The 2000–01 NBA season was the 33rd 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 during the offseason. 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 finishing fifth in the Pacific Division with a 44–38 record, missing the playoffs by finishing tenth place in the Western Conference. During the All-Star Weekend in Washington, D.C., Gary Payton was selected for the All-Star Game and rookie Desmond Mason won the Slam Dunk Contest. It was Ewing's only season in a Sonics uniform as he left for the Orlando Magic the next season. Also following the season, Ruben Patterson signed as a free agent with the Portland Trail Blazers.

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