The1993–94 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 26th season for theSeattle SuperSonics in theNational Basketball Association.^[1] During the off-season, the SuperSonics acquired All-Star forward, and 2-time Sixth Man of the YearDetlef Schrempf from theIndiana Pacers,^[2][3][4] and acquiredKendall Gill from theCharlotte Hornets.^[5][6][7]

The SuperSonics got off to a fast start by winning their first ten games of the regular season, on their way to a 26–3 start,^[8] and later holding a league best 35–10 record at the All-Star break.^[9] The SuperSonics won 17 of their final 19 games of the season, finishing in first place in thePacific Division with a franchise best 63–19 record,^[10] and earning the first seed in theWestern Conference for the first time since the1978–79 season, where they won their firstNBA championship.^[11]

Shawn Kemp averaged 18.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 2.1 blocks per game, and was named to theAll-NBA Second Team, whileGary Payton averaged 16.5 points, 6.0 assists and 2.3 steals per game, and was named to theAll-NBA Third Team, and to theNBA All-Defensive First Team, and Schrempf provided the team with 15.0 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. In addition,Ricky Pierce contributed 14.5 points per game off the bench, but only played 51 games due to a left foot injury,^[12][13][14] while Gill provided with 14.1 points and 1.9 steals per game, andSam Perkins averaged 12.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Meanwhile,Vincent Askew contributed 9.1 points per game off the bench, defensive sixth manNate McMillan provided with 6.0 points, 5.3 assists and 3.0 steals per game also off the bench, and was named to theNBA All-Defensive Second Team, andMichael Cage averaged 4.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.^[15]

During theNBA All-Star weekend at theTarget Center inMinneapolis, Minnesota, Kemp and Payton were both selected for the1994 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Western Conference All-Star team, while head coachGeorge Karl was selected to coach the Western Conference; it was Payton's first ever All-Star appearance.^[16][17][18] In addition, Kemp also participated in theNBA Slam Dunk Contest for the fourth time.^[19][20] Payton finished in sixth place inMost Valuable Player voting, while Kemp finished tied in seventh place,^[21][22] and McMillan finished in second place inSixth Man of the Year voting, behindDell Curry of theCharlotte Hornets, and with Pierce finishing in fourth place;^[23][22] Payton finished in fifth place inDefensive Player of the Year voting, while McMillan finished tied in seventh place,^[24][22] Payton also finished in third place inMost Improved Player voting, with Askew finishing tied in seventh place,^[25][22] and Karl finished in third place inCoach of the Year voting.^[26][22]

In the Western Conference First Round of the1994 NBA playoffs, the SuperSonics faced off against the 8th–seededDenver Nuggets, a team that featured defensive shot-blockerDikembe Mutombo,Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, and second-year starLaPhonso Ellis. The SuperSonics won the first two games over the Nuggets at home at theSeattle Center Coliseum,^[27][28][29] but then lost the next two games on the road, which included a Game 4 loss at theMcNichols Sports Arena in overtime, 94–85 as the Nuggets tied the series at 2–2. The SuperSonics would not make it past the first round, losing Game 5 to the Nuggets at the Seattle Center Coliseum in overtime, 98–94, thus losing in a hard-fought five-game series; it was the first time inNBA playoffs history that a #8 seed defeated a #1 seeded team.^[30][31][32]

The SuperSonics finished 20th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 601,369 at the Seattle Center Coliseum during the regular season.^[15][33] Following the season, Pierce was traded to theGolden State Warriors after feuding with Payton,^[34][35][36] and Cage signed as a free agent with theCleveland Cavaliers.^[37][38][39]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	23	Ervin Johnson	C	United States	New Orleans
2	42	Adonis Jordan	PG	United States	Kansas

Sources:

• Basketball Reference: 1993-94 SEA Salaries^[40]

1.^ Statistics with the SuperSonics.

Player statistics citation:^[15]

• Shawn Kemp earned anAll-NBA Second Team selection.
• Gary Payton earned All-NBA Third Team andNBA All-Defensive First Team selections.
• Nate McMillan earned an All-Defensive Second Team selection and finished the season asleader in total steals and steals per game.
• Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton were both selected to play in the1994 NBA All-Star Game for the West. It was Kemp's first start as an All-Star, and Payton's first appearance in an All-Star Game.

• Team record for most victories in a single season (63)

1.^ First of two 10-day contracts.

Player Transactions Citation:^[41]

• 1993–94 NBA season

• 1993–94 NBA season by team
• Seattle SuperSonics seasons

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