1976–77 Seattle SuperSonics season

1976–77 Seattle SuperSonics season
Head coach	Bill Russell
General manager	Bill Russell
Arena	Seattle Center Coliseum
Results
Record	40–42 (.488)
Place	Division: 4th (Pacific) Conference: 8th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	KTNT-TV
Radio	KOMO

The 1976–77 NBA season was the SuperSonics' 10th season in the NBA.

Draft picks

Main article: 1976 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	11	Bob Wilkerson	SF/SG	United States	Indiana
2	19	Bayard Forrest	C	United States	Grand Canyon
2	29	Dennis Johnson	G	United States	Pepperdine
8	134	Norton Barnhill	G	United States	Washington State

Roster

1976-77 Seattle SuperSonics roster
#	NAME	POS	AGE	HT	WT	COLLEGE
40	Mike Bantom	PF	25	6'9"	200	Saint Joseph
10	Norton Barnhill	SG	23	6'4"	205	Washington State
32	Fred Brown	SG	28	6'3"	182	Iowa
16	Tom Burleson	C	24	7'2"	225	North Carolina
11	Leonard Gray	PF	25	6'8"	240	Long Beach
23	Mike Green	C	25	6'10"	200	Louisiana Tech
24	Dennis Johnson	SG	22	6'4"	185	Pepperdine
10	Bob Love	SF	34	6'8"	215	Southern
15	Willie Norwood	SF	29	6'7"	220	Alcorn
44	Frank Oleynick	PG	21	6'2"	185	Seattle
45	Bruce Seals	PF	23	6'8"	210	Xavier
20	Dean Tolson	PF	25	6'8"	190	Arkansas
13	Slick Watts	PG	25	6'1"	175	Xavier
12	Nick Weatherspoon	SF	26	6'7"	195	Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
33	Bob Wilkerson	SF	22	6'6"	195	Indiana

Depth chart

1976-77 Seattle SuperSonics depth chart

Pos.	Starter	1	2	3
PG	Slick Watts	Frank Oleynick
SG	Fred Brown	Dennis Johnson	Norton Barnhill
SF	Willie Norwood	Bob Wilkerson	Nick Weatherspoon	Bob Love
PF	Bruce Seals	Mike Bantom	Leonard Gray	Dean Tolson
C	Mike Green	Tom Burleson

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers	53	29	.646	–	37–4	16–25	11–5
x-Portland Trail Blazers	49	33	.598	4	35–6	14–27	10–6
x-Golden State Warriors	46	36	.561	7	29–12	17–24	8–8
Seattle SuperSonics	40	42	.488	13	27–14	13–28	6–10
Phoenix Suns	34	48	.415	19	26–15	8–33	5–11

#	Western Conference
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Los Angeles Lakers	53	29	.646	–
2	y-Denver Nuggets	50	32	.610	3
3	x-Portland Trail Blazers	49	33	.598	4
4	x-Golden State Warriors	46	36	.561	7
5	x-Detroit Pistons	44	38	.537	9
6	x-Chicago Bulls	44	38	.537	9
7	Kansas City Kings	40	42	.488	13
8	Seattle SuperSonics	40	42	.488	13
9	Indiana Pacers	36	46	.439	17
10	Phoenix Suns	34	48	.415	19
11	Milwaukee Bucks	30	52	.366	23

Record vs. opponents

1976–77 NBA Records

Team	ATL	BOS	BUF	CHI	CLE	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	KCK	LAL	MIL	NOJ	NYK	NYN	PHI	PHO	POR	SAS	SEA	WAS
Atlanta	—	0–4	4–0	2–2	2–2	2–2	0–4	0–4	1–3	0–4	1–2	2–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	3–1	1–3	0–4	3–1	4–0	1–2	1–3
Boston	4–0	—	3–1	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–2	3–1	2–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–3	2–2	1–3	4–0	2–2	0–4
Buffalo	0–4	1–3	—	1–3	2–2	2–2	3–1	0–3	1–3	1–3	0–3	1–3	3–1	3–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–3	0–4	3–1	0–4
Chicago	2–2	2–2	3–1	—	3–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–2	3–1	3–1	4–0	2–2	2–1	2–2	2–2	0–4	3–1	2–2	1–2
Cleveland	2–2	3–1	2–2	1–3	—	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	2–1	3–1	2–2	4–0	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–3	2–1	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–3
Denver	2–2	1–3	2–2	3–1	2–2	—	3–1	2–2	3–0	3–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	1–3	3–1	2–2	1–2	4–0	2–2
Detroit	4–0	2–2	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–3	—	3–1	2–2	2–2	4–0	1–3	3–1	3–1	1–2	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–2	1–3	1–3
Golden State	4–0	3–1	3–0	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–3	—	2–1	4–0	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	3–1	3–1	4–0	1–3	2–2	1–3	3–1
Houston	3–1	2–2	3–1	3–1	3–1	0–3	2–2	1–2	—	4–0	2–2	2–2	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–3	3–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	3–1
Indiana	4–0	2–1	3–1	2–2	1–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	0–4	—	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–2	2–2	4–0	2–2	2–2	0–4	2–2	2–2	0–4
Kansas City	2–1	1–3	3–0	2–2	1–3	1–3	0–4	3–1	2–2	2–2	—	1–3	2–2	2–2	4–0	4–0	1–3	3–1	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–2
Los Angeles	2–2	1–2	3–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	3–1	2–2	2–2	3–1	3–1	—	3–1	3–0	1–3	4–0	2–2	3–1	3–1	3–1	3–1	4–0
Milwaukee	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	0–4	1–3	1–3	3–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–3	—	1–2	1–3	3–1	1–2	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–3	1–3
New Orleans	3–1	2–2	1–3	0–4	2–2	1–3	1–3	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	0–3	2–1	—	3–1	2–2	0–4	3–1	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–2
N.Y. Knicks	3–1	2–2	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	0–4	3–1	3–1	1–3	—	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–2	2–2
N.Y. Nets	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–3	2–2	0–4	0–4	0–4	1–3	2–2	2–2	—	1–3	2–2	0–3	1–3	1–3	1–3
Philadelphia	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	3–1	3–1	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–2	3–1	2–2	2–1	4–0	3–1	3–1	—	1–2	2–2	1–3	2–2	3–1
Phoenix	4–0	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	3–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	2–1	—	1–3	1–3	3–1	1–3
Portland	1–3	3–1	3–1	4–0	2–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–3	4–0	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–2	3–1	3–0	2–2	3–1	—	2–2	3–1	1–2
San Antonio	0–4	0–4	4–0	1–3	2–2	2–1	2–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–3	1–3	3–1	3–1	3–1	3–1	3–1	2–2	—	3–1	2–2
Seattle	2–1	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	0–4	3–1	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–3	3–1	3–1	2–1	3–1	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	—	3–1
Washington	3–1	4–0	4–0	2–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	1–3	1–3	4–0	2–2	0–4	3–1	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–3	3–1	2–1	2–2	1–3	—

Game log

1976-77 Game Log: 40–42 (Home: 27–14 ; Road: 13–28)
#	Date (Venue)	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Attendance	Record	Recap
1	October 24, 1976 (in Seattle)	New York Nets	93–104	Seattle SuperSonics		7,217	1–0
2	October 26, 1976 (in Indianapolis)	Seattle SuperSonics	90–120	Indiana Pacers		11,568	1–1
3	October 27, 1976 (in Detroit)	Seattle SuperSonics	92–106	Detroit Pistons		15,223	1–2
4	October 29, 1976 (in Seattle)	Detroit Pistons	103–106	Seattle SuperSonics		10,427	2–2
5	October 29, 1976 (in Seattle)	Atlanta Hawks	112–126	Seattle SuperSonics		11,992	3–2
6	November 2, 1976 (in Milwaukee)	Seattle SuperSonics	113–125	Milwaukee Bucks		10,290	3–3
7	November 3, 1976 (in Kansas City)	Seattle SuperSonics	106–126	Kansas City Kings		16,014	3–4
8	November 5, 1976 (in Seattle )	Phoenix Suns	84-88	Seattle SuperSonics		13,665	4-4
9	November 7, 1976 (in Seattle)	Philadelphia 76ers	91-98	Seattle SuperSonics		15,001	5-4
10	November 9, 1976 (in San Antonio)	Seattle SuperSonics	114-138	San Antonio Spurs		16,002	5-5
11	November 10, 1976 (in Houston)	Seattle SuperSonics	97-99	Houston Rockets		14,386	5-6
12	November 12, 1976 (in Seattle)	Kansas City Kings	97-102	Seattle SuperSonics		9,111	6-6
13	November 14, 1976 (in Seattle)	Indiana Pacers	118-121	Seattle SuperSonics		12,070	7-6
14	November 16, 1976 (in Oakland)	Seattle SuperSonics	102-110	Golden State Warriors		18,056	7-7
15	November 17, 1976 (in Seattle)	Cleveland Cavaliers	78-92	Seattle SuperSonics		14,880	8-7
16	November 19, 1976 (in Seattle)	Buffalo Braves	101-130	Seattle SuperSonics		17,003	9-7
17	November 21, 1976 (in Seattle)	Milwaukee Bucks	106-115	Seattle SuperSonics		10,059	10-7
18	November 26, 1976 (in Seattle)	Chicago Bulls	97-101	Seattle SuperSonics		17,002	11-7
19	November 27, 1976 (in Phoenix)	Seattle SuperSonics	107-119	Phoenix Suns		7,991	11-8
20	November 28, 1976 (in Seattle)	Washington Bullets	116-117	Seattle SuperSonics		13,747	12-8
21	November 30, 1976 (in Buffalo)	Seattle SuperSonics	114-119	Buffalo Braves		9,119	12-9
22	December 1, 1976 (in Boston)	Seattle SuperSonics	103-107	Boston Celtics		11,550	12-10
23	December 3, 1976 (in Philadelphia)	Seattle SuperSonics	121-112	Philadelphia 76ers		18,559	13-10
24	December 4, 1976 (in Manhattan)	Seattle SuperSonics	96-103	New York Knicks		9,200	13-11
25	December 7, 1976 (in New Orleans)	Seattle SuperSonics	98-110	New Orleans Jazz		13,072	13-12
26	December 8, 1976 (in Washington D.C.)	Seattle SuperSonics	109-99	Washington Bullets		19,000	14-12
27	December 10, 1976 (in Seattle)	Golden State Warriors	93-99	Seattle SuperSonics		7,881	15-12
28	December 12, 1976 (in Seattle)	Houston Rockets	96-92	Seattle SuperSonics		8,666	15-13
29	December 15, 1976 (in Seattle)	Denver Nuggets	117-103	Seattle SuperSonics		8,133	15-14
30	December 19, 1976 (in Seattle)	Buffalo Braves	99-98	Seattle SuperSonics		9,204	15-15
31	December 21, 1976 (in Chicago)	Seattle SuperSonics	101-103	Chicago Bulls	2OT	16,000	15-16
32	December 23, 1976 (in Denver)	Seattle SuperSonics	95-123	Denver Nuggets		12,789	15-17
33	December 25, 1976 (in Portland)	Seattle SuperSonics	95-110	Portland Trail Blazers		10,551	15-18
34	December 26, 1976 (in Seattle)	Portland Trail Blazers	87-89	Seattle SuperSonics		7,128	16-18
35	December 28, 1976 (in Atlanta)	Seattle SuperSonics	120-119	Atlanta Hawks		15,579	17-18
36	December 29, 1976 (in New York City)	Seattle SuperSonics	102-96	New York Nets		7,186	18-18
37	December 30, 1976 (in Cleveland)	Seattle SuperSonics	100-105	Cleveland Cavaliers		20,001	18-19
38	January 2, 1977 (in Seattle)	Chicago Bulls	79-83	Seattle SuperSonics		17,071	19-19
39	January 5, 1977 (in Seattle)	Boston Celtics	93-94	Seattle SuperSonics		17,070	20-19
40	January 7, 1977 (in Seattle)	San Antonio Spurs	124-131	Seattle SuperSonics		17,070	21-19
41	January 9, 1977 (in Seattle)	New Orleans Jazz	76-92	Seattle SuperSonics		17,068	22-19
42	January 12, 1977 (in Seattle)	Detroit Pistons	99-121	Seattle SuperSonics		16,998	23-19
43	January 14, 1977 (in Seattle)	New York Knicks	107-127	Seattle SuperSonics		14,098	24-19
44	January 16, 1977 (in Seattle)	Denver Nuggets	109-101	Seattle SuperSonics		14,098	24-20
45	January 19, 1977 (in Seattle)	Indiana Pacers	102-109	Seattle SuperSonics		12,081	25-20
46	January 21, 1977 (in Denver)	Seattle SuperSonics	106-120	Denver Nuggets		16,222	25-21
47	January 23, 1977 (in Phoenix)	Seattle SuperSonics	88-98	Phoenix Suns		13,274	25-22
48	January 25, 1977 (in Los Angeles)	Seattle SuperSonics	109-120	Los Angeles Lakers		11,273	25-23
49	January 26, 1977 (in Seattle)	Los Angeles Lakers	103-118	Seattle SuperSonics		13,037	26-23
50	January 30, 1977 (in Seattle)	San Antonio Spurs	126-118	Seattle SuperSonics	OT	14,098	26-24
51	February 2, 1977 (in Seattle)	New Orleans Jazz	95-120	Seattle SuperSonics		12,552	27-24
52	February 4, 1977 (in Seattle)	Washington Bullets	109-106	Seattle SuperSonics		14,098	27-25
53	February 6, 1977 (in Seattle)	Milwaukee Bucks	99-107	Seattle SuperSonics		13,572	28-25
54	February 9, 1977 (in Seattle)	Atlanta Hawks	99-98	Seattle SuperSonics		10,593	28-26
55	February 11, 1977 (in Seattle)	Golden State Warriors	107-114	Seattle SuperSonics	OT	13,375	29-26
56	February 15, 1977 (in San Antonio)	Seattle SuperSonics	106-109	San Antonio Spurs	OT	7,781	29-27
57	February 16, 1977 (in Houston)	Seattle SuperSonics	95-124	Houston Rockets		5,237	29-28
58	February 18, 1977 (in New York City)	Seattle SuperSonics	93-88	New York Nets		6,775	30-28
59	February 19, 1977 (in Buffalo)	Seattle SuperSonics	100-103	Buffalo Braves		11,079	30-29
60	February 20, 1977 (in Indianapolis)	Seattle SuperSonics	115-135	Indiana Pacers		9,110	30-30
61	February 23, 1977 (in Kansas City)	Seattle SuperSonics	94-93	Kansas City Kings		9,416	31-30
62	February 25, 1977 (in Seattle)	Boston Celtics	102-92	Seattle SuperSonics		14,098	31-31
63	February 27, 1977 (in Seattle)	Philadelphia 76ers	93-85	Seattle SuperSonics		14,098	31-32
64	March 2, 1977 (in Seattle)	Cleveland Cavaliers	105-85	Seattle SuperSonics		13,017	31-33
65	March 5, 1977 (in Portland)	Seattle SuperSonics	104-134	Portland Trail Blazers		12,229	31-34
66	March 8, 1977 (in New Orleans)	Seattle SuperSonics	96-91	New Orleans Jazz		10,522	32-34
67	March 9, 1977 (in Boston)	Seattle SuperSonics	`114-86	Boston Celtics		14,692	33-34
68	March 11, 1977 (in Philadelphia)	Seattle SuperSonics	122-126	Philadelphia 76ers		16,268	33-35
69	March 12, 1977 (in Manhattan)	Seattle SuperSonics	91-88	New York Knicks		15,599	34-35
70	March 16, 1977 (in Washington D.C.)	Seattle SuperSonics	100-96	Washington Bullets		9,793	35-35
71	March 18, 1977 (in Detroit)	Seattle SuperSonics	105-104	Detroit Pistons		10,524	36-35
72	March 19, 1977 (in Chicago)	Seattle SuperSonics	92-104	Chicago Bulls		18,674	36-36
73	March 20, 1977 (in Milwaukee)	Seattle SuperSonics	110-107	Milwaukee Bucks		9,047	37-36
74	March 22, 1977 (in Cleveland)	Seattle SuperSonics	104-108	Cleveland Cavaliers		10,041	37-37
75	March 27, 1977 (in Seattle)	Phoenix Suns	121-100	Seattle SuperSonics		14,098	37-38
76	March 29, 1977 (in Los Angeles)	Seattle SuperSonics	97-100	Los Angeles Lakers		11,661	37-39
77	March 30, 1977 (in Seattle)	Houston Rockets	105-111	Seattle SuperSonics		13,371	38-39
78	April 2, 1977 (in Oakland)	Seattle SuperSonics	109-102	Golden State Warriors		12,741	39-39
79	April 3, 1977 (in Seattle)	Portland Trail Blazers	119-104	Seattle SuperSonics		14,098	39-40
80	April 5, 1977 (in Seattle)	New York Nets	88-86	Seattle SuperSonics		13,774	39-41
81	April 8, 1977 (in Seattle)	Kansas City Kings	105-112	Seattle SuperSonics		13,465	40-41
82	April 10, 1977 (in Seattle)	Los Angeles Lakers	113-104	Seattle SuperSonics		14,098	40-42

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

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Mike Bantom	44		18.1	.488		.690	4.2	1.2	0.8	0.5	7.5
Norton Barnhill	4		2.5	.333			0.8	0.3	0.0	0.0	1.0
Fred Brown	72		29.1	.479		.884	3.2	2.4	1.7	0.3	17.2
Tom Burleson	82		22.0	.442		.731	6.7	1.1	0.9	1.4	9.7
Leonard Gray	25		25.7	.435		.756	4.3	2.2	1.1	0.5	11.5
Mike Green	76		25.4	.441		.706	6.6	1.6	0.6	1.7	9.8
Dennis Johnson	81		20.6	.504		.624	3.7	1.5	1.5	0.7	9.2
Bob Love	32		14.1	.372		.872	2.7	0.7	0.4	0.1	7.7
Willie Norwood	76		21.7	.469		.733	3.8	1.3	0.8	0.1	4.0
Frank Oleynick	50		10.3	.363		.736	0.9	1.2	0.3	0.1	4.0
Bruce Seals	81		24.4	.444		.708	4.4	1.1	0.6	0.7	11.0
Dean Tolson	60		9.8	.566		.535	2.6	0.5	0.5	0.4	6.0
Slick Watts	79		33.3	.422		.587	3.9	8.0	2.7	0.3	13.0
Nick Weatherspoon	51		29.5	.461		.632	7.9	1.0	1.0	0.5	12.8
Bob Wilkerson	78		19.9	.386		.689	3.3	2.2	0.9	0.1	6.7