1975–76 Seattle SuperSonics season

1975–76 Seattle SuperSonics season
Head coachBill Russell
General managerBill Russell
ArenaSeattle Center Coliseum
Results
Record43–39 (.524)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Pacific)
Conference: 3rd (Western)
Playoff finishWest Semifinals
(lost to Suns 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKTNT-TV
RadioKOMO
< 1974–75 1976–77 >

The 1975–76 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 9th season of the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The SuperSonics finished the season in second place in the Western Conference with a 43–39 record, the same as the previous year and reached the playoffs for a second consecutive season, where they lost to the Phoenix Suns in the conference semifinals in six games.

Offseason

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Draft picks

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Main article: 1975 NBA draft

Note: only draft picks who participated in at least one game in the NBA are listed.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College / Team
1 12 Frank Oleynick Guard  United States Seattle
2 21 Bruce Seals Forward  United States Utah Stars (ABA)

Roster

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1975–76 Seattle SuperSonics roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
F/C 35 Abdul-Aziz, Zaid 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1946–04–07 Iowa State
F/C 40 Bantom, Mike 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1951–12–03 Saint Joseph's
G 32 Brown, Fred 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 182 lb (83 kg) 1948–08–07 Iowa
C 16 Burleson, Tommy 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1952–02–24 NC State
G 25 Derline, Rod 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1952–03–11 Seattle
G/F 3 Gilliam, Herm 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1946–05–05 Purdue
F 11 Gray, Leonard 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1951–12–19 Long Beach State
F/C 42 Hummer, John 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1948–05–04 Princeton
F 15 Norwood, Willie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1947–08–08 Alcorn State
G 44 Oleynick, Frank 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1955–02–20 Seattle
F 45 Seals, Bruce 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1953–06–18 Xavier (LA)
G/F 22 Skinner, Talvin 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1952–09–10 Maryland Eastern Shore
G 13 Watts, Donald 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1951–07–22 Xavier (LA)
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Depth chart

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Seattle SuperSonics Depth Chart - 1975-76
STARTER 2ND 3RD 4TH
PG Slick Watts
SG Fred Brown Herm Gilliam Frank Oleynick Rod Derline
SF Bruce Seals Mike Bantom Tal Skinner Willie Norwood
PF Leonard Gray John Hummer
C Tom Burleson Zaid Abdul-Aziz

Regular season

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Season standings

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Pacific Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Golden State Warriors 59 23 .720 – 36–5 23–18 17–9
x-Seattle SuperSonics 43 39 .524 16 31–10 12–29 12–14
x-Phoenix Suns 42 40 .512 17 27–14 15–26 15–11
Los Angeles Lakers 40 42 .488 19 31–11 9–31 10–16
Portland Trail Blazers 37 45 .451 22 25–15 12–30 11–15
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Golden State Warriors 59 23 .720 –
2 x-Seattle SuperSonics 43 39 .524 16
3 x-Phoenix Suns 42 40 .512 17
4 y-Milwaukee Bucks 38 44 .463 21
5 x-Detroit Pistons 36 46 .439 23
6 Los Angeles Lakers 40 42 .488 19
7 Portland Trail Blazers 37 45 .451 22
8 Kansas City Kings 31 51 .378 28
9 Chicago Bulls 24 58 .293 35
  • z – clinched division title
  • y – clinched division title
  • x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

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1975–76 NBA records
Team ATL BOS BUF CHI CLE DET GSW HOU KCK LAL MIL NOJ NYK PHI PHO POR SEA WAS
Atlanta — 2–3 2–3 2–2 2–5 1–3 2–2 2–5 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–4 3–2 2–3 0–4 2–2 1–3 1–5
Boston 3–2 — 4–3 2–2 3–2 4–0 2–2 4–1 2–2 4–0 2–2 4–1 5–2 4–3 4–0 2–2 2–2 3–2
Buffalo 3–2 3–4 — 3–1 3–2 1–3 1–3 3–2 4–0 2–2 3–1 4–1 4–3 3–4 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–3
Chicago 2–2 2–2 1–3 — 0–4 3–4 1–4 1–3 1–6 3–2 3–4 2–2 0–4 0–4 2–3 1–4 2–3 0–4
Cleveland 5–2 2–3 2–3 4–0 — 2–2 1–3 2–4 1–3 2–2 4–0 4–3 3–2 3–2 3–1 4–0 3–1 4–2
Detroit 3–1 0–4 3–1 4–3 2–2 — 0–5 2–2 5–2 1–4 3–4 1–3 3–1 1–3 1–4 2–3 3–2 2–2
Golden State 2–2 2–2 3–1 4–1 3–1 5–0 — 2–2 4–1 5–2 5–0 2–2 4–0 3–1 4–2 4–2 4–3 3–1
Houston 5–2 1–4 2–3 3–1 4–2 2–2 2–2 — 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–4 3–2 3–2 0–4 3–1 2–2 3–4
Kansas City 2–2 2–2 0–4 6–1 3–1 2–5 1–4 2–2 — 2–3 2–5 1–3 1–3 1–3 3–2 0–5 2–3 1–3
Los Angeles 3–1 0–4 2–2 2–3 2–2 4–1 2–5 3–1 3–2 — 2–3 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–4 3–4 3–3 1–3
Milwaukee 2–2 2–2 1–3 4–3 0–4 4–3 0–5 2–2 5–2 3–2 — 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–2 2–3 2–3 2–2
New Orleans 4–2 1–4 1–4 2–2 3–4 3–1 2–2 4–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 — 2–3 1–4 1–3 3–1 1–3 4–3
New York 2–3 2–5 3–4 4–0 2–3 1–3 0–4 2–3 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–2 — 5–2 2–2 3–1 0–4 3–2
Philadelphia 3–2 3–4 4–3 4–0 2–3 3–1 1–3 2–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 4–1 2–5 — 3–1 4–0 2–2 2–3
Phoenix 4–0 0–4 1–3 3–2 1–3 4–1 2–4 4–0 2–3 4–2 2–3 3–1 2–2 1–3 — 5–2 4–3 0–4
Portland 2–2 2–2 2–2 4–1 0–4 3–2 2–4 1–3 5–0 4–3 3–2 1–3 1–3 0–4 2–5 — 3–3 2–2
Seattle 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–2 1–3 2–3 3–4 2–2 3–2 3–3 3–2 3–1 4–0 2–2 3–4 3–3 — 1–3
Washington 5–1 2–3 3–2 4–0 2–4 2–2 1–3 4–3 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–4 2–3 3–2 4–0 2–2 3–1 —

Game log

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1975–76 game log
Total: 43–39 (home: 31–10; road: 12–29)
October: 3–2 (home: 2–0; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 October 24 Portland W 105–97 Fred Brown (29) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,601 		1–0
2 October 26 Phoenix W 113–99 Leonard Gray (27) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,288 		2–0
3 October 28 @ Chicago L 90–101 Slick Watts (28) Chicago Stadium
5,115 		2–1
4 October 29 @ Kansas City W 92–91 Bruce Seals (25) Kemper Arena
9,464 		3–1
5 October 31 @ Los Angeles L 104–120 Fred Brown (33) The Forum
12,118 		3–2
November : 7–8 (home: 4–2; road: 3–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
6 November 2 Washington L 85–94 Tommy Burleson (20) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		3–3
7 November 5 @ Detroit L 107–124 Slick Watts (25) Cobo Arena
4,777 		3–4
8 November 6 @ Washington L 100–110 Fred Brown (29) Capital Centre
7,732 		3–5
9 November 8 @ Atlanta L 94–107 Fred Brown (24) Omni Coliseum
4,382 		3–6
10 November 9 @ New Orleans W 111–97 Fred Brown (41) Louisiana Superdome
13,472 		4–6
11 November 12 Kansas City L 92–107 Fred Brown (19) Seattle Center Coliseum
11,213 		4–7
12 November 13 @ Phoenix L 103–106 Bruce Seals (24) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,016 		4–8
13 November 14 Cleveland W 100–97 (OT) Fred Brown (26) Seattle Center Coliseum
11,969 		5–8
14 November 16 Golden State W 102–98 Fred Brown (30) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		6–8
15 November 19 Chicago W 97–87 Fred Brown (25) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,114 		7–8
16 November 23 Milwaukee W 112–104 Tommy Burleson (28) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,021 		8–8
17 November 25 @ New York W 128–127 (OT) Tommy Burleson (35) Madison Square Garden
15,548 		9–8
18 November 26 @ Boston W 110–109 Fred Brown (30) Boston Garden
12,189 		10–8
19 November 28 @ Philadelphia L 94–113 Tommy Burleson (18) The Spectrum
13,674 		10–9
20 November 29 @ Cleveland L 108–124 Fred Brown (30) Coliseum at Richfield
10,151 		10–10
December : 8–7 (home: 6–4; road: 2–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
21 December 2 @ Kansas City W 101–90 Fred Brown (31) Kemper Arena
7,670 		11–10
22 December 3 @ Houston L 101–107 Bruce Seals (16) The Summit
5,374 		11–11
23 December 6 @ Golden State L 94–104 Fred Brown (17) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
12,677 		11–12
24 December 7 Golden State L 106–115 Fred Brown, Slick Watts (22) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		11–13
25 December 10 Chicago W 99–79 Fred Brown (17) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,471 		12–13
26 December 12 Detroit W 97–95 Fred Brown (27) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,859 		13–13
27 December 14 Philadelphia W 114–105 Fred Brown (31) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		14–13
28 December 17 Cleveland L 101–115 Rod Derline (16) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,291 		14–14
29 December 19 New Orleans W 113–102 Herm Gilliam (24) Seattle Center Coliseum
11,427 		15–14
30 December 21 Milwaukee L 101–103 Mike Bantom (20) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,188 		15–15
31 December 23 @ Portland L 100–125 Tommy Burleson (23) Memorial Coliseum
8,610 		15–16
32 December 26 Kansas City W 90–87 Bruce Seals (21) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,673 		16–16
33 December 27 Los Angeles L 100–109 Tommy Burleson (25) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		16–17
34 December 28 Houston W 116–106 Fred Brown (23) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,702 		17–17
35 December 30 @ Los Angeles W 112–100 Fred Brown (34) The Forum
12,740 		18–17
January : 5–9 (home: 3–2; road: 2–7)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
36 January 2 Boston L 98–102 Fred Brown (34) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		18–18
37 January 4 Golden State W 97–85 Fred Brown (20) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,669 		19–18
38 January 7 New York W 91–89 Fred Brown (24) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		20–18
39 January 9 @ Phoenix W 112–110 (OT) Tommy Burleson (25) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5,774 		21–18
40 January 11 Buffalo L 104–125 Leonard Gray (20) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		21–19
41 January 13 @ Milwaukee L 108–114 Fred Brown (24) MECCA Arena
10,496 		21–20
42 January 14 @ Atlanta W 112–110 Fred Brown (33) Omni Coliseum
4,376 		22–20
43 January 16 @ Washington L 85–100 Slick Watts (19) Capital Centre
9,425 		22–21
44 January 17 @ Buffalo L 101–110 Fred Brown (28) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
8,469 		22–22
45 January 21 @ Detroit L 104–111 Fred Brown (26) Cobo Arena
3,612 		22–23
46 January 22 @ Cleveland L 99–109 Fred Brown (17) Coliseum at Richfield
5,102 		22–24
47 January 24 @ Houston L 103–110 Fred Brown (37) The Summit
5,027 		22–25
48 January 28 @ Portland L 104–124 Fred Brown (26) Memorial Coliseum
10,930 		22–26
49 January 30 Washington W 123–100 Fred Brown (29) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		23–26
February : 8–5 (home: 6–2; road: 2–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
50 February 6 Portland L 100–109 Leonard Gray (32) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,419 		23–27
51 February 7 @ Golden State L 100–127 Tommy Burleson (26) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
12,787 		23–28
52 February 8 Phoenix L 101–107 (OT) Tommy Burleson (33) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,039 		23–29
53 February 11 New Orleans W 93–90 Tommy Burleson (25) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,595 		24–29
54 February 13 Atlanta W 119–102 Tommy Burleson, Herm Gilliam (20) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,925 		25–29
55 February 14 @ Portland W 122–108 Bruce Seals (29) Memorial Coliseum
11,347 		26–29
56 February 15 Detroit W 109–107 Herm Gilliam (22) Seattle Center Coliseum
13,728 		27–29
57 February 18 Boston W 124–99 Fred Brown (29) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		28–29
58 February 20 Philadelphia W 111–92 Fred Brown (26) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		29–29
59 February 22 Los Angeles W 97–91 Fred Brown (27) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		30–29
60 February 25 @ Buffalo W 126–94 Fred Brown (31) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
8,691 		31–29
61 February 27 @ Boston L 118–122 Fred Brown (33) Boston Garden
15,320 		31–30
62 February 29 @ Philadelphia L 115–130 Fred Brown (23) The Spectrum
11,649 		31–31
March : 8–5 (home: 6–0; road: 2–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
63 March 2 @ New York W 109–105 Bruce Seals (29) Madison Square Garden
14,227 		32–31
64 March 3 @ Detroit L 110–114 Fred Brown (24) Cobo Arena
3,096 		32–32
65 March 5 @ Kansas City L 93–111 Fred Brown (17) Kemper Arena
5,852 		32–33
66 March 7 @ New Orleans L 106–124 Leonard Gray (16) Louisiana Superdome
8,008 		32–34
67 March 9 @ Chicago L 101–102 Fred Brown (26) Chicago Stadium
4,614 		32–35
68 March 10 @ Milwaukee W 110–105 Fred Brown (26) MECCA Arena
9,587 		33–35
69 March 14 New York W 113–103 Fred Brown (20) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		34–35
70 March 17 Buffalo W 122–111 Fred Brown (37) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		35–35
71 March 21 Houston W 117–107 Fred Brown, Tommy Burleson (24) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		36–35
72 March 23 @ Phoenix L 97–104 Fred Brown (32) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7,589 		36–36
73 March 24 Milwaukee W 135–110 Bruce Seals (27) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		37–36
74 March 28 Atlanta W 127–112 Fred Brown (27) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		38–36
75 March 31 Los Angeles W 120–109 Fred Brown, Herm Gilliam (22) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		39–36
April : 4–3 (home: 4–0; road: 0–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
76 April 2 @ Los Angeles L 105–113 Tommy Burleson (32) The Forum
10,784 		39–37
77 April 3 @ Golden State L 115–130 Willie Norwood (20) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
12,787 		39–38
78 April 4 Phoenix W 117–89 Fred Brown (33) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		40–38
79 April 7 Chicago W 115–114 Willie Norwood (24) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		41–38
80 April 9 Golden State W 119–103 Fred Brown (26) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		42–38
81 April 10 @ Phoenix L 95–121 Herm Gilliam (22) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9,577 		42–39
82 April 11 Portland W 132–131 Fred Brown (33) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		43–39
1975–76 season schedule

Playoffs

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Main article: 1976 NBA playoffs
1976 playoff game log
Conference semifinals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 13 Phoenix W 102–99 Fred Brown (34) Fred Brown (7) Slick Watts (8) Seattle Center Coliseum
12,408 		1–0
2 April 15 Phoenix L 111–116 Fred Brown (45) Tommy Burleson (12) Slick Watts (6) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		1–1
3 April 18 @ Phoenix L 91–103 Slick Watts (18) three players tied (8) Slick Watts (7) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13,036 		1–2
4 April 20 @ Phoenix L 114–130 Fred Brown (33) Tommy Burleson (20) Herm Gilliam (7) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13,036 		1–3
5 April 25 Phoenix W 114–108 Bruce Seals (28) Willie Norwood (13) Slick Watts (12) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,096 		2–3
6 April 24 @ Phoenix L 112–123 Seals, Watts (24) Bruce Seals (7) Slick Watts (11) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13,192 		2–4
1976 schedule

Player statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Season

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Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Zaid Abdul-Aziz 27 8.3 .467 .552 2.8 .6 .3 .6 3.2
Mike Bantom 66 22.8 .471 .675 5.6 1.5 .4 .4 8.4
Fred Brown 76 33.1 .488 .869 4.2 2.7 1.9 .2 23.1
Tommy Burleson 82 32.3 .481 .750 9.0 2.2 .9 1.8 15.6
Al Carlson 28 10.0 .342 .621 2.6 .5 .3 .4 2.6
Rod Derline 49 6.9 .403 .804 .6 .5 .2 .0 3.9
Herm Gilliam 81 20.3 .442 .776 2.7 2.5 1.0 .1 8.5
Leonard Gray 66 32.4 .474 .746 6.0 3.1 1.1 .5 13.8
John Hummer 29 12.6 .478 .415 2.7 .9 .2 .3 2.8
Willie Norwood 64 15.7 .485 .749 3.6 .9 .7 .1 6.9
Frank Oleynick 52 12.5 .402 .688 .9 1.0 .4 .1 5.9
Bruce Seals 81 30.1 .436 .678 6.3 1.5 .8 .5 11.8
Gene Short 7 5.3 .545 .500 1.0 .3 .0 .0 1.9
Talvin Skinner 72 17.0 .463 .613 3.7 .9 .7 .1 4.3
Slick Watts 82 33.9 .427 .578 4.5 8.1 3.2 .2 13.0

Playoffs

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Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Zaid Abdul-Aziz 5 12.0 .700 .727 4.2 .4 .0 1.0 7.2
Mike Bantom 6 19.0 .579 .700 3.8 1.3 .7 .3 9.7
Fred Brown 6 39.3 .511 .795 4.7 2.8 2.2 .0 28.5
Tommy Burleson 6 34.7 .600 .761 9.5 1.7 1.0 1.3 20.8
Rod Derline 4 10.3 .200 1.000 1.0 .3 .3 .0 1.5
Herm Gilliam 6 14.3 .222 .625 1.8 2.0 1.0 .0 2.8
John Hummer 3 5.3 .667 .3 .0 .0 .0 1.3
Willie Norwood 6 35.8 .414 .611 6.3 1.3 1.2 .2 9.8
Bruce Seals 6 30.2 .441 .692 6.0 .5 .8 1.0 13.0
Talvin Skinner 6 14.3 .286 .733 2.5 1.2 .8 .3 3.2
Slick Watts 6 32.8 .435 .478 3.0 8.2 2.0 .3 11.8

Awards and records

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Transactions

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Overview

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Players Added Players Lost
Via draft

Via trade

Via free agency

Via trade

Waived

Trades

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September 24, 1975 To Seattle SuperSonics To Detroit Pistons
1978 first round pick Archie Clark
October 22, 1975 To Seattle SuperSonics To Milwaukee Bucks
1976 second round pick Jim Fox
October 22, 1975 To Seattle SuperSonics To Atlanta Hawks
Herm Gilliam 1976 third round pick
October 24, 1975 To Seattle SuperSonics To New York Knicks
1979 first round pick Spencer Haywood
November 22, 1975 To Seattle SuperSonics To Phoenix Suns
Mike Bantom Cash considerations

References

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