St. Anne High School Alumni and Sonic’s legend Jack Sikma has entered the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. An NBA Champion, seven-time All-Star and Kankakee born native, Sikma helped take the Cardinals boys basketball team to a fourth-place finish during the 1974 IHSA Class A tournament. The NBA Champion has fond memories of his High School days in St. Anne, as he reminisced during his speech on Saturday.
Sikma was drafted eighth overall in the first round of the 1978 NBA Draft by the Seattle Supersonics. Later that year he helped take the Supersonics to their first Western Conference title. In 1979, Sikma lead Seattle to their only NBA Championship.
Jack Sikma talks about his illustrious basketball career and the 'Sikma Move,' in his @Hoophall speech. #19HoopClass pic.twitter.com/zBppYhwzCe
— NBA TV (@NBATV) September 7, 2019
“My biggest highlight came the following season when the Sonics won the NBA Championship. That 79’ Team gathered recently in Seattle, and we celebrated the 40th Anniversary of that Title.” Sikma said during his induction.
Throughout nine seasons and over 700 games with Seattle, Sikma averaged a double-double with 16.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists.
After 14 years as a player with both the Seattle Supersonics and Milwaukee Bucks, Sikma worked as a coach mentoring the next generation of players for the Supersonics, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Toronto Raptors.
During his Hall of Fame speech on Saturday, Sikma remained hopeful for Seattle to return to the NBA sometime soon. The Supersonics left Seattle after the 2007-08 season to become the Oklahoma City Thunder. His No. 43 is one of only seven that remains retired by the Thunder since their relocation.
“There’s a hole in Seattle that needs to be filled. Speaking for all Sonic’s fans, it’s our greatest hope that the NBA will soon find a pathway to bring a Sonic’s franchise back to Seattle. It’s time.”
