After starting center Tom LaGarde was lost for the season with a torn ligament in his right knee, the Sonics traded for Dennis Awtrey from Boston to improve their depth in the middle, giving up a 1979 first-round pick. Though Awtrey's role was limited, as he played just 499 minutes in 40 games in Seattle and averaged but 2.0 points, his veteran leadership (and 6-10 size) were key for the team. He played in 16 of 17 playoff games,

Regarded as one of the best players in the history of Santa Clara basketball, Awtrey led the Broncos to three straight championships in what is now the West Coast Conference, and was twice Conference MVP. He was also an All-American selection.

Selected in the third round of the 1970 Draft (46th overall) by the Philadelphia 76ers, Awtrey played two and a half seasons in Philadelphia before being traded to Chicago early in the 1972-73 season for a draft pick and cash. Awtrey established himself as a key player during his first season with the Bulls, averaging 20.6 minutes per game, before sliding into a lesser role the next season.

Before the 1974-75 season, the New Orleans Jazz selected Awtrey in the expansion draft and traded him to Phoenix, where he would go on to have his most productive seasons. As the Suns starter during the 74-75 campaign, Awtrey averaged 9.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. The subsequent selection of center Alvan Adams in the draft usurped Awtrey's starting job, but he was a contributor the next three seasons in Phoenix before being dealt to Boston for a second-round pick and cash.

After a year in Chicago, Awtrey returned to Seattle for the 1980-81 season, essentially his last NBA hurrah. He played 10 games for the Portland Trail Blazers the following year before retiring with 733 career games and 14,159 minutes.

Never a big scorer, Awtrey had more rebounds than points six times in his twelve seasons and finished with an average of 4.6 rebounds in 19.3 minutes of action.