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Former NBA star is Seattle's new special assignments coach

The Seattle SuperSonics today named seven-time NBA All-Star Jack Sikma to the position of special assignments coach, Sonics General Manager Rick Sund announced. Sikma will support the Sonics coaches in various responsibilities including scouting, working out players and assisting the team’s centers.

“As a special assignments coach, Jack will perform a variety of duties,” said Sund. “One of his major responsibilities is to aid in the growth and development of our centers.”

Sikma, a 6-11 product of Illinois Wesleyan University, was selected by the Sonics with the eighth pick overall in the 1977 NBA draft. He played in all 82 games per season for six years and missed only 23 games during his nine years as a Sonics player.

Sikma became only the third Sonics player to grab 1,000 rebounds in a season and used his tenacity on the boards to help carry the team into the playoffs in his second season. He saved his best for the 1979 NBA Finals against Washington when he grabbed 17 rebounds per contest in Games Three, Four and Five and helped the Sonics capture the league title.

“I look forward to working with Jack,” said Sonics Head Coach Nate McMillan. “His presence and experience will be extremely valuable to all the Sonics players, especially our big men.”

When Sikma was traded to Milwaukee in 1986, he left the Sonics having registered more rebounds (7,729), blocked shots (705) and free-throws made (3,044) than any player in team history. He still holds the top spot on the rebounding and free-throws-made lists, and ranks second in blocked shots, third in points (12,034) and fourth in games played (715).

Sikma retired after the 1990-91 season and returned to the Seattle area. His jersey was hoisted to the rafters of the former Seattle Coliseum during a halftime ceremony of the Sonics-Pistons game on Nov. 21, 1992.