The 1990–91 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 23rd season for the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association.
Season summary
Off-season Head coach Bernie Bickerstaff was replaced by his former assistant K. C. Jones, and went on to occupy the desk of vice-president of Basketball Operations for Seattle,Sonics Make Move to K.C.; Coaching Switch Moves Bickerstaff to Front Office, The Seattle Times, March 15, 1990. resigning months later to accept a job as General Manager of the Denver Nuggets.Bickerstaff to Accept Denver Job; Ex-Sonic Coach to Become G.M., The Seattle Times, July 11, 1990. Despite finishing with a 41–41 record the previous season, the SuperSonics received the second overall pick in the 1990 NBA draft, and selected point guard Gary Payton out of Oregon State University.
Regular season Under Jones and with the addition of Payton, the SuperSonics struggled with a 4–10 start to the regular season, after posting a six-game losing streak between November and December. Also in December, the team traded Xavier McDaniel to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Eddie Johnson. With the addition of Johnson, the SuperSonics posted a six-game winning streak in December, and later on held a 22–23 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, the team traded Dale Ellis, whose off-the-court problems were the focus of much unwanted attention,Ellis Drinking, Speeding Before Crash, Jurors Told, The Seattle Times, September 25, 1990.Ellis and McDaniel in Fight, The Seattle Times, November 22, 1990. to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for All-Star guard Ricky Pierce, and also traded Olden Polynice to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Benoit Benjamin. The SuperSonics finished in fifth place in the Pacific Division with a 41–41 record, which was the same record as the previous season, but this time being able to qualify for the NBA playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference.
After the trade, Pierce played a sixth man role off the bench, averaging 17.5 points per game in 32 games, while Johnson averaged 17.4 points per game in 66 games with the team, and Benjamin provided the team with 12.9 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game in 31 games. In addition, Derrick McKey averaged 15.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, while second-year forward Shawn Kemp showed improvement, averaging 15.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, and Sedale Threatt contributed 12.7 points and 1.4 steals per game. Meanwhile, Payton provided with 7.2 points, 6.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, Michael Cage averaged 6.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, second-year guard Dana Barros contributed 6.3 points per game, and Nate McMillan averaged 4.3 points, 4.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, Kemp participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest for the second consecutive year. Pierce finished in fourth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, while Kemp finished in seventh place in Most Improved Player voting. The SuperSonics finished 23rd in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 501,250 at the Seattle Center Coliseum during the regular season, which was the fifth-lowest in the league.
NBA playoffs In the Western Conference First Round of the 1991 NBA playoffs, the SuperSonics faced off against the top–seeded, and Pacific Division champion Portland Trail Blazers, who were led by the All-Star trio of Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter and Kevin Duckworth. The SuperSonics lost the first two games to the Trail Blazers on the road at the Memorial Coliseum, but managed to win the next two games at home, which included a Game 4 win over the Trail Blazers, 101–89 at the Seattle Center Coliseum to even the series. However, the SuperSonics lost Game 5 to the Trail Blazers at the Memorial Coliseum, 119–107, thus losing in a hard-fought five-game series.
Aftermath Following the season, Threatt was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Offseason
Draft picks
Of the 3 players Seattle picked in the draft only Gary Payton would stay with the team, since Jud Buechler was traded to the New Jersey Nets and Abdul Shamsid-Deen went to Europe to play for the French team Paris Basket Racing.
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 2 Gary Payton PG Oregon State 2 38 Jud Buechler SF/SG Arizona 2 53 Abdul Shamsid-Deen C Providence
Pre-season
1990 Pre-season game log: 5–3 # Date Opponent Score Location Record Recap 1 October 12 Golden State L 111–134 Spokane Coliseum 0–1 2 October 15 Golden State L 97–117 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 0–2 3 October 18 Chicago W 109–103 Florida Suncoast Dome 1–2 4 October 21 Detroit W 101–82 East Lansing, Michigan 2–2 5 October 23 Chicago L 90–102 The Kingdome 2–3 6 October 24 Chicago W 109–87 Pacific Coliseum 3–3 7 October 27 Sacramento W 98–89 ARCO Arena 4–3 8 October 29 Sacramento W 117–116 Chico, California 5–3
Roster
Regular season
Season standings
y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot
z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot
Game log
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | November 3 | Houston Rockets | W 118–106 | X. McDaniel (24) | S. Kemp (10) | X. McDaniel,S. Threatt (7) | Seattle Center Coliseum13,922 | 1–0 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | November 6 | Detroit Pistons | W 100–92 | X. McDaniel (24) | S. Kemp (13) | G. Payton (6) | Seattle Center Coliseum13,078 | 2–0 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | November 9 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 135–129 | X. McDaniel (27) | D. McKey (14) | G. Payton (10) | McNichols Sports Arena10,571 | 3–0 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | November 10 | Golden State Warriors | L 100–117 | X. McDaniel (26) | X. McDaniel,D. McKey (9) | G. Payton (9) | Tacoma Dome13,130 | 3–1 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | November 13 | New York Knicks | L 100-116 (OT) | S. Threatt (24) | X. McDaniel (10) | G. Payton (7) | Seattle Center Coliseum12,352 | 3–2 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | November 17 | Chicago Bulls | L 95–116 | X. McDaniel (17) | M. Cage (7) | G. Payton (5) | Seattle Center Coliseum14,692 | 3–3 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 7 | November 18 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 65–78 | S. Kemp (11) | M. Cage (10) | G. Payton (5) | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena10,980 | 3–4 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 8 | November 20 | New Jersey Nets | W 105–88 | X. McDaniel (35) | S. Kemp (8) | G. Payton (9) | Seattle Center Coliseum10,466 | 4–4 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 9 | November 23 | @ Utah Jazz | L 96–97 | X. McDaniel (33) | D. McKey (11) | S. Threatt (12) | Salt Palace12,616 | 4–5 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 10 | November 27 | San Antonio Spurs | L 111–124 | Q. Dailey (29) | M. Cage (8) | G. Payton (8) | Seattle Center Coliseum13,293 | 4–6 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 11 | November 29 | @ Phoenix | L 110–128 | D. McKey (26) | S. Kemp (11) | G. Payton (6) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum14,487 | 4–7
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 12 | December 1 | Portland Trail Blazers | L 124-130 (3 OT) | X. McDaniel (41) | M. Cage (15) | G. Payton (8) | Seattle Center Coliseum14,674 | 4–8 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 13 | December 3 | @ Boston Celtics | L 102–135 | S. Threatt (20) | O. Polynice (9) | D. Barros (6) | Boston Garden14,890 | 4–9
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 14 | December 4 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 102–106 | S. Threatt (20) | M. Cage (14) | G. Payton (9) | Brendan Byrne Arena7,029 | 4–10
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 15 | December 6 | @ Miami Heat | W 105–103 | S. Threatt (18) | S. Kemp (8) | S. Threatt (11) | Miami Arena15,008 | 5–10
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 16 | December 7 | @ Orlando Magic | L 100–106 | D. McKey (24) | M. Cage (9) | G. Payton (7) | Orlando Arena15,077 | 5–11
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 17 | December 9 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 99–105 | S. Kemp (31) | S. Kemp,D. McKey (10) | N. McMillan,G. Payton (6) | Bradley Center14,327 | 5–12
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 18 | December 12 | Indiana Pacers | W 99–90 | S. Kemp,D. McKey (18) | S. Kemp (11) | N. McMillan (9) | Seattle Center Coliseum10,729 | 6–12
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 19 | December 13 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 106–129 | D. Barros (24) | O. Polynice (7) | D. Barros,D. Ellis (4) | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena15,025 | 6–13
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 20 | December 15 | Dallas Mavericks | W 106–105 | S. Kemp (22) | M. Cage (8) | N. McMillan (10) | Seattle Center Coliseum10,009 | 7–13
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 | December 18 | Orlando Magic | W 122–105 | D. McKey (33) | S. Kemp (11) | N. McMillan (14) | Seattle Center Coliseum1,568 | 8–13
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 22 | December 20 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 110–75 | D. Ellis (22) | S. Kemp (10) | G. Payton (12) | ARCO Arena17,014 | 9–13
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 23 | December 22 | Sacramento Kings | W 121–93 | E. Johnson (25) | O. Polynice (11) | N. McMillan (9) | Seattle Center Coliseum10,315 | 10–13
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 24 | December 26 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 99–97 | S. Kemp (19) | M. Cage (8) | G. Payton (7) | Coliseum at Richfield14,839 | 11–13
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 | December 27 | @ Washington Bullets | W 125–120 | E. Johnson (22) | S. Kemp (12) | G. Payton (11) | Capital Centre2,413 | 12–13
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 26 | December 29 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 91–116 | D. McKey (22) | S. Kemp (7) | G. Payton (6) | Chicago Stadium18,676 | 12–14
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 27 | December 30 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 106–126 | D. Ellis (25) | S. Kemp (11) | G. Payton (6) | Target Center19,006 | 12–15
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 | January 3 | Philadelphia 76ers | W 127–99 | D. McKey (24) | M. Cage (12) | G. Payton (11) | Seattle Center Coliseum13,048 | 13–15
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 29 | January 4 | Miami Heat | W 112–86 | S. Threatt (30) | M. Cage (13) | G. Payton (12) | Seattle Center Coliseum12,074 | 14–15
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 30 | January 6 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 111–114 | S. Kemp (25) | S. Kemp (9) | G. Payton (7) | Memorial Coliseum 12,884 | 14–16
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 31 | January 8 | Los Angeles Lakers | W 96–88 | D. McKey (29) | O. Polynice (11) | N. McMillan (10) | Seattle Center Coliseum14,441 | 15–16
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 32 | January 10 | Golden State Warriors | L 103–113 | D. McKey (19) | S. Kemp,O. Polynice (12) | N. McMillan (7) | Seattle Center Coliseum10,813 | 15–17
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 33 | January 12 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 85–101 | D. McKey (20) | O. Polynice (14) | G. Payton (9) | ARCO Arena17,014 | 15–18
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 34 | January 15 | Denver Nuggets | W 146–99 | D. Barros,D. Ellis (22) | S. Kemp (12) | N. McMillan (9) | Seattle Center Coliseum9,618 | 16–18
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 35 | January 18 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 96–105 | D. McKey (24) | S. Kemp (8) | G. Payton (11) | Great Western Forum17,505 | 16–19
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 36 | January 19 | Washington Bullets | W 111–89 | O. Polynice (27) | S. Kemp (13) | N. McMillan (8) | Seattle Center Coliseum13,369 | 17–19
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 37 | January 22 | Milwaukee Bucks | W 132–101 | E. Johnson (29) | M. Cage (9) | G. Payton (9) | Seattle Center Coliseum9,469 | 18–19
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 38 | January 25 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 113–128 | E. Johnson (25) | S. Kemp (13) | N. McMillan (7) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum14,487 | 18–20
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 39 | January 26 | Atlanta Hawks | W 103–102 | D. McKey (23) | D. McKey (8) | N. McMillan,G. Payton (9) | Seattle Center Coliseum12,792 | 19–20
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 40 | January 28 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 107–119 | E. Johnson (21) | D. McKey (14) | G. Payton (11) | HemisFair Arena15,908 | 19–21
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 41 | January 29 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 112–117 | D. McKey (24) | O. Polynice (6) | N. McMillan (8) | Reunion Arena15,820 | 19–22
|- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 | January 31 | @ Houston Rockets | W 97–94 | S. Threatt (18) | S. Kemp (17) | D. McKey,D. McKey (6) | The Summit14,659 | 20–22
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 43 | February 2 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 100–106 | G. Payton (19) | D. McKey (7) | G. Payton (5)