# 1997–98 Seattle SuperSonics season

The 1997–98 NBA season was the 30th season for the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association. In the off-season, the SuperSonics acquired All-Star forward Vin Baker from the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team trade. The team also re-acquired former Sonics star and sharp shooter Dale Ellis from the Denver Nuggets, and signed free agents Jerome Kersey, and Greg Anthony.
The SuperSonics got off to a fast start with a 13–3 record after a 7-game winning streak in November, despite losing Kersey to a stress fracture in his left foot as he only played just 37 games. The team posted an 8-game winning streak between December and January winning 29 of their first 35 games, then later on holding the league's best record before the All-Star break with a 37–10 record. as they finished in first place in the Pacific Division, tied with the Los Angeles Lakers with a 61–21 record.
Baker averaged 19.2 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, while Gary Payton averaged 19.2 points, 8.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game, led the Sonics with 134 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, and the NBA All-Defensive First Team; Baker and Payton were both selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game in New York City, New York, with head coach George Karl coaching the Western Conference. In addition, Detlef Schrempf provided the team with 15.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game, while Ellis played a sixth man role, averaging 11.8 points per game off the bench, while shooting .464 in three-point field goal percentage, and Hersey Hawkins contributed 10.5 points and 1.8 steals per game. Sam Perkins contributed 7.2 points per game off the bench, and starting center Jim McIlvaine led the team with 1.8 blocks per game.
Payton finished in third place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Baker finished in eighth place; Payton also finished in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, while Baker finished tied in eighth place in Most Improved Player voting, Ellis finished in third place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, and Karl finished tied in fifth place in Coach of the Year voting.
In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the SuperSonics struggled as they trailed 2–1 to the 7th-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves, but managed to win the series in five games. In the Western Conference Semi-finals, the SuperSonics faced off against the 3rd-seeded Lakers, winning Game 1 at home, 106–92. However, they would lose the next four games to the Lakers, thus the series.
Two weeks after their elimination, Karl was fired as head coach in late May, then was hired three months later by the Milwaukee Bucks, while long-time Sonics guard Nate McMillan retired after only playing just 18 games this season due to knee surgery. Also following the season, Perkins signed as a free agent with the Indiana Pacers, while Kersey signed with the San Antonio Spurs, Anthony signed with the Portland Trail Blazers, McIlvaine was traded to the New Jersey Nets, and David Wingate signed with the New York Knicks.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 23 | Bobby Jackson | PG/SG | United States | Minnesota |
| 2 | 41 | Ed Elisma | F | United States | Georgia Tech |
| 2 | 55 | Mark Blount | C | United States | Pittsburgh |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Seattle SuperSonics | 61 | 21 | .744 | – | 35–6 | 26–15 | 19–5 |
| x-Los Angeles Lakers | 61 | 21 | .744 | – | 33–8 | 28–13 | 16–8 |
| x-Phoenix Suns | 56 | 26 | .683 | 5 | 30–11 | 26–15 | 17–7 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 46 | 36 | .561 | 15 | 26–15 | 20–21 | 14–10 |
| Sacramento Kings | 27 | 55 | .329 | 34 | 21–20 | 6–35 | 6–18 |
| Golden State Warriors | 19 | 63 | .232 | 42 | 12–29 | 7–34 | 6–18 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 44 | 11–30 | 6–35 | 6–18 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Utah Jazz | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 2 | y-Seattle SuperSonics | 61 | 21 | .744 | 1 |
| 3 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 61 | 21 | .744 | 1 |
| 4 | x-Phoenix Suns | 56 | 26 | .683 | 6 |
| 5 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 56 | 26 | .683 | 6 |
| 6 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 46 | 36 | .561 | 16 |
| 7 | x-Minnesota Timberwolves | 45 | 37 | .549 | 17 |
| 8 | x-Houston Rockets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21 |
| 9 | Sacramento Kings | 27 | 55 | .329 | 35 |
| 10 | Dallas Mavericks | 20 | 62 | .244 | 42 |
| 11 | Vancouver Grizzlies | 19 | 63 | .232 | 43 |
| 11 | Golden State Warriors | 19 | 63 | .232 | 43 |
| 13 | Los Angeles Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 45 |
| 14 | Denver Nuggets | 11 | 71 | .134 | 51 |

### Record vs. opponents

1997–98 NBA records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | VAN | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Boston | 1–2 | – | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
| Charlotte | 0–4 | 2–1 | – | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
| Chicago | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | – | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Cleveland | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | – | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | – | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | – | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Indiana | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | – | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | – | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Miami | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
| Milwaukee | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | – | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 |
| Minnesota | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
| New Jersey | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 | – | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| New York | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| Orlando | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–4 | – | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Philadelphia | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Phoenix | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | – | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | – | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | – | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Toronto | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | – | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 |
| Utah | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | – | 4–0 | 0–2 |
| Vancouver | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | – | 1–1 |
| Washington | 0–4 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — |

### Game log
## Playoffs

1998 playoff game log :
First round: 3–2 (home: 2–1; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 24
Minnesota
W 108–83
Vin Baker (25)
Vin Baker (12)
Gary Payton (7)
KeyArena 17,072
1–0
2
April 26
Minnesota
L 93–98
Gary Payton (32)
Detlef Schrempf (10)
Nate McMillan (6)
KeyArena 17,072
1–1
3
April 28
@ Minnesota
L 90–98
Gary Payton (26)
Vin Baker (12)
three players tied (5)
Target Center 19,006
1–2
4
April 30
@ Minnesota
W 92–88
Payton, Hawkins (24)
Vin Baker (12)
Gary Payton (8)
Target Center 19,006
2–2
5
May 2
Minnesota
W 97–84
Gary Payton (29)
Detlef Schrempf (11)
three players tied (4)
KeyArena 17,072
3–2 :
Conference Semi-finals: 1–4 (home: 1–2; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 4
L.A. Lakers
W 106–92
Gary Payton (25)
Hawkins, Baker (8)
Gary Payton (6)
KeyArena 17,072
1–0
2
May 6
L.A. Lakers
L 68–92
Vin Baker (13)
Detlef Schrempf (8)
Gary Payton (5)
KeyArena 17,072
1–1
3
May 8
@ L.A. Lakers
L 103–119
Detlef Schrempf (26)
Vin Baker (12)
Gary Payton (13)
Great Western Forum 17,505
1–2
4
May 10
@ L.A. Lakers
L 100–112
Gary Payton (31)
Gary Payton (8)
Gary Payton (13)
Great Western Forum 17,505
1–3
5
May 12
L.A. Lakers
L 95–110
Vin Baker (28)
Vin Baker (9)
Hersey Hawkins (6)
KeyArena 17,072
1–4 :
1998 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Gary Payton | 82 | 82 | 38.4 | .453 | .338 | .744 | 4.6 | 8.3 | 2.3 | .2 | 19.2 |
| Vin Baker | 82 | 82 | 35.9 | .542 | .143 | .591 | 8.0 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 19.2 |
| Hersey Hawkins | 82 | 82 | 31.7 | .440 | .415 | .868 | 4.1 | 2.7 | 1.8 | .2 | 10.5 |
| Sam Perkins | 81 | 0 | 20.7 | .416 | .392 | .789 | 3.1 | 1.4 | .8 | .4 | 7.2 |
| Greg Anthony | 80 | 0 | 12.8 | .430 | .415 | .663 | 1.4 | 2.6 | .8 | .0 | 5.2 |
| Dale Ellis | 79 | 0 | 24.5 | .497 | .464 | .782 | 2.3 | 1.1 | .8 | .1 | 11.8 |
| Detlef Schrempf | 78 | 78 | 35.2 | .487 | .415 | .844 | 7.1 | 4.4 | .8 | .2 | 15.8 |
| Jim McIlvaine | 78 | 72 | 15.5 | .453 | .000 | .556 | 3.3 | .2 | .3 | 1.8 | 3.2 |
| Aaron Williams | 65 | 9 | 11.6 | .523 | .000 | .776 | 2.3 | .2 | .3 | .6 | 4.6 |
| David Wingate | 58 | 2 | 9.4 | .471 | .429 | .517 | 1.4 | .6 | .4 | .1 | 2.6 |
| Jerome Kersey | 37 | 2 | 19.4 | .416 | .100 | .600 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 1.4 | .4 | 6.3 |
| Nate McMillan | 18 | 1 | 15.5 | .343 | .441 | 1.000 | 2.2 | 3.1 | .8 | .2 | 3.4 |
| Eric Snow$^†$ | 17 | 0 | 4.4 | .435 | .000 | .500 | .2 | .8 | .0 | .1 | 1.5 |
| Stephen Howard | 13 | 0 | 4.1 | .381 | | .500 | .9 | .2 | .2 | .1 | 1.9 |
| James Cotton | 9 | 0 | 3.7 | .381 | .000 | .889 | .7 | .0 | .1 | .1 | 2.7 |
| George Zidek$^†$ | 6 | 0 | 3.7 | .214 | .500 | 1.000 | .7 | .2 | .0 | .0 | 1.8 |

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Gary Payton | 10 | 10 | 42.8 | .475 | .380 | .940 | 3.4 | 7.0 | 1.8 | .1 | 24.0 |
| Detlef Schrempf | 10 | 10 | 37.5 | .512 | .143 | .816 | 7.7 | 3.9 | .7 | .1 | 16.1 |
| Vin Baker | 10 | 10 | 37.1 | .530 | | .421 | 9.4 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 15.8 |
| Hersey Hawkins | 10 | 10 | 33.7 | .466 | .395 | .875 | 5.7 | 3.6 | 1.8 | .1 | 13.4 |
| Jerome Kersey | 10 | 5 | 21.3 | .431 | .000 | .842 | 4.0 | .9 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 7.8 |
| Sam Perkins | 10 | 1 | 21.0 | .381 | .417 | .600 | 3.2 | 1.4 | .3 | .5 | 5.4 |
| Dale Ellis | 10 | 0 | 17.0 | .377 | .423 | .833 | 1.3 | .6 | .2 | .0 | 5.6 |
| Greg Anthony | 9 | 0 | 13.1 | .300 | .263 | .375 | 1.1 | 1.1 | .6 | .1 | 3.6 |
| Nate McMillan | 7 | 0 | 14.1 | .333 | .167 | 1.000 | 2.3 | 2.1 | .4 | .3 | 2.3 |
| Jim McIlvaine | 6 | 4 | 9.8 | .300 | .000 | .500 | 1.7 | .2 | .3 | 1.0 | 2.2 |
| David Wingate | 3 | 0 | 4.3 | .400 | | .667 | 1.3 | .7 | .3 | .0 | 2.7 |
| Aaron Williams | 3 | 0 | 2.3 | .000 | | 1.000 | .3 | .0 | .0 | .3 | .7 |
Player Statistics Citation:

## Awards and records
### Awards

* Gary Payton, All-NBA First Team
* Gary Payton, NBA All-Defensive First Team