1974-75_Seattle_SuperSonics_season
1974–75 Seattle SuperSonics season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1974–75 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 8th season of the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In their second season with Bill Russell as head coach and with rookies comprising half the roster, the SuperSonics finished the regular season in 4th place in the Western Conference with a 43–39 record and reached the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. After defeating the Detroit Pistons in three games in the first round in a best-of-three series, the team fell to the eventual NBA champions Golden State Warriors in six games.
Quick Facts Seattle SuperSonics season, Head coach ...
| 1974–75 Seattle SuperSonics season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Bill Russell | ||
| General manager | Bill Russell | ||
| Arena | Seattle Center Coliseum | ||
| Results | |||
| Record | 43–39 (.524) | ||
| Place | Division: 2nd (Pacific) Conference: 4th (Western) | ||
| Playoff finish | West Semifinals (lost to Warriors 2–4) | ||
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |||
| Local media | |||
| Television | KTNT-TV | ||
| Radio | KOMO | ||
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Head coach Bill Russell anticipated a roster overhaul during the offseason.[1] After trading Dick Snyder on draft day to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange of the Cavs' first round selection, the SuperSonics selected center Tommy Burleson with the 3rd overall pick.[2]
Draft picks
Main article: 1974 NBA draft
Note: only draft picks who participated in at least one game in the NBA are listed.
More information Round, Pick ...
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Tommy Burleson | Center |  United States |
North Carolina State |
| 2 | 26 | Leonard Gray | Forward | United States |
Long Beach State |
| 3 | 44 | Talvin Skinner | Guard / forward | United States |
Maryland Eastern Shore |
| 5 | 80 | Dean Tolson | Forward | United States |
Arkansas |
| 5 | 98 | Wardell Jackson | Forward | United States |
Ohio State |
| 10 | 169 | Rod Derline | Guard | United States |
Seattle |
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More information Players, Coaches ...
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Season standings
More information W, L ...
| W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Golden State Warriors | 48 | 34 | .585 | – | 31–10 | 17–24 | 19–11 |
| x-Seattle SuperSonics | 43 | 39 | .524 | 5 | 24–16 | 19–23 | 18–12 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 38 | 44 | .463 | 10 | 29–13 | 9–31 | 16–14 |
| Phoenix Suns | 32 | 50 | .390 | 16 | 22–19 | 10–31 | 12–18 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 30 | 52 | .366 | 18 | 21–20 | 9–32 | 10–20 |
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More information #, Team ...
| # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
| 1 | z-Golden State Warriors | 48 | 34 | .585 | – |
| 2 | y-Chicago Bulls | 47 | 35 | .573 | 1 |
| 3 | x-Kansas City–Omaha Kings | 44 | 38 | .537 | 4 |
| 4 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 43 | 39 | .524 | 5 |
| 5 | x-Detroit Pistons | 40 | 42 | .488 | 8 |
| 6 | Portland Trail Blazers | 38 | 44 | .463 | 10 |
| 6 | Milwaukee Bucks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 10 |
| 8 | Phoenix Suns | 32 | 50 | .390 | 16 |
| 9 | Los Angeles Lakers | 30 | 52 | .366 | 18 |
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- z – clinched division title
- y – clinched division title
- x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
More information Team, ATL ...
| 1974–75 NBA records | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | ATL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CLE | DET | GSW | HOU | KCO | LAL | MIL | NOJ | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SEA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–5 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–5 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–5 |
| Boston | 4–0 | — | 5–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 7–2 | 5–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Buffalo | 3–1 | 4–5 | — | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 5–3 | 6–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 |
| Chicago | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 4–5 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–5 | 3–1 | 3–5 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 |
| Cleveland | 4–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 6–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–5 |
| Detroit | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 5–4 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–6 | 3–1 | 3–6 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
| Golden State | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 5–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 5–3 | 5–3 | 4–3 | 1–3 |
| Houston | 5–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 5–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–5 |
| Kansas City-Omaha | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 5–4 | 2–2 | 6–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | — | 3–1 | 6–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 |
| Los Angeles | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–5 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 4–4 | 2–5 | 2–6 | 1–3 |
| Milwaukee | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 5–3 | 3–1 | 6–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–6 | 0–4 | — | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 |
| New Orleans | 5–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–6 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 3–5 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–7 |
| New York | 4–0 | 2–7 | 3–5 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 4–5 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
| Philadelphia | 2–2 | 3–5 | 3–6 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 5–4 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
| Phoenix | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–5 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–4 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 1–6 | 4–3 | 1–3 |
| Portland | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–5 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 5–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 6–1 | — | 2–6 | 1–3 |
| Seattle | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 6–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–4 | 6–2 | — | 1–3 |
| Washington | 5–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 5–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 5–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 7–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — |
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Game log
More information 1974–75 game log Total: 43–39 (home: 24–16; road: 19–23; Neutral: 1–0), Game ...
| 1974–75 game log Total: 43–39 (home: 24–16; road: 19–23; Neutral: 1–0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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October: 6–2 (home: 4–0; road: 2–2)
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November
: 7–10 (home: 3–3; road: 4–7)
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December
: 5–7 (home: 2–4; road: 3–3)
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January
: 7–7 (home: 3–3; road: 4–4)
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February
: 7–8 (home: 4–4; road: 3–4)
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March
: 9–5 (home: 6–1; road: 3–4)
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April
: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
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| 1974–75 season schedule | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Main article: 1975 NBA playoffs
More information 1975 playoff game log, Game ...
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| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
Season
More information Player, GP ...
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Brisker | 21 | 13.1 | .426 | .857 | 1.6 | .9 | .3 | .1 | 7.7 | ||
| Fred Brown | 81 | 33.0 | .480 | .831 | 4.2 | 3.5 | 2.3 | .2 | 21.0 | ||
| Tommy Burleson | 82 | 23.0 | .417 | .687 | 7.0 | 1.4 | .8 | 1.9 | 10.1 | ||
| Archie Clark | 77 | 32.2 | .495 | .834 | 3.1 | 5.6 | 1.4 | .1 | 13.9 | ||
| Rod Derline | 58 | 11.5 | .428 | .768 | 1.0 | .8 | .4 | .1 | 5.6 | ||
| Jim Fox | 75 | 23.5 | .469 | .802 | 6.5 | 1.8 | .6 | .2 | 9.0 | ||
| Leonard Gray | 75 | 30.4 | .489 | .722 | 6.4 | 2.2 | .8 | .3 | 11.5 | ||
| Spencer Haywood | 68 | 37.2 | .459 | .811 | 9.3 | 2.0 | .8 | 1.6 | 22.4 | ||
| John Hummer | 43 | 13.2 | .380 | .275 | 2.4 | .9 | .2 | .2 | 2.2 | ||
| Wardell Jackson | 56 | 16.8 | .397 | .718 | 2.4 | .5 | .5 | .1 | 4.3 | ||
| Kennedy McIntosh | 6 | 16.8 | .207 | .667 | 2.5 | 1.2 | .7 | .5 | 3.0 | ||
| Talvin Skinner | 73 | 21.6 | .409 | .649 | 4.7 | 1.2 | .7 | .2 | 4.8 | ||
| Dean Tolson | 19 | 4.6 | .432 | .647 | 1.2 | .3 | .2 | .3 | 2.3 | ||
| Slick Watts | 82 | 25.1 | .421 | .608 | 3.2 | 6.1 | 2.3 | .1 | 6.8 |
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Playoffs
More information Player, GP ...
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred Brown | 8 | 30.0 | .496 | .844 | 4.5 | 2.9 | 2.1 | .1 | 20.6 | ||
| Tommy Burleson | 9 | 40.4 | .513 | .750 | 10.7 | 1.4 | .8 | 2.0 | 20.7 | ||
| Archie Clark | 9 | 29.9 | .436 | .900 | 3.6 | 3.4 | .7 | .1 | 7.0 | ||
| Rod Derline | 6 | 10.7 | .545 | .857 | 2.2 | 1.2 | .3 | .0 | 7.0 | ||
| Jim Fox | 8 | 5.0 | .286 | .571 | 1.1 | .3 | .0 | .1 | 1.5 | ||
| Leonard Gray | 9 | 29.2 | .488 | .846 | 5.0 | 2.2 | 1.3 | .6 | 9.9 | ||
| Spencer Haywood | 9 | 37.4 | .359 | .770 | 9.0 | 2.0 | .8 | 1.2 | 15.7 | ||
| John Hummer | 6 | 11.3 | .000 | 1.5 | .7 | .3 | .0 | .0 | |||
| Talvin Skinner | 9 | 23.4 | .467 | .737 | 4.2 | 1.3 | 1.0 | .2 | 6.2 | ||
| Dean Tolson | 4 | 5.5 | .125 | 1.000 | 1.8 | .3 | .0 | .0 | 1.0 | ||
| Slick Watts | 9 | 31.1 | .462 | .538 | 3.7 | 7.1 | 3.0 | .4 | 11.1 |
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- Spencer Haywood was selected to the All-NBA Second Team and represented the West in the 1975 NBA All-Star Game.
- Tommy Burleson was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
Overview
| Players added Via draft Via trade |
Players lost Via draft Via trade Via free agency Waived |
Trades
| May 28, 1974 | To Seattle SuperSonics 1974 first round pick |
To Cleveland Cavaliers Dick Snyder 1974 first round pick |
| August 20, 1974 [3] | To Seattle SuperSonics Archie Clark |
To Washington Bullets Dick Gibbs 1975 third round pick |
- Program may be needed to identify 'new' Sonics, Ellensburg Daily Record. May 30, 1974. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- Sonics draft Burleson, Ellensburg Daily Record. May 28, 1974. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- Seattle acquires Clark from Bullets, Bangor Daily News. August 20, 1974. Retrieved June 21, 2012.