1979–80 Seattle SuperSonics season

The 1979–80 NBA season was the SuperSonics' 13th season in the NBA.[1] The SuperSonics entered the season as the defending NBA champions, having defeated the Washington Bullets in five games in the 1979 NBA Finals, winning their first and only NBA championship.

1979–80 Seattle SuperSonics season
Head coachLenny Wilkens
General managerZollie Volchok
Owner(s)Sam Schulman
ArenaKingdome
Seattle Center Coliseum (playoffs)
Hec Edmundson Pavilion (playoffs)
Results
Record56–26 (.683)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Pacific)
Conference: 3rd (Western)
Playoff finishConference finals
(lost to Lakers 1–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKIRO-TV
RadioKIRO

In the playoffs, the SuperSonics defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in three games in the First Round, then defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in seven games in the Semi-finals, before losing to the eventual NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in five games in the conference finals.

Draft picks
Main article: 1979 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
16James BaileyPF/C United StatesRutgers
17Vinnie JohnsonSG United StatesBaylor
243Johnny MoorePG United StatesTexas
473James DonaldsonC United StatesWashington State

Roster
1979–80 Seattle SuperSonics roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
PF 20 Bailey, James 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1957–05–21 Rutgers
SG 32 Brown, Fred 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 182 lb (83 kg) 1948–08–07 Iowa
SG 24 Johnson, Dennis (C) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1954–09–18 Pepperdine
SF 27 Johnson, John 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1947–10–18 Iowa
SG 15 Johnson, Vinnie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1956–09–01 Baylor
C 23 LaGarde, Tom 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1955–02–10 North Carolina
PF 8 Shelton, Lonnie 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1955–10–19 Oregon State
C 43 Sikma, Jack (C) 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1955–11–14 Illinois Wesleyan
PF 35 Silas, Paul 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1943–07–12 Creighton
SF 42 Walker, Wally 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1954–07–18 Virginia
PG 1 Williams, Gus 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1953–10–10 USC
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: October 11, 1979

Regular season

Season standings
Pacific Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers 6022.732–37–423–1819–11
x-Seattle SuperSonics 5626.683433–823–1818–12
x-Phoenix Suns 5527.671537–518–2219–11
x-Portland Trail Blazers 3844.4632226–1512–2913–17
San Diego Clippers 3547.4272524–1711–3013–17
Golden State Warriors 2458.2933615–269–328–22
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Los Angeles Lakers6022.732–
2 y-Milwaukee Bucks4933.59811
3 x-Seattle SuperSonics5626.6834
4 x-Phoenix Suns5527.6715
5 x-Kansas City Kings4735.57313
6 x-Portland Trail Blazers3844.46322
7 San Diego Clippers3547.42725
8 Chicago Bulls3052.36630
9 Denver Nuggets3052.36630
10 Utah Jazz2458.29336
11 Golden State Warriors2458.29336

Record vs. opponents
1979-80 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SDC SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta –2–41–14–21–16–02–02–44–20–21–11–14–24–24–21–12–05–11–10–22–03–3
Boston 4–2–2–04–22–06–02–06–04–21–10–22–05–15–13–31–12–04–22–00–22–04–2
Chicago 1–10–2–2–02–41–14–21–10–23–31–51–51–10–21–11–53–30–24–22–42–40–2
Cleveland 2–42–40–2–1–16–02–02–42–42–01–10–23–33–31–51–10–24–21–10–21–13–3
Denver 1–10–24–21–1–1–13–31–11–10–61–53–31–11–10–21–52–41–13–31–53–31–1
Detroit 0–60–61–10–61–1–1–11–51–50–20–21–12–42–41–50–20–22–40–20–21–12–4
Golden State 0–20–22–40–23–31–1–1–11–13–31–50–62–00–20–22–42–40–23–30–63–30–2
Houston 4–20–61–14–21–15–11–1–4–20–20–21–13–33–32–41–11–13–32–01–12–02–4
Indiana 2–42–42–04–21–15–11–12–4–1–10–20–22–44–21–50–22–02–41–10–21–14–2
Kansas City 2–01–13–30–26–02–03–32–01–1–2–43–31–11–11–11–51–51–15–13–36–02–0
Los Angeles 1–12–05–11–15–12–05–12–02–04–2–3–32–02–01–13–32–42–05–14–26–01–1
Milwaukee 1–10–25–12–03–31–16–01–12–03–33–3–1–11–10–24–25–10–24–22–44–21–1
New Jersey 2–41–51–13–31–14–20–23–34–21–10–21–1–2–41–51–10–23–31–11–11–13–3
New York 2–41–52–03–31–14–22–03–32–41–10–21–14–2–0–62–02–04–21–10–21–13–3
Philadelphia 2–43–31–15–12–05–12–04–25–11–11–12–05–16–0–1–12–04–21–11–11–15–1
Phoenix 1–11–15–11–15–12–04–21–12–05–13–32–41–10–21–1–6–01–12–44–26–02–0
Portland 0–20–23–32–04–22–04–21–10–25–14–21–52–00–20–20–6–1–14–21–53–31–1
San Antonio 1–52–42–02–41–14–22–03–34–21–10–22–03–32–42–41–11–1–2–01–11–14–2
San Diego 1–10–22–41–13–32–03–30–21–11–51–52–41–11–11–14–22–40–2–3–35–11–1
Seattle 2–02–04–22–05–12–06–01–12–03–32–44–21–12–01–12–45–11–13–3–5–11–1
Utah 0–20–24–21–13–31–13–30–21–10–60–62–41–11–11–10–63–31–11–51–5–0–2
Washington 3–32–42–03–31–14–22–04–22–40–21–11–13–33–31–50–21–12–41–11–12–0—

Game log
G Date @ Opponent Score W L Streak
1 10.14.1979 @ San Diego Clippers 93-98 0 1 L1
2 10.16.1979 @ Phoenix Suns 86-102 0 2 L2
3 10.17.1979 Los Angeles Lakers 112-110 1 2 W1
4 10.19.1979 San Diego Clippers 106-98 2 2 W2
5 10.21.1979 @ Los Angeles Lakers 97-106 2 3 L1
6 10.24.1979 Kansas City Kings 105-92 3 3 W1
7 10.26.1979 Phoenix Suns 86-92 3 4 L1
8 10.27.1979 @ San Diego Clippers 105-110 3 5 L2
9 10.28.1979 Chicago Bulls 108-97 4 5 W1
10 10.31.1979 Denver Nuggets 97-89 5 5 W2
11 11.02.1979 San Antonio Spurs 117-107 6 5 W3
12 11.04.1979 @ Milwaukee Bucks 114-101 7 5 W4
13 11.06.1979 @ Chicago Bulls 114-97 8 5 W5
14 11.07.1979 @ Denver Nuggets 92-113 8 6 L1
15 11.10.1979 @ Utah Jazz 88-87 9 6 W1
16 11.14.1979 Milwaukee Bucks 136-117 10 6 W2
17 11.16.1979 Cleveland Cavaliers 108-100 11 6 W3
18 11.17.1979 @ Golden State Warriors 108-103 12 6 W4
19 11.18.1979 @ Portland Trail Blazers 95-100 12 7 L1
20 11.21.1979 Los Angeles Lakers 119-110 13 7 W1
21 11.23.1979 Portland Trail Blazers 94-90 14 7 W2
22 11.28.1979 Phoenix Suns 127-116 15 7 W3
23 11.30.1979 @ Kansas City Kings 107-102 (OT) 16 7 W4
24 12.01.1979 @ Utah Jazz 95-97 16 8 L1
25 12.02.1979 Golden State Warriors 111-98 17 8 W1
26 12.05.1979 Utah Jazz 115-96 18 8 W2
27 12.08.1979 @ Golden State Warriors 125-100 19 8 W3
28 12.09.1979 Chicago Bulls 112-121 19 9 L1
29 12.11.1979 @ Milwaukee Bucks 103-99 20 9 W1
30 12.12.1979 @ Indiana Pacers 112-107 21 9 W2
31 12.14.1979 Houston Rockets 109-101 22 9 W3
32 12.16.1979 Denver Nuggets 123-121 23 9 W4
33 12.19.1979 New Jersey Nets 114-122 23 10 L1
34 12.21.1979 New York Knicks 121-102 24 10 W1
35 12.23.1979 @ Los Angeles Lakers 97-102 24 11 L1
36 12.26.1979 San Diego Clippers 124-104 25 11 W1
37 12.28.1979 Portland Trail Blazers 126-97 26 11 W2
38 12.30.1979 @ Portland Trail Blazers 107-100 27 11 W3
39 01.02.1980 Washington Bullets 134-139 (2OT) 27 12 L1
40 01.04.1980 Detroit Pistons 123-105 28 12 W1
41 01.05.1980 @ Golden State Warriors 121-112 29 12 W2
42 01.06.1980 @ San Diego Clippers 103-105 29 13 L1
43 01.08.1980 Indiana Pacers 120-111 30 13 W1
44 01.11.1980 Utah Jazz 100-90 31 13 W2
45 01.12.1980 @ Denver Nuggets 105-102 32 13 W3
46 01.13.1980 Golden State Warriors 109-101 33 13 W4
47 01.15.1980 @ Washington Bullets 120-100 34 13 W5
48 01.18.1980 @ New York Knicks 124-117 35 13 W6
49 01.20.1980 @ Boston Celtics 108-106 (2OT) 36 13 W7
50 01.23.1980 @ Atlanta Hawks 98-96 37 13 W8
51 01.25.1980 @ San Antonio Spurs 116-125 37 14 L1
52 01.26.1980 @ Houston Rockets 111-123 37 15 L2
53 01.30.1980 Kansas City Kings 97-99 37 16 L3
54 01.31.1980 Milwaukee Bucks 105-101 38 16 W1
55 02.05.1980 @ Cleveland Cavaliers 123-121 39 16 W2
56 02.07.1980 @ Detroit Pistons 119-102 40 16 W3
57 02.08.1980 @ Philadelphia 76ers 109-94 41 16 W4
58 02.10.1980 @ New Jersey Nets 122-107 42 16 W5
59 02.13.1980 Atlanta Hawks 93-86 43 16 W6
60 02.14.1980 Denver Nuggets 93-84 44 16 W7
61 02.17.1980 Boston Celtics 109-108 45 16 W8
62 02.19.1980 @ Chicago Bulls 106-115 45 17 L1
63 02.20.1980 @ Kansas City Kings 105-107 45 18 L2
64 02.23.1980 @ Utah Jazz 105-95 46 18 W1
65 02.26.1980 @ Los Angeles Lakers 108-131 46 19 L1
66 02.27.1980 Philadelphia 76ers 98-101 (OT) 46 20 L2
67 02.29.1980 Chicago Bulls 108-101 47 20 W1
68 03.02.1980 Utah Jazz 103-91 48 20 W2
69 03.04.1980 @ Portland Trail Blazers 98-97 49 20 W3
70 03.05.1980 @ Phoenix Suns 111-127 49 21 L1
71 03.08.1980 @ Denver Nuggets 104-97 50 21 W1
72 03.09.1980 @ Kansas City Kings 93-113 50 22 L1
73 03.12.1980 @ Milwaukee Bucks 103-112 50 23 L2
74 03.14.1980 @ Chicago Bulls 122-101 51 23 W1
75 03.19.1980 Milwaukee Bucks 106-108 51 24 L1
76 03.21.1980 San Diego Clippers 107-104 52 24 W1
77 03.22.1980 Los Angeles Lakers 92-97 52 25 L1
78 03.23.1980 Kansas City Kings 112-90 53 25 W1
79 03.25.1980 Phoenix Suns 104-95 54 25 W2
80 03.26.1980 @ Phoenix Suns 99-109 54 26 L1
81 03.28.1980 Golden State Warriors 108-82 55 26 W1
82 03.30.1980 Portland Trail Blazers 135-104 56 26 W2

Playoffs
1980 playoff game log
First round: 2–1 (home: 2–0; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 2 Portland W 120–110 Gus Williams (35) three players tied (8) Gus Williams (6) Kingdome
26,412		 1–0
2 April 4 @ Portland L 95–105 (OT) Dennis Johnson (24) Lonnie Shelton (12) Gus Williams (8) Memorial Coliseum
12,666		 1–1
3 April 6 Portland W 103–86 Gus Williams (21) John Johnson (8) Williams, D. Johnson (6) Kingdome
23,546		 2–1
Conference Semi-finals: 4–3 (home: 2–2; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 8 Milwaukee W 114–113 (OT) Gus Williams (30) Jack Sikma (11) John Johnson (6) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,648		 1–0
2 April 9 Milwaukee L 112–114 (OT) Lonnie Shelton (25) Lonnie Shelton (9) Williams, J. Johnson (7) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,050		 1–1
3 April 11 @ Milwaukee L 91–95 Jack Sikma (20) Jack Sikma (13) Williams, J. Johnson (7) MECCA Arena
10,938		 1–2
4 April 13 @ Milwaukee W 112–107 Gus Williams (32) Lonnie Shelton (15) John Johnson (7) MECCA Arena
10,938		 2–2
5 April 15 Milwaukee L 97–108 Gus Williams (22) Jack Sikma (9) Dennis Johnson (7) Kingdome
40,172		 2–3
6 April 18 @ Milwaukee W 86–85 Dennis Johnson (18) Paul Silas (14) John Johnson (7) MECCA Arena
10,938		 3–3
7 April 20 Milwaukee W 98–94 Gus Williams (33) Lonnie Shelton (15) Dennis Johnson (5) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,050		 4–3
Conference finals: 1–4 (home: 0–2; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 22 @ Los Angeles W 108–107 Gus Williams (28) Lonnie Shelton (9) John Johnson (9) The Forum
17,505		 1–0
2 April 23 @ Los Angeles L 99–108 Gus Williams (24) Jack Sikma (11) Jack Sikma (8) The Forum
17,505		 1–1
3 April 25 Los Angeles L 100–104 Gus Williams (23) John Johnson (9) Gus Williams (11) Hec Edmundson Pavilion
8,524		 1–2
4 April 27 Los Angeles L 93–98 Gus Williams (25) Dennis Johnson (9) Gus Williams (7) Hec Edmundson Pavilion
8,524		 1–3
5 April 30 @ Los Angeles L 105–111 Dennis Johnson (29) Jack Sikma (9) Williams, J. Johnson (6) The Forum
17,505		 1–4
1980 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

Season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
James Bailey 67 10.8 .450 .673 2.9 .4 .3 .8 4.7
Fred Brown 80 21.3 .479 .443 .837 1.9 2.2 .8 .2 12.0
Dennis Johnson 81 36.3 .422 .207 .780 5.1 4.1 1.8 1.0 19.0
John Johnson 81 31.3 .488 .801 5.3 5.2 .9 .4 11.3
Vinnie Johnson 38 8.6 .391 .000 .795 1.4 1.4 .5 .1 3.2
Tom LaGarde 82 14.2 .477 .657 3.8 1.1 .2 .4 4.7
Lonnie Shelton 76 29.5 .530 .200 .763 7.7 1.9 1.2 1.0 13.6
Jack Sikma 82 34.1 .475 .000 .805 11.1 3.4 .8 .9 14.3
Paul Silas 82 19.5 .378 .654 5.3 .8 .3 .1 3.8
Wally Walker 70 12.1 .507 .750 2.4 .8 .3 .1 4.7
Gus Williams 82 36.2 .482 .194 .788 3.4 4.8 2.4 .5 22.1

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
James Bailey 12 11.5 .477 .000 .650 2.1 .4 .8 .8 4.6
Fred Brown 15 20.9 .440 .294 .857 2.5 2.1 .1 .1 12.5
Dennis Johnson 15 38.8 .410 .333 .839 4.3 3.8 1.8 .7 17.1
John Johnson 15 32.4 .494 .000 .811 6.8 5.7 .5 .2 12.4
Vinnie Johnson 5 2.4 .333 .4 .4 .2 .0 .4
Tom LaGarde 14 11.6 .370 .818 2.9 .9 .1 .0 3.1
Lonnie Shelton 15 31.3 .507 .000 .627 8.3 1.7 1.5 .8 12.0
Jack Sikma 15 35.6 .399 .000 .852 8.4 3.7 1.1 .3 11.7
Paul Silas 15 17.1 .302 .846 5.0 1.0 .6 .1 2.5
Wally Walker 13 12.1 .514 .750 2.2 .5 .1 .2 4.2
Gus Williams 15 37.6 .514 .200 .721 4.0 5.6 2.3 .5 23.7

Awards and records

Transactions

October 19, 1979

October 11, 1979

See also

References
  1. 1979-80 Seattle SuperSonics
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