1986–87 Seattle SuperSonics season NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1986–87 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 20th season of the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association . Bernie Bickerstaff returned for his second season as head coach of the franchise and, despite a modest improvement over their previous season's 31–51 record, managed to clinch a spot in the playoffs , where they defeated the Dallas Mavericks in four games in the First Round, and then the Houston Rockets in six games in the Semi-finals, reaching the Western Conference Finals, only to be swept in four games to the eventual NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers . The 39-43 Sonics remain the last team to date in the NBA to win a playoff series with a losing regular season record.
It is also their first year without team captain Jack Sikma as he was traded in the offseason.
Draft picks
Roster
1986–87 Seattle SuperSonics roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
PF
24
Chambers, Tom
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1959–06–21
Utah
G/F
3
Ellis, Dale
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1960–08–06
Tennessee
C
45
Johnson, Clemon
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1956–09–12
Florida A&M
G
15
Johnson, Eddie
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1955–02–24
Auburn
PF
42
Kitchen, Curtis
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1964–01–30
South Florida
C
53
Lister, Alton
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1958–10–01
Arizona State
PF /C
20
Lucas, Maurice
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1952–02–18
Marquette
F
34
McDaniel, Xavier
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1963–06–04
Wichita State
G
10
McMillan, Nate
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1964–08–03
NC State
G
25
Phelps, Mike
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1961–10–03
Alcorn State
PF /C
40
Schoene, Russ
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1960–04–16
Chattanooga
G
44
Stansbury, Terence
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
1961–02–27
Temple
G
30
Williams, Kevin
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
1961–09–11
St. John's
PG
22
Young, Danny
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
1962–07–26
Wake Forest
Head coach
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
1986-87 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
–
3–3
4–2
4–2
2–0
2–0
3–3
1–1
1–1
3–3
2–0
1–1
3–3
5–0
5–1
3–3
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
5–0
Boston
3–3
–
6–0
3–2
2–0
2–0
3–2
2–0
2–0
5–1
2–0
0–2
3–3
4–2
4–2
3–3
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
4–2
Chicago
2–4
0–6
–
5–1
1–1
1–1
3–3
0–2
0–2
3–2
2–0
0–2
4–2
3–2
4–2
3–3
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
0–2
3–3
Cleveland
2–4
2–3
1–5
–
0–2
1–1
1–5
1–1
0–2
3–3
2–0
0–2
1–5
4–2
4–1
2–4
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–4
Dallas
0–2
0–2
1–1
2–0
–
4–2
1–1
5–0
3–3
0–2
5–0
3–2
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
3–2
2–3
5–1
4–2
5–0
3–3
1–1
Denver
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–4
–
0–2
4–1
3–3
1–1
2–3
0–5
1–1
2–0
2–0
0–2
3–2
3–2
2–4
5–1
2–3
2–4
1–1
Detroit
3–3
2–3
3–3
5–1
1–1
2–0
–
1–1
1–1
3–3
2–0
1–1
3–3
5–1
6–0
5–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
3–3
Golden State
1–1
0–2
2–0
1–1
0–5
1–4
1–1
–
4–1
0–2
6–0
2–4
0–2
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–5
4–2
4–1
4–1
4–2
2–3
0–2
Houston
1–1
0–2
2–0
2–0
3–3
3–3
1–1
1–4
–
2–0
4–1
1–4
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
3–2
2–3
5–1
5–1
1–4
3–3
1–1
Indiana
3–3
1–5
2–3
3–3
2–0
1–1
3–3
2–0
0–2
–
2–0
0–2
2–4
5–1
3–2
2–4
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
4–2
L.A. Clippers
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–5
3–2
0–2
0–6
1–4
0–2
–
0–6
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–5
0–6
1–4
1–4
2–4
2–3
0–2
L.A. Lakers
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–3
5–0
1–1
4–2
4–1
2–0
6–0
–
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
5–1
5–1
5–0
4–1
4–2
3–2
1–1
Milwaukee
3–3
3–3
2–4
5–1
0–2
1–1
3–3
2–0
2–0
4–2
2–0
1–1
–
4–2
4–2
2–3
2–0
0–2
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
4–1
New Jersey
0–5
2–4
2–3
2–4
0–2
0–2
1–5
0–2
1–1
1–5
1–1
0–2
2–4
–
5–1
3–3
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
2–4
New York
1–5
2–4
2–4
1–4
0–2
0–2
0–6
0–2
1–1
2–3
2–0
0–2
2–4
1–5
–
3–3
1–1
0–2
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–4
Philadelphia
3–3
3–3
3–3
4–2
0–2
2–0
0–5
1–1
2–0
4–2
2–0
0–2
3–2
3–3
3–3
–
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
3–3
Phoenix
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–3
2–3
1–1
5–1
2–3
1–1
5–1
1–5
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
–
2–4
2–3
2–3
1–5
4–1
0–2
Portland
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
3–2
2–3
2–0
2–4
3–2
2–0
6–0
1–5
2–0
2–0
2–0
0–2
4–2
–
3–2
4–1
4–2
3–2
1–1
Sacramento
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–5
4–2
1–1
1–4
1–5
1–1
4–1
0–5
0–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
3–2
2–3
–
3–3
2–3
1–5
1–1
San Antonio
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–4
1–5
1–1
1–4
1–5
0–2
4–1
1–4
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
3–2
1–4
3–3
–
1–4
2–4
0–2
Seattle
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–5
3–2
0–2
2–4
4–1
1–1
4–2
2–4
0–2
2–0
2–0
0–2
5–1
2–4
3–2
4–1
–
3–2
1–1
Utah
0–2
1–1
2–0
2–0
3–3
4–2
1–1
3–2
3–3
1–1
3–2
2–3
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–4
2–3
5–1
4–2
2–3
–
1–1
Washington
0–5
2–4
3–3
4–2
1–1
1–1
3–3
2–0
1–1
2–4
2–0
1–1
1–4
4–2
4–2
3–3
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
—
Game log
1986–87 game log
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
Location Attendance
Record
2
November 1
Sacramento Kings
103-114
Xavier McDaniel (27)
Seattle Center Coliseum 6,296
2–0
3
November 4
Los Angeles Lakers
110-96
Tom Chambers (21)
Seattle Center Coliseum 10,426
2–1
4
November 6
Dallas Mavericks
147-124
Xavier McDaniel (28)
Seattle Center Coliseum 8,363
2–2
5
November 8
New York Knicks
102-105
Dale Ellis (29)
Seattle Center Coliseum 9,280
3–2
6
November 11
Philadelphia 76ers
121-114
Tom Chambers (33)
Seattle Center Coliseum 12,600
3–3
7
November 12
vs Los Angeles Lakers
122-97
Xavier McDaniel (17)
The Forum 13,694
3–4
8
November 15
vs Golden State Warriors
121-127
Tom Chambers (38)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 7,655
4–4
9
November 18
Sacramento Kings
105-119
Dale Ellis (28)
Seattle Center Coliseum 5,411
5–4
10
November 20
Milwaukee Bucks
116-105
Tom Chambers (35)
Seattle Center Coliseum 8,790
5–5
11
November 22
Indiana Pacers
111-121
Tom Chambers (35)
Seattle Center Coliseum 6,399
6–5
12
November 25
Los Angeles Clippers
103-113
Dale Ellis (35)
Seattle Center Coliseum 4,702
7–5
13
November 26
vs Utah Jazz
127-91
Tom Chambers (22)
Salt Palace 10,512
7–6
14
November 28
vs Phoenix Suns
104-117
Dale Ellis (34)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,462
8–6
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
Location Attendance
Record
15
December 2
Chicago Bulls
115-109 (OT)
Xavier McDaniel Tom Chambers (29)
Seattle Center Coliseum 13,438
8–7
16
December 4
vs San Antonio Spurs
102-109
Tom Chambers (36)
HemisFair Arena 5,893
9–7
17
December 6
vs Houston Rockets
80-136
Tom Chambers (29)
The Summit 16,016
10–7
18
December 10
vs Los Angeles Clippers
101-94
Tom Chambers (28)
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 5,573
10–8
19
December 11
San Antonio Spurs
107-113
Xavier McDaniel (33)
Seattle Center Coliseum 5,056
11–8
20
December 13
Dallas Mavericks
126-109
Tom Chambers Dale Ellis (24)
Seattle Center Coliseum 9,789
11–9
21
December 16
vs Portland Trail Blazers
126-118
Dale Ellis (34)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
11–10
22
December 18
Houston Rockets
100-114
Dale Ellis (33)
Seattle Center Coliseum 7,696
12–10
23
December 19
vs Phoenix Suns
106-108
Dale Ellis (28)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,433
13–10
24
December 21
Golden State Warriors
121-112
Tom Chambers (25)
Seattle Center Coliseum 5,228
13–11
25
December 23
Denver Nuggets
116-127
Tom Chambers (35)
Seattle Center Coliseum 7,459
14–11
26
December 26
Los Angeles Clippers
107-113
Tom Chambers (27)
Seattle Center Coliseum 6,353
15–11
27
December 28
Portland Trail Blazers
127-118
Xavier McDaniel (30)
Seattle Center Coliseum 9,365
15–12
28
December 30
Boston Celtics
104-102
Xavier McDaniel (25)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,600
15–13
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
Location Attendance
Record
29
January 2
vs Dallas Mavericks
117-107
Dale Ellis (28)
Reunion Arena 17,007
15–14
30
January 3
vs Houston Rockets
138-114
Xavier McDaniel Dale Ellis (21)
The Summit 16,016
15–15
31
January 6
Phoenix Suns
108-138
Tom Chambers (29)
Seattle Center Coliseum 5,764
16–15
32
January 8
vs Golden State Warriors
108-115
Dale Ellis (35)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 7,790
17–15
33
January 11
Utah Jazz
111-127
Tom Chambers (31)
Seattle Center Coliseum 7,594
18–15
34
January 13
vs Denver Nuggets
117-109
Tom Chambers (30)
McNichols Sports Arena 8,981
18–16
35
January 14
San Antonio Spurs
104-130
Dale Ellis (32)
Seattle Center Coliseum 5,068
19–16
36
January 16
Denver Nuggets
100-134
Xavier McDaniel (30)
Seattle Center Coliseum 8,544
20–16
37
January 17
vs Sacramento Kings
125-115
Xavier McDaniel (37)
ARCO Arena (I) 10,333
20–17
38
January 21
vs Philadelphia 76ers
129-123 (OT)
Dale Ellis (40)
The Spectrum 11,891
20–18
39
January 23
vs New Jersey Nets
120-125
Xavier McDaniel (32)
Brendan Byrne Arena 9,182
21–18
40
January 24
vs Atlanta Hawks
97-87
Dale Ellis (27)
Omni Coliseum 13,842
21–19
41
January 26
vs Utah Jazz
95-108
Dale Ellis (34)
Salt Palace 12,212
22–19
42
January 28
Los Angeles Lakers
101-125
Tom Chambers (37)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,634
23–19
43
January 30
vs Golden State Warriors
127-119
Tom Chambers (36)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 9,276
23–20
44
January 31
Phoenix Suns
112-118 (OT)
Dale Ellis (24)
Seattle Center Coliseum 9,344
24–20
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
Location Attendance
Record
45
February 2
New Jersey Nets
100-108
Xavier McDaniel (35)
Seattle Center Coliseum 6,132
25–20
46
February 4
vs Dallas Mavericks
124-94
Tom Chambers (19)
Reunion Arena 17,007
25–21
47
February 5
vs San Antonio Spurs
117-111
Xavier McDaniel (26)
HemisFair Arena 7,548
25–22
48
February 10
Atlanta Hawks
125-113
Tom Chambers (35)
Seattle Center Coliseum 12,004
25–23
49
February 12
vs Milwaukee Bucks
106-104
Tom Chambers (32)
MECCA Arena 11,052
25–24
50
February 13
vs Chicago Bulls
106-98
Xavier McDaniel (27)
Chicago Stadium 16,251
25–25
51
February 16
vs Cleveland Cavaliers
105-94
Dale Ellis (17)
Coliseum at Richfield 12,163
25–26
52
February 18
vs Indiana Pacers
105-88
Dale Ellis (24)
Market Square Arena 9,077
25–27
53
February 19
vs Detroit Pistons
117-105
Dale Ellis (31)
Pontiac Silverdome 14,482
25–28
54
February 21
Washington Bullets
93-110
Tom Chambers (31)
Seattle Center Coliseum 11,637
26–28
55
February 23
Los Angeles Clippers
112-124
Dale Ellis (29)
Seattle Center Coliseum 5,528
27–28
56
February 24
vs Utah Jazz
133-103
Dale Ellis (26)
Salt Palace 12,212
27–29
57
February 26
Denver Nuggets
100-106
Xavier McDaniel (30)
Seattle Center Coliseum 7,691
28–29
58
February 28
vs Phoenix Suns
105-112
Dale Ellis (40)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 13,338
29–29
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
Location Attendance
Record
59
March 2
Cleveland Cavaliers
107-123
Tom Chambers (36)
Seattle Center Coliseum 6,488
30–29
60
March 4
vs Los Angeles Lakers
138-124
Dale Ellis (32)
The Forum 17,505
30–30
61
March 5
Portland Trail Blazers
122-127
Dale Ellis (38)
Seattle Center Coliseum 10,205
31–30
62
March 7
Houston Rockets
115-118
Tom Chambers (29)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,474
32–30
63
March 10
vs Houston Rockets
127-136 (2OT)
Tom Chambers (42)
The Summit 16,279
33–30
64
March 11
vs Dallas Mavericks
130-117
Tom Chambers Dale Ellis Xavier McDaniel (21)
Reunion Arena 17,007
33–31
65
March 13
vs Los Angeles Clippers
108-104
Tom Chambers (31)
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 6,522
33–32
66
March 15
vs Sacramento Kings
107-106
Dale Ellis (40)
ARCO Arena (I) 10,333
33–33
67
March 16
San Antonio Spurs
111-122
Dale Ellis (33)
Seattle Center Coliseum 5,934
34–33
68
March 19
vs Washington Bullets
110-106
Xavier McDaniel (20)
Capital Centre 5,987
34–34
69
March 20
vs Boston Celtics
112-108
Dale Ellis (31)
Boston Garden 14,890
34–35
70
March 23
vs New York Knicks
121-126 (OT)
Xavier McDaniel (40)
Madison Square Garden (IV) 9,038
35–35
71
March 26
vs Denver Nuggets
123-113
Xavier McDaniel (33)
McNichols Sports Arena 10,183
35–36
72
March 27
Golden State Warriors
106-105
Xavier McDaniel (31)
Seattle Center Coliseum 9,091
35–37
73
March 29
Detroit Pistons
108-107
Xavier McDaniel (27)
Seattle Center Coliseum 8,717
35–38
74
March 31
Sacramento Kings
129-132
Tom Chambers (36)
Seattle Center Coliseum 6,095
36–38
1986–87 season schedule
Green background indicates win.
Red background indicates loss.
Playoffs
1987 playoff game log
First round: 3–1 (home: 2–0; road: 1–1)
Conference Semi-finals: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1)
Conference finals: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2)
1987 schedule
Player statistics
Season
1.^ Statistics with the SuperSonics.
Playoffs
Awards and records
Awards
Records
Transactions
Overview
Players Added
Via draft
Via free agency
Via trade
Players Lost
Via free agency
Via trade
Via waiver
Trades
Free agents
References
See also
1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s