The 1998–99 NBA season was the 32nd season for the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association. During the off-season, the Sonics signed free agents Billy Owens and former Sonics center Olden Polynice, and acquired Don MacLean from the New Jersey Nets. After a lockout wiped out half the season, cutting it to 50 games, the Sonics got off to a strong start under new head coach Paul Westphal, winning their first six games. However, they soon fell apart losing nine of their next twelve games as Vin Baker played just 34 games due to thumb and knee injuries. Owens and MacLean both missed large parts of the season also due to injuries. From there, the Sonics would play around .500 for the remainder of the season finishing fifth in the Pacific Division with a 25–25 record, losing a