The 1985-86 Seattle SuperSonics season was marked by a team in transition, navigating through the Western Conference with a mix of seasoned veterans and emerging talent. The SuperSonics finished the regular season with a 31-51 record, placing them fifth in the Pacific Division and ultimately missing the playoffs. This season was characterized by inconsistency, as they struggled to find a rhythm in both offense and defense.
Under the guidance of head coach Bernie Bickerstaff, who was in his first full season at the helm, the team sought to develop a new identity. Key players included Tom Chambers, who led the team with an average of 18.5 points per game, and Xavier McDaniel, a rising star who contributed significantly with his all-around play. Jack Sikma, a veteran presence, continued to be a force in the paint, averaging a double-double with 17.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.
The SuperSonics experienced a mid-season change with the departure of Gus Williams, a long-time fixture of the team, signaling a shift towards building around younger players. Despite the disappointing season record, the performances of Chambers and McDaniel provided glimpses of potential for the future. The 1985-86 season laid the groundwork for subsequent improvements, as the team aimed to return to playoff contention in the coming years.
- Regular Season Record: 31-51
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Seattle SuperSonics Roster and Stats for 1985-86 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Tom Chambers | 66 | 18.5 | 6.5 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 27.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jack Sikma | 80 | 17.1 | 9.4 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Xavier McDaniel | 82 | 17.1 | 8.0 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 20.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Gerald Henderson | 82 | 13.1 | 2.3 | 5.9 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 34.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Al Wood | 78 | 11.6 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 13.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Tim McCormick | 77 | 8.8 | 5.2 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Ricky Sobers | 78 | 7.7 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 30.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Danny Young | 82 | 6.9 | 1.5 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 32.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Michael Phelps | 70 | 4.0 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 8.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Danny Vranes | 80 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Frank Brickowski | 40 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| David Pope | 11 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Rod Higgins | 12 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Alex Stivrins | 3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| George Johnson | 41 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Brian Martin | 3 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Seattle SuperSonics 1985-86 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1985-86 season for the Seattle SuperSonics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26, 1985 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 101-95 | |
| Oct 29, 1985 | @ Houston Rockets | L 111-99 | |
| Oct 31, 1985 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 90-73 | |
| Nov 02, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 118-100 | |
| Nov 05, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 84-80 | |
| Nov 06, 1985 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 105-101 | |
| Nov 08, 1985 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 92-88 | |
| Nov 09, 1985 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 98-93 | |
| Nov 12, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 109-90 | |
| Nov 13, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 93-89 | |
| Nov 15, 1985 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 117-99 | |
| Nov 16, 1985 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 97-95 | |
| Nov 20, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 116-106 | |
| Nov 22, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 122-103 | |
| Nov 24, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 110-84 | |
| Nov 26, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 131-99 | |
| Nov 29, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 108-107 | |
| Nov 30, 1985 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 131-123 | |
| Dec 03, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 123-103 | |
| Dec 05, 1985 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 100-97 | |
| Dec 06, 1985 | @ Washington Bullets | L 115-109 | |
| Dec 08, 1985 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 105-100 | |
| Dec 10, 1985 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 117-98 | |
| Dec 11, 1985 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 105-97 | |
| Dec 13, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 114-95 | |
| Dec 15, 1985 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 112-105 | |
| Dec 17, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 104-99 | |
| Dec 19, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 99-97 | |
| Dec 21, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 114-97 | |
| Dec 27, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 114-102 | |
| Dec 28, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 111-106 | |
| Dec 30, 1985 | @ Utah Jazz | L 107-105 | |
| Jan 03, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 117-107 | |
| Jan 06, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 114-97 | |
| Jan 07, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 91-84 | |
| Jan 09, 1986 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 94-90 | |
| Jan 11, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 105-99 | |
| Jan 13, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 90-89 | |
| Jan 15, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 110-103 | |
| Jan 17, 1986 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 103-100 | |
| Jan 18, 1986 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 98-96 | |
| Jan 21, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 100-96 | |
| Jan 23, 1986 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 117-107 | |
| Jan 25, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 106-99 | |
| Jan 28, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 106-99 | |
| Jan 30, 1986 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 89-82 | |
| Jan 31, 1986 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 101-94 | |
| Feb 02, 1986 | @ Boston Celtics | L 114-101 | |
| Feb 04, 1986 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 124-119 | |
| Feb 06, 1986 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 115-106 | |
| Feb 11, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 105-92 | |
| Feb 13, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 107-98 | |
| Feb 15, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 112-106 | |
| Feb 17, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 100-87 | |
| Feb 19, 1986 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 118-113 | |
| Feb 21, 1986 | @ New York Knicks | L 117-104 | |
| Feb 22, 1986 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 129-125 | |
| Feb 25, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 102-100 | |
| Feb 27, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 107-94 | |
| Mar 03, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 118-105 | |
| Mar 05, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 120-112 | |
| Mar 07, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 120-106 | |
| Mar 09, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 108-106 | |
| Mar 10, 1986 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 111-108 | |
| Mar 12, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 100-96 | |
| Mar 13, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 105-92 | |
| Mar 16, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 129-115 | |
| Mar 18, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 107-104 | |
| Mar 20, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 116-104 | |
| Mar 21, 1986 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 115-108 | |
| Mar 23, 1986 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 107-104 | |
| Mar 24, 1986 | @ Utah Jazz | L 116-108 | |
| Mar 26, 1986 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 120-107 | |
| Mar 27, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 103-101 | |
| Mar 29, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 88-87 | |
| Mar 30, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 103-89 | |
| Apr 01, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 109-104 | |
| Apr 02, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 121-109 | |
| Apr 05, 1986 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 111-109 | |
| Apr 08, 1986 | @ Houston Rockets | L 109-95 | |
| Apr 10, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 115-109 | |
| Apr 12, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 121-101 |