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Under new Coach Bob Hopkins the Seattle SuperSonics had a unlike look as veteran Paul Silas, rookie Jack Sikma, shot blocker Marvin Webster, volatile Gus Williams, and reliable John Johnson joined the team. Though, the new look Sonics struggled out of the gate winning just 5 of their primary 22 games ahead of Coach Bob Hopkins is fired. The Seattle SuperSonics would turn to their earlier period to replace Hopkins , hire one time player-coach Lenny Wilkens to put back him. Wilkens took over the Seattle SuperSonicss on November 30th as the Sonics won 6 in a row and 12 of 13 games beneath Wilkens on the way to concluding in 3rd place with a solid 47-35 record. In the playoffs the Sonics would slip by the Los Angeles Lakers in a 3-game series in the first round.
In the 2nd round the Sonics faced the defensive champion Portland Trailblazers who had finished the season with the best evidence in the NBA. The Supersonics would get off to a rapid start taking Game 1 in Portland . After losing Game 2 the Seattle SuperSonics took control of the series upon arriving home winning 2 straight to grab a 3-1 series lead. After losing Game 5 on the road the Sonics finished the upset with a 105-94 win at home. Moving on to the Western Finals the Supersonics once more jumped out to a 3-1 lead before thrashing the Denver Nuggets in 6 games to reach the NBA Finals. Facing the Washington Bullets in an unlikely NBA Final the Supersonics jumped out to a 2-1 series lead. With Game 4 in Seattle the Sonics had an chance for a 3-1 lead; however they would lose a hard fought battle 120-116. The Seattle SuperSonics would rebound to win Game 5 at home, previous to a road loss in Game 6 set up a dramatic Game 7 conclusion in Seattle . However, the Seattle SuperSonics championship dreams would be shot down by the Bullets who won the title with a 105-99 win in front of a sold out crowd at the Center Coliseum.
Due to greater than before demand in ticket sales the Supersonics decide to play their home games at the Kingdome. Coming off a trip to the NBA Finals the Seattle SuperSonics would put together their finest season winning their first Division Championship with a solid 52-30 record. After a first round bye in the playoffs the Supersonics made fast work of the Los Angels Lakers taking the series in 6 games to advance to the Western Conference Finals. In the Western Finals the Seattle SuperSonics would get off to a fast start thrashing the Phoenix Suns in the first 2 games at home. However, as the series shift to Phoenix the Sonics would thrash about losing 2 straight as the Suns even the series a 2 games apiece. Back home in Game 5 the Seattle SuperSonics were anything but super losing 99-93 as the Suns took a 3-2 series lead. need to win Game 6 on the road, the Seattle SuperSonics rose to the occasion winning a heart stopping game 106-105 to force a 7th game at the Kingdome. In Game 7 the Sonics would jump out to an near the beginning lead and hold off a late charge by the Suns to win 114-110 and set up a NBA Finals rematch with Washington Bullets. In the Finals the Sonics would get off to a wobbly start losing Game 1 on the road 99-97. The Seattle SuperSonics would rebound to win the next game 92-82, as the series shifted to Seattle tied at a game apiece. In Seattle the Supersonics took a strong 3-1 series lead by winning Game 3 by 10 points and Game 4 by 2. Back in Washington for Game 5 the Sonics did not take any odds closing out the series with a 97-93 win to claim their primary ever NBA Championship as Dennis Johnson was named Finals MVP.
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