The 1982–83 NBA season was the SuperSonics' 16th season in the NBA.[1] They started off the season with twelve straight wins but went 36-34 the rest of the way.
In the playoffs, the SuperSonics were swept by the Portland Trail Blazers in two games in the First Round.
See main article: article and 1982 NBA draft.
| 1982-83 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| width=100 | Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 1–5 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | |
| Boston | 5–1 | – | 3–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | |
| Chicago | 1–5 | 2–3 | – | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | |
| Cleveland | 0–6 | 1–5 | 1–5 | – | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | |
| Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | – | 2–0 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | |
| Detroit | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | – | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | |
| Golden State | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | – | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 2–0 | |
| Houston | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 2–3 | – | 2–0 | 1–5 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–6 | 1–1 | |
| Indiana | 0–6 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | |
| Kansas City | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | – | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 2–0 | |
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | |
| Milwaukee | 4–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 3–2 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 | |
| New Jersey | 4–2 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | – | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | |
| New York | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | – | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | |
| Philadelphia | 4–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | – | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | – | 5–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 0–2 | |
| Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | – | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | |
| San Antonio | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | – | 4–1 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 2–0 | |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–4 | – | 0–6 | 2–3 | 0–2 | |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 6–0 | – | 5–0 | 1–1 | |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 0–5 | – | 0–2 | |
| Washington | 2–4 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | |
Record: 48-34
| Game | Date | Location | Score | Record | Attendance | |
| 1 | October 29 | Seattle | 128–95 | 1–0 | 21,885 | |
| 2 | October 31 | San Diego | 127–109 | 2–0 | 3,507 | |
| 3 | November 2 | Utah | 120–92 | 3–0 | 7,378 | |
| 4 | November 3 | Seattle | 109–107 | 4–0 | 9,808 | |
| 5 | November 5 | Seattle | 112–103 | 5–0 | 14,665 | |
| 6 | November 7 | Milwaukee | 102–90 | 6–0 | 10,975 | |
| 7 | November 9 | Chicago | 112–111 | 7–0 | 9,122 | |
| 8 | November 10 | Dallas | 94–91 | 8–0 | 9,813 | |
| 9 | November 13 | San Antonio | 107–98 | 9–0 | 14,814 | |
| 10 | November 14 | Houston | 102–99 | 10–0 | 6,576 | |
| 11 | November 17 | Seattle | 119–97 | 11–0 | 11,169 | |
| 12 | November 19 | Seattle | 101–94 | 12–0 | 14,190 | |
| 13 | November 21 | Seattle | 91–111 | 12–1 | 13,353 | |
| 14 | November 24 | Seattle | 93–111 | 12–2 | 26,320 | |
| 15 | November 26 | Seattle | 127–106 | 13–2 | Not announced | |
| 16 | November 27 | Golden State | 133–118 | 14–2 | 12,968 | |
| 17 | December 1 | Seattle | 131–110 | 15–2 | Not announced | |
| 18 | December 5 | St. Louis | 103–106 | 15–3 | 8,180 | |
| 19 | December 7 | Houston | 107–88 | 16–3 | 7,049 | |
| 20 | December 8 | Dallas | 94–110 | 16–4 | 10,063 | |
| 21 | December 10 | Seattle | 100–101 | 16–5 | 13,711 | |
| 22 | December 14 | Seattle | 109–114 (OT) | 16–6 | 12,432 | |
| 23 | December 16 | Seattle | 103–93 | 17–6 | 9,116 | |
| 24 | December 17 | Seattle | 93–90 | 18–6 | 11,263 | |
| 25 | December 18 | San Diego | 121–107 | 19–6 | 3,594 | |
| 26 | December 21 | Seattle | 99–94 | 20–6 | 12,976 | |
| 27 | December 23 | Seattle | 120–95 | 21–6 | 10,791 | |
| 28 | December 25 | Portland | 88–95 | 21–7 | 12,666 | |
| 29 | December 26 | Seattle | 88–87 | 22–7 | 14,412 | |
| 30 | December 29 | Seattle | 109–92 | 23–7 | 14,223 | |
| 31 | December 30 | Los Angeles | 117–137 | 23–8 | 17,505 | |
| 32 | January 2 | Phoenix | 99–116 | 23–9 | 11,318 | |
| 33 | January 5 | Seattle | 104–108 | 23–10 | 9,203 | |
| 34 | January 8 | Golden State | 104–110 | 23–11 | 12,269 | |
| 35 | January 9 | Portland | 101–110 | 23–12 | 12,666 | |
| 36 | January 11 | Seattle | 119–131 | 23–13 | Not announced | |
| 37 | January 13 | Phoenix | 99–102 | 23–14 | 13,536 | |
| 38 | January 14 | Seattle | 99–102 | 23–15 | 14,482 | |
| 39 | January 16 | Seattle | 111–96 | 24–15 | 14,253 | |
| 40 | January 19 | Atlanta | 111–116 | 24–16 | 5,795 | |
| 41 | January 21 | Philadelphia | 117–130 | 24–17 | 18,482 | |
| 42 | January 23 | New Jersey | 102–105 | 24–18 | 13,276 | |
| 43 | January 26 | Detroit | 118–109 | 25–18 | 10,184 | |
| 44 | January 27 | Washington | 86–99 | 25–19 | 7,261 | |
| 45 | January 29 | Cleveland | 88–89 | 25–20 | 3,650 | |
| 46 | February 2 | Seattle | 117–114 | 26–20 | 10,158 | |
| 47 | February 4 | Seattle | 115–103 | 27–20 | 13,082 | |
| 48 | February 6 | Seattle | 96–97 | 27–21 | 22,217 | |
| 49 | February 8 | Seattle | 118–121 | 27–22 | 19,726 | |
| 50 | February 9 | Denver | 125–134 | 27–23 | 12,847 | |
| 51 | February 10 | Utah | 105–99 | 28–23 | 8,939 | |
| 52 | February 16 | Seattle | 100–108 | 28–24 | 17,870 | |
| 53 | February 18 | Seattle | 115–112 | 29–24 | 12,661 | |
| 54 | February 20 | Seattle | 116–112 | 30–24 | 15,006 | |
| 55 | February 22 | Seattle | 117–101 | 31–24 | 19,732 | |
| 56 | February 24 | Denver | 129–138 | 31–25 | 15,748 | |
| 57 | February 25 | Seattle | 101–106 | 31–26 | 15,688 | |
| 58 | February 27 | Seattle | 101–98 | 32–26 | 20,167 | |
| 59 | March 1 | San Antonio | 104–119 | 32–27 | 7,988 | |
| 60 | March 2 | Dallas | 105–108 | 32–28 | 11,194 | |
| 61 | March 5 | Houston | 126–103 | 33–28 | 7,183 | |
| 62 | March 8 | New York | 98–107 | 33–29 | 8,743 | |
| 63 | March 9 | Boston | 112–106 | 34–29 | 15,320 | |
| 64 | March 11 | Indiana | 127–121 | 35–29 | 4,176 | |
| 65 | March 13 | Kansas City | 120–115 (OT) | 36–29 | 7,754 | |
| 66 | March 16 | Seattle | 110–102 | 37–29 | 10,981 | |
| 67 | March 18 | Seattle | 147–117 | 38–29 | 14,268 | |
| 68 | March 20 | Seattle | 128–116 | 39–29 | 11,139 | |
| 69 | March 22 | Los Angeles | 108–123 | 39–30 | 17,505 | |
| 70 | March 23 | Seattle | 137–117 | 40–30 | 14,203 | |
| 71 | March 25 | Seattle | 104-106 | 40–31 | 11,884 | |
| 72 | March 27 | Utah | 122–108 | 41–31 | 8,923 | |
| 73 | March 30 | Seattle | 135–124 | 42–31 | 10,069 | |
| 74 | April 1 | Seattle | 101–95 | 43–31 | 12,782 | |
| 75 | April 4 | Seattle | 121–111 | 44–31 | 18,045 | |
| 76 | April 5 | San Diego | 115–109 (2OT) | 45–31 | 4,228 | |
| 77 | April 7 | Seattle | 102–96 | 46–31 | 9,601 | |
| 78 | April 10 | Portland | 102–93 | 47–31 | 12,666 | |
| 79 | April 12 | Seattle | 106–101 | 48–31 | 14,361 | |
| 80 | April 13 | Phoenix | 96–109 | 48–32 | 10,882 | |
| 81 | April 15 | Los Angeles | 99–100 | 48–33 | 17,505 | |
| 82 | April 16 | Golden State | 122–133 | 48–34 | 7,713 |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 20| Portland| L 97–108| Gus Williams (34)| Jack Sikma (15)| Williams, Sikma (7)| Kingdome
9,211| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 22| @ Portland| L 96–105| Gus Williams (31)| Danny Vranes (18)| Jack Sikma (4)| Memorial Coliseum
12,666| 0–2|-
| Games played | RPG | Rebounds per game | ||
| GS | Games started | APG | Assists per game | |
| MPG | Minutes per game | PPG | Points per game |
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | RPG | APG | PPG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred Brown | 80 | 1 | 17.9 | 1.2 | 3.0 | 10.2 | |
| James Donaldson | 82 | 11 | 21.8 | 6.1 | 1.2 | 8.9 | |
| John Greig | 9 | 0 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 2.1 | |
| Steve Hawes | 31 | 1 | 17.9 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 5.5 | |
| Greg Kelser | 80 | 9 | 18.8 | 5.0 | 1.2 | 8.3 | |
| Mark Radford | 54 | 2 | 8.1 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 3.7 | |
| Lonnie Shelton | 82 | 79 | 31.4 | 6.0 | 2.9 | 12.4 | |
| Jack Sikma | 75 | 71 | 34.2 | 11.4 | 3.1 | 18.2 | |
| Phil Smith | 79 | 17 | 15.7 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 5.7 | |
| David Thompson | 75 | 64 | 28.7 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 15.9 | |
| Ray Tolbert | 45 | 2 | 15.8 | 3.4 | 0.7 | 5.0 | |
| Danny Vranes | 82 | 73 | 25.0 | 5.2 | 1.5 | 6.9 | |
| Gus Williams | 80 | 80 | 34.5 | 2.6 | 8.0 | 20.0 |
| GP | GS | MPG | RPG | APG | PPG | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred Brown | 2 | 15.0 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 3.0 | ||
| James Donaldson | 2 | 23.5 | 8.5 | 1.0 | 12.0 | ||
| Steve Hawes | 2 | 17.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 6.0 | ||
| Greg Kelser | 2 | 9.5 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 2.0 | ||
| Lonnie Shelton | 2 | 26.5 | 10.5 | 2.5 | 5.0 | ||
| Jack Sikma | 2 | 37.5 | 13.0 | 5.5 | 15.0 | ||
| Phil Smith | 2 | 9.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 3.0 | ||
| David Thompson | 2 | 32.5 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 12.0 | ||
| Danny Vranes | 2 | 28.0 | 9.5 | 0.5 | 6.0 | ||
| Gus Williams | 2 | 40.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 32.5 |
| Date | Player | Reason left | New team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ? | John Greig | Waived | N/A | |
| ? | Mark Radford | Waived | N/A |
| February 13, 1983 | To Seattle SuperSonics Steve Hawes (from Atlanta) | To Atlanta Hawks 1984 2nd round pick (from Detroit)1985 2nd round pick (from Detroit) | To Detroit Pistons Ray Tolbert (from Seattle) |