The 1970-71 season marked the Seattle SuperSonics’ fourth year in the NBA. Under head coach Lenny Wilkens, who also played point guard for the team, the SuperSonics finished the regular season with a 38-44 record. This placed them in seventh position in the Western Conference, just missing out on a playoff spot.
During this season, the SuperSonics were led by Wilkens’ dual role, showcasing his leadership both on and off the court. Wilkens averaged 18.3 points and 9.2 assists per game, providing a significant impact in guiding the team’s offense. Forward Bob Rule was another key player, though his contributions were limited due to a torn Achilles tendon that sidelined him after just four games. Center Spencer Haywood, who joined the team after a legal battle concerning his eligibility, emerged as a dominant force, averaging 20.6 points and 12.0 rebounds across 33 games.
The SuperSonics played their home games at the Seattle Center Coliseum, drawing an average attendance that reflected the city’s growing interest in professional basketball. Despite their sub .500 record, the season was pivotal due to the addition of Haywood, who later became a cornerstone for the franchise. The 1970-71 season laid groundwork for future success, as Seattle continued to build its roster and team chemistry in the years following.
- Regular Season Record: 38-44
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Seattle SuperSonics Roster and Stats for 1970-71 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Bob Rule | 4 | 29.8 | 11.5 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Spencer Haywood | 33 | 20.6 | 12.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Lenny Wilkens | 71 | 19.8 | 4.5 | 9.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Dick Snyder | 82 | 19.4 | 3.1 | 4.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Don Kojis | 79 | 14.6 | 5.5 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Zaid Abdul-Aziz | 61 | 10.9 | 7.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Lee Winfield | 79 | 10.5 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Tom Meschery | 79 | 9.3 | 6.1 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Pete Cross | 79 | 8.0 | 12.0 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Barry Clemens | 78 | 7.4 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jake Ford | 5 | 6.8 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Gar Heard | 65 | 5.9 | 5.1 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Rod Thorn | 63 | 5.6 | 1.6 | 2.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Tom Black | 55 | 5.0 | 4.1 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Seattle SuperSonics 1970-71 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1970-71 season for the Seattle SuperSonics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 14, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 123-117 | |
| Oct 17, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 126-114 | |
| Oct 21, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 110-106 | |
| Oct 23, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 141-111 | |
| Oct 25, 1970 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 126-107 | |
| Oct 26, 1970 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 142-111 | |
| Oct 27, 1970 | @ New York Knicks | L 117-104 | |
| Oct 28, 1970 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 131-118 | |
| Oct 30, 1970 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 115-104 | |
| Oct 31, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 122-119 | |
| Nov 03, 1970 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 113-101 | |
| Nov 04, 1970 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 126-101 | |
| Nov 06, 1970 | @ Boston Celtics | L 116-94 | |
| Nov 07, 1970 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 134-128 | |
| Nov 08, 1970 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 111-105 | |
| Nov 10, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 93-91 | |
| Nov 13, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 111-91 | |
| Nov 16, 1970 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 112-103 | |
| Nov 19, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 111-110 | |
| Nov 20, 1970 | @ San Diego Rockets | L 121-106 | |
| Nov 21, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 115-114 | |
| Nov 22, 1970 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 149-124 | |
| Nov 26, 1970 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 126-115 | |
| Nov 27, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 101-96 | |
| Nov 29, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 130-107 | |
| Dec 01, 1970 | @ New York Knicks | L 114-109 | |
| Dec 02, 1970 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 119-111 | |
| Dec 04, 1970 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 131-116 | |
| Dec 05, 1970 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 106-100 | |
| Dec 08, 1970 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 107-104 | |
| Dec 09, 1970 | @ Boston Celtics | L 136-121 | |
| Dec 11, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 126-118 | |
| Dec 13, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 124-107 | |
| Dec 16, 1970 | @ San Francisco Warriors | L 108-91 | |
| Dec 17, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 125-117 | |
| Dec 19, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 135-131 | |
| Dec 20, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 110-108 | |
| Dec 22, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 119-108 | |
| Dec 26, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 124-117 | |
| Dec 30, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 128-109 | |
| Jan 01, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 121-118 | |
| Jan 04, 1971 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 124-110 | |
| Jan 05, 1971 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 109-101 | |
| Jan 06, 1971 | @ Boston Celtics | L 137-112 | |
| Jan 08, 1971 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 110-102 | |
| Jan 09, 1971 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 114-110 | |
| Jan 14, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 114-110 | |
| Jan 17, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 111-96 | |
| Jan 19, 1971 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 106-102 | |
| Jan 20, 1971 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 112-108 | |
| Jan 22, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 132-131 | |
| Jan 24, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 145-119 | |
| Jan 28, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 120-110 | |
| Jan 29, 1971 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 122-115 | |
| Jan 30, 1971 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 134-116 | |
| Feb 02, 1971 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 118-101 | |
| Feb 03, 1971 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 98-95 | |
| Feb 05, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 121-120 | |
| Feb 07, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 124-107 | |
| Feb 09, 1971 | @ San Diego Rockets | L 132-115 | |
| Feb 10, 1971 | @ San Francisco Warriors | L 133-122 | |
| Feb 11, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 119-101 | |
| Feb 12, 1971 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 137-125 | |
| Feb 14, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 146-101 | |
| Feb 17, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 130-126 | |
| Feb 19, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 128-112 | |
| Feb 21, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 135-128 | |
| Feb 24, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 123-101 | |
| Feb 26, 1971 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 145-121 | |
| Feb 27, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 129-114 | |
| Mar 02, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 128-116 | |
| Mar 05, 1971 | @ San Diego Rockets | W 111-110 | |
| Mar 06, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 121-109 | |
| Mar 08, 1971 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 104-99 | |
| Mar 09, 1971 | @ New York Knicks | W 114-99 | |
| Mar 11, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 130-97 | |
| Mar 12, 1971 | @ San Francisco Warriors | L 111-98 | |
| Mar 14, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 124-121 | |
| Mar 18, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 122-121 | |
| Mar 19, 1971 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 135-128 | |
| Mar 20, 1971 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 114-107 | |
| Mar 21, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 119-106 |