The 1981-82 Seattle SuperSonics season marked a period of transition and moderate success for the franchise. Under the leadership of head coach Lenny Wilkens, the team finished the regular season with a record of 52-30, securing second place in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. This performance earned them a spot in the playoffs, evidencing their competitive standing despite not being among the top championship contenders.
The roster featured notable players such as Gus Williams, Jack Sikma, and Fred Brown, who were instrumental in driving the team’s success. Gus Williams, the team’s leading scorer, averaged 23.4 points per game, providing crucial offensive firepower. Jack Sikma, known for his versatility, contributed significantly with averages of 19.6 points and 12.7 rebounds per game, highlighting his dual-threat capability on both ends of the court.
In the playoffs, the SuperSonics faced the Houston Rockets in the first round. The series proved challenging, as the Sonics were eliminated after a hard-fought three-game series, losing 2-1. Despite the early playoff exit, the team’s performance during the regular season laid a solid foundation for future success. The 1981-82 season was a testament to the SuperSonics’ resilience and potential, setting the stage for the team to build upon in subsequent seasons.
- Regular Season Record: 52-30
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 2-1, Western Conference Semifinals: 1-4
Seattle SuperSonics Roster and Stats for 1981-82 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Gus Williams | 80 | 23.4 | 3.1 | 6.9 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 22.5 | 8 | 26.3 | 3.3 | 8.1 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 33.3 |
| Jack Sikma | 82 | 19.6 | 12.5 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 15.4 | 8 | 20.5 | 12.1 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| Lonnie Shelton | 81 | 14.9 | 6.3 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 8 | 12.8 | 7.4 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Fred Brown | 82 | 11.2 | 1.7 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 32.5 | 8 | 11.9 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 40.0 |
| Wally Walker | 70 | 9.9 | 4.3 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 8 | 4.9 | 4.0 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Phil Smith | 26 | 8.2 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 8 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| James Donaldson | 82 | 8.1 | 6.0 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 8 | 6.8 | 9.3 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| James Bailey | 10 | 6.6 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Bill Hanzlik | 81 | 5.8 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 8 | 6.5 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Greg Kelser | 49 | 4.9 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 3 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Danny Vranes | 77 | 4.9 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 6 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Johnson | 14 | 4.2 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 7 | 5.4 | 2.0 | 4.9 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Vinnie Johnson | 7 | 3.9 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Mark Radford | 43 | 3.4 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 66.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Ray Tolbert | 52 | 3.4 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 4 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Armond Hill | 21 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Seattle SuperSonics in the 1982 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Seattle SuperSonics
In the 1982 NBA Playoffs, the Seattle SuperSonics faced the Houston Rockets in the first round. Despite a strong effort, the SuperSonics were eliminated in a tight series, losing 2-1. The standout performance by Houston's Moses Malone proved too much for Seattle to overcome, marking an early exit for the Sonics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 21, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 102-87 | |
| Apr 23, 1982 | @ Houston Rockets | L 91-70 | |
| Apr 25, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 104-83 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Seattle SuperSonics
In the 1982 NBA Playoffs, the Seattle SuperSonics faced the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semifinals. Despite a valiant effort, the SuperSonics were ultimately outmatched, losing the series 4-1. The Spurs' dynamic duo of George Gervin and Artis Gilmore proved too formidable, overshadowing Seattle's star guard Gus Williams and the rest of the Sonics' roster.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 95-93 | |
| Apr 28, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 114-99 | |
| Apr 30, 1982 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 99-97 | |
| May 02, 1982 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 115-113 | |
| May 05, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 109-103 |
Seattle SuperSonics 1981-82 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1981-82 season for the Seattle SuperSonics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 94-84 | |
| Nov 01, 1981 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 104-94 | |
| Nov 04, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 106-103 | |
| Nov 06, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 109-105 | |
| Nov 10, 1981 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 123-113 | |
| Nov 11, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 107-79 | |
| Nov 13, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 119-112 | |
| Nov 18, 1981 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 111-93 | |
| Nov 20, 1981 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 90-89 | |
| Nov 22, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 109-92 | |
| Nov 25, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 110-103 | |
| Nov 27, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 117-110 | |
| Nov 28, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 122-120 | |
| Dec 01, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 103-87 | |
| Dec 02, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 104-96 | |
| Dec 04, 1981 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 112-109 | |
| Dec 05, 1981 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 92-85 | |
| Dec 08, 1981 | @ Houston Rockets | W 107-96 | |
| Dec 09, 1981 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 110-99 | |
| Dec 12, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 117-111 | |
| Dec 13, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 98-74 | |
| Dec 15, 1981 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 126-120 | |
| Dec 17, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 106-92 | |
| Dec 19, 1981 | @ Utah Jazz | W 115-103 | |
| Dec 23, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 113-99 | |
| Dec 25, 1981 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 99-94 | |
| Dec 28, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 104-100 | |
| Dec 30, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 102-99 | |
| Jan 02, 1982 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 120-97 | |
| Jan 03, 1982 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 110-90 | |
| Jan 06, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 107-100 | |
| Jan 07, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 116-107 | |
| Jan 09, 1982 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 125-110 | |
| Jan 13, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 106-86 | |
| Jan 15, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 115-103 | |
| Jan 17, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 122-97 | |
| Jan 19, 1982 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 99-97 | |
| Jan 20, 1982 | @ Washington Bullets | L 106-95 | |
| Jan 22, 1982 | @ Boston Celtics | W 118-106 | |
| Jan 23, 1982 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 100-87 | |
| Jan 25, 1982 | @ New York Knicks | W 113-99 | |
| Jan 27, 1982 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 110-103 | |
| Feb 03, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 97-87 | |
| Feb 05, 1982 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 108-99 | |
| Feb 06, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 129-103 | |
| Feb 07, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 99-97 | |
| Feb 09, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 114-105 | |
| Feb 11, 1982 | @ Houston Rockets | L 117-100 | |
| Feb 12, 1982 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 103-100 | |
| Feb 14, 1982 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 114-94 | |
| Feb 16, 1982 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 108-101 | |
| Feb 18, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 105-87 | |
| Feb 19, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 127-122 | |
| Feb 21, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 103-100 | |
| Feb 25, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 104-98 | |
| Feb 26, 1982 | @ Utah Jazz | W 98-97 | |
| Feb 28, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 103-98 | |
| Mar 03, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 136-107 | |
| Mar 05, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 98-97 | |
| Mar 07, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 144-106 | |
| Mar 09, 1982 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 109-104 | |
| Mar 12, 1982 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 112-110 | |
| Mar 14, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 98-97 | |
| Mar 16, 1982 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 109-96 | |
| Mar 18, 1982 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 119-115 | |
| Mar 19, 1982 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 109-103 | |
| Mar 21, 1982 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 115-105 | |
| Mar 24, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 99-97 | |
| Mar 26, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 99-97 | |
| Mar 28, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 109-101 | |
| Mar 30, 1982 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 145-142 | |
| Mar 31, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 116-109 | |
| Apr 02, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 111-86 | |
| Apr 04, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 140-116 | |
| Apr 06, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 102-91 | |
| Apr 08, 1982 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 117-115 | |
| Apr 10, 1982 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 116-99 | |
| Apr 11, 1982 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 107-104 | |
| Apr 13, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 88-86 | |
| Apr 14, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 104-93 | |
| Apr 17, 1982 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 95-94 | |
| Apr 18, 1982 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 119-114 |