1987–88 Seattle SuperSonics season NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1987–88 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 21st season of the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). It was Bernie Bickerstaff 's first season with a winning percentage above .500, coaching the Sonics to a 44–38 record. However, in the 1988 NBA Playoffs , they lost in five games to the Denver Nuggets in the first round. Xavier McDaniel was selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game .
Offseason
Draft picks
Seattle selected future hall of famer Scottie Pippen in the first round thanks to a pick acquired from the New York Knicks , but traded him on draft day to the Chicago Bulls for Olden Polynice and two future conditional draft picks.
Roster
1987–88 Seattle SuperSonics roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
F
24
Chambers, Tom
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1959–06–21
Utah
G/F
3
Ellis, Dale
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1960–08–06
Tennessee
F/C
45
Johnson, Clemon
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1956–09–12
Florida A&M
C
53
Lister, Alton
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1958–10–01
Arizona State
F
34
McDaniel, Xavier
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1963–06–04
Wichita State
F
31
McKey, Derrick
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1966–10–10
Alabama
G
10
McMillan, Nate
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1964–08–03
NC State
C
23
Polynice, Olden
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1964–11–21
Virginia
F/C
40
Schoene, Russ
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1960–04–16
Chattanooga
G
4
Threatt, Sedale
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
1961–09–10
West Virginia Tech
G
30
Williams, Kevin
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
1961–09–11
St. John's
G
22
Young, Danny
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
1962–07–26
Wake Forest
Head coach
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
1987–88 Salaries
Player
1987–88 Salary
Tom Chambers
$950,000
Xavier McDaniel
$875,000
Alton Lister
$835,000
Clemon Johnson
$502,000
Derrick McKey
$355,000
Olden Polynice
$350,000
Dale Ellis
$325,000
Sedale Threatt
$270,000
Russ Schoene
$250,000
Danny Young
$130,000
Nate McMillan
$129,000
Kevin Williams
$125,000
TOTAL
$5,096,000
Sources:
Basketball Reference: SEA Salaries[ 1]
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
1987–88 NBA records
Team
ATL
BOS
CHI
CLE
DAL
DEN
DET
GSW
HOU
IND
LAC
LAL
MIL
NJN
NYK
PHI
PHO
POR
SAC
SAS
SEA
UTA
WAS
Atlanta
–
2–4
2–3
5–1
2–0
1–1
2–4
2–0
1–1
4–2
2–0
0–2
3–3
5–0
3–3
6–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
3–3
Boston
4–2
–
3–3
2–3
2–0
0–2
3–3
2–0
1–1
5–0
2–0
0–2
3–3
5–1
5–1
4–2
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
5–1
Chicago
3–2
3–3
–
3–3
0–2
1–1
2–4
2–0
2–0
3–3
2–0
1–1
5–1
5–1
3–2
4–2
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
3–3
Cleveland
1–5
3–2
3–3
–
1–1
1–1
1–5
0–2
1–1
4–2
1–1
1–1
2–4
5–1
2–4
3–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
0–2
6–0
Dallas
0–2
0–2
2–0
1–1
–
3–3
1–1
4–1
4–2
2–0
5–0
1–4
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
5–0
3–2
5–1
5–1
3–2
3–3
1–1
Denver
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
3–3
–
1–1
4–1
4–2
1–1
5–0
3–2
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
3–2
2–3
4–2
5–1
4–1
2–4
2–0
Detroit
4–2
3–3
4–2
5–1
1–1
1–1
–
2–0
1–1
3–3
1–1
0–2
4–2
5–1
4–2
4–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
3–2
Golden State
0–2
0–2
0–2
2–0
1–4
1–4
0–2
–
0–5
0–2
3–3
0–6
0–2
2–0
0–2
1–1
2–4
1–5
2–3
3–2
1–5
1–4
0–2
Houston
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–4
2–4
1–1
5–0
–
2–0
3–2
1–4
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
4–1
4–1
4–2
2–4
3–2
3–3
2–0
Indiana
2–4
0–5
3–3
2–4
0–2
1–1
3–3
2–0
0–2
–
1–1
1–1
3–3
6–0
2–3
2–4
2–0
0–2
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–4
L.A. Clippers
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–5
0–5
1–1
3–3
2–3
1–1
–
1–5
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
2–4
0–6
3–2
0–5
1–5
1–4
0–2
L.A. Lakers
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
4–1
2–3
2–0
6–0
4–1
1–1
5–1
–
0–2
2–0
2–0
2–0
5–1
3–3
4–1
5–0
4–2
4–1
1–1
Milwaukee
3–3
3–3
1–5
4–2
0–2
1–1
2–4
2–0
0–2
3–3
2–0
2–0
–
3–2
3–3
2–4
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
4–1
New Jersey
0–5
1–5
1–5
1–5
1–1
0–2
1–5
0–2
1–1
0–6
2–0
0–2
2–3
–
3–3
2–4
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–6
New York
3–3
1–5
2–3
4–2
1–1
1–1
2–4
2–0
1–1
3–2
2–0
0–2
3–3
3–3
–
3–3
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–3
Philadelphia
0–6
2–4
2–4
2–3
1–1
0–2
1–4
1–1
1–1
4–2
1–1
0–2
4–2
4–2
3–3
–
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
3–3
Phoenix
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–5
2–3
0–2
4–2
1–4
0–2
4–2
1–5
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
–
0–6
3–2
2–3
2–4
2–3
0–2
Portland
2–0
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–3
3–2
1–1
5–1
1–4
2–0
6–0
3–3
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
6–0
–
4–1
5–0
3–3
1–4
2–0
Sacramento
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–5
2–4
0–2
3–2
2–4
0–2
2–3
1–4
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–3
1–4
–
3–3
1–4
1–5
0–2
San Antonio
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–5
1–5
1–1
2–3
4–2
0–2
5–0
0–5
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–2
0–5
3–3
–
3–2
3–3
0–2
Seattle
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–3
1–4
1–1
5–1
2–3
1–1
5–1
2–4
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
4–2
3–3
4–1
2–3
–
1–4
2–0
Utah
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–0
3–3
4–2
0–2
4–1
3–3
1–1
4–1
1–4
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
3–2
4–1
5–1
3–3
4–1
–
2–0
Washington
3–3
1–5
3–3
0–6
1–1
0–2
2–3
2–0
0–2
4–2
2–0
1–1
1–4
6–0
3–3
3–3
2–0
0–2
2–0
2–0
0–2
0–2
—
Game log
1987–88 game log Total: 44–38 (home: 32–9; road: 12–29)
November: 6–6 (home: 5–1; road: 1–5)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
1
November 6, 1987 7:30 p.m. PST
@ L.A. Lakers
L 109–113
Chambers (20)
McDaniel (9)
McMillan (12)
The Forum 17,505
0–1
2
November 7
Phoenix Suns
96-112
Dale Ellis (27)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,252
1–1
3
November 10, 1987 7:30 p.m. PST
Dallas
L 101-117
Ellis (28)
Lister (8)
Vincent (6)
Seattle Center Coliseum 10,447
1–2
4
November 12
vs San Antonio Spurs
123-118
Xavier McDaniel (23)
HemisFair Arena 6,399
1–3
5
November 13, 1987 5:00 p.m. PST
@ Dallas
W 103–95
Ellis (22)
Lister (8)
McMillan (11)
Reunion Arena 17,007
2–3
6
November 15
vs Houston Rockets
108-106
Dale Ellis (34)
The Summit 16,611
2–4
7
November 18
Portland Trail Blazers
114-120
Xavier McDaniel (32)
Seattle Center Coliseum 8,461
3–4
8
November 20
Milwaukee Bucks
97-99
Xavier McDaniel (30)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,601
4–4
9
November 21
Washington Bullets
103-124
Xavier McDaniel (28)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,437
5–4
10
November 24, 1987 7:30 p.m. PST
L.A. Lakers
W 103–85
McDaniel (34)
Liiister (13)
McMillan (10)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,634
6–4
11
November 27, 1987 4:30 p.m. PST
@ Boston
L 112–117
Ellis (37)
Ellis (9)
McMillan (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
6–5
12
November 28
vs Indiana Pacers
131-115
Dale Ellis (29)
Market Square Arena 11,538
6–6
December: 9–7 (home: 5–0; road: 4–7)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
13
December 1
vs New York Knicks
109-112
Dale Ellis (37)
Madison Square Garden (IV) 11,424
7–6
14
December 2
vs Cleveland Cavaliers
104-102
Dale Ellis (25)
Coliseum at Richfield 6,207
7–7
15
December 4
vs Philadelphia 76ers
118-105
Tom Chambers (24)
The Spectrum 13,115
7–8
16
December 5
vs Washington Bullets
99-115
Xavier McDaniel (26)
Capital Centre 11,604
8–8
17
December 8
Cleveland Cavaliers
96-107
Dale Ellis Xavier McDaniel (25)
Seattle Center Coliseum 8,520
9–8
18
December 10
vs Los Angeles Clippers
113-96
Dale Ellis (20)
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 5,852
9–9
19
December 12
Los Angeles Clippers
95-116
Xavier McDaniel (35)
Seattle Center Coliseum 10,623
10–9
20
December 14, 1987
@ Utah
L 95–116
Ellis (29)
Salt Palace 12,212
10–10
21
December 15
vs Portland Trail Blazers
128-109
Xavier McDaniel (22)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
10–11
22
December 17
Sacramento Kings
109-114
Tom Chambers (42)
Seattle Center Coliseum 10,238
11–11
23
December 19
vs Golden State Warriors
102-129
Xavier McDaniel (32)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,998
12–11
24
December 20, 1987 7:30 p.m. PST
@ L.A. Lakers
L 94–103
Ellis (24)
McDaniel (11)
McDaniel (7)
The Forum 17,505
12–12
25
December 23
vs Phoenix Suns
102-103
Dale Ellis (35)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,351
13–12
26
December 26, 1987
@ Denver
L 111–115
McDaniel (26)
McNichols Sports Arena 12,403
13–13
27
December 28, 1987
Denver
W 108–100
McDaniel (30)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,007
14–13
28
December 30, 1987 7:30 p.m. PST
Boston
W 111–105
Chambers (31)
Lister (12)
Vincent (9)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,850
15–13
January: 9–6 (home: 8–1; road: 1–5)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
29
January 2
Philadelphia 76ers
114-116
Xavier McDaniel (35)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,250
16–13
30
January 5
vs Portland Trail Blazers
126-114
Dale Ellis (32)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
16–14
31
January 6
Houston Rockets
95-110
Tom Chambers (46)
Seattle Center Coliseum 11,289
17–14
32
January 9
San Antonio Spurs
133-141
Dale Ellis (47)
Seattle Center Coliseum 11,565
18–14
33
January 10
vs Sacramento Kings
109-108
Dale Ellis (30)
ARCO Arena (I) 10,333
18–15
34
January 13
Golden State Warriors
115-144
Xavier McDaniel (30)
Seattle Center Coliseum 7,909
19–15
35
January 15, 1988
Utah
W 124–105
Ellis (39)
Seattle Center Coliseum 10,418
20–15
36
January 16
vs Los Angeles Clippers
112-114 (OT)
Dale Ellis (41)
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 8,697
21–15
37
January 18
Indiana Pacers
105-115
Dale Ellis (29)
Seattle Center Coliseum 10,151
22–15
38
January 20
New York Knicks
96-108
Xavier McDaniel (41)
Seattle Center Coliseum 11,767
23–15
39
January 22, 1988 7:30 p.m. PST
Detroit
W 109–106
Ellis (47)
Lister (13)
McMillan (14)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,737
24–15
40
January 24, 1988 12:30 p.m. PST
L.A. Lakers
L 109–116
McDaniel (35)
Chambers (10)
McMillan (11)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,739
24–16
41
January 26
vs Sacramento Kings
100-116
Dale Ellis (42)
ARCO Arena (I) 10,333
25–16
42
January 29, 1988 5:30 p.m. PST
@ Dallas
L 109–117
Ellis (35)
Lister (9)
McMillan (10)
Reunion Arena 17,007
25–17
43
January 30
vs San Antonio Spurs
112-102 (OT)
Xavier McDaniel Tom Chambers (27)
HemisFair Arena 8,319
25–18
February: 4–9 (home: 3–2; road: 1–7)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
44
February 1, 1988
@ Utah
L 100–105
Ellis (40)
Salt Palace 12,212
25–19
45
February 4, 1988
Atlanta
L 109–119
Ellis (36)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,611
25–20
All-Star Break
46
February 9
vs Portland Trail Blazers
139-123
Tom Chambers (21)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
25–21
47
February 11
Houston Rockets
115-120
Tom Chambers (36)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,038
26–21
48
February 13
vs Golden State Warriors
109-95
Dale Ellis (28)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,502
26–22
49
February 15, 1988 6:00 p.m. PST
Dallas
L 122–128 (OT)
Chambers (29)
McDaniel (7)
Vincent (12)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,492
26–23
50
February 17
vs Milwaukee Bucks
115-93
Dale Ellis (26)
MECCA Arena 11,052
26–24
51
February 18, 1988 4:30 p.m. PST
@ Detroit
L 95–108
Chambers (24)
Polynice (6)
McMillan (9)
Pontiac Silverdome 24,482
26–25
52
February 20
vs New Jersey Nets
101-113
Dale Ellis (30)
Brendan Byrne Arena 11,137
27–25
53
February 21, 1988
@ Atlanta
L 113–129
Ellis (31)
The Omni 15,437
27–26
54
February 23, 1988
@ Chicago
L 97–104 (OT)
Ellis (34)
Chicago Stadium 17,648
27–27
55
February 26
Sacramento Kings
130-133
Dale Ellis (37)
Seattle Center Coliseum 11,632
28–27
56
February 27
Golden State Warriors
111-114
Dale Ellis (30)
Seattle Center Coliseum 10,752
29–27
March: 8–6 (home: 5–3; road: 3–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
57
March 1, 1988 7:30 p.m. PST
L.A. Lakers
W 114–100
Ellis (26)
McDaniel (12)
McMillan (17)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,850
30–27
58
March 4, 1988
Utah
L 110–125
Chambers (29)
Seattle Center Coliseum 11,268
30–28
59
March 5, 1988
Denver
L 102–115
Ellis (27)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,287
30–29
60
March 8
vs Golden State Warriors
116-121 (OT)
Dale Ellis (29)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 11,178
31–29
61
March 9
vs Sacramento Kings
97-106
Dale Ellis (24)
ARCO Arena (I) 10,333
32–29
62
March 13
New Jersey Nets
102-115
Tom Chambers (25)
Seattle Center Coliseum 9,040
33–29
63
March 15
vs Phoenix Suns
111-90
Dale Ellis (38)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,159
33–30
64
March 17
vs Houston Rockets
115-106
Tom Chambers (24)
The Summit 16,611
33–31
65
March 18
vs San Antonio Spurs
110-118 (OT)
Xavier McDaniel (31)
HemisFair Arena 7,353
34–31
66
March 20, 1988
@ Denver
L 95–108
Ellis (23)
McNichols Sports Arena 13,117
34–32
67
March 23
Portland Trail Blazers
108-118
Dale Ellis (35)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,250
35–32
68
March 26
Los Angeles Clippers
98-131
Dale Ellis (27)
Seattle Center Coliseum 11,650
36–32
69
March 29, 1988
Chicago
W 106–103
Chambers (34)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,850
37–32
70
March 31
San Antonio Spurs
117-115
Dale Ellis Tom Chambers (27)
Seattle Center Coliseum 9,210
37–33
April: 7–5 (home: 6–2; road: 1–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
71
April 2
Phoenix Suns
107-151
Xavier McDaniel (26)
Seattle Center Coliseum 9,790
38–33
72
April 5, 1988 7:30 p.m. PDT
@ L.A. Lakers
L 90–94
Chambers (21)
Lister (14)
McDaniel ,McMillan (4)
The Forum 17,505
38–34
73
April 6
Golden State Warriors
102-114
Derrick McKey (18)
Seattle Center Coliseum 9,520
39–34
74
April 8
Portland Trail Blazers
100-114
Xavier McDaniel (34)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,438
40–34
75
April 9
Houston Rockets
108-104
Xavier McDaniel (27)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,584
40–35
76
April 13
Los Angeles Clippers
92-113
Xavier McDaniel (23)
Seattle Center Coliseum Not announced
41–35
77
April 15, 1988 7:30 p.m. PDT
Dallas
W 115–88
Lister (19)
Lister ,McDaniel (7)
McMillan (8)
Seattle Center Coliseum 12,576
42–35
78
April 16
vs Phoenix Suns
121-119 (OT)
Sedale Threatt (31)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,406
42–36
79
April 19, 1988
@ Denver
L 114–134
Chambers (29)
McNichols Sports Arena 14,478
42–37
80
April 20
Phoenix Suns
98-121
Dale Ellis (24)
Seattle Center Coliseum Not announced
43–37
81
April 22, 1988
Utah
L 109–110
Ellis (20)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,250
43–38
82
April 24
vs Los Angeles Clippers
100-109
Russ Schoene Tom Chambers (20)
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena Not announced
44–38
1987–88 season schedule
Green background indicates win.
Red background indicates loss.
Playoffs
1988 playoff game log
First round: 2–3 (home: 1–1; road: 1–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Series
1
April 29, 1988
@ Denver
L 123–126
Chambers (29)
McDaniel (10)
McDaniel ,McMillan (8)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,022
0–1
2
May 1, 1988
@ Denver
W 111–91
Ellis (24)
McDaniel (17)
McMillan (6)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,022
1–1
3
May 3, 1988
Denver
L 114–125
Chambers (34)
McDaniel (12)
McMillan (9)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,250
1–2
4
May 5, 1988
Denver
W 127–117
McDaniel (27)
McKey (7)
Young (8)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,250
2–2
5
May 7, 1988
@ Denver
L 96–115
Chambers (23)
Lister (8)
McDaniel (5)
McNichols Sports Arena 16,040
2–3
1988 schedule
Statistics
Season
1.^ Statistics with the SuperSonics.
Playoffs
Awards and records
Awards
Records
Transactions
Overview
Players Added
Via draft
Via free agency
Via trade
Players Lost
Via free agency
Via trade
Via waiver
Trades
Free agents
2.^ Received a conditional 1990 second round pick as compensation.
3.^ Suspended on December 6, 1987 due to failed mandatory drug counseling; later retired altogether.
See also
References
1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s