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NBA professional basketball team season

NBA professional basketball team season
1998–99 Seattle SuperSonics season
Head coachPaul Westphal
General managerWally Walker
ArenaKeyArena at Seattle Center
Results
Record25–25 (.500)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Pacific)
Conference: 9th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionKSTW
Fox Sports Northwest
(Kevin Calabro, Marques Johnson)
RadioKJR
(Kevin Calabro, Marques Johnson)
< 1997–98 1999–00 >

The 1998–99 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 32nd season for the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association.[1] Due to a lockout, the regular season began on February 5, 1999, and was cut from 82 games to 50.[2] During the off-season, the SuperSonics signed free agents Billy Owens and former Sonics center Olden Polynice,[3][4][5] and acquired Don MacLean from the New Jersey Nets.[6][7] The team also hired Paul Westphal as their new head coach.[8][9][10]

Under Westphal, and with the addition of Polynice and Owens, the SuperSonics got off to a fast start by winning their first six games of the regular season. However, the team soon struggled losing nine of their next twelve games, as Vin Baker only played 34 games due to thumb and knee injuries;[11][12][13] Owens and MacLean both missed large parts of the season also due to injuries. At mid-season, the team signed free agent John Crotty, who was previously released by the Portland Trail Blazers.[14] As the season progressed, the SuperSonics played around .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, and finished in fifth place in the Pacific Division with a 25–25 record,[15] losing a tie-breaker for the eighth seed in the Western Conference to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and missing the NBA playoffs for the first time since the 1989–90 season.

Gary Payton averaged 21.7 points, 8.7 assists and 2.2 steals per game, contributed 83 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, and to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. In addition, Detlef Schrempf averaged 15.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, while Baker provided the team with 13.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, sixth man Dale Ellis contributed 10.3 points per game, and led the SuperSonics with 94 three-point field goals off the bench, and Hersey Hawkins provided with 10.3 points and 1.6 steals per game. Meanwhile, MacLean contributed 10.9 points per game in only just 17 games, Owens provided with 7.8 points in only just 21 games, Polynice averaged 7.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, and Crotty contributed 6.1 points and 2.4 assists per game in 24 games.[16]

Payton finished in ninth place in Most Valuable Player voting, and also finished in third place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.[17][18] The SuperSonics finished 14th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 426,800 at the KeyArena at Seattle Center during the regular season.[16][19]

Following the season, Schrempf signed as a free agent with the Portland Trail Blazers,[20][21][22] while Hawkins was traded to the Chicago Bulls,[23][24][25] and Polynice signed with the Utah Jazz.[26][27] Meanwhile, Crotty signed with the Detroit Pistons, and Ellis, Owens and MacLean were all traded to the Orlando Magic.[28][29][30] However, all three players would never play for the Magic, as Ellis was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks,[31][32][33] Owens was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers,[34][35] and MacLean was dealt to the Houston Rockets in a three-team trade, but was released to free agency, and would later on sign with the Phoenix Suns near the end of the next season.[36]

Draft picks

[edit]
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
127Vladimir StepaniaC GeorgiaKK Olimpija
232Rashard LewisSF United StatesAlief Elsik High School
233Jelani McCoyPF/C United StatesUCLA

Roster

[edit]
1998–99 Seattle SuperSonics roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
F/C 42 Vin Baker 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 232 lb (105 kg) 1971–11–23 Hartford
G 12 Drew Barry 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 191 lb (87 kg) 1973–02–17 Georgia Tech
G 4 James Cotton Injured 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1975–12–14 Long Beach State
G 22 John Crotty 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1969–07–15 Virginia
G/F 3 Dale Ellis 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1960–08–06 Tennessee
G 33 Hersey Hawkins 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1966–09–29 Bradley
G/F 7 Rashard Lewis Injured 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1979–08–08 Alief Elsik HS (TX)
F/C 34 Jelani McCoy 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1977–12–06 UCLA
F 24 Don MacLean 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1970–01–16 UCLA
G 6 Moochie Norris 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1973–07–27 West Florida
G/F 30 Billy Owens Injured 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1969–05–01 Syracuse
G 20 Gary Payton 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1968–07–23 Oregon State
C 0 Olden Polynice 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1964–11–21 Virginia
F 11 Detlef Schrempf 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 214 lb (97 kg) 1963–01–21 Washington
C 5 Vladimir Stepania 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 236 lb (107 kg) 1976–05–08 Georgia
F/C 15 Aaron Williams 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1971–10–02 Xavier
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

[edit]

Season standings

[edit]
Pacific Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Portland Trail Blazers 3515.700–22–313–1215–7
x-Los Angeles Lakers 3119.620418–713–1214–8
x-Sacramento Kings 2723.540816–911–1411–9
x-Phoenix Suns 2723.540815–1012–139–10
Seattle SuperSonics 2525.5001017–88–1711–10
Golden State Warriors 2129.4201413–128–178–11
Los Angeles Clippers 941.180266–193–223–16
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-San Antonio Spurs3713.740–
2 y-Portland Trail Blazers3515.7002
3 x-Utah Jazz3713.740–
4 x-Los Angeles Lakers3119.6206
5 x-Houston Rockets3119.6206
6 x-Sacramento Kings2723.54010
7 x-Phoenix Suns2723.54010
8 x-Minnesota Timberwolves2525.50012
9 Seattle SuperSonics2525.50012
10 Golden State Warriors2129.42016
11 Dallas Mavericks1931.38018
12 Denver Nuggets1436.28023
13 Los Angeles Clippers941.18028
14 Vancouver Grizzlies842.16029
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

[edit]

Player statistics

[edit]
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

[edit]
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Gary Payton 505040.2.434.295.7214.98.72.2.221.7
Detlef Schrempf 503935.3.472.395.8237.43.7.8.515.0
Hersey Hawkins 503432.9.419.306.9024.02.51.6.410.3
Olden Polynice 484730.9.4721.000.3098.9.9.4.67.7
Dale Ellis 48525.7.441.433.7572.4.8.5.110.3
Aaron Williams 40211.5.423.000.7303.2.6.4.64.0
Vin Baker 343134.2.453.000.4506.21.6.91.013.8
Jelani McCoy 26012.7.737.5003.0.2.4.85.1
John Crotty† 24015.1.405.371.8511.32.4.4.06.1
Vladimir Stepania 23613.6.424.000.5253.3.5.41.05.5
Billy Owens 211921.5.394.455.8003.81.8.6.2
Don MacLean 171021.5.396.273.6253.8.9.3.310.9
Drew Barry 17010.8.313.333.6921.21.7.4.12.2
Moochie Norris 12011.7.325.400.3751.72.0.6.03.2
James Cotton 1005.9.333.000.7221.0.0.3.02.5

Player statistics citation:[16]

Awards and records

[edit]

Awards

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ 1998–99 Seattle SuperSonics
  2. ↑ "NBA: Let The Games Begin!". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. January 6, 1999. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  3. ↑ Wise, Mike (January 21, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; The Business of Basketball Now Begins in Earnest". The New York Times. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Around the NBA". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. January 23, 1999. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  5. ↑ "SONICS: Owens Signs Three-Year Deal". Kitsap Sun. Sun News Services. January 23, 1999. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  6. ↑ Broussard, Chris (January 19, 1999). "BASKETBALL; Nets Obtain McIlvaine to Shore Up Defense". The New York Times. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  7. ↑ Gardner, Kris (January 21, 1999). "Knicks Acquiring Sprewell Highlights Six-Deal Day". The Houston Roundball Review. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  8. ↑ "THE NBA: Reports: Sonics to Hire Westphal as New Head Coach". Kitsap Sun. Associated Press. June 17, 1998. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  9. ↑ "BASKETBALL; Westphal Hired as Sonic Coach". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 18, 1998. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  10. ↑ "After Considering Jackson, SuperSonics Hire Westphal". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. June 18, 1998. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Sonics' Baker Out with Injury". CBS News. Associated Press. April 22, 1999. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Sonics' Baker Opts for Free Agency". Associated Press. June 26, 1999. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  13. ↑ "PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL -- SEATTLE; Sonics Sign Baker". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 19, 1999. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  14. ↑ "76ers Routed Without Iverson". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 5, 1999. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  15. ↑ "1998–99 Seattle SuperSonics Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  16. 1 2 3 "1998–99 Seattle SuperSonics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Around the NBA". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. May 20, 1999. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  18. ↑ "1998–99 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  19. ↑ "1998–99 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Blazers Capture Schrempf". CBS News. Associated Press. August 2, 1999. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  21. ↑ Wise, Mike (August 3, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; Trading Begins in the N.B.A. Bazaar". The New York Times. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Around the NBA". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. August 3, 1999. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Bulls Send Barry to Sonics". CBS News. Associated Press. August 12, 1999. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  24. ↑ Nelson, Glenn (August 12, 1999). "SONICS -- Hawkins and Cotton Traded for Brent Barry -- Deal with Chicago Also Nets "Cap" Space". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  25. ↑ "N.B.A.: Notebook". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 13, 1999. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Polynice Signs Two-Year Deal". CBS News. August 31, 1999. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  27. ↑ Buckley, Tim (October 4, 1999). "Chilcutt Just Happy to Play for a Winner; Veteran Said That Joining the Jazz Was a "No-Brainer"". Deseret News. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  28. ↑ "SuperSonics Send Maggette to the Magic". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. July 1, 1999. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  29. ↑ Povtak, Tim (July 1, 1999). "Magic Trade Grant to Seattle". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  30. ↑ Wise, Mike (October 31, 1999). "1999–2000 N.B.A. PREVIEW; The West Is Still the Best". The New York Times. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  31. ↑ "PLUS: N.B.A. -- MILWAUKEE; Manning and Ellis Headed to Bucks". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 20, 1999. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  32. ↑ "Magic Trades Ellis, Manning to Bucks". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. August 20, 1999. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  33. ↑ Nidetz, Stephen (August 20, 1999). "Bucks, Magic in 4-Player Swap". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  34. ↑ Povtak, Tim (August 14, 1999). "Magic Trade Owens for Sixers' Grant, Parker". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  35. ↑ Fry, Darrell (October 3, 1999). "Questions Abound for New-Look Magic". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  36. ↑ "PRO BASKETBALL: ROUNDUP -- HOUSTON; Rockets Get Francis in 3-Team Deal". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 28, 1999. Retrieved December 1, 2022.

See also

[edit]
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