# 1980–81 Seattle SuperSonics season

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

## Draft picks

| 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 |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | 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 Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | 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)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
1Oct 10Los Angeles Lakers98–99Kingdome0–1Lost 1
2Oct 12@ Portland Trail Blazers96–107Memorial Colliseum0–2Lost 2
3Oct 14@ Dallas Mavericks85–83Reunion Arena1–2Won 1
4Oct 15@ Houston Rockets100–103The Summit1–3Lost 1
5Oct 18@ Kansas City Kings127–122Kemper Arena2–3Won 1
6Oct 20@ Utah Jazz98–92Salt Palace3–3Won 2
7Oct 22Dallas Mavericks102–107Kingdome3–4Lost 1
8Oct 24@ Los Angeles Lakers98–104The Forum3–5Lost 2
9Oct 25Phoenix Suns75–100Kingdome3–6Lost 3
10Oct 26Portland Trail Blazers111–98Kingdome4–6Won 1
11Oct 28Golden State Warriors119–102Kingdome5–6Won 2
12Oct 31San Antonio Spurs96–112Kingdome5–7Lost 1 :
November (6–7)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
13Nov 1@ Denver Nuggets118–123McNichols Sports Arena5–8Lost 2
14Nov 3Cleveland Cavaliers118–83Kingdome6–8Win 1
15Nov 5Denver Nuggets117–125Kingdome6–9Lost 1
16Nov 7San Diego Clippers113–94Kingdome7–9Win 1
17Nov 12Utah Jazz106–114Kingdome7–10Lost 1
18Nov 14Kansas City Kings127–125Kingdome8–10Won 1
19Nov 15Houston Rockets143–139 (OT)Kingdome9–10Won 2
20Nov 18@ Houston Rockets118–138The Summit9–11Lost 1
21Nov 21@ Dallas Mavericks101–91Reunion Arena10–11Win 1
22Nov 23@ San Diego Clippers99–110San Diego Sports Arena10–12Lost 1
23Nov 26@ Phoenix Suns103–113Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum10–13Lost 2
24Nov 28San Diego Clippers92–93Kingdome10–14Lost 3
25Nov 30New Jersey Nets113–89Kingdome11–14Won 1 :
December (6–7)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
26Dec 3Chicago Bulls113–105Kingdome12–14Won 2
27Dec 6@ Utah Jazz108–98Salt Palace13–14Won 3
28Dec 8San Antonio Spurs104–99Kingdome14–14Won 4
29Dec 9@ Portland Trail Blazers98–111Memorial Coliseum14–15Lost 1
30Dec 10@ Golden State Warriors108–103Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena15–15Win 1
31Dec 12Los Angeles Lakers107–113Kingdome15–16Lost 1
32Dec 14@ San Diego Clippers81–91San Diego Sports Arena15–17Lost 2
33Dec 17Kansas City Kings101–94Kingdome16–17Won 1
34Dec 19Atlanta Hawks95–92Kingdome17–17Won 2
35Dec 22Phoenix Suns98–109Kingdome17–18Lost 1
36Dec 26Portland Trail Blazers90–96Kingdome17–19Lost 2
37Dec 27@ Golden State Warriors98–104Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena17–20Lost 3
38Dec 30@ San Antonio Spurs100–102HemisFair Arena17–21Lost 4 :
January (4–10)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
39Jan 2Philadelphia 76ers117–120 (OT)Kingdome17–22Lost 5
40Jan 5Dallas Mavericks103–89Kingdome18–22Won 1
41Jan 7Detroit Pistons99–94Kingdome19–22Won 2
42Jan 9@ Los Angeles Lakers87–92The Forum19–23Lost 1
43Jan 10Denver Nuggets119–116Kingdome20–23Won 1
44Jan 11Golden State Warriors98–106Kingdome20–24Lost 1
45Jan 13@ Phoenix Suns99–104Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum20–25Lost 2
46Jan 16@ Indiana Pacers95–94Market Square Arena21–25Won 1
47Jan 18@ Philadelphia 76ers92–113The Spectrum21–26Lost 1
48Jan 20@ New York Knicks97–98Madison Square Garden21–27Lost 2
49Jan 21@ New Jersey Nets122–126 (OT)Rutgers Athletic Center21–28Lost 3
50Jan 23@ Washington Wizards91–103Capital Centre21–29Lost 4
51Jan 25@ Boston Celtics106–115Boston Garden21–30Lost 5
52Jan 28Milwaukee Bucks110–119Kingdome21–31Lost 6 :
February (8–7)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
53Feb 4Washington Bullets108–99Kingdome22–31Won 1
54Feb 6Kansas City Kings92–102Kingdome22–32Lost 1
55Feb 7Utah Jazz96–89Kingdome23–32Won 1
56Feb 8Denver Nuggets133–112Kingdome24–32Won 2
57Feb 10Boston Celtics108–107 (OT)Kingdome25–32Won 3
58Feb 12@ Portland Trail Blazers112–109Memorial Coliseum26–32Won 4
59Feb 14@ Chicago Bulls117–134Chicago Stadium26–33Lost 1
60Feb 15@ Kansas City Kings105–107Kemper Arena26–34Lost 2
61Feb 17@ Utah Jazz101–98Salt Palace27–34Won 1
62Feb 18New York Knicks103–105Kingdome27–35Lost 1
63Feb 20Phoenix Suns112–111Kingdome28–35Won 1
64Feb 22Houston Rockets96–111Kingdome28–36Lost 1
65Feb 24@ Dallas Mavericks102–84Reunion Arena29–36Won 1
66Feb 26@ San Antonio Spurs113–123HemisFair Arena29–37Lost 1
67Feb 27@ Houston Rockets92–96The Summit29–38Lost 2 :
March (5–10)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
68Mar 1@ Atlanta Hawks102–108Omni Coliseum29–39Lost 3
69Mar 4Indiana Pacers105–93Kingdome30–39Won 1
70Mar 6San Antonio Spurs102–94Kingdome31–39Won 2
71Mar 7@ Golden State Warriors103–106Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena31–40Lost 1
72Mar 8San Diego Clippers92–103Kingdome31–41Lost 2
73Mar 11@ Cleveland Cavaliers101–95Coliseum at Richfield32–41Won 1
74Mar 13@ Detroit Pistons102–100Pontiac Silverdome33–41Won 2
75Mar 15@ Milwaukee Bucks108–132MECCA Arena33–42Lost 1
76Mar 17@ Denver Nuggets112–124McNichols Sports Arena33–43Lost 2
77Mar 20@ Los Angeles Lakers119–133The Forum33–44Lost 3
78Mar 22@ Phoenix Suns91–107Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum33–45Lost 4
79Mar 24@ San Diego Clippers106–111San Diego Sports Arena33–46Lost 5
80Mar 25Portland Trail Blazers103–112Kingdome33–47Lost 6
81Mar 27Los Angeles Lakers90–97Kingdome33–48Lost 7
82Mar 29Golden State Warriors96–92Kingdome34–48Won 1 :
1980–81 schedule :

## Player statistics

| Player | GP | 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 |