1988–89 Seattle SuperSonics season
| 1988–89 Seattle SuperSonics season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Bernie Bickerstaff |
| General manager | Bob Whitsitt |
| Owner(s) | Barry Ackerley |
| Arena | Seattle Center Coliseum |
| Results | |
| Record | 47–35 (.573) |
| Place | Division: 3rd (Pacific) Conference: 4th (Western) |
| Playoff finish | Conference Semi-finals (lost to Lakers 0–4) |
Stats at Basketball Reference | |
| Local media | |
| Television | |
| Radio | KJR (Kevin Calabro) |
The 1988–89 NBA season was the 22nd season for the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association. During the off-season, the team acquired Michael Cage from the Los Angeles Clippers. The SuperSonics won their first three games of the regular season, and held a 28–18 record at the All-Star break. However, the team lost seven straight games between March and April, but then posted an 8-game winning streak afterwards, and finished in third place in the Pacific Division with a 47–35 record, earning the #4 seed in the Western Conference.
Dale Ellis averaged 27.5 points and 1.3 steals per game, led the SuperSonics with 162 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Xavier McDaniel played a sixth man role off the bench, averaging 20.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, and second-year forward Derrick McKey became the team's starting small forward, averaging 15.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. In addition, Cage provided the team with 10.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, while Sedale Threatt contributed 8.6 points and 3.8 assists per game off the bench, Nate McMillan contributed 7.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 9.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game, and Alton Lister provided with 8.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.
During the NBA All-Star weekend in Houston, Texas, Ellis was selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game, and also won the NBA Three-Point Shootout. McDaniel finished in fifth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, and McKey finished tied in seventh place in Most Improved Player voting.
In the 1989 NBA playoffs, the SuperSonics defeated the Houston Rockets in four games in the Western Conference First Round, before being swept by Magic Johnson, and the 2-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in four straight games in the Western Conference Semi-finals. The Lakers would reach the NBA Finals for the third consecutive year, but would lose to the Detroit Pistons in four straight games.
Following the season, Lister was traded to the Golden State Warriors.