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NBA 1996-97 Season

Summary

The Chicago Bulls won 69 games, three short of the record they'd set the previous year, and the Utah Jazz won 64 to lead the West. Chicago's Michael Jordan again won the scoring title, but Karl Malone of Utah, who finishes second, was named the regular-season MVP.

Both teams went through their conference playoffs with relative ease. The Bulls lost only two games and the Jazz lost just three enroute to the finals.

Chicago won the first two games at home and Utah did the same, thanks in part to a mistake by a Bulls assistant, who accidentally put a high-calorie supplement in the container that was supposed to hold the team's sports drink. Several of the Bulls, including Jordan, had to leave the game with upset stomachs and Utah overcame a 5-point deficit to win by 5.

Then Jordan came down with stomach flu and was doubtful for Game 5 in Utah. He not only managed to play, he fought through recurrent nausea to score 38 points in Chicago's 2-point win. The Bulls won another close contest in Game 6 to claim their second straight championship and their fifth in seven years.

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Standings

Eastern Conference - Atlantic Division

 WLPct.GB
Miami Heat6121.744-
New York Knickerbockers5725.6954
Orlando Magic4537.54916
Washington Bullets4438.53717
New Jersey Nets2656.31735
Philadelphia 76ers2260.26839
Boston Celtics1567.18346

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Eastern Conference - Central Division

 WLPct.GB
Chicago Bulls6913.841-
Atlanta Hawks5626.68313
Charlotte Hornets5428.65915
Detroit Pistons5428.65915
Cleveland Cavaliers4240.51227
Indiana Pacers3943.47630
Milwaukee Bucks3349.40236
Toronto Raptors3052.36639

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Western Conference - Midwest Division

 WLPct.GB
Utah Jazz6418.780-
Houston Rockets5725.6957
Minnesota Timberwolves4042.48824
Dallas Mavericks2458.29340
Denver Nuggets2161.25643
San Antonio Spurs2062.24444
Vancouver Grizzlies1468.17150

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Western Conference - Pacific Division

WLPct.GB
Seattle SuperSonics5725.695-
Los Angeles Lakers5626.6831
Portland Trail Blazers4933.5988
Phoenix Suns4042.48817
Los Angeles Clippers3646.43921
Sacramento Kings3448.41523
Golden State Warriors3052.36627

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League Leaders

Scoring

Player, TeamGFGFTPtsAve
Michael Jordan, Chicago82920480243129.6
Karl Malone, Utah82864521224927.4
Glen Rice, Charlotte79722464211526.8
Mitch Richmond, Sacramento81717457209525.9
Latrell Sprewell, Golden State80649493193824.2
Allen Iverson, Philadelphia76625382178723.5
Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston78727351181023.2
Patrick Ewing, New York78655439175122.4
Gary Payton, Seattle82706254178521.8
Kendall Gill, New Jersey82644427178921.8
Reggie Miller, Indiana81552418175121.6
Grant Hill, Detroit80625450171021.4
Glenn Robinson, Milwaukee80669288168921.1
Vin Baker, Milwaukee78632358163721.0
Jerry Stackhouse, Philadelphia81533511167920.7
Tom Gugliotta, Minnesota81592464167220.6
Tim Hardaway, Miami81575291164420.3
Scottie Pippen, Chicago82648204165620.2
Damon Stoudamire, Toronto81564330163420.2
Kevin Johnson, Phoenix70441439141020.1

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Rebounds

Player, TeamGOffDefRebAve
Dennis Rodman, Chicago5532056388316.1
Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta8026866192911.6
Anthony Mason, Charlotte7318664382911.4
Ervin Johnson, Denver8223168291311.1
Patrick Ewing, New York7817565983410.7
Chris Webber, Washington7223850574310.3
Vin Baker, Milwaukee7826753780410.3
Shawn Kemp, Seattle8127553280710.0
Loy Vaught, L.A. Clippers8222259581710.0
Karl Malone, Utah821936168099.9
Tyrone Hill, Cleveland742594777369.9
Charles Oakley, New York802465357819.8
Dale Davis, Indiana803014717729.7
Michael Smith, Sacramento812575127699.5
Rony Seikaly, Orlando742744277019.5
Olden Polynice, Sacramento822725007729.4
Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston781735437169.2
Vlade Divac, Charlotte812414847259.0
Antoine Walker, Boston822884537419.0
Grant Hill, Detroit801235987219.0

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Assists

Player, TeamGAstAve
Mark Jackson, Den.-Ind.8293511.4
John Stockton, Utah8286010.5
Kevin Johnson, Phoenix706539.3
Jason Kidd, Dal.-Pho.554969.0
Rod Strickland, Washington827278.9
Damon Stoudamire, Toronto817098.8
Tim Hardaway, Miami816958.6
Nick Van Exel, L.A. Lakers796728.5
Robert Pack, N.J.-Dal.544528.4
Stephon Marbury, Minnesota675227.8
Allen Iverson, Philadelphia765677.5
Grant Hill, Detroit805837.3
David Wesley, Boston745377.3
Muggsy Bogues, Charlotte654697.2
Kenny Anderson, Portland825847.1
Gary Payton, Seattle825837.1
Avery Johnson, San Antonio765136.8
Greg Anthony, Vancouver654076.3
Latrell Sprewell, Golden State805076.3
Terrell Brandon, Cleveland784906.3

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Field Goal Percentage

Player, TeamFGMFGAPct
Gheorghe Muresan, Washington327541.604
Tyrone Hill, Cleveland357595.600
Rasheed Wallace, Portland380681.558
Shaquille O'Neal, L.A. Lakers552991.557
Chris Mullin, Golden State438792.553
Karl Malone, Utah8641571.550
John Stockton, Utah416759.548
Dale Davis, Indiana370688.538
Gary Trent, Portland361674.536
Danny Manning, Phoenix426795.536
Alonzo Mourning, Miami473885.534
Otis Thorpe, Detroit419787.532
Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta380721.527
Chris Gatling, Dal.-N.J.327623.525
Anthony Mason, Charlotte433825.525
Chris Webber, Washington6041167.518
Horace Grant, Orlando358695.515
Larry Johnson, New York376735.512
Shawn Kemp, Seattle5261032.510
Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston7271426.510

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Free Throw Percentage

Player, TeamFTMFTAPct
Mark Price, Golden State155171.906
Terrell Brandon, Cleveland268297.902
Jeff Hornacek, Utah293326.899
Ricky Pierce, Den.-Cha.139155.897
Mario Elie, Houston207231.896
Reggie Miller, Indiana418475.880
Malik Sealy, L.A. Clippers254290.876
Hersey Hawkins, Seattle258295.875
Darrick Martin, L.A. Clippers218250.872
Joe Dumars, Detroit222256.867
Glen Rice, Charlotte464535.867
Chris Mullin, Golden State184213.864
Bryant Stith, Denver202234.863
Mitch Richmond, Sacramento457531.861
Kevin Johnson, Phoenix439515.852
Steve Smith, Atlanta333393.847
John Stockton, Utah275325.846
Sam Cassell, Pho.-Dal.-N.J.212251.845
Latrell Sprewell, Golden State493585.843
Marty Conlon, Boston144171.842

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3-Point Percentage

Player, TeamMAPct
Glen Rice, Charlotte207440.470
Steve Kerr, Chicago110237.464
Kevin Johnson, Phoenix89202.441
Joe Dumars, Detroit166384.432
Mitch Richmond, Sacramento204477.428
Reggie Miller, Indiana229536.427
Dell Curry, Charlotte126296.426
Terry Mills, Detroit175415.422
Mario Elie, Houston120286.420
Voshon Lenard, Miami183442.414
Wesley Person, Phoenix171414.413
Chris Mullin, Golden State83202.411
Bryon Russell, Utah108264.409
Matt Maloney, Houston154381.404
Hersey Hawkins, Seattle143355.403
Danny Ferry, Cleveland114284.401
Walt Williams, Toronto175437.400
Brooks Thompson, Utah-Den.97244.398
Mark Price, Golden State112283.396
Sam Perkins, Seattle122309.395

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Steals

Player, TeamGStlAve
Mookie Blaylock, Atlanta782122.72
Doug Christie, Toronto812012.48
Gary Payton, Seattle821972.40
Eddie Jones, L.A. Lakers801892.36
Rick Fox, Boston761672.20
David Wesley, Boston741622.19
Allen Iverson, Philadelphia761572.07
John Stockton, Utah821662.02
Kenny Anderson, Portland821621.98
Greg Anthony, Vancouver651291.98
Hersey Hawkins, Seattle821591.94
Kerry Kittles, New Jersey821571.91
Kendall Gill, New Jersey821541.88
Scottie Pippen, Chicago821541.88
Tim Hardaway, Miami811511.86
Grant Hill, Detroit801441.80
Terrell Brandon, Cleveland781381.77
Rod Strickland, Washington821431.74
Michael Jordan, Chicago821401.71
Jerome Kersey, L.A. Lakers701191.70

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Blocked Shots

Player, TeamGBlkAve
Shawn Bradley, N.J.-Dal.732483.40
Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta802643.30
Shaquille O'Neal, L.A. Lakers511472.88
Alonzo Mourning, Miami661892.86
Ervin Johnson, Denver822272.77
Patrick Ewing, New York781892.42
Vlade Divac, Charlotte811802.22
Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston781732.22
Kevin Garnett, Minnesota771632.12
Marcus Camby, Toronto631302.06
Jim McIlvaine, Seattle821642.00
Roy Rogers, Vancouver821631.99
Greg Ostertag, Utah771521.97
Chris Webber, Washington721371.90
Charles Outlaw, L.A. Clippers821421.73
Antonio McDyess, Denver741261.70
Will Perdue, San Antonio651021.57
Elden Campbell, L.A. Lakers771171.52
Theo Ratliff, Detroit761111.46
Rony Seikaly, Orlando741071.45

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Awards

All-NBA Team

FIRST TEAM
Karl Malone, Utah
Grant Hill, Detroit
Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston
Michael Jordan, Chicago
Tim Hardaway, Miami

SECOND TEAM
Scottie Pippen, Chicago
Glen Rice, Charlotte
Patrick Ewing, New York
Gary Payton, Seattle
Mitch Richmond, Sacramento

THIRD TEAM
Anthony Mason, Charlotte
Vin Baker, Milwaukee
Shaquille O'Neal, L.A. Lakers
John Stockton, Utah
Anfernee Hardaway, Orlando

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Most Valuable Player

Karl Malone, Utah

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Rookie of the Year

Allen Iverson, Philadelphia

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Defensive Player of the Year

Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta

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Sixth Man Award

John Starks, New York

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Coach of the Year

Pat Riley, Miami

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Playoff Results

Eastern ConferenceWestern Conference
First Round
Chicago 3, Washington 0
Washington 86 at Chicago 98
Washington 104 at Chicago 109
Chicago 96 at Washington 95
Utah 3, L.A. Clippers 0
L.A. Clippers 86 at Utah 106
L.A. Clippers 99 at Utah 105
Utah 104 at L.A. Clippers 92
Miami 3, Orlando 2
Orlando 64 at Miami 99
Orlando 87 at Miami 104
Miami 75 at Orlando 88
Miami 91 at Orlando 99
Orlando 83 at Miami 91
L.A. Lakers 3, Portland 1
Portland 77 at L.A. Lakers 95
Portland 93 at L.A. Lakers 107
L.A. Lakers 90 at Portland 98
L.A. Lakers 95 at Portland 91
New York 3, Charlotte 0
Charlotte 99 at New York 109
Charlotte 93 at New York 100
New York 104 at Charlotte 95
Houston 3, Minnesota 0
Minnesota 95 at Houston 112
Minnesota 84 at Houston 96
Houston 125 at Minnesota 120
Atlanta 3, Detroit 2
Detroit 75 at Atlanta 89
Detroit 93 at Atlanta 80
Atlanta 91 at Detroit 99
Atlanta 94 at Detroit 82
Detroit 79 at Atlanta 84
Seattle 3, Phoenix 2
Phoenix 106 at Seattle 101
Phoenix 78 at Seattle 122
Seattle 103 at Phoenix 110
Seattle 122 at Phoenix 115 (OT)
Phoenix 92 at Seattle 116
Conference Semifinals
Chicago 4, Atlanta 1
Atlanta 97 at Chicago 100
Atlanta 103 at Chicago 95
Chicago 100 at Atlanta 80
Chicago 89 at Atlanta 80
Atlanta 92 at Chicago 107
Utah 4, L.A. Lakers 1
L.A. Lakers 77 at Utah 93
L.A. Lakers 101 at Utah 103
Utah 84 at L.A. Lakers 104
Utah 110 at L.A. Lakers 95
L.A. Lakers 93 at Utah 98 (OT)
Miami 4, New York 3
New York 88 at Miami 79
New York 84 at Miami 88
Miami 73 at New York 77
Miami 76 at New York 89
New York 81 at Miami 96
Miami 95 at New York 90
New York 90 at Miami 101
Houston 4, Seattle 3
Seattle 102 at Houston 112
Seattle 106 at Houston 101
Houston 97 at Seattle 93
Houston 110 at Seattle 106 (OT)
Seattle 100 at Houston 94
Houston 96 at Seattle 99
Seattle 91 at Houston 96
Conference Finals
Chicago 4, Miami 1
Miami 77 at Chicago 84
Miami 68 at Chicago 75
Chicago 98 at Miami 74
Chicago 80 at Miami 87
Miami 87 at Chicago 100
Utah 4, Houston 2
Houston 86 at Utah 101
Houston 92 at Utah 104
Utah 100 at Houston 118
Utah 92 at Houston 95
Houston 91 at Utah 96
Utah 103 at Houston 100
Finals
Chicago 4, Utah 2
Utah 82 at Chicago 84
Utah 85 at Chicago 97
Chicago 93 at Utah 104
Chicago 73 at Utah 78
Chicago 90 at Utah 88
Utah 86 at Chicago 90

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Other Resources

On This Site

1995-96 NBA season

1997-98 NBA season

Season by Season Index

Index to Basketball


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This page last updated Thursday, 17-Apr-2008 11:50:57 PDT
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