We live in a super world. There’s the oversized meal, the Super Duper Looper roller coaster, Superman, Superwoman, and even Superdog. Meanwhile, the NBA has the Seattle Supersonics. For more than three decades, the Supersonics have represented Seattle. While the team’s greatest season was 1978-1979, the Supersonics are always striving to win another NBA final.

The 1967-1968 season was the Seattle Supersonics’ first season in the NBA. They would be one of two new NBA expansion teams. The name “Supersonics” referred to the Seattle aerospace industry and, in particular, Supersonic Transportation (SST). A supersonic plane can travel faster than the speed of sound. The Sonics’ first season was tough, as they finished with a 23-59 record.

A decade after entering the NBA, the Sonics had a new head coach (Bob Hopkins) and several new players for the 1977-1978 season. They finished the regular season with an admirable 47-35 record. In the playoffs, the Sonics beat the Los Angeles Lakers (2-1), upset the defending champion Portland Trailblazers (4-2) and defeated the Denver Nuggets (4-2). Then, during the Finals, the Sonics took a 3-2 series lead against the Washington Bullets, but ultimately lost the series (4-3).

For the next season, the Seattle Supersonics were a team on a mission. They completed the regular season with a 52-30 record and won the division crown. Seattle would defeat the Angles Lakers (4-2) and then overcome a 3-2 deficit to beat the Phoenix Suns (4-3). The NBA Finals showed a rematch between the Supersonics and the Bullets. However, this time the Sonics were faster (and better) than the Bullets, avenging their loss a year earlier (4-3).

The Seattle Sonics would return to the NBA Finals, during the 1995-1996 season. His 64-18 regular season record was the best in the West. In the playoffs, the Sonics would dethrone the Sacramento Kings (3-1), knock down the Houston Rockets (4-0) and then silence the Utah Jazz in a screech (4-3). The Supersonics were a solid team, but Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls dominated them in the NBA Finals (4-2).

Throughout their tenure in Seattle, the Supersonics have retired the jersey numbers of six players:

o Fred “Downtown Freddie” Brown – # 32 (Guard): 1971 / 1972-1983 / 1984
Famous for his accurate outside shots and played in the 1976 All-Star Game

o Spencer Haywood – # 24 (Forward): 1970-1975
Four All-Star Games and Two NBA Top Teams

o Nate McMillan – # 10 (Guard): 1986,1987-1997,1998
He played 12 years with the Sonics and served as the head coach for five years.

o Jack Sikma – # 43 (Center): 1977 / 1978-1985 / 1986
Seven NBA All-Star games (1979-1985)

o Lenny Wilkens – # 19 (Guard): 1968 / 1969-1971 / 1972
He also served as the head coach (1978-1985) and general manager (1985-1986) of the Supersonics.

o Gus Williams – # 1 (Guard): 1977-1980, 1981-1984
Two NBA All-Star teams and one All-NBA first team (1982)

The Sonics play to win their next NBA Finals. Use Seattle Supersonics merchandise to cheer on the team as it soars at super speed to its next NBA Championship!