1995–96 Seattle SuperSonics season


The 1995–96 NBA season was the 28th season for the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Sonics acquired shooting guard Hersey Hawkins from the Charlotte Hornets. The team returned to what had now become KeyArena after spending the previous season in the Tacoma Dome as the KeyArena was being renovated. After two consecutive playoffs appearances losing in the first round, the Sonics played their best basketball posting a 14-game winning streak between February and March. The team won 30 of their 36 games after the All-Star break to finish the regular season with a franchise best 64–18 record, surpassing the record from the 1993–94 season, and earned their third number one seed in the Western Conference in franchise history. Point guard and Defensive Player of the Year Gary Payton and power forward Shawn Kemp were both selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game. This Sonics team is regarded as one of the best defensive teams in the late 90s.
Led by Kemp and Payton, the two formed "Sonic Boom", one of the most electrifying tandems in NBA history. The SuperSonics defeated the Sacramento Kings three games to one in the first round, advancing to the second round for the first time in three years. In the semifinals, they swept the 5th-seeded and reigning champions Houston Rockets in four straight games to advance to the Western Conference Finals, where they defeated the Utah Jazz in seven games to reach their first NBA Finals since 1979, where they would face the Chicago Bulls. After an 0–3 start in the series, Seattle managed to win their next two home games, but eventually lost the series in Game 6 in Chicago. Following the season, Ervin Johnson signed as a free agent with the Denver Nuggets, and Vincent Askew was traded to the New Jersey Nets. This Sonics team has been featured in the video game series NBA 2K.
For the season, the Sonics featured new uniforms, a new logo, and adding red to their color scheme. The logo and uniforms would remain until 2001.

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
126Sherell FordSFUnited StatesIllinois–Chicago
254Eurelijus ŽukauskasCNeptūnas Klaipėda

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Season Synopsis

November

The SuperSonics started their season on November 3 on the road wherein they faced the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City. They started the game well after leading the Jazz in the 1st Quarter, but the Jazz fought back and never looked back as they defeated the Sonics, 112-94. The Sonics now went back home to play the two Los Angeles teams, the Los Angeles Lakers and the L.A. Clippers. The SuperSonics won both of their home games, as they were now up 2-1 for the season. On November 26, the SuperSonics hosted the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls. The visiting Bulls hold a double-digit lead at halftime but the Sonics fought back and only allowed 28 2nd half PTS for the Bulls as they won the game, 97-92. The month of November for the Sonics ended in a disappointing way because they were defeated by a point by the visiting Indiana Pacers led by Reggie Miller. Overall, the Sonics posted a record of 9-6 in 15 games played during that month.

Playoffs

West First Round

Seattle SuperSonics vs. Sacramento Kings
Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the SuperSonics and Kings.

West Conference Semifinals

Seattle SuperSonics vs. Houston Rockets
Last Playoff Meeting: 1993 Western Conference Semifinals
*Required overtime

West Conference Finals

Seattle SuperSonics vs. Utah Jazz
Last Playoff Meeting: 1993 Western Conference First Round
*Required overtime

NBA Finals

vs. Seattle SuperSonics

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Awards

;All-NBA Teams
;NBA All-Defensive Teams
;1996 NBA All-Star Game

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Additions

Subtractions