1973–74 Seattle SuperSonics season

The 1973–74 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 7th season of the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Following the resignation of Lenny Wilkens as a head coach after the 1971–72 season and a poor campaign in the 1972–73 season that saw the departure of general manager Bob Houbregs, the Sonics hired Boston Celtics' stalwart Bill Russell as head coach and general manager. With Russell at the helm, the team finished in 6th place in the Western Conference with a 36–46 record. The Sonics' home court, Seattle Center Coliseum, was the venue for the 1974 NBA All-Star Game.

Offseason
The Sonics made only one trade during the offseason that sent All-Star Butch Beard to the Golden State Warriors and brought back a member of the original SuperSonics team, Walt Hazzard to Seattle.

Season standings
z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Game log
18,738
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 1
 * October 10
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 111–115
 * Fred Brown (31)
 * || ||Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * 0–1

11,673
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 2
 * October 12
 * Capital Bullets
 * W 103–102
 * Spencer Haywood (24)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 1–1

11,240
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 3
 * October 14
 * Milwaukee
 * W 109–100
 * Jim McDaniels (29)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 2–1

9,618
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 4
 * October 17
 * Kansas City–Omaha
 * L 106–108
 * Spencer Haywood (31)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 2–2

14,259
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 5
 * October 19
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 91–118
 * Jim Fox, Spencer Haywood (16)
 * || ||The Forum
 * 2–3

9,251
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 6
 * October 20
 * @ Portland
 * L 108–123
 * Dick Gibbs (25)
 * || ||Memorial Coliseum
 * 2–4

11,964
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 7
 * October 21
 * Phoenix
 * W 116–112
 * Fred Brown (24)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 3–4

9,626
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 8
 * October 24
 * Atlanta
 * L 106–131
 * Spencer Haywood (21)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 3–5

10,906
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 9
 * October 26
 * Golden State
 * L 110–117
 * Dick Snyder (27)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 3–6

1,198
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 10
 * October 28
 * Detroit
 * L 93–115
 * Spencer Haywood (22)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 3–7

7,396
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 11
 * October 30
 * @ Buffalo
 * L 103–105
 * Spencer Haywood (31)
 * || ||Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
 * 3–8

4,748
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 12
 * October 31
 * @ Detroit
 * L 107–114
 * Fred Brown (31)
 * || ||Cobo Arena
 * 3–9

4,574
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 13
 * November 2
 * @ Kansas City–Omaha
 * W 115–109
 * Fred Brown (37)
 * || ||Municipal Auditorium
 * 4–9

13,772
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 14
 * November 4
 * New York
 * L 106–111
 * Spencer Haywood (34)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 4–10

8,878
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 15
 * November 7
 * Buffalo
 * W 130–113
 * Spencer Haywood (26)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 5–10

13,988
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 16
 * November 9
 * Los Angeles
 * L 111–118
 * John Brisker (23)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 5–11

10,915
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 17
 * November 11
 * Chicago
 * L 98–116
 * Spencer Haywood (25)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 5–12

17,478
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 18
 * November 13
 * @ New York
 * L 102–104
 * Spencer Haywood (25)
 * || ||Madison Square Garden
 * 5–13

6,191
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 19
 * November 14
 * @ Boston
 * L 104–110
 * Fred Brown, Spencer Haywood (22)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 5–14

11,770
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 20
 * November 16
 * Cleveland
 * W 117–93
 * Spencer Haywood (32)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 6–14

10,900
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 21
 * November 18
 * Philadelphia
 * W 95–91
 * Spencer Haywood (31)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 7–14

7,285
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 22
 * November 22
 * @ Portland
 * L 125–131
 * Spencer Haywood (28)
 * || ||Memorial Coliseum
 * 7–15

13,330
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 23
 * November 23
 * Portland
 * W 127–106
 * Spencer Haywood, Isaac Stallworth (23)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 8–15

4,213
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 24
 * November 25
 * @ Kansas City–Omaha
 * W 104–99
 * John Brisker (47)
 * || ||Municipal Auditorium
 * 9–15

3,357
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 25
 * November 27
 * @ Cleveland
 * L 118–120
 * Spencer Haywood (34)
 * || ||Cleveland Arena
 * 9–16

8,289
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 26
 * November 28
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 93–127
 * Isaac Stallworth (16)
 * || ||Milwaukee Arena
 * 9–17

7,194
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 27
 * December 1
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 110–120
 * Spencer Haywood (26)
 * || ||Omni Coliseum
 * 9–18

17,500
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 28
 * December 2
 * @ Capital Bullets
 * L 96–98
 * Slick Watts (24)
 * || ||Capital Centre
 * 9–19

5,104
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 29
 * December 4
 * @ Chicago
 * L 107–130
 * Fred Brown (24)
 * || ||Chicago Stadium
 * 9–20

7,758
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 30
 * December 6
 * Detroit
 * L 108–110
 * Spencer Haywood (29)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 9–21

13,189
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 31
 * December 7
 * @ Los Angeles
 * W 115–111
 * Spencer Haywood (29)
 * || ||The Forum
 * 10–21

9,689
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 32
 * December 9
 * Houston
 * L 107–110
 * Spencer Haywood, Slick Watts (18)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 10–22

7,075
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 33
 * December 11
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 91–130
 * Fred Brown (23)
 * || ||Milwaukee Arena
 * 10–23

3,432
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 34
 * December 12
 * @ Philadelphia
 * W 100–93
 * Dick Snyder (24)
 * || ||The Spectrum
 * 11–23

11,857
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 35
 * December 14
 * Capital Bullets
 * W 93–88
 * Spencer Haywood (26)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 12–23

9,778
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 36
 * December 16
 * Phoenix
 * L 109–113
 * Spencer Haywood (28)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 12–24

4,721
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 37
 * December 18
 * @ Chicago
 * W 93–92
 * Spencer Haywood (23)
 * || ||Chicago Stadium
 * 13–24

2,371
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 38
 * December 19
 * @ Houston
 * W 124–118 (OT)
 * Spencer Haywood (37)
 * || ||Hofheinz Pavilion
 * 14–24

2,173
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 39
 * December 21
 * @ Cleveland
 * L 96–101
 * Dick Snyder (35)
 * || ||Cleveland Arena
 * 14–25

13,970
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 40
 * December 23
 * Boston
 * L 95–96
 * Spencer Haywood (23)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 14–26

12,755
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 41
 * December 26
 * Los Angeles
 * W 129–105
 * Jim Fox (25)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 15–26

7,555
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 42
 * December 27
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 100–111
 * Dick Snyder (32)
 * || ||Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * 15–27

10,245
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 43
 * December 28
 * Portland
 * W 110–93
 * Spencer Haywood (26)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 16–27

14,078
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 44
 * December 30
 * Golden State
 * W 96–92
 * Jim Fox (29)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 17–27

12,011
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 45
 * January 2
 * Buffalo
 * L 111–115
 * Spencer Haywood (35)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 17–28

12,042
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 46
 * January 4
 * Chicago
 * W 103–101 (OT)
 * Spencer Haywood (31)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 18–28

12,184
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 47
 * January 6
 * Houston
 * W 91–90
 * Spencer Haywood (34)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 19–28

10,048
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 48
 * January 9
 * Kansas City–Omaha
 * W 100–96
 * Dick Snyder (25)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 20–28

3,032
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 49
 * January 10
 * @ Golden State
 * L 89–125
 * Jim Fox (15)
 * || ||Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * 20–29

14,078
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 50
 * January 11
 * New York
 * L 98–107
 * Dick Snyder (29)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 20–30

5,769
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 51
 * January 13
 * @ Phoenix
 * W 123–112
 * Fred Brown (38)
 * || ||Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * 21–30

3,108
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 52
 * January 18
 * @ Philadelphia
 * W 116–104
 * Spencer Haywood (25)
 * || ||The Spectrum
 * 22–30

6,938
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 53
 * January 19
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 109–127
 * Dick Snyder (41)
 * || ||Omni Coliseum
 * 22–31

6,237
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 54
 * January 23
 * @ Boston
 * W 98–97
 * Fred Brown (26)
 * || ||Boston Garden
 * 23–31

9,422
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 55
 * January 25
 * @ Chicago
 * L 99–104
 * Spencer Haywood (33)
 * || ||Chicago Stadium
 * 23–32

8,386
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 56
 * January 26
 * @ Detroit
 * L 83–94
 * Dick Snyder (18)
 * || ||Cobo Arena
 * 23–33

3,027
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 57
 * January 29
 * @ Houston
 * W 115–107
 * Spencer Haywood (32)
 * || ||Hofheinz Pavilion
 * 24–33

14,017
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 58
 * February 1
 * Milwaukee
 * W 110–85
 * Dick Snyder (24)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 25–33

7,526
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 59
 * February 2
 * @ Portland
 * L 97–102
 * Spencer Haywood (25)
 * || ||Memorial Coliseum
 * 25–34

14,078
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 60
 * February 3
 * Detroit
 * L 100–114
 * Spencer Haywood, Dick Snyder (24)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 25–35

4,197
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 61
 * February 5
 * @ Golden State
 * L 113–129
 * Jim Fox, Spencer Haywood (24)
 * || ||Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * 25–36

11,204
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 62
 * February 6
 * Portland
 * W 107–94
 * Dick Gibbs (30)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 26–36

13,608
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 63
 * February 10
 * Kansas City–Omaha
 * W 119–103
 * Spencer Haywood (24)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 27–36

12,031
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 64
 * February 13
 * Boston
 * W 118–100
 * Dick Snyder (31)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 28–36

15,263
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 65
 * February 15
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 96–112
 * Dick Snyder (22)
 * || ||The Forum
 * 28–37

14,078
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 66
 * February 17
 * Cleveland
 * W 106–97
 * Fred Brown (24)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 29–37

14,078
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 67
 * February 23
 * Los Angeles
 * L 116–118
 * Spencer Haywood (32)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 29–38

13,779
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 68
 * February 24
 * Philadelphia
 * W 115–105
 * Spencer Haywood (37)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 30–38

5,140
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 69
 * February 27
 * @ Capital Bullets
 * L 100–104
 * Fred Brown (28)
 * || ||Capital Centre
 * 30–39

6,694
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 70
 * March 1
 * @ Detroit
 * W 105–103
 * Spencer Haywood (16)
 * || ||Cobo Arena
 * 31–39

10,938
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 71
 * March 2
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 99–116
 * Dick Snyder (25)
 * || ||Milwaukee Arena
 * 31–40

19,964
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 72
 * March 5
 * @ New York
 * L 106–111
 * Spencer Haywood (27)
 * || ||Madison Square Garden
 * 31–41

16,218
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 73
 * March 8
 * @ Buffalo
 * W 123–117 (OT)
 * Spencer Haywood (31)
 * || ||Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
 * 32–41

3,870
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 74
 * March 9
 * @ Kansas City–Omaha
 * L 96–106
 * Dick Gibbs (25)
 * || ||Omaha Civic Auditorium
 * 32–42

14,078
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 75
 * March 15
 * Atlanta
 * L 107–126
 * Fred Brown (26)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 32–43

13,007
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 76
 * March 17
 * Phoenix
 * L 108–133
 * Dick Snyder (28)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 32–44

10,657
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 77
 * March 20
 * Golden State
 * W 110–107
 * Dick Snyder (30)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 33–44

13,771
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 78
 * March 22
 * Milwaukee
 * L 101–106
 * Dick Snyder (28)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 33–45

7,570
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 79
 * March 23
 * @ Golden State
 * W 139–137
 * Fred Brown (58)
 * || ||Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * 34–45

12,430
 * -bgcolor=#fcc
 * 80
 * March 24
 * Chicago
 * L 113–122
 * Fred Brown (29)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 34–46

13,489
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 81
 * March 26
 * @ Los Angeles
 * W 121–115
 * Fred Brown (37)
 * || ||The Forum
 * 35–46

12,528
 * -bgcolor=#cfc
 * 82
 * March 27
 * Phoenix
 * W 127–123
 * Fred Brown (34)
 * || ||Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 36–46

Awards and records

 * Spencer Haywood was selected to the All-NBA Second Team and represented the West in the 1974 NBA All-Star Game.