The 2000–01 NBA season was the 34th season for the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association. With the hopes of improving the team in the middle, the Sonics acquired All-Star center Patrick Ewing from the New York Knicks, and signed free agent Pervis Ellison. However, the Sonics would get off to a slow start losing seven of their first ten games. Head coach Paul Westphal was fired after a 6–9 start, and was replaced with former Sonics guard Nate McMillan. The Sonics played above .500 for the remainder of the season holding a 28–24 record at the All-Star break, and finishing fifth in the Pacific Division with a 44–38 record, but missed the playoffs by finishing tenth place in the Western Conference.