SSSeattle SuperSonics
SSSeattle SuperSonics has reached the nba champions decider 3 times on record, first in 1977-78 and most recently in 1995-96. 1 win against 2 runner-up finishes is recorded below, sourced from our full nba champions list.
Data last verified: 11 August 2026.
SSSeattle SuperSonics — 1 nba champions (1978-79).
Franchise history
The SuperSonics entered the NBA in 1967 as Seattle's first major professional sports franchise. The team eventually assembled a core led by Gus Williams, Dennis Johnson, and Jack Sikma under coach Lenny Wilkens, reaching back-to-back Finals in 1978 (lost to Washington) and 1979 (beat Washington in five games) for Seattle's only NBA championship. The next great era came in the 1990s, when Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp formed one of the league's most explosive duos, winning 64 games in 1995-96 and reaching the Finals, losing to Michael Jordan's Bulls.
The team's fortunes declined in the 2000s amid stalled arena negotiations with the city. In 2006, new owner Clay Bennett, an Oklahoma City businessman, purchased the club, and after failing to secure a new Seattle arena, relocated the franchise to Oklahoma City in 2008, where it was renamed the Thunder — one of the most contentious relocations in modern NBA history, still resented by many Seattle fans.
Sources
NBA Champions won (1)
Runner-up finishes (2)
See the full nba champions list for the winner each of these years.
← Basketball · Champions list · All-time records · Season standings · Finals results · All competitions · Players