1971–72 Seattle SuperSonics season

The 1971–72 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 5th season of the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In their third season with Lenny Wilkens as head coach, the Sonics finished the regular season in sixth place in the Western Conference with a 47–35 record, their first winning record in franchise history. Wilkens quit as head coach at the end of the season and was replaced by former Dallas Chaparrals coach Tom Nissalke.

Offseason
With the sixth overall pick in the 1971 NBA draft, Seattle selected Fred Brown from the University of Iowa. After months of negotiation (the Kentucky Colonels of the American Basketball Association also selected him in the 1971 ABA Draft), the Sonics signed him to a multi-year contract Brown would go on to have a career spanning 13 seasons with the SuperSonics.

The Buffalo Braves selected Spencer Haywood with the 30th overall pick and intended to claim rights to the player from the SuperSonics. Matters were taken to court, with the judge ruling in favor of the Seattle franchise. Tensions prior to the trial rose to the point that Buffalo decided to pay expansion fees to every team in the league with the exception of the Sonics.

Draft picks
Note: only draft picks who participated in at least one game in the NBA are listed.

The Seattle SuperSonics signed their second round pick Jim McDaniels in February 1972. Since McDaniels was under contract with the Carolina Cougars of the American Basketball Association, both teams began a legal battle over the player's contract, with a judge in the King County Superior Court granting permission to McDaniels to play for the Sonics. The Cougars appealed to the Washington Supreme Court but McDaniels stayed in Seattle.

Game log
10,723 6,124 13,100 2,967 10,365 10,182 10,318 5,816 13,138
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 1
 * October 12
 * @ Buffalo
 * W 123–90
 * Spencer Haywood (29)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 1–0
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 2
 * October 15
 * @ Portland
 * W 119–88
 * Spencer Haywood, Lenny Wilkens (23)
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * 2–0
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 3
 * October 16
 * Milwaukee
 * L 91–98
 * Spencer Haywood (23)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 2–1
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 4
 * October 19
 * @ Cincinnati
 * W 101–100
 * Dick Snyder (24)
 * Cincinnati Gardens
 * Cincinnati Gardens
 * Cincinnati Gardens
 * 3–1
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 5
 * October 20
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 93–100
 * Don Kojis (18)
 * The Spectrum
 * The Spectrum
 * The Spectrum
 * 3–2
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 6
 * October 22
 * Houston
 * W 110–91
 * Spencer Haywood (23)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 4–2
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 7
 * October 24
 * Cincinnati
 * W 119–101
 * Spencer Haywood (23)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 5–2
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 8
 * October 28
 * Buffalo
 * W 106–96
 * Barry Clemens (26)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 6–2
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 9
 * October 30
 * Los Angeles
 * W 115–106
 * Don Kojis (26)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 7–2

5,814 12,638 13,197 5,808 16,550 12,738 8,907 5,462 12,914 6,634 10,151 13,170 12,565 15,544 18,111
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 10
 * November 4
 * @ Golden State
 * L 96–98
 * Spencer Haywood (31)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * 7–3
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 11
 * November 5
 * New York
 * W 101–97
 * Lenny Wilkens (26)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 8–3
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 12
 * November 7
 * Golden State
 * L 102–109
 * Spencer Haywood (32)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 8–4
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 13
 * November 11
 * Cleveland
 * W 110–91
 * Spencer Haywood (20)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 9–4
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 14
 * November 12
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 107–115
 * Spencer Haywood (26)
 * The Forum
 * The Forum
 * The Forum
 * 9–5
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 15
 * November 13
 * Boston
 * W 116 112
 * Lenny Wilkens (21)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 10–5
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 16
 * November 16
 * @ Chicago
 * L 87 95
 * Don Kojis (22)
 * Chicago Stadium
 * Chicago Stadium
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 10–6
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 17
 * November 17
 * @ Atlanta
 * W 112–104
 * Spencer Haywood (23)
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum
 * 11–6
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 18
 * November 19
 * Milwaukee
 * L 107–108
 * Spencer Haywood (36)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 11–7
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 19
 * November 20
 * @ Portland
 * W 104–100
 * Spencer Haywood (25)
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * 12–7
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 20
 * November 21
 * Philadelphia
 * W 127–117
 * Don Smith (26)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 13–7
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 21
 * November 25
 * Los Angeles
 * L 115–139
 * Spencer Haywood (24)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 13–8
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 22
 * November 27
 * Detroit
 * W 124–102
 * Spencer Haywood (26)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 14–8
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 23
 * November 28
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 121–138
 * Spencer Haywood (29)
 * The Forum
 * The Forum
 * The Forum
 * 14–9
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 24
 * November 30
 * @ New York
 * W 110–109
 * Lenny Wilkens (29)
 * Madison Square Garden
 * Madison Square Garden
 * Madison Square Garden
 * 15–9

4,507 3,480 2,643 5,029 9,061 12,928 2,751 3,465 9,225 9,360 7,532 9,189 11,953 6,565 10,240 13,106
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 25
 * December 1
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 98–102
 * Spencer Haywood (36)
 * The Spectrum
 * The Spectrum
 * The Spectrum
 * 15–10
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 26
 * December 3
 * @ Baltimore
 * W 117–106
 * Spencer Haywood (35)
 * Baltimore Civic Center
 * Baltimore Civic Center
 * Baltimore Civic Center
 * 16–10
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 27
 * December 4
 * @ Cincinnati
 * W 100–98
 * Spencer Haywood (25)
 * Cincinnati Gardens
 * Cincinnati Gardens
 * Cincinnati Gardens
 * 17–10
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 28
 * December 5
 * @ Cleveland
 * W 99–91
 * Lenny Wilkens (27)
 * Cleveland Arena
 * Cleveland Arena
 * Cleveland Arena
 * 18–10
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 29
 * December 7
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 83–116
 * Don Smith (21)
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * 18–11
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 30
 * December 10
 * Golden State
 * W 105–94
 * Spencer Haywood, Lenny Wilkens (21)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 19–11
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 31
 * December 12
 * @ Houston
 * L 98–100
 * Dick Snyder (23)
 * Hofheinz Pavilion
 * Hofheinz Pavilion
 * Hofheinz Pavilion
 * 19–12
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 32
 * December 14
 * @ Detroit
 * W 103–86
 * Spencer Haywood (31)
 * Cobo Arena
 * Cobo Arena
 * Cobo Arena
 * 20–12
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 33
 * December 15
 * @ Boston
 * L 100–112
 * Spencer Haywood (20)
 * Boston Garden
 * Boston Garden
 * Boston Garden
 * 20–13
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 34
 * December 17
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 113–120
 * Spencer Haywood (36)
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * 20–14
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 35
 * December 18
 * Portland
 * W 107–105
 * Spencer Haywood (32)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 21–14
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 36
 * December 19
 * Phoenix
 * W 130–127 (OT)
 * Spencer Haywood (35)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 22–14
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 37
 * December 22
 * New York
 * L 104–120
 * Don Smith (17)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 22–15
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 38
 * December 25
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 86–116
 * Lenny Wilkens (19)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * 22–16
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 39
 * December 26
 * Chicago
 * L 102–103
 * Spencer Haywood (26)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 22–17
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 40
 * December 30
 * Los Angeles
 * L 106–122
 * Spencer Haywood (34)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 22–18

8,676 2,786 8,120 8,169 11,108 6,404 9,868 12,693 12,751 12,261 9,046 6,249 4,589 19,588
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 41
 * January 1
 * Buffalo
 * W 97–83
 * Don Smith (23)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 23–18
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 42
 * January 4
 * @ Houston
 * L 110–119
 * Spencer Haywood, Lee Winfield (22)
 * Hofheinz Pavilion
 * Hofheinz Pavilion
 * Hofheinz Pavilion
 * 23–19
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 43
 * January 5
 * Atlanta
 * W 127–116
 * Lee Winfield (24)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 24–19
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 44
 * January 7
 * Cleveland
 * W 125–111
 * Spencer Haywood (48)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 25–19
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 45
 * January 9
 * Boston
 * W 125–119
 * Spencer Haywood (33)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 26–19
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 46
 * January 11
 * Houston
 * W 141–126
 * Spencer Haywood (35)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 27–19
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 47
 * January 13
 * Baltimore
 * W 112–107
 * Spencer Haywood (35)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 28–19
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 48
 * January 15
 * Phoenix
 * W 118–110
 * Spencer Haywood (34)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 29–19
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 49
 * January 21
 * Phoenix
 * L 113–128
 * Spencer Haywood (32)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 29–20
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 50
 * January 23
 * New York
 * L 99–101
 * Dick Snyder (26)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 29–21
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 51
 * January 25
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 91–123
 * Spencer Haywood (15)
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * 29–22
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 52
 * January 26
 * @ Atlanta
 * W 131–119
 * Spencer Haywood (28)
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum
 * 30–22
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 53
 * January 28
 * @ Buffalo
 * W 104–93
 * Don Smith (26)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 31–22
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 54
 * January 29
 * @ New York
 * L 106–110
 * Spencer Haywood (30)
 * Madison Square Garden
 * Madison Square Garden
 * Madison Square Garden
 * 31–23

7,886 6,074 3,038 7,246 9,000 7,523 11,348 6,034 12,120 13,097 13,115 7,063 8,359 13,089 6,187
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 55
 * February 1
 * @ Chicago
 * W 121–103
 * Spencer Haywood (27)
 * Chicago Stadium
 * Chicago Stadium
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 32–23
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 56
 * February 2
 * Houston
 * L 88–111
 * Spencer Haywood (27)
 * San Antonio, TX
 * San Antonio, TX
 * San Antonio, TX
 * 32–24
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 57
 * February 4
 * @ Cleveland
 * W 118–112
 * Lenny Wilkens (25)
 * Cleveland Arena
 * Cleveland Arena
 * Cleveland Arena
 * 33–24
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 58
 * February 6
 * @ Boston
 * L 123–128
 * Spencer Haywood (32)
 * Boston Garden
 * Boston Garden
 * Boston Garden
 * 33–25
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 59
 * February 8
 * Houston
 * W 127–119
 * Spencer Haywood (28)
 * Portland, OR
 * Portland, OR
 * Portland, OR
 * 34–25
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 60
 * February 10
 * Cincinnati
 * W 118–96
 * Spencer Haywood (28)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 35–25
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 61
 * February 12
 * Portland
 * W 125–97
 * Spencer Haywood (28)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 36–25
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 62
 * February 13
 * @ Portland
 * W 127–117 (OT)
 * Spencer Haywood (44)
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * 37–25
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 63
 * February 16
 * Boston
 * W 113–112
 * Spencer Haywood (26)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 38–25
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 64
 * February 18
 * Golden State
 * W 110–108
 * Lenny Wilkens (30)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 39–25
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 65
 * February 20
 * Portland
 * W 109–105
 * Dick Snyder (28)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 40–25
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 66
 * February 22
 * @ Golden State
 * L 104–120
 * Lenny Wilkens (26)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * 40–26
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 67
 * February 23
 * Detroit
 * W 97–96
 * Spencer Haywood (38)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 41–26
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 68
 * February 26
 * Cincinnati
 * W 122–106
 * Spencer Haywood (38)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 42–26
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 69
 * February 29
 * @ Baltimore
 * W 118–117 (OT)
 * Spencer Haywood (38)
 * Baltimore Civic Center
 * Baltimore Civic Center
 * Baltimore Civic Center
 * 43–26

2,954 13,005 13,502 13,021 12,507 12,971 13,129 11,910 5,091 4,346 9,828 10,189 17,505
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 70
 * March 1
 * @ Detroit
 * W 116–102
 * Lenny Wilkens (28)
 * Cobo Arena
 * Cobo Arena
 * Cobo Arena
 * 44–26
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 71
 * March 3
 * Chicago
 * W 112–103
 * Spencer Haywood (35)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 45–26
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 72
 * March 4
 * @ Golden State
 * L 96–114
 * Spencer Haywood (20)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * 45–27
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 73
 * March 5
 * Atlanta
 * W 112–110
 * Lee Winfield (18)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 46–27
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 74
 * March 7
 * Baltimore
 * L 98–105
 * Lenny Wilkens (19)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 46–28
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 75
 * March 9
 * Philadelphia
 * L 123–128
 * Lenny Wilkens (24)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 46–29
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 76
 * March 12
 * Milwaukee
 * L 99–109
 * Gar Heard (17)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 46–30
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 77
 * March 14
 * @ Chicago
 * W 115–111
 * Lee Winfield (38)
 * Chicago Stadium
 * Chicago Stadium
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 47–30
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 78
 * March 15
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 96–134
 * Lenny Wilkens (17)
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum
 * 47–31
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 79
 * March 17
 * @ Baltimore
 * L 107–112
 * Lee Winfield (29)
 * Baltimore Civic Center
 * Baltimore Civic Center
 * Baltimore Civic Center
 * 47–32
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 80
 * March 19
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 100–115
 * Lee Winfield (26)
 * The Spectrum
 * The Spectrum
 * The Spectrum
 * 47–33
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 81
 * March 25
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 99–118
 * Lee Winfield (28)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * 47–34
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 82
 * March 26
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 98–124
 * Gar Heard (21)
 * The Forum
 * The Forum
 * The Forum
 * 47–35

Awards and records

 * Spencer Haywood was selected to the All-NBA First Team and made his first All-Star appearance at the 1972 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles.

Injuries

 * Spencer Haywood suffered a leg injury at the beginning of March and was out for the season.