SEATTLE _ Four decades after the SuperSonics won the 1979 NBA title, there aren't many stories that haven't been told, retold, edited, embellished and forgotten.
But there's one account Jack Sikma kept to himself _ until recently.
On the eve of Game 6 in the Western Conference finals against the Phoenix Suns, who led 3-2 and needed a home victory to close out the best-of-seven series, Seattle's star center sat in his hotel room and had what some would call a panic attack.
"It was the most pressure that I ever felt in my life," Sikma said. "It was a very lonely evening with myself in the room and the thoughts that run through your head.
"Just grinding on the situation. I still remember, I tried to read a book. I tried to take my mind off of it and it came back to me every time. I just couldn't shake this feeling that we were losing the series and our season might end and it was my fault."
Inexplicably, the 23-year-old standout who was the No. 8 overall pick in the NBA draft in 1977, struggled in the previous games against Suns rookie Joel Kramer, who replaced injured Phoenix star Alvan Adams in Game 3.
Suddenly, Sikma _ who averaged 15.6 points and 12.4 rebounds that season _ couldn't make a shot and his downturn coincided with the demise of the Sonics, who won the first two games of the series before losing three straight and faced elimination.
"I've never talked about that particular night with the guys, but I'm sure we all had tough times during that season when we're struggling," Sikma said. "Win-or-go-home type of situations magnify those thoughts and emotions.
"I was up all night until finally I came to the realization that all I'm doing is exhausting myself and you got to let this go. The reality was either you get it done or you go home. It was one of those periods of times that real growth happened in my life."
The next night, the Sonics rallied in the fourth quarter and survived a potential buzzer-beater to claim a 106-105 victory that gave the Suns their first home loss in 10 weeks. Four days later, Seattle prevailed 114-110 in Game 7, which set up a rematch against the defending world champion Washington Bullets.
"When we beat Phoenix, the weight of the world was off and we could just go play," Sikma said. "That carried us through."
