @ Denver W 110–104 Gus Williams (24) Jack Sikma (16) D. Johnson (8) McNichols Sports Arena 17,109 15–4 20 November 26 Houston L 103–108 Gus Williams (23) Jack Sikma (16) Tied (5) Kingdome 18,159 15–5 21 November 29 New Jersey W 125–111 Fred Brown (26) Jack Sikma (16) Gus Williams (8) Kingdome 13,011 16–5
December: 6–7 (home: 5–2; road: 1–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 22 December 1 @ Boston L 80–87 Jack Sikma (19) Jack Sikma (15) Dennis Johnson (5) Boston Garden 11,198 16–6 23 December 2 @ Philadelphia W 100–97 Jack Sikma (29) Jack Sikma (20) Dick Snyder (5) The Spectrum 15,068 17–6 24 December 8 Atlanta W 107–106 Lonnie Shelton (26) Jack Sikma (17) Fred Brown (9) Kingdome 13,383 18–6 25 December 10 San Antonio W 112–99 Jack Sikma (23) Jack Sikma (19) John Johnson (7) Kingdome 13,847 19–6 26 December 13 Los Angeles W 117–107 Fred Brown (28) Paul Silas (15) Jack Sikma (8) Kingdome 20,178 20–6 27 December 15 @ Los Angeles L 98–100 Dennis Johnson (28) Jack Sikma (8) Tied (7) The Forum 11,149 20–7 28 December 17 @ Cleveland L 91–101 Tied (17) Jack Sikma (21) Fred Brown (7) Richfield Coliseum 8,209 20–8 29 December 19 @ Milwaukee L 99–128 Lars Hansen (19) Tied (8) Paul Silas (6) MECCA Arena 10,938 20–9 30 December 20 @ Kansas City L 95–114 Wally Walker (17) Jack Sikma (11) Tied (4) Kemper Arena 8,552 20–10 31 December 22 Philadelphia L 95–103 Jack Sikma (21) Jack Sikma (16) Dennis Johnson (7) Kingdome 20,133 20–11 32 December 25 San Diego L 118–123 Dennis Johnson (28) Jack Sikma (14) Jack Sikma (6) Kingdome 11,910 20–12 33 December 27 New Orleans W 122–103 Fred Brown (27) Jack Sikma (11) Dennis Johnson (8) Kingdome 17,116 21–12 34 December 29 Phoenix W 119–92 Dennis Johnson (26) Jack Sikma (12) Tied (7) Kingdome 20,565 22–12
January: 10–4 (home: 3–3; road: 7–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 35 January 1 Golden State L 97–110 Tied (17) Jack Sikma (11) John Johnson (6) Kingdome 12,469 22–13 36 January 2 @ Portland W 109–108 Gus Williams (25) Jack Sikma (8) Gus Williams (5) Memorial Coliseum 12,666 23–13 37 January 3 Boston W 123–116 Jack Sikma (21) Jack Sikma (12) Tied (5) Kingdome 13,398 24–13 38 January 5 Denver L 92–95 Jack Sikma (23) Jack Sikma (23) Fred Brown (5) Kingdome 22,347 24–14 39 January 10 Indiana W 118–98 Jack Sikma (19) Jack Sikma (15) Dennis Johnson (7) Kingdome 14,089 25–14 40 January 11 @ Phoenix W 109–106 Gus Williams (22) John Johnson (10) John Johnson (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660 26–14 41 January 14 Los Angeles L 99–108 Dennis Johnson (27) Tied (9) Gus Williams (6) Kingdome 19,756 26–15 42 January 17 @ Indiana W 112–102 Gus Williams (26) Jack Sikma (16) John Johnson (6) Market Square Arena 9,280 27–15 43 January 20 @ Chicago W 107–101 Dennis Johnson (29) Tied (7) J. Johnson (6) [[Chicago Stadium[]] 8,945 28–15 44 January 23 @ Washington W 103–100 Gus Williams (24) Jack Sikma (8) John Johnson (4) Capital Centre 15,232 29–15 45 January 25 @ Atlanta W 100–98 Gus Williams (28) Jack Sikma (15) Dennis Johnson (10) The Omni 4,576 30–15 46 January 26 @ San Antonio L 108–125 Tied (21) Jack Sikma (18) Tied (5) HemisFair Arena 13,659 30–16 47 January 27 @ Houston W 99–94 Gus Williams (26) Tied (10) Fred Brown (10) The Summit 15,153 31–16 48 January 31 Portland W 115–112 Gus Williams (23) Jack Sikma (15) Jack Sikma (5) Kingdome 19,540 32–16
February: 6–9 (home: 5–1; road: 1–8) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 49 February 1 New Jersey W 107–102 Jack Sikma (30) Tied (10) Fred Brown (6) Kingdome 17,332 33–16 50 February 2 Milwaukee W 104–102 Jack Sikma (22) Jack Sikma (17) Gus Williams (6) Kingdome 24,332 34–16 All-Star Game 51 February 6 @ New York L 99–108 Gus Williams (26) Jack Sikma (10) Gus Williams (8) Madison Square Garden 12,952 34–17 52 February 7 @ Boston L 100–107 GUs Williams (28) Jack Sikma (12) Gus Williams (5) Boston Garden 6,902 34–18 53 February 9 @ Milwaukee L 116–118 (OT) Gus Williams (26) Jack Sikma (9) Tied (6) MECCA Arena 10,938 34–19 54 February 10 @ Houston L 101–113 Jack Sikma (27) Jack Sikma (12) Gus Williams (8) The Summit 15,676 34–20 55 February 14 Atlanta W 116–104 Tied (22) Tied (9) Gus Williams (7) Kingdome 15,223 35–20 56 February 16 Phoenix W 119–104 Dennis Johnson (30) Jack Sikma (15) Fred Brown (7) Kingdome 23,103 36–20 57 February 18 Washington L 94–105 Gus Williams (22) Paul Silas (16) Tied (5) Kingdome 21,935 36–21 58 February 20 @ San Antonio L 102–118 Jack Sikma (20) Jack Sikma (11) Tied (4) HemisFair Arena 11,765 36–22 59 February 21 @ New Orleans W 96–94 Gus Williams (20) Jack Sikma (19) Fred Brown (6) Louisiana Superdome 6,327 37–22 60 February 23 @ Washington L 110–132 Paul Silas (16) Jack Sikma (11) Tied (3) Capital Centre 19,035 37–23 61 February 25 @ Kansas City L 106–114 Gus Williams (33) Paul Silas (12) Gus Williams (6) Kemper Arena 14,059 37–24 62 February 27 @ Denver L 106–121 Tied (20) Tied (9) D. Johnson (7) McNichols Sports Arena 14,182 37–25 63 February 28 Philadelphia W 97–93 Gus Williams (28) Jack Sikma (13) John Johnson (6) Kingdome 18,900 38–25
March: 11–3 (home: 6–1; road: 5–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 64 March 2 Cleveland L 109–111 Gus Williams (31) Jack Sikma (22) Jack Sikma (5) Kingdome 21,337 38–26 65 March 4 Houston W 119–109 Lonnie Shelton (28) Jack Sikma (11) John Johnson (9) Kingdome 21,219 39–26 66 March 7 @ Detroit W 99–93 Fred Brown (27) Jack Sikma (19) Gus Williams (7) Pontiac Silverdome 7,069 40–26 67 March 9 @ New Jersey W 108–100 Gus Williams (38) Jack Sikma (16) Gus Williams (6) Rutgers Athletic Center 6,235 41–26 68 March 11 @ Atlanta L 111–113 (OT) Gus Williams (32) Jack Sikma (18) Gus Williams (8) The Omni 10,533 41–27 69 March 14 @ Philadelphia W 99–96 Gus Williams (23) Jack Sikma (13) Tied (6) The Spectrum 11,645 42–27 70 March 15 @ Cleveland W 104–98 Lonnie Shelton (28) Jack Sikma (16) John Johnson (7) Richfield Coliseum 7,122 43–27 71 March 17 @ Chicago W 106–88 Gus Williams (27) Paul Silas (9) John Johnson (8) Chicago Stadium 8,974 44–27 72 March 22 Boston W 112–110 Jack Sikma (24) Jack Sikma (15) John Johnson (8) Kingdome 21,549 45–27 73 March 25 Kansas City W 111–101 Gus Williams (38) Tied (10) John Williams (8) Kingdome 21,497 46–27 74 March 27 San Diego W 115–109 Gus Williams (30) Lonnie Shelton (12) John Johnson (13) Kingdome 20,087 47–27 75 March 28 New York W 111–105 Dennis Johnson (25) Jack Sikma (9) John Johnson (8) Kingdome 20,075 48–27 76 March 30 @ Phoenix L 111–113 (OT) Fred Brown (20) Lonnie Shelton (8) John Johnson (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660 48–28 77 March 31 Detroit W 123–102 Tied (18) Jack Sikma (14) Tied (6) Kingdome 21,639 49–28
April: 3–2 (home: 1–0; road: 2–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 78 April 1 Golden State W 102–97 Dennis Johnson (24) Jack Sikma (11) Tied (7) Kingdome 24,802 50–28 79 April 3 @ Portland L 102–106 Gus Williams (28) Jack Sikma (12) Gus Williams (8) Memorial Coliseum 12,666 50–29 80 April 4 @ San Diego W 115–107 Gus Williams (26) Jack Sikma (20) John Johnson (5) San Diego Sports Arena 10,874 51–29 81 April 6 @ Los Angeles W 113–93 Gus Williams (31) Jack Sikma (12) Gus Williams (10) The Forum 14,343 52–29 82 April 8 @ Golden State L 86–89 Tied (16) Jack Sikma (7) Gus Williams (5) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 8,972 52–30
1978–79 schedule

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.

1979 playoff game log
Conference Semifinals: 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) Tied (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) Tied (9) Gus Williams (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660 2–1 4 May 8 @ Phoenix L 91–100 Gus Williams (22) Lonnie Shelton (10) 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) Tied (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

• Dennis Johnson, NBA All-Defensive First Team
• Dennis Johnson, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player

1979 NBA All-Star Game

• Dennis Johnson
• Jack Sikma

References

• SuperSonics on Basketball Reference

External links

• Seattle PI: Photos | 1979 National Champion Seattle SuperSonics