Paul Westphal's Seattle SuperSonics Debut (24 Points, 1 Poster, Mid-Range Burner)

October 10, 1980 - After requesting a trade out of Phoenix over the summer (and subsequently being swapped for Dennis Johnson), all-star shooting guard Paul Westphal loomed large in his Seattle SuperSonics debut, scoring 24 points in a one-point loss to the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers. Westphal, with four All-Star selections and one championship under his belt, averaged 19 points a night through his first nine games as a Sonic before succumbing to a stress fracture in his right foot. The injury would limit Westphal to just 36 games, though he'd still be elected to his fifth consecutive all-star appearance in the process.

Following a tumultuous season in which the Sonics won just 34 games, Westphal was dissatisfied with Seattle's contract negotiations and ultimately opted to sign with the New York Knicks midway through the 1981-82 season. By then, injuries had slid a 31-year-old Westphal onto the backside of his career. He spent a year and a half in New York before retiring as a member of the Suns in 1984.

Box Score: https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198010100SEA.html

News on Westphal's New York signing: https://www.nytimes.com/1982/02/24/sports/westphal-agrees-to-proposal-by-knicks.html

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