# 1982–83 Seattle SuperSonics season

The 1982–83 NBA season was the SuperSonics' 16th season in the NBA. They started off the season with twelve straight wins but went 36-34 the rest of the way.
In the playoffs, the SuperSonics were swept by the Portland Trail Blazers in two games in the First Round.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 3 | 65 | John Greig | SF | United States | Oregon |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Los Angeles Lakers | 58 | 24 | .707 | – | 33–8 | 25–16 | 21–9 |
| x-Phoenix Suns | 53 | 29 | .646 | 5 | 32–9 | 21–20 | 21–9 |
| x-Seattle SuperSonics | 48 | 34 | .585 | 10 | 29–12 | 19–22 | 14–16 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 46 | 36 | .561 | 12 | 31–10 | 15–26 | 16–14 |
| Golden State Warriors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 28 | 21–20 | 9–32 | 11–19 |
| San Diego Clippers | 25 | 57 | .305 | 33 | 18–23 | 7–34 | 7–23 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Los Angeles Lakers | 58 | 24 | .707 | – |
| 2 | y-San Antonio Spurs | 53 | 29 | .646 | 5 |
| 3 | x-Phoenix Suns | 53 | 29 | .646 | 5 |
| 4 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 48 | 34 | .585 | 10 |
| 5 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 46 | 36 | .561 | 12 |
| 6 | x-Denver Nuggets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 13 |
| 7 | Kansas City Kings | 45 | 37 | .549 | 13 |
| 8 | Dallas Mavericks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 20 |
| 9 | Utah Jazz | 30 | 52 | .366 | 28 |
| 9 | Golden State Warriors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 28 |
| 11 | San Diego Clippers | 25 | 57 | .305 | 33 |
| 12 | Houston Rockets | 14 | 68 | .171 | 44 |

### Record vs. opponents

1982-83 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 | – | 1–5 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Boston | 5–1 | – | 3–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
| Chicago | 1–5 | 2–3 | – | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 |
| Cleveland | 0–6 | 1–5 | 1–5 | – | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | – | 2–0 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | – | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 |
| Golden State | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | – | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 2–0 |
| Houston | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 2–3 | – | 2–0 | 1–5 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–6 | 1–1 |
| Indiana | 0–6 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 |
| Kansas City | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | – | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 2–0 |
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 4–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 3–2 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
| New Jersey | 4–2 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | – | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 |
| New York | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | – | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Philadelphia | 4–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | – | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | – | 5–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 0–2 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | – | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | – | 4–1 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 2–0 |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–4 | – | 0–6 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 6–0 | – | 5–0 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 0–5 | – | 0–2 |
| Washington | 2–4 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

Record: 48-34
| Game | Date | Location | Score | Record | Attendance |
| 1 | October 29 | Seattle | 128–95 | 1–0 | 21,885 |
| 2 | October 31 | San Diego | 127–109 | 2–0 | 3,507 |
| 3 | November 2 | Utah | 120–92 | 3–0 | 7,378 |
| 4 | November 3 | Seattle | 109–107 | 4–0 | 9,808 |
| 5 | November 5 | Seattle | 112–103 | 5–0 | 14,665 |
| 6 | November 7 | Milwaukee | 102–90 | 6–0 | 10,975 |
| 7 | November 9 | Chicago | 112–111 | 7–0 | 9,122 |
| 8 | November 10 | Dallas | 94–91 | 8–0 | 9,813 |
| 9 | November 13 | San Antonio | 107–98 | 9–0 | 14,814 |
| 10 | November 14 | Houston | 102–99 | 10–0 | 6,576 |
| 11 | November 17 | Seattle | 119–97 | 11–0 | 11,169 |
| 12 | November 19 | Seattle | 101–94 | 12–0 | 14,190 |
| 13 | November 21 | Seattle | 91–111 | 12–1 | 13,353 |
| 14 | November 24 | Seattle | 93–111 | 12–2 | 26,320 |
| 15 | November 26 | Seattle | 127–106 | 13–2 | Not announced |
| 16 | November 27 | Golden State | 133–118 | 14–2 | 12,968 |
| 17 | December 1 | Seattle | 131–110 | 15–2 | Not announced |
| 18 | December 5 | St. Louis | 103–106 | 15–3 | 8,180 |
| 19 | December 7 | Houston | 107–88 | 16–3 | 7,049 |
| 20 | December 8 | Dallas | 94–110 | 16–4 | 10,063 |
| 21 | December 10 | Seattle | 100–101 | 16–5 | 13,711 |
| 22 | December 14 | Seattle | 109–114 (OT) | 16–6 | 12,432 |
| 23 | December 16 | Seattle | 103–93 | 17–6 | 9,116 |
| 24 | December 17 | Seattle | 93–90 | 18–6 | 11,263 |
| 25 | December 18 | San Diego | 121–107 | 19–6 | 3,594 |
| 26 | December 21 | Seattle | 99–94 | 20–6 | 12,976 |
| 27 | December 23 | Seattle | 120–95 | 21–6 | 10,791 |
| 28 | December 25 | Portland | 88–95 | 21–7 | 12,666 |
| 29 | December 26 | Seattle | 88–87 | 22–7 | 14,412 |
| 30 | December 29 | Seattle | 109–92 | 23–7 | 14,223 |
| 31 | December 30 | Los Angeles | 117–137 | 23–8 | 17,505 |
| 32 | January 2 | Phoenix | 99–116 | 23–9 | 11,318 |
| 33 | January 5 | Seattle | 104–108 | 23–10 | 9,203 |
| 34 | January 8 | Golden State | 104–110 | 23–11 | 12,269 |
| 35 | January 9 | Portland | 101–110 | 23–12 | 12,666 |
| 36 | January 11 | Seattle | 119–131 | 23–13 | Not announced |
| 37 | January 13 | Phoenix | 99–102 | 23–14 | 13,536 |
| 38 | January 14 | Seattle | 99–102 | 23–15 | 14,482 |
| 39 | January 16 | Seattle | 111–96 | 24–15 | 14,253 |
| 40 | January 19 | Atlanta | 111–116 | 24–16 | 5,795 |
| 41 | January 21 | Philadelphia | 117–130 | 24–17 | 18,482 |
| 42 | January 23 | New Jersey | 102–105 | 24–18 | 13,276 |
| 43 | January 26 | Detroit | 118–109 | 25–18 | 10,184 |
| 44 | January 27 | Washington | 86–99 | 25–19 | 7,261 |
| 45 | January 29 | Cleveland | 88–89 | 25–20 | 3,650 |
| 46 | February 2 | Seattle | 117–114 | 26–20 | 10,158 |
| 47 | February 4 | Seattle | 115–103 | 27–20 | 13,082 |
| 48 | February 6 | Seattle | 96–97 | 27–21 | 22,217 |
| 49 | February 8 | Seattle | 118–121 | 27–22 | 19,726 |
| 50 | February 9 | Denver | 125–134 | 27–23 | 12,847 |
| 51 | February 10 | Utah | 105–99 | 28–23 | 8,939 |
| 52 | February 16 | Seattle | 100–108 | 28–24 | 17,870 |
| 53 | February 18 | Seattle | 115–112 | 29–24 | 12,661 |
| 54 | February 20 | Seattle | 116–112 | 30–24 | 15,006 |
| 55 | February 22 | Seattle | 117–101 | 31–24 | 19,732 |
| 56 | February 24 | Denver | 129–138 | 31–25 | 15,748 |
| 57 | February 25 | Seattle | 101–106 | 31–26 | 15,688 |
| 58 | February 27 | Seattle | 101–98 | 32–26 | 20,167 |
| 59 | March 1 | San Antonio | 104–119 | 32–27 | 7,988 |
| 60 | March 2 | Dallas | 105–108 | 32–28 | 11,194 |
| 61 | March 5 | Houston | 126–103 | 33–28 | 7,183 |
| 62 | March 8 | New York | 98–107 | 33–29 | 8,743 |
| 63 | March 9 | Boston | 112–106 | 34–29 | 15,320 |
| 64 | March 11 | Indiana | 127–121 | 35–29 | 4,176 |
| 65 | March 13 | Kansas City | 120–115 (OT) | 36–29 | 7,754 |
| 66 | March 16 | Seattle | 110–102 | 37–29 | 10,981 |
| 67 | March 18 | Seattle | 147–117 | 38–29 | 14,268 |
| 68 | March 20 | Seattle | 128–116 | 39–29 | 11,139 |
| 69 | March 22 | Los Angeles | 108–123 | 39–30 | 17,505 |
| 70 | March 23 | Seattle | 137–117 | 40–30 | 14,203 |
| 71 | March 25 | Seattle | 104-106 | 40–31 | 11,884 |
| 72 | March 27 | Utah | 122–108 | 41–31 | 8,923 |
| 73 | March 30 | Seattle | 135–124 | 42–31 | 10,069 |
| 74 | April 1 | Seattle | 101–95 | 43–31 | 12,782 |
| 75 | April 4 | Seattle | 121–111 | 44–31 | 18,045 |
| 76 | April 5 | San Diego | 115–109 (2OT) | 45–31 | 4,228 |
| 77 | April 7 | Seattle | 102–96 | 46–31 | 9,601 |
| 78 | April 10 | Portland | 102–93 | 47–31 | 12,666 |
| 79 | April 12 | Seattle | 106–101 | 48–31 | 14,361 |
| 80 | April 13 | Phoenix | 96–109 | 48–32 | 10,882 |
| 81 | April 15 | Los Angeles | 99–100 | 48–33 | 17,505 |
| 82 | April 16 | Golden State | 122–133 | 48–34 | 7,713 |

### Playoffs

1983 playoff game log :
First round: 0–2 (home: 0–1; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 20
Portland
L 97–108
Gus Williams (34)
Jack Sikma (15)
Williams, Sikma (7)
Kingdome 9,211
0–1
2
April 22
@ Portland
L 96–105
Gus Williams (31)
Danny Vranes (18)
Jack Sikma (4)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
0–2 :
1983 schedule :

## Player statistics

Legend :
| GP | Games played | RPG | Rebounds per game |
| GS | Games started | APG | Assists per game |
| MPG | Minutes per game | PPG | Points per game |
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | RPG | APG | PPG |
| Fred Brown | 80 | 1 | 17.9 | 1.2 | 3.0 | 10.2 |
| James Donaldson | 82 | 11 | 21.8 | 6.1 | 1.2 | 8.9 |
| John Greig | 9 | 0 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 2.1 |
| Steve Hawes | 31 | 1 | 17.9 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 5.5 |
| Greg Kelser | 80 | 9 | 18.8 | 5.0 | 1.2 | 8.3 |
| Mark Radford | 54 | 2 | 8.1 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 3.7 |
| Lonnie Shelton | 82 | 79 | 31.4 | 6.0 | 2.9 | 12.4 |
| Jack Sikma | 75 | 71 | 34.2 | 11.4 | 3.1 | 18.2 |
| Phil Smith | 79 | 17 | 15.7 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 5.7 |
| David Thompson | 75 | 64 | 28.7 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 15.9 |
| Ray Tolbert | 45 | 2 | 15.8 | 3.4 | 0.7 | 5.0 |
| Danny Vranes | 82 | 73 | 25.0 | 5.2 | 1.5 | 6.9 |
| Gus Williams | 80 | 80 | 34.5 | 2.6 | 8.0 | 20.0 |
Playoffs :
| Player | GP | MPG | RPG | APG | PPG |
| Fred Brown | 2 | 15.0 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| James Donaldson | 2 | 23.5 | 8.5 | 1.0 | 12.0 |
| Steve Hawes | 2 | 17.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 6.0 |
| Greg Kelser | 2 | 9.5 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 2.0 |
| Lonnie Shelton | 2 | 26.5 | 10.5 | 2.5 | 5.0 |
| Jack Sikma | 2 | 37.5 | 13.0 | 5.5 | 15.0 |
| Phil Smith | 2 | 9.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 3.0 |
| David Thompson | 2 | 32.5 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 12.0 |
| Danny Vranes | 2 | 28.0 | 9.5 | 0.5 | 6.0 |
| Gus Williams | 2 | 40.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 32.5 |

## Awards and records

| Player | Award | Date awarded | Ref. |
| Zollie Volchok | NBA Executive of The Year | 1982-83 NBA Season | |

## Transactions
### Free agents
#### Additions

| Date | Player | Signed | Former team |
| June 16, 1982 | David Thompson | Free agent | Denver Nuggets |

#### Subtractions

| Date | Player | Reason left | New team |
| ? | John Greig | Waived | N/A |
| ? | Mark Radford | Waived | N/A |

### Trades

| February 13, 1983 | To Seattle SuperSonicsSteve Hawes (from Atlanta) | To Atlanta Hawks1984 2nd round pick (from Detroit) 1985 2nd round pick (from Detroit) | To Detroit PistonsRay Tolbert (from Seattle) |