1968–69 Seattle SuperSonics season

The 1968–69 Seattle SuperSonics season was the second season of the Seattle franchise in the NBA. The Sonics finished the regular season with a 30–52 record in 6th place on the Western Division. During the offseason, Seattle traded their top scorer Walt Hazzard to the Atlanta Hawks to bring three-time All-Star Lenny Wilkens, who would serve as head coach of the team the following year.

1968–69 Seattle SuperSonics season
Head coachAl Bianchi
General managerDick Vertlieb
ArenaSeattle Center Coliseum
Results
Record30–52 (.366)
PlaceDivision: 6th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKTNT-TV
RadioKOMO

Draft picks
Main article: 1968 NBA draft

Note: only draft picks who participated in at least one game in the NBA are listed.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 3 Bob Kauffman Center / forward  United States Guilford College
2 16 Art Harris Guard  United States Stanford
5 52 Al Hairston Guard  United States Bowling Green State
10 122 Joe Kennedy Forward  United States Duke
11 136 Jim Marsh Forward  United States USC

Roster
1968–69 Seattle SuperSonics roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G 25 Hairston, Al 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1945–12–11 Bowling Green
G 12 Harris, Art 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1947–01–13 Stanford
F/C 22 Kauffman, Bob 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1947–01–12 Guilford
SG 11 Kron, Tommy 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1943–02–28 Kentucky
SF 43 Lott, Plummer 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1945–12–11 Seattle
PF 14 Meschery, Tom 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1938–10–26 Saint Mary's
F/C 24 Mueller, Erwin 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1944–03–12 San Francisco
F/C 41 Murrey, Dorie 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1943–09–07 Detroit Mercy
F/C 45 Rule, Bob 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1944–06–29 Colorado State
SG 44 Thorn, Rod 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1941–05–23 West Virginia
F/C 30 Tresvant, John 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1939–11–06 Seattle
G 19 Wilkens, Lenny 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1937–10–28 Providence
Head coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Season standings
Western Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
x-Los Angeles Lakers 5527.671–32–921–182–030–10
x-Atlanta Hawks 4834.585728–1218–212–126–14
x-San Francisco Warriors 4141.5001422–1918–211–120–20
x-San Diego Rockets 3745.4511825–168–254–420–20
Chicago Bulls 3349.4022219–2112–252–319–21
Seattle SuperSonics 3052.3662518–186–296–515–23
Phoenix Suns 1666.1953911–264–281–128–30
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents
1968–69 NBA records
Team ATL BAL BOS CHI CIN DET LAL MIL NYK PHI PHO SDR SFW SEA
Atlanta —2–43–36–14–26–03–44–22–41–56–03–44–34–2
Baltimore 4–2—5–26–04–37–03–35–13–42–46–05–13–34–2
Boston 3–32–5—4–25–25–12–45–11–65–26–04–23–33–3
Chicago 1–60–62–4—1–53–33–45–12–41–54–23–34–34–3
Cincinnati 2–43–42–55–1—3–42–45–14–23–44–22–43–33–3
Detroit 0–60–71–53–34–3—3–32–43–43–44–23–32–44–2
Los Angeles 4–33–34–24–34–23–3—5–15–11–56–07–04–35–1
Milwaukee 2–41–51–51–51–54–21–5—0–60–66–24–23–33–5
New York 4–24–36–14–22–44–31–56–0—4–35–13–35–16–0
Philadelphia 5–14–22–55–14–34–35–16–03–4—5–14–22–46–0
Phoenix 0–60–60–62–42–42–40–62–61–51–5—1–72–43–3
San Diego 4–31–52–43–34–23–30–72–43–32–47–1—3–33–3
San Francisco 3–43–33–33–43–34–23–43–31–54–24–23–3—4–3
Seattle 2–42–43–33–43–32–41–55–30–60–63–33–33–4—

Game log
1968–69 game log
Total: 30–52 (Home: 18–18; Road: 6–29; Neutral: 6–5)
October : 2–6 (home: 2–4; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 October 17 @ San Diego L 110–128 Bob Rule (31) San Diego Sports Arena
5,332		 0–1
2 October 18 @ Phoenix L 107–116 Bob Rule (34) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,112		 0–2
3 October 19 San Francisco Warriors L 95–107 Bob Rule (25) Seattle Center Coliseum
4,311		 0–3
4 October 21 Baltimore L 104–111 Tom Meschery (30) Vancouver, BC
2,387		 0–4
5 October 23 San Diego W 118–117 Bob Rule, Lenny Wilkens (20) Seattle Center Coliseum
3,064		 1–4
6 October 25 Atlanta W 123–112 Tom Meschery (24) Seattle Center Coliseum
4,689		 2–4
7 October 27 Baltimore L 114–126 Tom Meschery (22) Seattle Center Coliseum
4,882		 2–5
8 October 30 Phoenix L 108–115 Bob Rule (22) Seattle Center Coliseum
2,657		 2–6
November : 8–11 (home: 7–3; road: 1–8)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
9 November 2 Chicago W 101–95 Bob Rule (24) Seattle Center Coliseum
4,330		 3–6
10 November 3 New York L 108–122 Lenny Wilkens (24) Seattle Center Coliseum
4,807		 3–7
11 November 6 @ Detroit L 118–127 Rod Thorn (21) Cobo Arena
3,462		 3–8
12 November 7 @ Chicago L 105–120 Bob Rule (23) Chicago Stadium
891		 3–9
13 November 8 @ Boston W 114–112 Bob Rule (37) Boston Garden
7,606		 4–9
14 November 9 @ Philadelphia L 94–114 Lenny Wilkens (26) The Spectrum
6,756		 4–10
15 November 11 Philadelphia L 117–127 Bob Rule (29) Boston, MA 4–11
16 November 12 @ Milwaukee L 114–127 Bob Rule (28) Milwaukee Arena
4,455		 4–12
17 November 13 Atlanta L 113–142 Lenny Wilkens (27) Seattle Center Coliseum
3,102		 4–13
18 November 15 Phoenix W 128–124 (2OT) Lenny Wilkens (30) Seattle Center Coliseum
4,368		 5–13
19 November 16 Detroit W 123–119 Bob Rule (42) Seattle Center Coliseum
5,446		 6–13
20 November 17 @ Los Angeles L 94–105 Lenny Wilkens (16) The Forum
8,399		 6–14
21 November 20 Boston L 92–139 Art Harris (16) Seattle Center Coliseum
7,021		 6–15
22 November 22 @ San Diego L 111–126 Bob Rule (24) San Diego Sports Arena
5,247		 6–16
23 November 23 @ San Francisco Warriors L 119–132 Lenny Wilkens (25) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
5,922		 6–17
24 November 24 Milwaukee W 141–120 Tom Meschery, Lenny Wilkens (21) Seattle Center Coliseum
3,485		 7–17
25 November 25 Milwaukee W 123–113 Lenny Wilkens (29) Vancouver, BC
2,879		 8–17
26 November 26 Chicago W 99–98 Bob Rule (28) Seattle Center Coliseum
2,895		 9–17
27 November 28 Milwaukee W 115–103 Bob Rule (27) Seattle Center Coliseum
5,210		 10–17
December : 4–11 (home: 2–5; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
28 December 2 @ Phoenix W 118–108 Lenny Wilkens (33) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
2,171		 11–17
29 December 3 @ San Francisco Warriors L 122 127 Lenny Wilkens (31) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
2,116		 11–18
30 December 6 San Francisco Warriors W 109–100 (OT) Tom Meschery (29) Seattle Center Coliseum
5,941		 12–18
31 December 7 @ San Francisco Warriors W 115–107 Bob Rule (31) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
3,754		 13–18
32 December 12 Atlanta L 91–93 Lenny Wilkens (25) Seattle Center Coliseum
4,361		 13–19
33 December 14 Los Angeles L 120–136 Tom Meschery, Bob Rule (27) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,186		 13–20
34 December 15 @ Los Angeles L 114–115 Bob Rule (37) The Forum
6,878		 13–21
35 December 18 Philadelphia L 111–115 Bob Rule (36) Seattle Center Coliseum
3,389		 13–22
36 December 20 @ Milwaukee L 92–100 Lenny Wilkens (21) Milwaukee Arena
5,303		 13–23
37 December 21 @ New York L 105–131 Bob Rule (19) Madison Square Garden
13,998		 13–24
38 December 25 @ Baltimore L 112–118 Bob Rule, Lenny Wilkens (27) Baltimore Civic Center
5,261		 13–25
39 December 26 @ Atlanta L 96–126 Al Tucker (18) Alexander Memorial Coliseum
3,697		 13–26
40 December 28 New York L 108–111 Lenny Wilkens (19) Seattle Center Coliseum
7,602		 13–27
41 December 29 New York L 112–120 Art Harris (21) Vancouver, BC
2,894		 13–28
42 December 30 Phoenix W 120–118 Art Harris, Rule (24) Seattle Center Coliseum
3,920		 14–28
January : 5–9 (home: 1–1; road: 4–8)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
43 January 4 @ San Diego L 105–122 Lenny Wilkens (28) San Diego Sports Arena
4,878		 14–29
44 January 6 Boston L 97–121 Bob Rule (36) Seattle Center Coliseum
6,636		 14–30
45 January 7 @ Phoenix L 112–116 Three players (23) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
2,875		 14–31
46 January 9 Cincinnati W 119–110 Bob Rule (32) Cleveland, OH
2,017		 15–31
47 January 10 @ Milwaukee L 104–115 Bob Rule, Al Tucker (17) Milwaukee Arena
4,150		 15–32
48 January 11 @ Chicago L 86–119 Lenny Wilkens (21) Chicago Stadium
3,870		 15–33
49 January 17 New York L 94–114 Bob Rule (16) Philadelphia, PA 15–34
50 January 18 @ Boston L 97–111 Bob Rule (29) Boston Garden
9,320		 15–35
51 January 21 @ New York L 106–113 Lenny Wilkens (31) Madison Square Garden
11,227		 15–36
52 January 22 @ Baltimore W 98–94 Lenny Wilkens (22) Baltimore Civic Center
3,619		 16–36
53 January 27 Milwaukee W 128–107 Bob Rule (31) Tacoma, WA
4,150		 17–36
54 January 29 Boston W 124–122 (OT) Bob Rule (26) Philadelphia, PA 18–36
55 January 30 Detroit L 118–144 Bob Rule (26) Baltimore, MD 18–37
56 January 31 @ Atlanta W 119–112 Bob Rule (32) Alexander Memorial Coliseum
3,550		 19–37
February : 6–8 (home: 5–6; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
57 February 1 @ Cincinnati L 96–111 Bob Rule (20) Cincinnati Gardens
6,114		 19–38
58 February 3 Los Angeles W 114–107 Bob Rule (38) Seattle Center Coliseum
7,721		 20–38
59 February 4 @ San Francisco Warriors W 116–111 Lenny Wilkens (28) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
2,145		 21–38
60 February 5 Philadelphia L 115–119 Art Harris, Rule (27) Seattle Center Coliseum
4,956		 21–39
61 February 7 Cincinnati W 102–97 Lenny Wilkens (32) Seattle Center Coliseum
7,350		 22–39
62 February 9 San Francisco Warriors L 120–121 Bob Rule (31) Seattle Center Coliseum
7,545		 22–40
63 February 12 Los Angeles L 92–109 Bob Rule (24) Seattle Center Coliseum
11,218		 22–41
64 February 16 Detroit W 127–119 Bob Rule (36) Seattle Center Coliseum
6,367		 23–41
65 February 18 Chicago W 114–113 Bob Rule (27) Seattle Center Coliseum
5,002		 24–41
66 February 19 Detroit L 124–131 Bob Rule (32) Seattle Center Coliseum
3,356		 24–42
67 February 21 Philadelphia L 109–115 Bob Rule (31) Seattle Center Coliseum
8,638		 24–43
68 February 23 Boston W 118–116 Lenny Wilkens (35) Seattle Center Coliseum
8,742		 25–43
69 February 25 @ Los Angeles L 111–114 (OT) Lenny Wilkens (26) The Forum
10,311		 25–44
70 February 26 Chicago L 122–124 Bob Rule (30) Seattle Center Coliseum
4,138		 25–45
March : 5–7 (home: 4–1; road: 1–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
71 March 1 Cincinnati W 134–122 Bob Rule (47) Seattle Center Coliseum
9,477		 26–45
72 March 3 Cincinnati L 107–113 Bob Rule (32) Seattle Center Coliseum
4,028		 26–46
73 March 4 San Diego W 130–116 Lenny Wilkens (33) Seattle Center Coliseum
5,010		 27–46
74 March 8 Baltimore W 138–117 Lenny Wilkens (32) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,382		 28–46
75 March 12 San Diego W 125–112 Lenny Wilkens (36) Vancouver, BC
5,998		 29–46
76 March 13 Milwaukee W 141–118 Tom Meschery (21) Green Bay, WI
3,461		 30–46
77 March 15 @ Chicago L 83–101 Lenny Wilkens (26) Chicago Stadium
5,254		 30–47
78 March 16 @ Atlanta L 127–131 (OT) Art Harris (31) Alexander Memorial Coliseum
7,190		 30–48
79 March 18 @ Baltimore L 120–130 Lenny Wilkens (26) Baltimore Civic Center
8,020		 30–49
80 March 19 @ Philadelphia L 115–136 Bob Rule, Rod Thorn (16) The Spectrum
11,474		 30–50
81 March 21 @ Detroit L 104–110 Erwin Mueller (15) Cobo Arena
4,669		 30–51
82 March 22 @ Cincinnati L 127–134 Lenny Wilkens (25) Cincinnati Gardens
2,534		 30–52
1968–69 season schedule

Player statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  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
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Art Harris 80–32.0.395–.6413.83.2––12.4
Al Hairston 39–7.0.333–.571.91.0––2.2
Bob Kauffman 82–20.2.442–.7025.91.0––7.8
Joe Kennedy 72–17.2.395–.7903.3.8––6.2
Tommy Kron 76–14.8.392–.7012.82.5––5.1
Plummer Lott 23–7.0.258–.4001.30.3––1.6
Tom Meschery 82–32.6.453–.73610.02.4––14.0
Erwin Mueller [a] 26–18.6.431–.5974.02.4––7.0
Dorie Murrey 38–12.2.387–.6393.9.6––5.6
Bob Rule 82–37.9.469–.68211.51.7––24.0
Rod Thorn 29–19.6.463–.7322.92.8––11.5
John Tresvant [a] 26–30.8.488–.67310.32.4––13.6
Al Tucker [a] 56–22.5.432–.6375.71.0––10.3
Lenny Wilkens 82–42.2.440.7706.28.2––22.4
  • a Statistics with the Seattle SuperSonics.

Awards and records

Transactions
Lenny Wilkens averaged 22.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game in his first season with the SuperSonics.

Overview
Players Added

Via draft

Via trade

 Players Lost

Via draft
(1968 NBA Expansion Draft)

Via trade

Trades
October 12, 1968 To Seattle SuperSonics

Lenny Wilkens

 To Atlanta Hawks

Walt Hazzard

November 15, 1968 To Seattle SuperSonics

Dick Smith

 To Atlanta Hawks

Rights to Richie Guerin

January 31, 1969 To Seattle SuperSonics

Erwin Mueller

 To Chicago Bulls

1970 fourth round pick
Cash considerations

January 31, 1969 To Seattle SuperSonics

John Tresvant

 To Cincinnati Royals

Al Tucker

References
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