The 1987–88 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 21st season of the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). It was Bernie Bickerstaff's first season with a winning percentage above .500, coaching the Sonics to a 44–38 record. However, in the 1988 NBA Playoffs, they lost in five games to the Denver Nuggets in the first round. Xavier McDaniel was selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game.
Offseason
Draft picks
Seattle selected future hall of famer Scottie Pippen in the first round thanks to a pick acquired from the New York Knicks, but traded him on draft day to the Chicago Bulls for Olden Polynice and two future conditional draft picks.
Roster
1987–88 Salaries
Sources: Basketball Reference: SEA Salaries
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Game log
|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" || 1 || November 6, 19877:30 pm PST || @ L.A. Lakers || L 109–113 || Tom Chambers (20) || || || The Forum17,505 || 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" || 2 || November 7 || Phoenix Suns || 96-112 || Dale Ellis (27) || || || Seattle Center Coliseum14,252 || 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" || 3 || November 10 || Dallas Mavericks || 117-101 || Dale Ellis (28) || || || Seattle Center Coliseum10,447 || 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" || 4 || November 12 || vs San Antonio Spurs || 123-118 || Xavier McDaniel (23) || || || HemisFair Arena6,399 || 1–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" || 5 || November 13 || vs Dallas Mavericks || 95-103 || Dale Ellis (22) || || || Reunion Arena17,007 || 2–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" || 6 || November 15 || vs Houston Rockets || 108-106 || Dale Ellis (34) || || || The Summit16,611 || 2–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" || 7 || November 18 || Portland Trail Blazers || 114-120 || Xavier McDaniel (32) || || || Seattle Center Coliseum8,461 || 3–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" || 8 || November 20 || Milwaukee Bucks || 97-99 || Xavier McDaniel (30) || || || Seattle Center Coliseum14,601 || 4–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" || 9 || November 21 || Washington Bullets || 103-124 || Xavier McDaniel (28) || || || Seattle Center Coliseum13,437 || 5–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" || 10 || November 24, 19877:30 pm PST || L.A. Lakers || W 103–85 || Xavier McDaniel (34) || || || Seattle Center Coliseum14,634 || 6–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" || 11 || November 27 || vs Boston Celtics || 117-112 || Dale Ellis (37) || || || Boston Garden14,890 || 6–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" || 12 || November 28 || vs Indiana Pacers || 131-115 || Dale Ellis (29) || || || Market Square Arena11,538 || 6–6 |-