1988–89 Seattle SuperSonics season

The 1988–89 NBA season was the Seattle SuperSonics' 22nd season in the National Basketball Association. During the off-season, the Sonics acquired Michael Cage from the Los Angeles Clippers. The SuperSonics won their first three games of the season, and held a 28–18 record at the All-Star break. However, the team lost seven straight games between March and April, but then posted an 8-game winning streak afterwards, and finished third in the Pacific Division with a 47–35 record.

Dale Ellis averaged 27.5 points and 1.3 steals per game, finished second in the league with 162 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game, while Xavier McDaniel played a sixth man role, averaging 20.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game off the bench, and finished in fifth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, and second-year forward Derrick McKey became the team's starting small forward, averaging 15.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. In addition, Cage provided the team with 10.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, while Sedale Threatt contributed 8.6 points and 3.8 assists per game off the bench, Nate McMillan contributed 7.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 9.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game, and Alton Lister provided with 8.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. Ellis also won the Three-Point Shootout during the All-Star Weekend in Houston, Texas.

In the playoffs, the SuperSonics defeated the Houston Rockets in four games in the Western Conference First Round, before being swept by Magic Johnson, and the 2-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in four straight games in the Western Conference Semi-finals. The Lakers would reach the NBA Finals for the third consecutive year, but would lose to the Detroit Pistons in four straight games. Following the season, Lister was traded to the Golden State Warriors.