The 1990–91 NBA season was the 23rd season for the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association. Head coach Bernie Bickerstaff was replaced by his former assistant K.C. Jones, and went on to occupy the desk of vice-president of Basketball Operations for Seattle, resigning months later to accept a job as General Manager of the Denver Nuggets. The Draft Lottery gave the SuperSonics the No. 2 pick, that was used to select future All-Star point guard Gary Payton out of Oregon State.

Substantial changes were made on the roster, first by trading Sonics referent Xavier McDaniel to the Phoenix Suns for Eddie Johnson during the first months of competition, followed by Dale Ellis, whose off-the-court problems were the focus of much unwanted attention, was sent to the Milwaukee Bucks for Ricky Pierce, and center Olden Polynice to the Los Angeles Clippers for Benoit Benjamin, both trades occurring days after the All-Star break.

The Sonics would finish with a 41–41 record like the previous season, this time being able to reach the playoffs as the #8 seed in the Western Conference, where they lost in the first round to the top-seeded Portland Trail Blazers in 5 games. Following the season, Sedale Threatt was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.