# 1988–89 Seattle SuperSonics season

The 1988–89 NBA season was the Seattle SuperSonics' 22nd season in the National Basketball Association. During the off-season, the SuperSonics acquired Michael Cage from the Los Angeles Clippers. The SuperSonics won their first three games of the season, and held a 28–18 record at the All-Star break. However, the team lost seven straight games between March and April, but then posted an 8-game winning streak afterwards, and finished in third place in the Pacific Division with a 47–35 record.
Dale Ellis averaged 27.5 points and 1.3 steals per game, finished second in the league with 162 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game in Houston, Texas, while Xavier McDaniel played a sixth man role, averaging 20.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game off the bench, and finished in fifth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, and second-year forward Derrick McKey became the team's starting small forward, averaging 15.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. In addition, Cage provided the team with 10.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, while Sedale Threatt contributed 8.6 points and 3.8 assists per game off the bench, Nate McMillan contributed 7.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 9.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game, and Alton Lister provided with 8.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. Ellis also won the Three-Point Shootout during the All-Star Weekend in Houston.
In the playoffs, the SuperSonics defeated the Houston Rockets in four games in the Western Conference First Round, before being swept by Magic Johnson, and the 2-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in four straight games in the Western Conference Semi-finals. The Lakers would reach the NBA Finals for the third consecutive year, but would lose to the Detroit Pistons in four straight games.
Following the season, Lister was traded to the Golden State Warriors.

## Draft picks

At the 1988 Draft, the SuperSonics got the fifteenth overall pick behind the Phoenix Suns. With their first-round pick, the SuperSonics selected Gary Grant, but he would be traded on draft night along with a first-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers for Michael Cage. In the third round, they selected guard Corey Gaines.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 15 | Gary Grant (traded to L.A. Clippers) | PG | United States | Michigan |
| 3 | 65 | Corey Gaines | G | United States | Loyola Marymount |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Los Angeles Lakers | 57 | 25 | .695 | – | 35–6 | 22–19 | 25–9 |
| x-Phoenix Suns | 55 | 27 | .671 | 2 | 35–6 | 20–21 | 23–11 |
| x-Seattle SuperSonics | 47 | 35 | .573 | 10 | 31–10 | 16–25 | 20–14 |
| x-Golden State Warriors | 43 | 39 | .524 | 14 | 29–12 | 14–27 | 15–19 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 39 | 43 | .476 | 18 | 28–13 | 11–30 | 17–17 |
| Sacramento Kings | 27 | 55 | .329 | 30 | 21–20 | 6–35 | 12–22 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 21 | 61 | .256 | 36 | 17–24 | 4–37 | 7–27 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Los Angeles Lakers | 57 | 25 | .695 | – |
| 2 | y-Utah Jazz | 51 | 31 | .622 | 6 |
| 3 | x-Phoenix Suns | 55 | 27 | .671 | 2 |
| 4 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 47 | 35 | .573 | 10 |
| 5 | x-Houston Rockets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 12 |
| 6 | x-Denver Nuggets | 44 | 38 | .537 | 13 |
| 7 | x-Golden State Warriors | 43 | 39 | .524 | 14 |
| 8 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 39 | 43 | .476 | 18 |
| 9 | Dallas Mavericks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 19 |
| 10 | Sacramento Kings | 27 | 55 | .329 | 30 |
| 11 | San Antonio Spurs | 21 | 61 | .256 | 36 |
| 12 | Los Angeles Clippers | 21 | 61 | .256 | 36 |
| 13 | Miami Heat | 15 | 67 | .183 | 42 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1988-89 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 3–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Boston | 1–3 | – | 6–0 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| Charlotte | 1–4 | 0–6 | – | 1–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 |
| Chicago | 2–4 | 3–1 | 4–1 | – | 0–6 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 6–0 | – | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | – | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | – | 1–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | – | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 6–0 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
| Indiana | 1–5 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 1–1 | – | 1–5 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | – | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Miami | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | – | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
| Milwaukee | 0–6 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | – | 4–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 |
| New Jersey | 1–4 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | – | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 |
| New York | 2–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | – | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| Philadelphia | 2–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | – | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | – | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 0–5 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | – | 3–3 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | – | 2–2 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | – | 0–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–0 | – | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 1–3 | – | 2–0 |
| Washington | 1–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — |

### Game log

1988–89 game log :
November
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecord
1November 4at Utah Jazz104–97Dale Ellis (46)Salt Palace 12,4441–0
2November 5Denver Nuggets142–141 (OT)Xavier McDaniel (28)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,2692–0
3November 8at Sacramento Kings97–75Dale Ellis (28)ARCO Arena (II) 16,5173–0
4November 9Golden State Warriors108–113John Lucas (25)Seattle Center Coliseum Not announced3–1
5November 11at Los Angeles Lakers103–114Xavier McDaniel (20)Great Western Forum 17,5053–2
6November 12at Denver Nuggets129–141Dale Ellis (29)McNichols Sports Arena 12,4013–3
7November 17Los Angeles Lakers101–98Dale Ellis (27)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,5764–3
8November 19Dallas Mavericks106–112Xavier McDaniel (31)Seattle Center Coliseum 11,6084–4
9November 22Portland Trail Blazers104–125Dale Ellis (22)Seattle Center Coliseum 10,9564–5
10November 23at Golden State Warriors93–85Dale Ellis (36)Oakland—Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,7705–5
11November 25at Phoenix Suns105–110Dale Ellis (28)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,7105–6
12November 29Utah Jazz109–102Dale Ellis (31)Seattle Center Coliseum 12,3366–6
13November 30at Los Angeles Lakers106–110Dale Ellis (36)Great Western Forum 17,5056–7 :
December
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecord
14December 2Los Angeles Clippers154–104Dale Ellis Xavier McDaniel (27)Seattle Center Coliseum Not announced7–7
15December 3Golden State Warriors136–106Dale Ellis (36)Seattle Center Coliseum 10,5718–7
16December 6at San Antonio Spurs112–107Dale Ellis (28)HemisFair Arena Not announced9–7
17December 7at Dallas Mavericks98–102Dale Ellis (26)Reunion Arena 17,0079–8
18December 10at Houston Rockets91–110Dale Ellis (26)The Summit 16,6119–9
19December 13Phoenix Suns126–116Dale Ellis (33)Seattle Center Coliseum 13,50010–9
20December 15San Antonio Spurs122–107Dale Ellis (28)Seattle Center Coliseum Not announced11–9
21December 17Sacramento Kings141–111Dale Ellis (27)Seattle Center Coliseum Not announced12–9
22December 20at Atlanta Hawks118–121Dale Ellis (30)Omni Coliseum 14,80812–10
23December 21at Miami Heat109–101Xavier McDaniel (23)Miami Arena 15,00813–10
24December 23at Cleveland Cavaliers107–119 (OT)Dale Ellis (32)Coliseum at Richfield 15,85713–11
25December 27at Los Angeles Clippers100–104Dale Ellis (24)Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 11,50513–12
26December 29Miami Heat129–99Dale Ellis Xavier McDaniel (25)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,79414–12 :
January
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecord
27January 3Los Angeles Lakers116–106Dale Ellis (42)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,64515–12
28January 5Sacramento Kings120–106Dale Ellis (49)Seattle Center Coliseum Not announced16–12
29January 7Portland Trail Blazers129–123Xavier McDaniel (29)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,72617–12
30January 9Cleveland Cavaliers105–103Derrick McKey (32)Seattle Center Coliseum 13,11918–12
31January 10at Portland Trail Blazers109–125Michael Cage (24)Memorial Coliseum 12,84818–13
32January 12Dallas Mavericks130–95Dale Ellis (36)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,29019–13
33January 14at Sacramento Kings102–93Dale Ellis (31)ARCO Arena (II) 16,51720–13
34January 16at Golden State Warriors117–146Dale Ellis (26)Oakland—Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,34020–14
35January 17Los Angeles Clippers130–107Dale Ellis (28)Seattle Center Coliseum 11,40221–14
36January 19Houston Rockets124–108Xavier McDaniel (29)Seattle Center Coliseum 11,14622–14
37January 21New York Knicks121–119Xavier McDaniel (36)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,81023–14
38January 24at Portland Trail Blazers103–100Derrick McKey (34)Memorial Coliseum 12,84824–14
39January 27Atlanta Hawks119–112Derrick McKey (28)Seattle Center Coliseum 23,36225–14
40January 29Milwaukee Bucks112–106Derrick McKey (23)Seattle Center Coliseum 20,00926–14
41January 31New Jersey Nets112–118Dale Ellis (33)Seattle Center Coliseum Not announced26–15 :
February
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecord
42February 2at Miami Heat100–93Dale Ellis (30)Miami Arena 14,79827–15
43February 3at Charlotte Hornets106–108Dale Ellis (27)Charlotte Coliseum 23,38827–16
44February 5at Boston Celtics89–87Dale Ellis (30)Boston Garden 14,89028–16
45February 7at New Jersey Nets99–109Dale Ellis (34)Brendan Byrne Arena Not announced28–17
46February 8at Philadelphia 76ers102–109Dale Ellis (30)The Spectrum 11,22428–18
47February 14San Antonio Spurs129–113Xavier McDaniel (30)Seattle Center Coliseum 11,50629–18
48February 15at Phoenix Suns112–135Dale Ellis (21)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,80029–19
49February 17Washington Bullets126–112Derrick McKey (26)Seattle Center Coliseum 12,57030–19
50February 18at Portland Trail Blazers116–115Xavier McDaniel (37)Memorial Coliseum 12,84831–19
51February 21Boston Celtics96–91Dale Ellis (30)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,54632–19
52February 25Sacramento Kings94–97Xavier McDaniel (26)Seattle Center Coliseum 11,78032–20
53February 27at Sacramento Kings116–107Dale Ellis Derrick McKey (27)ARCO Arena (II) 16,51733–20
54February 28Indiana Pacers106–108Dale Ellis (30)Seattle Center Coliseum Not announced33–21 :
March
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecord
55March 3Houston Rockets118–108Dale Ellis (39)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,41534–21
56March 4Philadelphia 76ers118–104Xavier McDaniel (25)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,68835–21
57March 7at Indiana Pacers110–92Dale Ellis (27)Market Square Arena Not announced36–21
58March 8at Detroit Pistons96–112Derrick McKey (21)The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,45436–22
59March 10at Milwaukee Bucks90–102Russ Schoene (18)Bradley Center 18,63336–23
60March 11at Chicago Bulls88–105Dale Ellis (26)Chicago Stadium 18,29136–24
61March 13at Washington Bullets101–106Dale Ellis (28)Capital Centre Not announced36–25
62March 14at New York Knicks110–116Xavier McDaniel (34)Madison Square Garden (IV) 18,75936–26
63March 16Charlotte Hornets108–88Dale Ellis (32)Seattle Center Coliseum Not announced37–26
64March 18at Phoenix Suns104–122Dale Ellis (29)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,47137–27
65March 21Utah Jazz101–96Dale Ellis (31)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,50038–27
66March 23Los Angeles Clippers115–112Dale Ellis (39)Seattle Center Coliseum 10,34939–27
67March 25Chicago Bulls110–111Dale Ellis (30)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,81039–28
68March 27at Utah Jazz105–124Dale Ellis Xavier McDaniel (16)Salt Palace 12,44439–29
69March 28at Houston Rockets117–120Dale Ellis (36)The Summit 16,61139–30
70March 30at Denver Nuggets116–123Dale Ellis (26)McNichols Sports Arena 14,85139–31
71March 31Detroit Pistons108–111Dale Ellis (30)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,81039–32 :
April
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecord
72April 4Los Angeles Lakers97–115Dale Ellis Derrick McKey (23)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,81039–33
73April 6Phoenix Suns119–126Xavier McDaniel (37)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,45739–34
74April 8at Dallas Mavericks114–90Dale Ellis (34)Reunion Arena 17,00740–34
75April 10at San Antonio Spurs102–89Dale Ellis (28)HemisFair Arena 12,44841–34
76April 13Miami Heat116–111Xavier McDaniel (35)Seattle Center Coliseum 11,26742–34
77April 15Denver Nuggets125–92Dale Ellis (32)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,25043–34
78April 17at Golden State Warriors116–109 (OT)Derrick McKey (28)Oakland—Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,02544–34
79April 18Golden State Warriors122–118Xavier McDaniel Dale Ellis (35)Seattle Center Coliseum 13,56845–34
80April 20Portland Trail Blazers124–118Dale Ellis Xavier McDaniel (31)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,32046–34
81April 21at Los Angeles Clippers139–136 (OT)Xavier McDaniel (30)Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 11,28047–34
82April 23at Los Angeles Lakers117–121Xavier McDaniel (39)Great Western Forum 17,50547–35 :
1988–89 season schedule :
* Green background indicates win.
* Red background indicates loss.

## Playoffs

1989 playoff game log :
First round: 3–1 (home: 2–0; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 28
Houston
W 111–107
Dale Ellis (25)
Xavier McDaniel (11)
Nate McMillan (11)
Seattle Kingdome 14,250
1–0
2
April 30
Houston
W 109–97
McDaniel, Lister (20)
Olden Polynice (10)
Nate McMillan (8)
Seattle Kingdome 12,887
2–0
3
May 3
@ Houston
L 107–126
Dale Ellis (26)
Michael Cage (10)
Nate McMillan (10)
The Summit 16,611
2–1
4
May 5
@ Houston
W 98–96
Dale Ellis (26)
Xavier McDaniel (10)
Nate McMillan (10)
The Summit 16,611
3–1 :
Conference Semi-finals: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 7
@ L.A. Lakers
L 102–113
Derrick McKey (23)
Olden Polynice (10)
Nate McMillan (12)
Great Western Forum 17,505
0–1
2
May 10
@ L.A. Lakers
L 108–130
Xavier McDaniel (17)
Xavier McDaniel (8)
Sedale Threatt (9)
Great Western Forum 17,505
0–2
3
May 12
L.A. Lakers
L 86–91
Dale Ellis (30)
Xavier McDaniel (12)
Sedale Threatt (9)
Seattle Kingdome 14,541
0–3
4
May 14
L.A. Lakers
L 95–97
Xavier McDaniel (30)
Xavier McDaniel (11)
Nate McMillan (8)
Seattle Kingdome 14,006
0–4 :
1989 schedule :

## Player statistics

Note: PG= per game; M= Minutes; R= Rebounds; A= Assists; S = Steals; B = Blocks; P = Points; T = Turnovers; PF = Personal fouls

### Season

| Player | Age | Games played | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TPG | PFPG | PPG |
| Greg Ballard | 34 | 2 | 7.5 | 3.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 3.0 |
| Michael Cage | 27 | 80 | 31.7 | 9.6 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 10.3 |
| Mike Champion | 24 | 2 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Dale Ellis | 28 | 82 | 38.9 | 4.2 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 27.5 |
| Avery Johnson | 23 | 43 | 6.8 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 1.6 |
| Alton Lister | 30 | 82 | 22.0 | 6.6 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 3.8 | 8.0 |
| John Lucas | 35 | 74 | 11.4 | 1.1 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 4.2 |
| Xavier McDaniel | 25 | 82 | 29.1 | 5.3 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 20.5 |
| Derrick McKey | 22 | 82 | 34.2 | 5.7 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 15.9 |
| Nate McMillan | 24 | 75 | 31.2 | 5.2 | 9.3 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 7.1 |
| Olden Polynice | 24 | 80 | 10.4 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 2.9 |
| Jerry Reynolds | 26 | 56 | 13.2 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 7.6 |
| Russ Schoene | 28 | 69 | 11.2 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 5.2 |
| Sedale Threatt | 27 | 63 | 19.4 | 1.9 | 3.8 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 8.6 |

### Playoffs

| Player | Age | Games played | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TPG | PFPG | PPG |
| Michael Cage | 27 | 8 | 21.9 | 5.8 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 7.1 |
| Dale Ellis | 28 | 8 | 38.0 | 4.0 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 22.9 |
| Avery Johnson | 23 | 6 | 5.2 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.8 |
| Alton Lister | 30 | 8 | 20.0 | 4.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 3.5 | 7.0 |
| John Lucas | 35 | 4 | 9.3 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 2.8 |
| Xavier McDaniel | 25 | 8 | 35.1 | 8.4 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 18.8 |
| Derrick McKey | 22 | 8 | 35.8 | 6.5 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 2.9 | 4.1 | 13.3 |
| Nate McMillan | 24 | 8 | 25.0 | 3.1 | 7.9 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 6.8 |
| Olden Polynice | 24 | 8 | 20.3 | 7.8 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 4.0 | 7.1 |
| Jerry Reynolds | 26 | 4 | 10.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 5.5 |
| Russ Schoene | 28 | 3 | 14.3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 4.3 |
| Sedale Threatt | 27 | 8 | 25.1 | 1.6 | 6.1 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 12.0 |

## Awards and records

1989 NBA All-Star Game selections (game played on February 12, 1989)
* Dale Ellis
Non All-Star Awards and records
* Dale Ellis, All-NBA Third Team
* Dale Ellis, January 8 Player of the Week
* Xavier McDaniel, April 23 Player of the Week

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

| Date | Player | Signed | Former team |
| August 2, 1988 | Avery Johnson | Free agent | Palm Beach Stingrays |
| September 19, 1988 | John Lucas | Free agent | Milwaukee Bucks |
| October 4, 1988 | Mike Champion | Free agent | N/A (Undrafted) |
| February 13, 1989 | Greg Ballard | 10-day contract | Golden State Warriors |
| February 26, 1989 | Mike Champion | 10-day contract | N/A |

#### Subtractions

| Date | Player | Reason left | New team |
| October 25, 1988 | Mike Champion | Waived | N/A |
| October 31, 1988 | Danny Young | Waived | Portland Trail Blazers |
| October 31, 1988 | Corey Gaines | Waived | New Jersey Nets |

### Trades

| October 4, 1988 | To Seattle SuperSonics---- Jerry Reynolds | To Milwaukee Bucks---- 1990 Second-Round Pick (Steve Henson) |
Player Transactions Citation: