# 1987–88 Seattle SuperSonics season

The 1987–88 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 21st season of the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). It was Bernie Bickerstaff's first season with a winning percentage above .500, coaching the Sonics to a 44–38 record. However, in the 1988 NBA Playoffs, they lost in five games to the Denver Nuggets in the first round. Xavier McDaniel was selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game.

## Offseason
### Draft picks

Seattle selected future hall of famer Scottie Pippen in the first round thanks to a pick acquired from the New York Knicks, but traded him on draft day to the Chicago Bulls for Olden Polynice and two future conditional draft picks.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 5 | Scottie Pippen (traded to Chicago) | SF | United States | Central Arkansas |
| 1 | 9 | Derrick McKey | F | United States | Alabama |

## Roster
### 1987–88 Salaries

| Player | 1987–88 Salary |
| Tom Chambers | $950,000 |
| Xavier McDaniel | $875,000 |
| Alton Lister | $835,000 |
| Clemon Johnson | $502,000 |
| Derrick McKey | $355,000 |
| Olden Polynice | $350,000 |
| Dale Ellis | $325,000 |
| Sedale Threatt | $270,000 |
| Russ Schoene | $250,000 |
| Danny Young | $130,000 |
| Nate McMillan | $129,000 |
| Kevin Williams | $125,000 |
| TOTAL | $5,096,000 |
Sources:
* Basketball Reference: SEA Salaries

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Los Angeles Lakers | 62 | 20 | .756 | – | 36–5 | 26–15 | 23–7 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 53 | 29 | .646 | 9 | 33–8 | 20–21 | 23–7 |
| x-Seattle SuperSonics | 44 | 38 | .537 | 18 | 32–9 | 12–29 | 19–11 |
| Phoenix Suns | 28 | 54 | .341 | 34 | 22–19 | 6–35 | 11–19 |
| Golden State Warriors | 20 | 62 | .244 | 42 | 16–25 | 4–37 | 7–23 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 45 | 14–27 | 3–38 | 7–23 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Los Angeles Lakers | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 2 | y-Denver Nuggets | 54 | 28 | .659 | 8 |
| 3 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 53 | 29 | .646 | 9 |
| 4 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 53 | 29 | .646 | 9 |
| 5 | x-Utah Jazz | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 |
| 6 | x-Houston Rockets | 46 | 36 | .561 | 16 |
| 7 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 44 | 38 | .537 | 18 |
| 8 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 |
| 9 | Phoenix Suns | 28 | 54 | .341 | 34 |
| 10 | Sacramento Kings | 24 | 58 | .293 | 38 |
| 11 | Golden State Warriors | 20 | 62 | .244 | 42 |
| 12 | Los Angeles Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 45 |

### Record vs. opponents

1987–88 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 | – | 2–4 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Boston | 4–2 | – | 3–3 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
| Chicago | 3–2 | 3–3 | – | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
| Cleveland | 1–5 | 3–2 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 6–0 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 | – | 0–5 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 5–0 | – | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 0–5 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | – | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | – | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 |
| New Jersey | 0–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | – | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 |
| New York | 3–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | – | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Philadelphia | 0–6 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 0–6 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| Portland | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | – | 4–1 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 |
| Sacramento | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | – | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
| San Antonio | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 3–3 | – | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | – | 1–4 | 2–0 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | – | 2–0 |
| Washington | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — |

### Game log

1987–88 game log Total: 44–38 (home: 32–9; road: 12–29) :
November: 6–6 (home: 5–1; road: 1–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
November 6, 1987 7:30 p.m. PST
@ L.A. Lakers
L 109–113
Chambers (20)
McDaniel (9)
McMillan (12)
The Forum 17,505
0–1
2November 7Phoenix Suns96-112Dale Ellis (27)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,2521–1
3
November 10, 1987 7:30 p.m. PST
Dallas
L 101-117
Ellis (28)
Lister (8)
Vincent (6)
Seattle Center Coliseum 10,447
1–2
4November 12vs San Antonio Spurs123-118Xavier McDaniel (23)HemisFair Arena 6,3991–3
5
November 13, 1987 5:00 p.m. PST
@ Dallas
W 103–95
Ellis (22)
Lister (8)
McMillan (11)
Reunion Arena 17,007
2–3
6November 15vs Houston Rockets108-106Dale Ellis (34)The Summit 16,6112–4
7November 18Portland Trail Blazers114-120Xavier McDaniel (32)Seattle Center Coliseum 8,4613–4
8November 20Milwaukee Bucks97-99Xavier McDaniel (30)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,6014–4
9November 21Washington Bullets103-124Xavier McDaniel (28)Seattle Center Coliseum 13,4375–4
10
November 24, 1987 7:30 p.m. PST
L.A. Lakers
W 103–85
McDaniel (34)
Liiister (13)
McMillan (10)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,634
6–4
11
November 27, 1987 4:30 p.m. PST
@ Boston
L 112–117
Ellis (37)
Ellis (9)
McMillan (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
6–5
12November 28vs Indiana Pacers131-115Dale Ellis (29)Market Square Arena 11,5386–6 :
December: 9–7 (home: 5–0; road: 4–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
13December 1vs New York Knicks109-112Dale Ellis (37)Madison Square Garden (IV) 11,4247–6
14December 2vs Cleveland Cavaliers104-102Dale Ellis (25)Coliseum at Richfield 6,2077–7
15December 4vs Philadelphia 76ers118-105Tom Chambers (24)The Spectrum 13,1157–8
16December 5vs Washington Bullets99-115Xavier McDaniel (26)Capital Centre 11,6048–8
17December 8Cleveland Cavaliers96-107Dale Ellis Xavier McDaniel (25)Seattle Center Coliseum 8,5209–8
18December 10vs Los Angeles Clippers113-96Dale Ellis (20)Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 5,8529–9
19December 12Los Angeles Clippers95-116Xavier McDaniel (35)Seattle Center Coliseum 10,62310–9
20
December 14, 1987
@ Utah
L 95–116
Ellis (29)
Salt Palace 12,212
10–10
21December 15vs Portland Trail Blazers128-109Xavier McDaniel (22)Memorial Coliseum 12,66610–11
22December 17Sacramento Kings109-114Tom Chambers (42)Seattle Center Coliseum 10,23811–11
23December 19vs Golden State Warriors102-129Xavier McDaniel (32)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,99812–11
24
December 20, 1987 7:30 p.m. PST
@ L.A. Lakers
L 94–103
Ellis (24)
McDaniel (11)
McDaniel (7)
The Forum 17,505
12–12
25December 23vs Phoenix Suns102-103Dale Ellis (35)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,35113–12
26
December 26, 1987
@ Denver
L 111–115
McDaniel (26)
McNichols Sports Arena 12,403
13–13
27
December 28, 1987
Denver
W 108–100
McDaniel (30)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,007
14–13
28
December 30, 1987 7:30 p.m. PST
Boston
W 111–105
Chambers (31)
Lister (12)
Vincent (9)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,850
15–13 :
January: 9–6 (home: 8–1; road: 1–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
29January 2Philadelphia 76ers114-116Xavier McDaniel (35)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,25016–13
30January 5vs Portland Trail Blazers126-114Dale Ellis (32)Memorial Coliseum 12,66616–14
31January 6Houston Rockets95-110Tom Chambers (46)Seattle Center Coliseum 11,28917–14
32January 9San Antonio Spurs133-141Dale Ellis (47)Seattle Center Coliseum 11,56518–14
33January 10vs Sacramento Kings109-108Dale Ellis (30)ARCO Arena (I) 10,33318–15
34January 13Golden State Warriors115-144Xavier McDaniel (30)Seattle Center Coliseum 7,90919–15
35
January 15, 1988
Utah
W 124–105
Ellis (39)
Seattle Center Coliseum 10,418
20–15
36January 16vs Los Angeles Clippers112-114 (OT)Dale Ellis (41)Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 8,69721–15
37January 18Indiana Pacers105-115Dale Ellis (29)Seattle Center Coliseum 10,15122–15
38January 20New York Knicks96-108Xavier McDaniel (41)Seattle Center Coliseum 11,76723–15
39
January 22, 1988 7:30 p.m. PST
Detroit
W 109–106
Ellis (47)
Lister (13)
McMillan (14)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,737
24–15
40
January 24, 1988 12:30 p.m. PST
L.A. Lakers
L 109–116
McDaniel (35)
Chambers (10)
McMillan (11)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,739
24–16
41January 26vs Sacramento Kings100-116Dale Ellis (42)ARCO Arena (I) 10,33325–16
42
January 29, 1988 5:30 p.m. PST
@ Dallas
L 109–117
Ellis (35)
Lister (9)
McMillan (10)
Reunion Arena 17,007
25–17
43January 30vs San Antonio Spurs112-102 (OT)Xavier McDaniel Tom Chambers (27)HemisFair Arena 8,31925–18 :
February: 4–9 (home: 3–2; road: 1–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
44
February 1, 1988
@ Utah
L 100–105
Ellis (40)
Salt Palace 12,212
25–19
45
February 4, 1988
Atlanta
L 109–119
Ellis (36)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,611
25–20
All-Star Break
46February 9vs Portland Trail Blazers139-123Tom Chambers (21)Memorial Coliseum 12,66625–21
47February 11Houston Rockets115-120Tom Chambers (36)Seattle Center Coliseum 13,03826–21
48February 13vs Golden State Warriors109-95Dale Ellis (28)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,50226–22
49
February 15, 1988 6:00 p.m. PST
Dallas
L 122–128 (OT)
Chambers (29)
McDaniel (7)
Vincent (12)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,492
26–23
50February 17vs Milwaukee Bucks115-93Dale Ellis (26)MECCA Arena 11,05226–24
51
February 18, 1988 4:30 p.m. PST
@ Detroit
L 95–108
Chambers (24)
Polynice (6)
McMillan (9)
Pontiac Silverdome 24,482
26–25
52February 20vs New Jersey Nets101-113Dale Ellis (30)Brendan Byrne Arena 11,13727–25
53
February 21, 1988
@ Atlanta
L 113–129
Ellis (31)
The Omni 15,437
27–26
54
February 23, 1988
@ Chicago
L 97–104 (OT)
Ellis (34)
Chicago Stadium 17,648
27–27
55February 26Sacramento Kings130-133Dale Ellis (37)Seattle Center Coliseum 11,63228–27
56February 27Golden State Warriors111-114Dale Ellis (30)Seattle Center Coliseum 10,75229–27 :
March: 8–6 (home: 5–3; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
57
March 1, 1988 7:30 p.m. PST
L.A. Lakers
W 114–100
Ellis (26)
McDaniel (12)
McMillan (17)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,850
30–27
58
March 4, 1988
Utah
L 110–125
Chambers (29)
Seattle Center Coliseum 11,268
30–28
59
March 5, 1988
Denver
L 102–115
Ellis (27)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,287
30–29
60March 8vs Golden State Warriors116-121 (OT)Dale Ellis (29)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 11,17831–29
61March 9vs Sacramento Kings97-106Dale Ellis (24)ARCO Arena (I) 10,33332–29
62March 13New Jersey Nets102-115Tom Chambers (25)Seattle Center Coliseum 9,04033–29
63March 15vs Phoenix Suns111-90Dale Ellis (38)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,15933–30
64March 17vs Houston Rockets115-106Tom Chambers (24)The Summit 16,61133–31
65March 18vs San Antonio Spurs110-118 (OT)Xavier McDaniel (31)HemisFair Arena 7,35334–31
66
March 20, 1988
@ Denver
L 95–108
Ellis (23)
McNichols Sports Arena 13,117
34–32
67March 23Portland Trail Blazers108-118Dale Ellis (35)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,25035–32
68March 26Los Angeles Clippers98-131Dale Ellis (27)Seattle Center Coliseum 11,65036–32
69
March 29, 1988
Chicago
W 106–103
Chambers (34)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,850
37–32
70March 31San Antonio Spurs117-115Dale Ellis Tom Chambers (27)Seattle Center Coliseum 9,21037–33 :
April: 7–5 (home: 6–2; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
71April 2Phoenix Suns107-151Xavier McDaniel (26)Seattle Center Coliseum 9,79038–33
72
April 5, 1988 7:30 p.m. PDT
@ L.A. Lakers
L 90–94
Chambers (21)
Lister (14)
McDaniel, McMillan (4)
The Forum 17,505
38–34
73April 6Golden State Warriors102-114Derrick McKey (18)Seattle Center Coliseum 9,52039–34
74April 8Portland Trail Blazers100-114Xavier McDaniel (34)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,43840–34
75April 9Houston Rockets108-104Xavier McDaniel (27)Seattle Center Coliseum 13,58440–35
76April 13Los Angeles Clippers92-113Xavier McDaniel (23)Seattle Center Coliseum Not announced41–35
77
April 15, 1988 7:30 p.m. PDT
Dallas
W 115–88
Lister (19)
Lister, McDaniel (7)
McMillan (8)
Seattle Center Coliseum 12,576
42–35
78April 16vs Phoenix Suns121-119 (OT)Sedale Threatt (31)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,40642–36
79
April 19, 1988
@ Denver
L 114–134
Chambers (29)
McNichols Sports Arena 14,478
42–37
80April 20Phoenix Suns98-121Dale Ellis (24)Seattle Center Coliseum Not announced43–37
81
April 22, 1988
Utah
L 109–110
Ellis (20)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,250
43–38
82April 24vs Los Angeles Clippers100-109Russ Schoene Tom Chambers (20)Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena Not announced44–38 :
1987–88 season schedule :
* Green background indicates win.
* Red background indicates loss.

## Playoffs

1988 playoff game log :
First round: 2–3 (home: 1–1; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 29, 1988
@ Denver
L 123–126
Chambers (29)
McDaniel (10)
McDaniel, McMillan (8)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,022
0–1
2
May 1, 1988
@ Denver
W 111–91
Ellis (24)
McDaniel (17)
McMillan (6)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,022
1–1
3
May 3, 1988
Denver
L 114–125
Chambers (34)
McDaniel (12)
McMillan (9)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,250
1–2
4
May 5, 1988
Denver
W 127–117
McDaniel (27)
McKey (7)
Young (8)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,250
2–2
5
May 7, 1988
@ Denver
L 96–115
Chambers (23)
Lister (8)
McDaniel (5)
McNichols Sports Arena 16,040
2–3 :
1988 schedule :

## Statistics
### Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Tom Chambers | 82 | 82 | 32.7 | .448 | .303 | .807 | 6.0 | 2.6 | 1.1 | .6 | 20.4 |
| Dale Ellis | 75 | 73 | 37.2 | .503 | .413 | .767 | 4.5 | 2.6 | 1.0 | .1 | 25.8 |
| Clemon Johnson | 74 | 26 | 9.8 | .467 | .000 | .688 | 2.4 | .2 | .2 | .3 | 1.6 |
| Alton Lister | 82 | 55 | 22.1 | .504 | .500 | .606 | 7.6 | .7 | .3 | 1.7 | 5.6 |
| Xavier McDaniel | 78 | 77 | 34.7 | .488 | .280 | .715 | 6.6 | 3.4 | 1.2 | .7 | 21.4 |
| Derrick McKey | 82 | 4 | 20.8 | .491 | .367 | .772 | 4.0 | 1.3 | .9 | .8 | 8.5 |
| Nate McMillan | 82 | 82 | 29.9 | .474 | .375 | .707 | 4.1 | 8.6 | 2.1 | .6 | 7.6 |
| Olden Polynice | 82 | 0 | 13.2 | .465 | .000 | .639 | 4.0 | .4 | .4 | .3 | 4.1 |
| Russ Schoene | 81 | 2 | 12.0 | .458 | .293 | .810 | 2.4 | .7 | .5 | .2 | 6.0 |
| Sedale Threatt | 26 | 0 | 13.6 | .519 | .143 | .833 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 1.3 | .2 | 7.5 |
| Sam Vincent | 43 | 0 | 12.7 | .474 | .385 | .767 | 1.1 | 3.2 | .5 | .1 | 4.5 |
| Kevin Williams | 80 | 9 | 13.6 | .442 | .143 | .844 | 1.6 | 1.2 | .8 | .1 | 6.3 |
| Danny Young | 77 | 0 | 12.3 | .408 | .286 | .811 | 1.0 | 2.8 | .7 | .0 | 3.2 |
    1.^ Statistics with the SuperSonics.

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Tom Chambers | 5 | 25.8 | .549 | .000 | .829 | 6.2 | 2.2 | .6 | .2 | 25.8 |
| Dale Ellis | 5 | 34.4 | .482 | .250 | .724 | 4.6 | 3.0 | .6 | .4 | 20.8 |
| Clemon Johnson | 5 | 7.8 | .429 | .000 | .500 | 1.4 | .0 | .2 | .2 | 1.4 |
| Alton Lister | 5 | 15.4 | .706 | .000 | .800 | 5.8 | 1.0 | .2 | 1.0 | 5.6 |
| Xavier McDaniel | 5 | 36.0 | .556 | .500 | .500 | 9.6 | 5.0 | .6 | .2 | 21.2 |
| Derrick McKey | 5 | 21.8 | .632 | .333 | .588 | 4.0 | 1.6 | .6 | 1.0 | 12.0 |
| Nate McMillan | 5 | 25.4 | .343 | .000 | .643 | 4.2 | 6.6 | .4 | .6 | 6.6 |
| Olden Polynice | 5 | 13.2 | .455 | .000 | .000 | 1.6 | .0 | .6 | .0 | 2.0 |
| Russ Schoene | 5 | 7.8 | .583 | .500 | .000 | 1.4 | .4 | .2 | .0 | 3.2 |
| Sedale Threatt | 5 | 16.0 | .412 | .000 | 1.000 | 2.2 | 2.2 | .2 | .0 | 6.4 |
| Kevin Williams | 5 | 14.0 | .438 | .000 | .000 | 1.6 | 1.8 | .6 | .0 | 2.8 |
| Danny Young | 5 | 19.0 | .524 | .000 | 1.000 | 2.0 | 3.8 | .4 | .4 | 6.4 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

* Derrick McKey earned an NBA All-Rookie First Team selection.
* Xavier McDaniel was selected to participate in the 1988 NBA All-Star Game.

### Records
## Transactions
### Overview

| Players Added Via draft Derrick McKey Olden Polynice Via free agency Ricky Wilson Via trade Sam Vincent Sedale Threatt | Players Lost Via free agency Maurice Lucas Via trade Sam Vincent Via waiver Ricky Wilson Mike Phelps Tod Murphy |

### Trades

| October 16, 1987 | To Seattle SuperSonicsSam VincentScott Wedman | To Boston CelticsConditional 1988 second round pick |
| February 25, 1988 | To Seattle SuperSonicsSedale Threatt | To Chicago BullsSam Vincent |

### Free agents

    2.^ Received a conditional 1990 second round pick as compensation.
    3.^ Suspended on December 6, 1987 due to failed mandatory drug counseling; later retired altogether.