High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The 1977–78 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 11th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). With a disappointing 5–17 start, the Sonics replaced coach Bob Hopkins with future Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens, who led the team to a 47–35 finish. After upsetting the defending champions Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Semifinals, the Sonics made their first trip to the NBA Finals, where they fell to the Washington Bullets in 7 games.