1980–81 Seattle SuperSonics season

1980–81 Seattle SuperSonics season
Head coach	Lenny Wilkens
General manager	Zollie Volchok
Owner(s)	Sam Schulman
Arena	Kingdome
Results
Record	34–48 (.415)
Place	Division: 6th (Pacific) Conference: 10th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	KIRO-TV
Radio	KIRO

The 1980–81 NBA season was the SuperSonics 14th season in the NBA.

Draft picks

Main article: 1980 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	20	Bill Hanzlik	SG/SF	United States	Notre Dame
3	66	Carl Bailey	C	United States	Tuskegee

Roster

1980–81 Seattle SuperSonics roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From C 21 Awtrey, Dennis 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1948–02–22 Santa Clara PF 20 Bailey, James 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1957–05–21 Rutgers SG 32 Brown, Fred 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 182 lb (83 kg) 1948–08–07 Iowa C 40 Donaldson, James 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 275 lb (125 kg) 1957–08–16 Washington State SF 22 Hanzlik, Bill 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1957–12–06 Notre Dame PG 24 Hill, Armond 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1953–03–31 Princeton SF 27 Johnson, John 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1947–10–18 Iowa PG 15 Johnson, Vinnie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1956–09–01 Baylor PF 8 Shelton, Lonnie 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1955–10–19 Oregon State C 43 Sikma, Jack 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1955–11–14 Illinois Wesleyan SF 42 Walker, Wally 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1954–07–18 Virginia SG 44 Westphal, Paul 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1950–11–30 USC

Head coach Lenny Wilkens Assistant coach(es) Les Habegger Bob Kloppenburg Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Last transaction: January 19, 1981

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Phoenix Suns	57	25	.695	–	36–5	21–20	22–8
x-Los Angeles Lakers	54	28	.659	3.0	30–11	24–17	19–11
x-Portland Trail Blazers	45	37	.549	12.0	30–11	15–26	18–12
Golden State Warriors	39	43	.476	18.0	26–15	13–28	10–20
San Diego Clippers	36	46	.439	21.0	22–19	14–27	14–16
Seattle SuperSonics	34	48	.415	23.0	22–19	12–29	7–23

#	Western Conference
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Phoenix Suns	57	25	.695	–
2	y-San Antonio Spurs	52	30	.634	5
3	x-Los Angeles Lakers	54	28	.659	3
4	x-Portland Trail Blazers	45	37	.549	12
5	x-Kansas City Kings	40	42	.488	17
6	x-Houston Rockets	40	42	.488	17
7	Golden State Warriors	39	43	.476	18
8	Denver Nuggets	37	45	.451	20
9	San Diego Clippers	36	46	.439	21
10	Seattle SuperSonics	34	48	.415	23
11	Utah Jazz	28	54	.341	29
12	Dallas Mavericks	15	67	.183	42

Notes

• z, y – division champions
• x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1980-81 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	KCK	LAL	MIL	NJN	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAS	SDC	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	–	2–4	2–4	1–5	2–0	1–1	4–2	2–0	1–1	1–5	1–1	0–2	1–5	3–2	2–4	1–5	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–4
Boston	4–2	–	5–1	4–1	2–0	2–0	4–1	1–1	2–0	3–3	1–1	2–0	3–3	6–0	5–1	3–3	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	5–1
Chicago	4–2	1–5	–	5–1	1–1	1–1	5–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	2–0	1–1	3–3	3–2	3–3	2–4	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	5–1
Cleveland	5–1	1–4	1–5	–	2–0	1–1	3–3	1–1	0–2	2–4	0–2	0–2	0–6	3–3	0–5	0–6	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–2
Dallas	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	–	3–3	0–2	2–3	0–6	0–2	0–6	0–5	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–4	1–4	1–5	2–3	1–4	1–5	0–2
Denver	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–3	–	2–0	3–2	2–4	1–1	4–2	3–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–4	2–3	2–4	3–2	3–2	2–4	0–2
Detroit	2–4	1–4	1–5	3–3	2–0	0–2	–	0–2	1–1	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–5	3–3	1–5	1–4	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–5
Golden State	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	2–3	2–0	–	3–2	1–1	5–0	1–5	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–4	2–4	1–4	2–4	3–3	4–1	1–1
Houston	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	6–0	4–2	1–1	2–3	–	1–1	2–4	2–3	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–4	3–2	3–3	1–4	4–1	4–2	0–2
Indiana	5–1	3–3	2–3	4–2	2–0	1–1	4–2	1–1	1–1	–	2–0	0–2	2–4	5–1	3–2	0–6	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–2
Kansas City	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	6–0	2–4	1–1	0–5	4–2	0–2	–	0–5	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–2	3–2	2–4	3–2	2–3	5–1	1–1
Los Angeles	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	5–0	2–3	2–0	5–1	3–2	2–0	5–0	–	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–4	3–3	2–3	3–3	6–0	3–2	1–1
Milwaukee	5–1	3–3	3–3	6–0	2–0	1–1	5–1	1–1	2–0	4–2	1–1	2–0	–	5–1	3–3	3–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	4–1
New Jersey	2–3	0–6	2–3	3–3	1–1	1–1	3–3	1–1	0–2	1–5	0–2	0–2	1–5	–	0–6	1–5	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–3
New York	4–2	1–5	3–3	5–0	1–1	2–0	5–1	0–2	2–0	2–3	1–1	0–2	3–3	6–0	–	3–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	4–2
Philadelphia	5–1	3–3	4–2	6–0	2–0	1–1	4–1	2–0	2–0	6–0	2–0	1–1	2–3	5–1	3–3	–	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	4–2
Phoenix	2–0	0–2	2–0	1–1	4–1	4–1	2–0	4–2	4–1	1–1	2–3	4–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	–	3–3	3–2	6–0	5–1	5–0	1–1
Portland	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	4–1	3–2	2–0	4–2	2–3	2–0	2–3	3–3	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–3	–	2–3	4–2	4–2	2–3	2–0
San Antonio	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	5–1	4–2	2–0	4–1	3–3	0–2	4–2	3–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–3	3–2	–	4–1	3–2	5–1	1–1
San Diego	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–2	2–3	1–1	4–2	4–1	1–1	2–3	3–3	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–6	2–4	1–4	–	5–1	3–2	0–2
Seattle	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	4–1	2–3	2–0	3–3	1–4	2–0	3–2	0–6	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–5	2–4	2–3	1–5	–	4–1	1–1
Utah	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	5–1	4–2	2–0	1–4	2–4	1–1	1–5	2–3	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–5	3–2	1–5	2–3	1–4	–	0–2
Washington	4–1	1–5	1–5	2–4	2–0	2–0	5–1	1–1	2–0	2–4	1–1	1–1	1–4	3–3	2–4	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	—

Game log

1980–81 game log
October (5–7) Game Date Team Score Location Attendance Record Streak 1 Oct 10 Los Angeles Lakers 98–99 Kingdome 0–1 Lost 1 2 Oct 12 @ Portland Trail Blazers 96–107 Memorial Colliseum 0–2 Lost 2 3 Oct 14 @ Dallas Mavericks 85–83 Reunion Arena 1–2 Won 1 4 Oct 15 @ Houston Rockets 100–103 The Summit 1–3 Lost 1 5 Oct 18 @ Kansas City Kings 127–122 Kemper Arena 2–3 Won 1 6 Oct 20 @ Utah Jazz 98–92 Salt Palace 3–3 Won 2 7 Oct 22 Dallas Mavericks 102–107 Kingdome 3–4 Lost 1 8 Oct 24 @ Los Angeles Lakers 98–104 The Forum 3–5 Lost 2 9 Oct 25 Phoenix Suns 75–100 Kingdome 3–6 Lost 3 10 Oct 26 Portland Trail Blazers 111–98 Kingdome 4–6 Won 1 11 Oct 28 Golden State Warriors 119–102 Kingdome 5–6 Won 2 12 Oct 31 San Antonio Spurs 96–112 Kingdome 5–7 Lost 1
November (6–7) Game Date Team Score Location Attendance Record Streak 13 Nov 1 @ Denver Nuggets 118–123 McNichols Sports Arena 5–8 Lost 2 14 Nov 3 Cleveland Cavaliers 118–83 Kingdome 6–8 Win 1 15 Nov 5 Denver Nuggets 117–125 Kingdome 6–9 Lost 1 16 Nov 7 San Diego Clippers 113–94 Kingdome 7–9 Win 1 17 Nov 12 Utah Jazz 106–114 Kingdome 7–10 Lost 1 18 Nov 14 Kansas City Kings 127–125 Kingdome 8–10 Won 1 19 Nov 15 Houston Rockets 143–139 (OT) Kingdome 9–10 Won 2 20 Nov 18 @ Houston Rockets 118–138 The Summit 9–11 Lost 1 21 Nov 21 @ Dallas Mavericks 101–91 Reunion Arena 10–11 Win 1 22 Nov 23 @ San Diego Clippers 99–110 San Diego Sports Arena 10–12 Lost 1 23 Nov 26 @ Phoenix Suns 103–113 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10–13 Lost 2 24 Nov 28 San Diego Clippers 92–93 Kingdome 10–14 Lost 3 25 Nov 30 New Jersey Nets 113–89 Kingdome 11–14 Won 1
December (6–7) Game Date Team Score Location Attendance Record Streak 26 Dec 3 Chicago Bulls 113–105 Kingdome 12–14 Won 2 27 Dec 6 @ Utah Jazz 108–98 Salt Palace 13–14 Won 3 28 Dec 8 San Antonio Spurs 104–99 Kingdome 14–14 Won 4 29 Dec 9 @ Portland Trail Blazers 98–111 Memorial Coliseum 14–15 Lost 1 30 Dec 10 @ Golden State Warriors 108–103 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15–15 Win 1 31 Dec 12 Los Angeles Lakers 107–113 Kingdome 15–16 Lost 1 32 Dec 14 @ San Diego Clippers 81–91 San Diego Sports Arena 15–17 Lost 2 33 Dec 17 Kansas City Kings 101–94 Kingdome 16–17 Won 1 34 Dec 19 Atlanta Hawks 95–92 Kingdome 17–17 Won 2 35 Dec 22 Phoenix Suns 98–109 Kingdome 17–18 Lost 1 36 Dec 26 Portland Trail Blazers 90–96 Kingdome 17–19 Lost 2 37 Dec 27 @ Golden State Warriors 98–104 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 17–20 Lost 3 38 Dec 30 @ San Antonio Spurs 100–102 HemisFair Arena 17–21 Lost 4
January (4–10) Game Date Team Score Location Attendance Record Streak 39 Jan 2 Philadelphia 76ers 117–120 (OT) Kingdome 17–22 Lost 5 40 Jan 5 Dallas Mavericks 103–89 Kingdome 18–22 Won 1 41 Jan 7 Detroit Pistons 99–94 Kingdome 19–22 Won 2 42 Jan 9 @ Los Angeles Lakers 87–92 The Forum 19–23 Lost 1 43 Jan 10 Denver Nuggets 119–116 Kingdome 20–23 Won 1 44 Jan 11 Golden State Warriors 98–106 Kingdome 20–24 Lost 1 45 Jan 13 @ Phoenix Suns 99–104 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 20–25 Lost 2 46 Jan 16 @ Indiana Pacers 95–94 Market Square Arena 21–25 Won 1 47 Jan 18 @ Philadelphia 76ers 92–113 The Spectrum 21–26 Lost 1 48 Jan 20 @ New York Knicks 97–98 Madison Square Garden 21–27 Lost 2 49 Jan 21 @ New Jersey Nets 122–126 (OT) Rutgers Athletic Center 21–28 Lost 3 50 Jan 23 @ Washington Wizards 91–103 Capital Centre 21–29 Lost 4 51 Jan 25 @ Boston Celtics 106–115 Boston Garden 21–30 Lost 5 52 Jan 28 Milwaukee Bucks 110–119 Kingdome 21–31 Lost 6
February (8–7) Game Date Team Score Location Attendance Record Streak 53 Feb 4 Washington Bullets 108–99 Kingdome 22–31 Won 1 54 Feb 6 Kansas City Kings 92–102 Kingdome 22–32 Lost 1 55 Feb 7 Utah Jazz 96–89 Kingdome 23–32 Won 1 56 Feb 8 Denver Nuggets 133–112 Kingdome 24–32 Won 2 57 Feb 10 Boston Celtics 108–107 (OT) Kingdome 25–32 Won 3 58 Feb 12 @ Portland Trail Blazers 112–109 Memorial Coliseum 26–32 Won 4 59 Feb 14 @ Chicago Bulls 117–134 Chicago Stadium 26–33 Lost 1 60 Feb 15 @ Kansas City Kings 105–107 Kemper Arena 26–34 Lost 2 61 Feb 17 @ Utah Jazz 101–98 Salt Palace 27–34 Won 1 62 Feb 18 New York Knicks 103–105 Kingdome 27–35 Lost 1 63 Feb 20 Phoenix Suns 112–111 Kingdome 28–35 Won 1 64 Feb 22 Houston Rockets 96–111 Kingdome 28–36 Lost 1 65 Feb 24 @ Dallas Mavericks 102–84 Reunion Arena 29–36 Won 1 66 Feb 26 @ San Antonio Spurs 113–123 HemisFair Arena 29–37 Lost 1 67 Feb 27 @ Houston Rockets 92–96 The Summit 29–38 Lost 2
March (5–10) Game Date Team Score Location Attendance Record Streak 68 Mar 1 @ Atlanta Hawks 102–108 Omni Coliseum 29–39 Lost 3 69 Mar 4 Indiana Pacers 105–93 Kingdome 30–39 Won 1 70 Mar 6 San Antonio Spurs 102–94 Kingdome 31–39 Won 2 71 Mar 7 @ Golden State Warriors 103–106 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 31–40 Lost 1 72 Mar 8 San Diego Clippers 92–103 Kingdome 31–41 Lost 2 73 Mar 11 @ Cleveland Cavaliers 101–95 Coliseum at Richfield 32–41 Won 1 74 Mar 13 @ Detroit Pistons 102–100 Pontiac Silverdome 33–41 Won 2 75 Mar 15 @ Milwaukee Bucks 108–132 MECCA Arena 33–42 Lost 1 76 Mar 17 @ Denver Nuggets 112–124 McNichols Sports Arena 33–43 Lost 2 77 Mar 20 @ Los Angeles Lakers 119–133 The Forum 33–44 Lost 3 78 Mar 22 @ Phoenix Suns 91–107 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 33–45 Lost 4 79 Mar 24 @ San Diego Clippers 106–111 San Diego Sports Arena 33–46 Lost 5 80 Mar 25 Portland Trail Blazers 103–112 Kingdome 33–47 Lost 6 81 Mar 27 Los Angeles Lakers 90–97 Kingdome 33–48 Lost 7 82 Mar 29 Golden State Warriors 96–92 Kingdome 34–48 Won 1
1980–81 schedule

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
James Bailey	82		31.0	.499	.500	.709	7.4	1.2	.9	1.7	14.0
Fred Brown	78		25.5	.488	.359	.832	2.2	3.0	1.1	.2	15.5
James Donaldson	68		14.4	.542		.594	4.5	.6	.1	1.1	5.3
Bill Hanzlik	74		17.0	.478	.200	.793	2.1	1.5	.8	.3	5.4
John Johnson	80		29.1	.431	.000	.808	4.5	3.9	.7	.3	11.5
Vinnie Johnson	81		28.5	.534	.200	.793	4.5	4.2	1.0	.2	13.0
Lonnie Shelton	14		31.4	.420		.655	5.6	2.5	1.6	.2	13.0
Jack Sikma	82		35.6	.454	.000	.823	10.4	3.0	1.0	1.1	18.7
Wally Walker	82		21.9	.463	.000	.645	3.8	1.5	.6	.2	8.4
Paul Westphal	36		29.9	.442	.240	.832	1.9	4.1	1.3	.4	16.7

Transactions

Free agents

Subtractions
Player	Date signed	New team
Tom LaGarde	Expansion Draft May 28, 1980	Dallas Mavericks