The 1998–99 NBA season was the 31st season for the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Sonics signed free agents Billy Owens and Don MacLean while re-signing Olden Polynice. After a four-month lockout wiped out half the season, 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 twelves games as Vin Baker played just 34 games due to a knee injury. From there, the Sonics would play around .500 for the rest of the season finishing fifth in the Pacific Division with a 25–25 record, losing a tie-breaker for the #8 seed in the Western Conference to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and missing the playoffs for the first time in nine years.

Following the season, Detlef Schrempf signed as a free agent with the Portland Trail Blazers, Hersey Hawkins was traded to the Chicago Bulls, Polynice signed with the Utah Jazz, and Owens and MacLean were both traded along with Dale Ellis to the Orlando Magic, who later on sent Owens to the Philadelphia 76ers, traded Ellis back to the Milwaukee Bucks, and released MacLean.

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