The2000–01 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 34th season for theSeattle SuperSonics in theNational Basketball Association.^[1] The SuperSonics had the 17th overall pick in the2000 NBA draft, and selected small forwardDesmond Mason out ofOklahoma State University.^[2][3][4] With the hopes of improving the team in the middle, the SuperSonics acquired All-Star centerPatrick Ewing from theNew York Knicks in a four-team trade,^[5][6][7] and signed free agentPervis Ellison, but released him to free agency after nine games.^[8]

However, the SuperSonics would get off to a slow start by losing seven of their first ten games of the regular season. Head coachPaul Westphal was fired after a 6–9 start to the season, and was replaced with former SuperSonics guardNate McMillan.^[9][10] The SuperSonics played above .500 basketball for the remainder of the season, holding a 28–24 record at the All-Star break,^[11] and finishing in fifth place in thePacific Division with a 44–38 record, but missed theNBA playoffs by finishing in tenth place in theWestern Conference.^[12]

Gary Payton averaged 23.1 points, 8.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game, contributed 102 three-point field goals, and was named to theAll-NBA Third Team, and to theNBA All-Defensive First Team, whileRashard Lewis showed improvement becoming the team's starting small forward, averaging 14.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, and also leading the SuperSonics with 123 three-point field goals, andRuben Patterson averaged 13.0 points per game. In addition,Vin Baker provided the team with 12.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, while Ewing provided with 9.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game,Brent Barry contributed 8.8 points per game and 109 three-point field goals, while shooting .476 in three-point percentage,Shammond Williams provided with 6.8 points and 2.8 assists per game, and Mason contributed 5.9 points per game off the bench, and was named to theNBA All-Rookie Second Team.^[13]

During theNBA All-Star weekend at theMCI Center inWashington, D.C., Payton was selected for the2001 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team,^[14][15][16] while Lewis participated in theNBA Three-Point Shootout,^[17][18] and Mason won theNBA Slam Dunk Contest.^[19][20][18] The SuperSonics finished 17th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 640,847 at theKeyArena at Seattle Center during the regular season.^[13][21]

This was Ewing's only season with the SuperSonics, as he signed as a free agent with theOrlando Magic the following season.^[22][23][24] Also following the season, Patterson signed with thePortland Trail Blazers.^[25][26][27]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	17	Desmond Mason	SG/SF	United States	Oklahoma State
2	42	Olumide Oyedeji	C	Nigeria
2	47	Josip Sesar	SG	Croatia

2000–01 Seattle SuperSonics roster

• v
• t
• e

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From F 42 Vin Baker 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 232 lb (105 kg) 1971–11–23 Hartford G 31 Brent Barry 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1971–12–31 Oregon State G 15 Emanual Davis 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1968–08–27 Delaware State C 33 Patrick Ewing 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1962–08–05 Georgetown F 7 Rashard Lewis 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1979–08–08 Alief Elsik HS (TX) F 24 Desmond Mason 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 224 lb (102 kg) 1977–10–11 Oklahoma State C 34 Jelani McCoy  6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1977–12–06 UCLA C 00 Olumide Oyedeji 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1981–05–11 Nigeria F 21 Ruben Patterson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 224 lb (102 kg) 1975–07–31 Cincinnati G 20 Gary Payton 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1968–07–23 Oregon State G 1 Shammond Williams 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 201 lb (91 kg) 1975–04–05 North Carolina G 25 David Wingate 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1963–12–15 Georgetown F 45 Rubén Wolkowyski 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 270 lb (122 kg) 1973–09–30 Argentina

Head coach Paul Westphal (fired) Nate McMillan Assistant(s) Dwane Casey Dwight Daub Bob Weiss Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: January 18, 2001

• Power forwardPervis Ellison was waived on December 16, 2000.
• Point guardShammond Williams holds American and Georgian dual citizenship. He was born in the United States, but he played on the Georgian national team.

Player statistics citation:^[13]

• Gary Payton,All-NBA Third Team
• Gary Payton,NBA All-Defensive First Team
• Desmond Mason,NBA All-Rookie Team 2nd Team

• 2000–01 NBA season

• Seattle SuperSonics seasons

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from January 2025
• Pages using Template:College with unsupported name