The 1989-90 Seattle SuperSonics season marked a period of transition and moderate success for the franchise. Under the guidance of head coach Bernie Bickerstaff, the team finished the regular season with a 41-41 record. This placed them fourth in the Pacific Division and secured a spot in the playoffs as the seventh seed in the Western Conference.
Key players for the SuperSonics included Dale Ellis, who was the team’s leading scorer, averaging 23.5 points per game. Xavier McDaniel also played a crucial role, contributing with his all-around skills and averaging 21.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. The roster was bolstered by young talent like Shawn Kemp, who, despite being in his rookie season, showed flashes of potential that would later become hallmarks of his career.
In the postseason, the SuperSonics faced a challenging first-round matchup against the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers. The series underscored the team’s resilience but ultimately highlighted the gap between them and the league’s elite. Seattle was swept 3-0 by the Lakers, ending their playoff run in the first round. Despite the early exit, the season laid the groundwork for the team’s future development, with emerging players gaining valuable experience.
Overall, the 1989-90 season was a stepping stone for the Seattle SuperSonics, combining a mix of seasoned veterans and promising young talent, setting the stage for future successes in the coming years.
- Regular Season Record: 41-41
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Seattle SuperSonics Roster and Stats for 1989-90 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Dale Ellis | 55 | 23.5 | 4.3 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 37.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Xavier McDaniel | 69 | 21.3 | 6.5 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 29.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Derrick McKey | 80 | 15.7 | 6.1 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 13.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Sedale Threatt | 65 | 11.4 | 1.8 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Michael Cage | 82 | 9.7 | 10.0 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Dana Barros | 81 | 9.7 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 39.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Quintin Dailey | 30 | 8.2 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 20.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Shawn Kemp | 81 | 6.5 | 4.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 16.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jim Farmer | 38 | 6.4 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 29.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Nate McMillan | 82 | 6.4 | 4.9 | 7.3 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 35.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Steve Johnson | 21 | 5.6 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Brad Sellers | 45 | 4.8 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Olden Polynice | 79 | 4.6 | 3.8 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 50.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Avery Johnson | 53 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Scott Meents | 26 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Seattle SuperSonics 1989-90 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1989-90 season for the Seattle SuperSonics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 03, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 106-94 | |
| Nov 04, 1989 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 107-100 | |
| Nov 07, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 128-88 | |
| Nov 09, 1989 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 155-154 | |
| Nov 11, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 109-102 | |
| Nov 12, 1989 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 108-97 | |
| Nov 14, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 113-109 | |
| Nov 16, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 111-98 | |
| Nov 18, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 119-110 | |
| Nov 19, 1989 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 119-109 | |
| Nov 21, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 114-84 | |
| Nov 24, 1989 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 122-109 | |
| Nov 25, 1989 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 117-70 | |
| Nov 28, 1989 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 117-104 | |
| Nov 30, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 127-122 | |
| Dec 02, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 120-95 | |
| Dec 05, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 133-123 | |
| Dec 09, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 104-100 | |
| Dec 13, 1989 | @ Boston Celtics | L 109-97 | |
| Dec 15, 1989 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 120-101 | |
| Dec 16, 1989 | @ New York Knicks | L 118-97 | |
| Dec 19, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 94-77 | |
| Dec 21, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 123-102 | |
| Dec 23, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 98-95 | |
| Dec 27, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 110-106 | |
| Dec 29, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 96-89 | |
| Jan 03, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 119-108 | |
| Jan 05, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 140-110 | |
| Jan 06, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 120-110 | |
| Jan 08, 1990 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 110-96 | |
| Jan 09, 1990 | @ Houston Rockets | L 97-90 | |
| Jan 11, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 98-87 | |
| Jan 13, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 113-106 | |
| Jan 15, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 105-101 | |
| Jan 17, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 100-90 | |
| Jan 18, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 105-95 | |
| Jan 20, 1990 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 117-98 | |
| Jan 24, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 119-112 | |
| Jan 26, 1990 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 114-102 | |
| Jan 27, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 109-98 | |
| Jan 31, 1990 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 110-82 | |
| Feb 02, 1990 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 87-86 | |
| Feb 03, 1990 | @ Washington Bullets | W 94-92 | |
| Feb 05, 1990 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 101-100 | |
| Feb 07, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 128-124 | |
| Feb 13, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 110-106 | |
| Feb 15, 1990 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 103-92 | |
| Feb 16, 1990 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 100-96 | |
| Feb 18, 1990 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 85-70 | |
| Feb 20, 1990 | @ Orlando Magic | W 117-102 | |
| Feb 21, 1990 | @ Miami Heat | W 92-85 | |
| Feb 23, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 97-85 | |
| Feb 25, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 110-102 | |
| Feb 27, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 103-99 | |
| Feb 28, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 112-107 | |
| Mar 02, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 99-83 | |
| Mar 03, 1990 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 110-98 | |
| Mar 06, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 95-90 | |
| Mar 08, 1990 | @ Houston Rockets | L 111-97 | |
| Mar 09, 1990 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 107-97 | |
| Mar 12, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 130-105 | |
| Mar 14, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 103-100 | |
| Mar 15, 1990 | @ Utah Jazz | L 117-95 | |
| Mar 18, 1990 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 121-116 | |
| Mar 20, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 128-106 | |
| Mar 22, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 125-118 | |
| Mar 24, 1990 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 121-95 | |
| Mar 25, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 116-94 | |
| Mar 27, 1990 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 115-103 | |
| Mar 30, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 139-108 | |
| Apr 01, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 104-103 | |
| Apr 03, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 136-134 | |
| Apr 05, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 101-91 | |
| Apr 06, 1990 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 119-103 | |
| Apr 09, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 106-105 | |
| Apr 10, 1990 | @ Utah Jazz | L 114-102 | |
| Apr 12, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 113-103 | |
| Apr 14, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 96-89 | |
| Apr 17, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 102-101 | |
| Apr 19, 1990 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 130-118 | |
| Apr 20, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 121-99 | |
| Apr 22, 1990 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 124-122 |