# 1985–86 Seattle SuperSonics season

The 1985–86 NBA season was the SuperSonics' 19th season in the NBA.
The SuperSonics finished the season in eleventh place in the Western Conference with a 31–51 record, the same as the previous year.

## Draft picks

| Player | Position | Nationality | School/club team |
| Xavier McDaniel | Small forward | United States | Wichita State |
| Alex Stivrins | Small forward | United States | Creighton, Colorado |
| Michael Phelps | Shooting guard | United States | Alcorn State |

## Roster

| Number | Name | Position | Height | Experience | College |
| 33 | Frank Brickowski | Center | 6–9 | 1 yr. | Pennysalvania State |
| 24 | Tom Chambers | Power forward | 6–10 | 4 yr. | Utah |
| 15 | Gerald Henderson | Point guard | 6–2 | 6 yr. | Virginia Commonwealth |
| 55 | Rod Higgins | Small forward | 6–7 | 3 yr. | California State, Fresno |
| 52 | George Johnson | Center | 6–11 | 12 yr. | Dillard |
| 35 | Brian Martin | Power forward | 6–9 | Rookie | University of Kansas |
| 40 | Tim McCormick | Center | 6–11 | 1 yr. | Michigan |
| 34 | Xavier McDaniel | Small forward | 6–7 | Rookie | Wichita State |
| 25 | Michael Phelps | Shooting guard | 6–4 | Rookie | Alcorn State University |
| 51 | David Pope | Small forward | 6–7 | 1 yr. | Norfolk State |
| 43 | Jack Sikma | Center | 6–11 | 8 yr. | Illinois Wesleyan University |
| 14 | Ricky Sobers | Shooting guard | 6–3 | 10 yr. | Nevada, Las Vegas |
| 42 | Alex Stivrins | Small forward | 6–8 | Rookie | Creighton, Colorado |
| 23 | Danny Vranes | Small forward | 6–7 | 4 yr. | Utah |
| 4 | Al Wood | Shooting guard | 6–6 | 4 yr. | North Carolina |
| 22 | Danny Young | Point guard | 6–3 | 1 yr. | Wake Forest |
Staff management
* Bob Kloppenburg, Assistant coach
* Lorin Miller, Assistant coach

### Salaries

| Player | Salary |
| Jack Sikma | $1,600,000 |
| Tom Chambers | $800,000 |
| Xavier McDaniel | $525,000 |
| Al Wood | $450,000 |
| Ricky Sobers | $425,000 |
| Danny Vranes | $400,000 |
| Gerald Henderson | $350,000 |
| Tim McCormick | $228,333 |
| Rod Higgins | $190,000 |
| Danny Young | $75,000 |
| George Johnson | $70,000 |
| Michael Phelps | $70,000 |

## Regular season
### Highs

* Seattle finishes the season on a positive note, defeating the Golden State Warriors on the home.
* Great draft picks like Xavier McDaniel.
* Tom Chambers' strong shot and high-flying dunks.
* Went on a 3-game winning streak between November 22–26.

### Lows

* Seattle would lose their first 3 games.
* Losing streaks of 3 to 6 games.
* On November 8, 1985, the Sonics play the Portland Trail Blazers, a familiar rival dubbed as the "I-5 Rivalry". The game is held at Memorial Coliseum in Portland. The Trail Blazers win the game by a score of 92–88.

### Season standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Los Angeles Lakers | 62 | 20 | .756 | – | 35–6 | 27–14 | 23–7 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 40 | 42 | .488 | 22 | 27–14 | 13–28 | 18–12 |
| Phoenix Suns | 32 | 50 | .390 | 30 | 23–18 | 9–32 | 16–14 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 32 | 50 | .390 | 30 | 22–19 | 10–31 | 10–20 |
| Seattle SuperSonics | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 | 24–17 | 7–34 | 11–19 |
| Golden State Warriors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 32 | 24–17 | 6–35 | 12–18 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Los Angeles Lakers | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 2 | y-Houston Rockets | 51 | 31 | .622 | 11 |
| 3 | x-Denver Nuggets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 |
| 4 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 18 |
| 5 | x-Utah Jazz | 42 | 40 | .512 | 20 |
| 6 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 40 | 42 | .488 | 22 |
| 7 | x-Sacramento Kings | 37 | 45 | .451 | 25 |
| 8 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 35 | 47 | .427 | 27 |
| 9 | Phoenix Suns | 32 | 50 | .390 | 30 |
| 10 | Los Angeles Clippers | 32 | 50 | .390 | 30 |
| 11 | Seattle SuperSonics | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 |
| 12 | Golden State Warriors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 32 |
    z - clinched division title
    y - clinched division title
    x - clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1985-86 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 0–6 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 |
| Boston | 6–0 | – | 5–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
| Chicago | 1–5 | 1–5 | – | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 2–4 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | – | 0–5 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 5–0 | – | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 1–5 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–1 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | – | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 5–0 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 0–5 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 4–2 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| New Jersey | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | – | 5–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 |
| New York | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–5 | – | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 |
| Philadelphia | 1–4 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 6–0 | – | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Phoenix | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | – | 2–4 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | – | 3–2 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | – | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 1–5 | – | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–5 | 3–2 | – | 2–3 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | – | 1–1 |
| Washington | 4–1 | 1–5 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |

### Game log

| # | Date | Opponent | Score | Record | Streak |
| 1 | October 26 | @ Dallas Mavericks | 95–101 | 0–1 | Lost 1 |
| 2 | October 29 | @ Houston Rockets | 99–111 | 0–2 | Lost 2 |
| 3 | October 31 | @ Denver Nuggets | 73–90 | 0–3 | Lost 3 |
| 4 | November 2 | Chicago Bulls | 118–100 | 1–3 | Won 1 |
| 5 | November 5 | New York Knicks | 84–80 | 2–3 | Won 2 |
| 6 | November 6 | @ Golden State Warriors | 101–105 | 2–4 | Lost 1 |
| 7 | November 8 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | 88–92 | 2–5 | Lost 2 |
| 8 | November 9 | @ Sacramento Kings | 93–98 | 2–6 | Lost 3 |
| 9 | November 12 | Dallas Mavericks | 109–90 | 3–6 | Won 1 |
| 10 | November 13 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | 93–89 | 4–6 | Won 2 |
| 11 | November 15 | @ Phoenix Suns | 99–117 | 4–7 | Lost 1 |
| 12 | November 16 | @ San Antonio Spurs | 95–97 (OT) | 4–8 | Lost 2 |
| 13 | November 20 | Milwaukee Bucks | 106–116 | 4–9 | Lost 3 |
| 14 | November 22 | Houston Rockets | 122–103 | 5–9 | Won 1 |
| 15 | November 24 | Denver Nuggets | 110–84 | 6–9 | Won 2 |
| 16 | November 26 | Los Angeles Clippers | 131–99 | 7–9 | Won 3 |
| 17 | November 29 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | 107–108 | 7–10 | Lost 1 |
| 18 | November 30 | @ Denver Nuggets | 131–123 (2OT) | 8–10 | Won 1 |
| 19 | December 3 | San Antonio Spurs | 123–103 | 9–10 | Won 2 |
| 20 | December 5 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | 97–100 | 9–11 | Lost 1 |
| 21 | December 6 | @ Washington Bullets | 109–115 | 9–12 | Lost 2 |
| 22 | December 8 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | 105–100 | 10–12 | Won 1 |
| 23 | December 10 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | 98–117 | 10–13 | Lost 1 |
| 24 | December 11 | @ Atlanta Hawks | 97–105 | 10–14 | Lost 2 |
| 25 | December 13 | Los Angeles Clippers | 114–95 | 11–14 | Won 1 |
| 26 | December 15 | @ Golden State Warriors | 105–112 | 11–15 | Lost 1 |
| 27 | December 17 | Phoenix Suns | 99–104 | 11–16 | Lost 2 |
| 28 | December 19 | Detroit Pistons | 97–99 | 11–17 | Lost 3 |
| 29 | December 21 | Portland Trail Blazers | 97–114 | 11–18 | Lost 4 |
| 30 | December 27 | Golden State Warriors | 114–102 | 12–18 | Won 1 |
| 31 | December 28 | Los Angeles Clippers | 106–111 | 12–19 | Lost 1 |
| 32 | December 30 | @ Utah Jazz | 105–107 | 12–20 | Lost 2 |
| 33 | January 3 | Denver Nuggets | 117–107 | 13–20 | Won 1 |
| 34 | January 6 | Phoenix Suns | 97–114 | 13–21 | Lost 1 |
| 35 | January 7 | Utah Jazz | 91–84 | 14–21 | Won 1 |
| 36 | January 9 | @ Denver Nuggets | 90–94 | 14–22 | Lost 1 |
| 37 | January 11 | Los Angeles Lakers | 105–99 | 15–22 | Won 1 |
| 38 | January 13 | Dallas Mavericks | 89–90 | 15–23 | Lost 1 |
| 39 | January 15 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | 103–110 | 15–24 | Lost 2 |
| 40 | January 17 | @ Phoenix Suns | 100–103 | 15–25 | Lost 3 |
| 41 | January 18 | @ Sacramento Kings | 96–98 (OT) | 15–26 | Lost 4 |
| 42 | January 21 | Houston Rockets | 96–100 | 15–27 | Lost 5 |
| 43 | January 23 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | 107–117 (2OT) | 15–28 | Lost 6 |
| 44 | January 25 | New Jersey Nets | 106–99 | 16–28 | Won 1 |
| 45 | January 28 | Philadelphia 76ers | 99–106 | 16–29 | Lost 1 |
| 46 | January 30 | @ New Jersey Nets | 89–82 | 17–29 | Won 1 |
| 47 | January 31 | @ Indiana Pacers | 94–101 | 17–30 | Lost 1 |
| 48 | February 2 | @ Boston Celtics | 101–114 | 17–31 | Lost 2 |
| 49 | February 4 | @ Indiana Pacers | 119–124 (OT) | 17–32 | Lost 3 |
| 50 | February 6 | @ Sacramento Kings | 106–115 | 17–33 | Lost 4 |
| 51 | February 11 | Utah Jazz | 105–92 | 18–33 | Won 1 |
| 52 | February 13 | Boston Celtics | 98–107 | 18–34 | Lost 1 |
| 53 | February 15 | Washington Bullets | 112–106 | 19–34 | Won 1 |
| 54 | February 17 | Atlanta Hawks | 100–87 | 20–34 | Won 2 |
| 55 | February 19 | @ Detroit Pistons | 113–118 | 20–35 | Lost 1 |
| 56 | February 21 | @ New York Knicks | 104–117 | 20–36 | Lost 2 |
| 57 | February 22 | @ Chicago Bulls | 125–129 (3OT) | 20–37 | Lost 3 |
| 58 | February 25 | Sacramento Kings | 100–102 | 20–38 | Lost 4 |
| 59 | February 27 | Portland Trail Blazers | 107–94 | 21–38 | Won 1 |
| 60 | March 3 | Houston Rockets | 118–105 | 22–38 | Won 2 |
| 61 | March 5 | Indiana Pacers | 112–120 | 22–39 | Lost 1 |
| 62 | March 7 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 120–106 | 23–39 | Won 1 |
| 63 | March 9 | Los Angeles Lakers | 106–108 | 23–40 | Lost 1 |
| 64 | March 10 | @ Golden State Warriors | 111–108 | 24–40 | Won 1 |
| 65 | March 12 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | 96–100 | 24–41 | Lost 1 |
| 66 | March 13 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | 92–105 | 24–42 | Lost 2 |
| 67 | March 16 | San Antonio Spurs | 129–115 | 25–42 | Won 1 |
| 68 | March 18 | Utah Jazz | 104–107 | 25–43 | Lost 1 |
| 69 | March 20 | Golden State Warriors | 116–104 | 26–43 | Won 1 |
| 70 | March 21 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | 108–115 | 26–44 | Lost 1 |
| 71 | March 23 | @ San Antonio Spurs | 107–104 | 27–44 | Won 1 |
| 72 | March 24 | @ Utah Jazz | 108–116 | 27–45 | Lost 1 |
| 73 | March 26 | @ Phoenix Suns | 107–120 | 27–46 | Lost 2 |
| 74 | March 27 | Sacramento Kings | 101–103 | 27–47 | Lost 3 |
| 75 | March 29 | Los Angeles Lakers | 88–87 | 28–47 | Won 1 |
| 76 | March 30 | Phoenix Suns | 103–89 | 29–47 | Won 2 |
| 77 | April 1 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | 104–109 | 29–48 | Lost 1 |
| 78 | April 2 | Portland Trail Blazers | 109–121 | 29–49 | Lost 2 |
| 79 | April 5 | @ Dallas Mavericks | 111–109 | 30–49 | Won 1 |
| 80 | April 8 | @ Houston Rockets | 95–109 | 30–50 | Lost 1 |
| 81 | April 10 | Dallas Mavericks | 109–115 | 30–51 | Lost 2 |
| 82 | April 12 | Golden State Warriors | 121–101 | 31–51 | Won 1 |

## Player statistics

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Frank Brickowski | 40 | 2 | 311 | .517 | | .667 | 6.3 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 9.0 |
| Tom Chambers | 66 | 26 | 2019 | .466 | .271 | .836 | 7.7 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 21.8 |
| Gerald Henderson | 82 | 82 | 2568 | .482 | .346 | .830 | 2.6 | 6.8 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 15.0 |
| Rod Higgins | 12 | 0 | 94 | .333 | .250 | .600 | 4.6 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 8.4 |
| George Johnson | 41 | 0 | 264 | .522 | | .688 | 8.2 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 5.0 | 4.8 |
| Brian Martin | 3 | 0 | 7 | .500 | | | 20.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.1 | 10.3 |
| Tim McCormick | 77 | 42 | 1705 | .570 | .500 | .713 | 8.5 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 14.4 |
| Xavier McDaniel | 82 | 80 | 2706 | .490 | .200 | .687 | 8.7 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 18.7 |
| Michael Phelps | 70 | 18 | 880 | .409 | .083 | .595 | 3.6 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 11.4 |
| David Pope | 11 | 0 | 74 | .450 | 1.000 | .500 | 5.4 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 10.2 |
| Jack Sikma | 80 | 78 | 2790 | .462 | .000 | .864 | 9.7 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 17.7 |
| Ricky Sobers | 78 | 0 | 1279 | .444 | .302 | .880 | 2.8 | 5.1 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 17.0 |
| Alex Stivrins | 3 | 0 | 14 | .250 | | .250 | 7.7 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.7 |
| Danny Vranes | 80 | 19 | 1569 | .461 | .000 | .520 | 6.4 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 6.9 |
| Al Wood | 78 | 34 | 1749 | .435 | .135 | .782 | 5.0 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 18.6 |
| Danny Young | 82 | 29 | 1901 | .506 | .324 | .849 | 2.3 | 5.7 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 10.8 |

## Awards and records

* Xavier McDaniel, All-Rookie 1st Team