1997–98 Seattle SuperSonics season

The 1997–98 NBA season was the 30th season for the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association.[1] In the off-season, the Sonics acquired All-Star forward Vin Baker from the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team trade.[2] The team also re-acquired former Sonics star and sharp shooter Dale Ellis from the Denver Nuggets,[3] and signed free agents Jerome Kersey and Greg Anthony. The Sonics got off to a fast start with a 13–3 record after a 7-game winning streak in November. The team posted an 8-game winning streak between December and January winning 29 of their first 35 games,[4] then later on holding the league's best record before the All-Star break with a 37–10 record, as they finished first place in the Pacific Division tied with the Los Angeles Lakers with a 61–21 record.[5]

1997–98 Seattle SuperSonics season
Division champions
Head coachGeorge Karl
General managerWally Walker
ArenaKeyArena at Seattle Center
Results
Record61–21 (.744)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Pacific)
Conference: 2nd (Western)
Playoff finishWest Semi-finals
(Lost to Lakers 1–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKSTW
Fox Sports Northwest
RadioKJR

Baker and Gary Payton both led the team in scoring with 19.2 points per game each, and were both selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game, with head coach George Karl coaching the Western Conference.[6] Payton was also named to the All-NBA First Team, and the NBA All-Defensive First Team, as he led the Sonics with 8.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game. Baker also contributed 8.0 rebounds per game, while Detlef Schrempf provided the team with 15.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Ellis played a sixth man role averaging 11.8 points per game off the bench, while shooting .464 three-point percentage, and Hersey Hawkins contributed 10.5 points and 1.8 steals per game.[7]

In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Sonics struggled as they trailed 2–1 to the 7th-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves, but managed to win the series in five games.[8] However, they would lose in five games to the 3rd-seeded Lakers in the Western Conference Semi-finals after taking Game 1.[9] Following the season, Karl was fired and left to take a coaching job with the Milwaukee Bucks,[10] while long-time Sonics guard Nate McMillan retired after playing just 18 games this season due to knee surgery.[11] Also following the season, Sam Perkins signed as a free agent with the Indiana Pacers,[12] Kersey signed with the San Antonio Spurs, Anthony signed with the Portland Trail Blazers, Jim McIlvaine was traded to the New Jersey Nets, and David Wingate signed with the New York Knicks.

Draft picks
Main article: 1997 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
123Bobby JacksonPG/SG United StatesMinnesota
241Ed ElismaF United StatesGeorgia Tech
255Mark BlountC United StatesPittsburgh

Roster
1997–98 Seattle SuperSonics roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
PG 2 Anthony, Greg 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 176 lb (80 kg) 1967–11–15 UNLV
PF 42 Baker, Vin 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 232 lb (105 kg) 1971–11–23 Hartford
SG 4 Cotton, James 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1975–12–14 Long Beach State
SG 3 Ellis, Dale 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1960–08–06 Tennessee
SG 33 Hawkins, Hersey 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1966–09–29 Bradley
PF 44 Howard, Stephen  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1970–07–15 DePaul
SF 7 Kersey, Jerome 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1962–06–26 Longwood
C 22 McIlvaine, Jim 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1972–07–30 Marquette
SG 10 McMillan, Nate 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1964–08–03 North Carolina State
PG 20 Payton, Gary 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1968–07–23 Oregon State
C 14 Perkins, Sam 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1961–06–14 North Carolina
SF 11 Schrempf, Detlef 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 214 lb (97 kg) 1963–01–21 Washington
PF 15 Williams, Aaron 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1971–10–02 Xavier
SF 25 Wingate, David 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1963–12–15 Georgetown
Head coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Regular season

Season standings
Pacific Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Seattle SuperSonics 6121.744–35–626–1519–5
x-Los Angeles Lakers 6121.744 –33–828–1316–8
x-Phoenix Suns 5626.683530–1126–1517–7
x-Portland Trail Blazers 4636.5611526–1520–2114–10
Sacramento Kings 2755.3293421–206–356–18
Golden State Warriors 1963.2324212–297–346–18
Los Angeles Clippers 1765.2074411–306–356–18
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Utah Jazz6220.756–
2 y-Seattle SuperSonics6121.7441
3 x-Los Angeles Lakers6121.7441
4 x-Phoenix Suns5626.6836
5 x-San Antonio Spurs5626.6836
6 x-Portland Trail Blazers4636.56116
7 x-Minnesota Timberwolves4537.54917
8 x-Houston Rockets4141.50021
9 Sacramento Kings2755.32935
10 Dallas Mavericks2062.24442
11 Vancouver Grizzlies1963.23243
11 Golden State Warriors1963.23243
13 Los Angeles Clippers1765.20745
14 Denver Nuggets1171.13451

Record vs. opponents
1997–98 NBA records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta –2–14–01–34–02–02–02–22–01–11–32–00–21–33–10–21–22–22–23–10–21–12–01–11–14–00–22–04–0
Boston 1–2–1–21–31–31–11–12–21–11–10–42–01–10–42–21–12–22–22–23–10–21–11–10–21–13–00–22–03–2
Charlotte 0–42–1–1–32–22–02–03–11–12–03–12–01–13–13–11–12–21–33–12–11–12–01–11–11–14–01–12–02–2
Chicago 3–13–13–1–2–21–12–03–12–02–02–22–01–12–14–01–14–04–03–12–11–11–12–02–01–14–00–22–03–1
Cleveland 0–43–12–22–2–1–12–03–12–01–12–22–01–11–32–22–03–11–22–23–12–01–12–00–20–23–11–12–01–2
Dallas 0–21–10–21–11–1–3–10–21–30–41–11–30–40–20–22–20–21–10–20–20–40–40–40–42–21–10–44–01–1
Denver 0–21–10–20–20–21–3–0–21–30–40–22–20–40–20–21–30–20–20–20–20–42–21–30–40–40–20–41–31–1
Detroit 2–22–21–31–31–32–02–0–2–01–11–32–00–21–22–20–22–22–21–23–11–10–21–11–10–24–00–20–22–2
Golden State 0–21–11–10–20–23–13–10–2–1–30–21–31–30–20–20–40–21–11–10–20–41–32–21–31–30–20–41–30–2
Houston 1–11–10–20–21–14–04–01–13–1–1–14–01–30–21–11–31–11–10–21–11–31–34–02–21–32–00–43–11–1
Indiana 3–14–01–32–22–21–12–03–12–01–1–2–00–23–14–02–02–12–13–14–01–11–12–00–20–24–01–12–04–0
L.A. Clippers 0–20–20–20–20–23–12–20–23–10–40–2–0–40–20–20–41–10–20–21–10–40–43–11–30–41–11–31–30–2
L.A. Lakers 2–01–11–11–11–14–04–02–03–13–12–04–0–1–12–04–01–11–11–10–22–22–24–04–01–32–03–14–01–1
Miami 3–14–01–31–23–12–02–02–12–02–01–32–01–1–3–11–13–12–23–14–00–22–02–00–20–24–01–12–02–2
Milwaukee 1–32–21–30–42–22–02–02–22–01–10–42–00–21–3–1–10–43–12–12–20–22–02–00–21–13–10–21–11–2
Minnesota 2–01–11–11–10–22–23–12–04–03–10–24–00–41–11–1–2–01–10–22–03–11–33–11–31–31–11–34–00–2
New Jersey 2–12–22–20–41–32–02–02–22–01–11–21–11–11–34–00–2–2–23–13–11–11–12–01–10–23–10–22–01–3
New York 2–22–23–10–42–11–12–02–21–11–11–22–01–12–21–31–12–2–4–02–22–01–11–10–21–13–10–22–01–3
Orlando 2–22–21–31–32–22–02–02–11–12–01–32–01–11–31–22–01–30–4–4–00–22–00–20–21–13–10–22–03–1
Philadelphia 1–31–31–21–21–32–02–01–32–01–10–41–12–00–42–20–21–32–20–4–1–11–11–10–20–22–20–22–03–1
Phoenix 2–02–01–11–10–24–04–01–14–03–11–14–02–22–02–01–31–10–22–01–1–2–23–13–12–22–01–34–01–1
Portland 1–11–10–21–11–14–02–22–03–13–11–14–02–20–20–23–11–11–10–21–12–2–3–12–20–42–03–12–21–1
Sacramento 0–21–11–10–20–24–03–11–12–20–40–21–30–40–20–21–30–21–12–01–11–31–3–0–41–31–12–22–21–1
San Antonio 1–12–01–10–22–04–04–01–13–12–22–03–10–42–02–03–11–12–02–02–01–32–24–0–2–22–01–34–01–1
Seattle 1–11–11–11–12–02–24–02–03–13–12–04–03–12–01–13–12–01–11–12–02–24–03–12–2–2–02–24–01–1
Toronto 0–40–30–40–41–31–12–00–42–00–20–41–10–20–41–31–11–31–31–32–20–20–21–10–20–2–0–21–10–3
Utah 2–02–01–12–01–14–04–02–04–04–01–13–11–31–12–03–12–02–02–02–03–11–32–23–12–22–0–4–00–2
Vancouver 0–20–20–20–20–20–43–12–03–11–30–23–10–40–21–10–40–20–20–20–20–42–22–20–40–41–10–4–1–1
Washington 0–42–32–21–32–11–11–12–22–01–10–42–01–12–22–12–03–13–11–31–31–11–11–11–11–13–02–01–1—

Playoffs
1998 playoff game log
First round: 3–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 24 Minnesota W 108–83 Vin Baker (25) Vin Baker (12) Gary Payton (7) KeyArena
17,072		 1–0
2 April 26 Minnesota L 93–98 Gary Payton (32) Detlef Schrempf (10) Nate McMillan (6) KeyArena
17,072		 1–1
3 April 28 @ Minnesota L 90–98 Gary Payton (26) Vin Baker (12) three players tied (5) Target Center
19,006		 1–2
4 April 30 @ Minnesota W 92–88 Payton, Hawkins (24) Vin Baker (12) Gary Payton (8) Target Center
19,006		 2–2
5 May 2 Minnesota W 97–84 Gary Payton (29) Detlef Schrempf (11) three players tied (4) KeyArena
17,072		 3–2
Conference Semi-finals: 1–4 (Home: 1–2; Road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 4 L.A. Lakers W 106–92 Gary Payton (25) Hawkins, Baker (8) Gary Payton (6) KeyArena
17,072		 1–0
2 May 6 L.A. Lakers L 68–92 Vin Baker (13) Detlef Schrempf (8) Gary Payton (5) KeyArena
17,072		 1–1
3 May 8 @ L.A. Lakers L 103–119 Detlef Schrempf (26) Vin Baker (12) Gary Payton (13) Great Western Forum
17,505		 1–2
4 May 10 @ L.A. Lakers L 100–112 Gary Payton (31) Gary Payton (8) Gary Payton (13) Great Western Forum
17,505		 1–3
5 May 12 L.A. Lakers L 95–110 Vin Baker (28) Vin Baker (9) Hersey Hawkins (6) KeyArena
17,072		 1–4
1998 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

NOTE: Please write the players statistics in alphabetical order by last name.

Season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Greg Anthony 80012.8
Vin Baker 828235.9
James Cotton 903.7
Dale Ellis 79024.5
Hersey Hawkins 828231.7
Stephen Howard 1304.1
Jerome Kersey 37219.4
Jim McIlvaine 787215.5
Nate McMillan 18115.5
Gary Payton 828238.4
Sam Perkins 81020.7
Detlef Schrempf 787835.2
Eric Snow 1704.4
Aaron Williams 65911.6
David Wingate 5829.4
George Zidek 603.7

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Greg Anthony
Vin Baker
Dale Ellis
Hersey Hawkins
Jerome Kersey
Jim McIlvaine
Nate McMillan
Gary Payton
Sam Perkins
Detlef Schrempf
Eric Snow
Aaron Williams
David Wingate

Awards and records

Awards

Transactions

Free agents

See also

References
  1. 1997–98 Seattle SuperSonics
  2. "Shawn Kemp Moves On -- Reign Comes to an End -- Kemp Is A Cav, Baker Is A Sonic After 3-Way Deal". Seattle Times. September 26, 1997. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  3. "SONICS: Long-range bomber Ellis returns a 'changed man'". Kitsap Sun. October 3, 1997. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  4. "PRO BASKETBALL; A Memo to Michael: Watch Out for Sonics". New York Times. January 11, 1998. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  5. "1997–98 Seattle SuperSonics Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  6. "1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  7. "1997–98 Seattle SuperSonics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  8. "Seattle 97, Minnesota 84". UPI Archives. May 2, 1998. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  9. "Lakers Finish Sonics". CBS News. May 13, 1998. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  10. "N.B.A.: PLAYOFFS; Karl's Days in Seattle Are Over". New York Times. May 27, 1998. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  11. "Nate Mcmillan: The Day After -- Nate Bows Out". Seattle Times. May 14, 1998. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  12. "PRO BASKETBALL; A Flurry Of Activity Marks End Of Lockout". New York Times. January 22, 1999. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
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