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NBA professional basketball team season

NBA professional basketball team season
1997–98 Philadelphia 76ers season
Head coachLarry Brown
General managerLarry Brown
OwnersComcast Spectacor
ArenaCoreStates Center
Results
Record31–51 (.378)
PlaceDivision: 7th (Atlantic)
Conference: 14th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television
RadioWIP
< 1996–97 1998–99 >

The 1997–98 Philadelphia 76ers season was the 49th season for the Philadelphia 76ers in the National Basketball Association, and their 35th season in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1] The 76ers received the second overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft, and selected power forward Keith Van Horn from the University of Utah;[2][3][4] however, Van Horn refused to play for the 76ers, and was soon traded to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Jim Jackson, Eric Montross, rookie small forward, and first-round draft pick Tim Thomas out of Villanova University, and rookie shooting guard, and first-round draft pick Anthony Parker out of Bradley University.[5][6][7]

The 76ers also signed free agent and former All-Star forward Terry Cummings,[8][9][10] and hired Larry Brown as their new head coach during the off-season.[11][12][13] In November, the team traded their second-round draft pick, Slovenian rookie forward Marko Milič, to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for former All-Star forward Tom Chambers; however, after only just one game for the 76ers, Chambers retired in December.[14][15][16]

Under Brown and with the addition of Jackson and Thomas, the 76ers got off to a rough start losing their first five games of the regular season. In late December, the team traded Montross, and Jerry Stackhouse to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Theo Ratliff, and Aaron McKie,[17][18][19] and then later on in January, acquired Eric Snow from the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for a draft pick.[20] At mid-season, the team traded Jackson, and Clarence Weatherspoon to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Joe Smith, and Brian Shaw,[21][22][23] while Cummings was dealt to the New York Knicks in exchange for Herb Williams, who was released by the 76ers, and re-signed with the Knicks.[24][25][26] Before the trades, Stackhouse averaged 16.0 points and 1.4 steals per game in 22 games, while Jackson provided the team with 13.7 points and 4.6 assists per game in 48 games, and Weatherspoon contributed 8.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game also in 48 games.[27] With a 14–31 record at the All-Star break,[28] the 76ers showed improvement posting a 17–20 record for the remainder of the season, finishing in last place in the Atlantic Division with a 31–51 record, and missing the NBA playoffs for the seventh consecutive year.[29]

Second-year star Allen Iverson had a stellar season averaging 22.0 points, 6.2 assists and 2.2 steals per game, while Derrick Coleman provided the team with 17.6 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, but only played 59 games due to an irregular heartbeat, and an ankle injury,[30][31][32] and Thomas contributed 11.0 points per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.[27] In addition, for the players who were acquired via trades during the regular season, Ratliff averaged 11.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game in 58 games, while off the bench, Smith averaged 10.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in 30 games, Shaw provided with 6.1 points and 4.4 assists per game in 20 games, and Snow contributed 3.9 points, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game in 47 games. McKie contributed 3.9 points and 1.4 steals per game in 57 games, but struggled as he only shot .346 in field-goal percentage.[27]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, Thomas was selected for the NBA Rookie Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference Rookie team.[33][34] Despite a stellar season, Iverson was not selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game.[35] Ratliff finished in sixth place in Most Improved Player voting.[36] The start of the rebuilding of the franchise began with the acquisitions of Ratliff, McKie and Snow; these three players blended well with coach Brown's philosophy, and this would be the last season in which the 76ers missed the postseason until 2004.

The 76ers finished 20th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 655,417 at the CoreStates Center during the regular season.[27][37] Following the season, Coleman signed as a free agent with the Charlotte Hornets,[38][39][40] while Smith signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves,[41][42][43] and Shaw and Mark Davis were both released to free agency. For the season, the 76ers revealed a new primary logo with the team name "76ers" in gold,[44] and changed their uniforms, replacing the red and blue colors with black and gold in their color scheme;[45][46] the team's new primary logo would remain in use until 2009, while the new uniforms would slightly be redesigned in 2000.

Offseason

[edit]

Draft picks

[edit]
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 2 Keith Van Horn SF/PF  United States University of Utah
2 33 Marko Milič SG/SF  Slovenia
2 35 Kebu Stewart PF  United States California State University, Bakersfield
2 36 James Collins SG  United States Florida State University

Roster

[edit]
1997–98 Philadelphia 76ers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
C 00 Benoit Benjamin 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1964–11–22 Creighton
F 44 Derrick Coleman 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1967–06–21 Syracuse
F 7 Mark Davis 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1973–04–26 Texas Tech
G 3 Allen Iverson 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1975–06–07 Georgetown
G 8 Aaron McKie 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 209 lb (95 kg) 1972–10–02 Temple
G 11 Doug Overton 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1969–08–03 La Salle
G 12 Anthony Parker 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1975–06–19 Bradley
C 42 Theo Ratliff 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1973–04–17 Wyoming
G 22 Brian Shaw 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1966–03–22 UC Santa Barbara
F 9 Joe Smith 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1975–07–26 Maryland
G 20 Eric Snow 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1973–04–24 Michigan State
F 41 Kebu Stewart 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 239 lb (108 kg) 1973–12–19 Cal State Bakersfield
F 1 Tim Thomas 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1977–02–26 Villanova
C 55 Scott Williams 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1968–03–21 North Carolina
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Updated: March 30, 1998

Regular season

[edit]

Season standings

[edit]
Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Miami Heat 5527.671–30-1125–1618–6
x-New York Knicks 4339.5241228–1315–2613–11
x-New Jersey Nets 4339.5241226–1517–2412–12
Washington Wizards 4240.5121324–1718–2312–13
Orlando Magic 4141.5001424–1717–2411–13
Boston Celtics 3646.4391924–1712–2912–12
Philadelphia 76ers 3151.3782419–2212–297–17
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Chicago Bulls6220.756–
2 y-Miami Heat5527.6717
3 x-Indiana Pacers5824.7074
4 x-Charlotte Hornets5131.62211
5 x-Atlanta Hawks5032.61012
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers4735.57315
7 x-New York Knicks4339.52419
8 x-New Jersey Nets4339.52419
9 Washington Wizards4240.51220
10 Orlando Magic4141.50021
11 Detroit Pistons3745.45125
12 Boston Celtics3646.43926
13 Milwaukee Bucks3646.43926
14 Philadelphia 76ers3151.37831
15 Toronto Raptors1666.19546
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
° - did not make playoffs

Player statistics

[edit]
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

Regular season

[edit]
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Benoit Benjamin 14014.1.537.6333.8.2.3.34.5
Tom Chambers 1010.01.0001.0002.0.02.0.06.0
Derrick Coleman 595836.2.411.265.7729.92.5.81.217.6
Terry Cummings† 44214.9.458.000.6723.4.5.5.15.3
William Cunningham† 101.02.0.0.0.0.0
Mark Davis 711212.8.447.000.6342.21.0.7.34.0
Allen Iverson 808039.4.461.298
Aaron McKie† 573123.5.347.196.6882.92.41.4.23.9
Eric Montross† 202016.9.395.3684.6.4.4.63.4
Doug Overton 23212.0.381.000.875.61.6.3.02.7
Anthony Parker 3705.3.397.321.650.7.5.3.11.9
Theo Ratliff† 585532.1.512.7067.3.7.73.511.2
Brian Shaw† 20225.1.367.250.6323.24.4.7.26.1
Joe Smith† 30623.3.448.000.7884.4.9.6.410.3
Eric Snow† 47018.0.429.125.7211.63.51.3.13.9
Jerry Stackhouse† 222234.0.452.348.8023.53.01.41.016.0
Kebu Stewart 1507.3.462.6402.1.1.3.12.7
Tim Thomas 774823.1.447.363.7403.71.2.7.211.0
Rex Walters† 1906.7.379.2141.000.51.1.3.02.2
Clarence Weatherspoon† 481826.9.426.7077.0.8.91.18.4
Scott Williams 58713.8.437.000.8103.6.5.3.44.1
  • † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the 76ers only.

Player statistics citation:[27]

Awards and records

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ 1997-98 Philadelphia 76ers
  2. ↑ Wise, Mike (June 26, 1997). "After Duncan, Utah Forward Steals Show". The New York Times. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  3. ↑ Heisler, Mark (June 26, 1997). "Draft Over, But Not Finished". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  4. ↑ "1997 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  5. ↑ Roberts, Selena (June 28, 1997). "The Nets Decide the Future Can't Wait". The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Van Horn Finally on His Way to New Jersey in 76er Trade". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. June 28, 1997. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  7. ↑ Kepner, Tyler (June 28, 1997). "Nets Get Van Horn from 76ers". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Two Free Agents Sign". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 5, 1997. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  9. ↑ Shapiro, Mark (September 5, 1997). "76ers Sign Cummings to 2-Year Deal". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  10. ↑ "NBA Referee Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Returns". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. September 5, 1997. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Larry Brown Meets with 76ers' Brass". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 3, 1997. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Brown Expected to Coach 76ers". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 5, 1997. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  13. ↑
  14. ↑ Gardner, Kris (November 21, 1997). "Tom Chambers Goes from Phoenix to Philly". The Houston Roundball Review. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Suns Trade Chambers". Today's News-Herald. Associated Press. November 23, 1997. p. 16A. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Chambers Retires from Sixers, Eyes Possible Post with Suns". Deseret News. Associated Press. December 12, 1997. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  17. ↑ "PRO BASKETBALL; 76ers Send Stackhouse and Montross to Pistons". The New York Times. Associated Press. December 19, 1997. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  18. ↑ "76ers Give Up on Backcourt, Deal Stackhouse to Pistons". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. December 19, 1997. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Stackhouse to Pistons". The Washington Post. December 19, 1997. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  20. ↑ "76ers Get Snow from the Sonics". The Washington Post. January 19, 1998. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  21. ↑ "76ers Acquire Smith from the Warriors". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 18, 1998. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  22. ↑ "76ers Obtain J. Smith in Four-Player Swap". The Washington Post. February 18, 1998. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  23. ↑ Heisler, Mark (February 20, 1998). "It's a Big Deal for Clippers: There Are No Slam Dunks in the Flurry of NBA Deals". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  24. ↑ Roberts, Selena (February 20, 1998). "PRO BASKETBALL; Knicks Add Cummings to Fill a Hole". The New York Times. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Smith Arrives Right on Time for 76ers' Loss". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 20, 1998. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  26. ↑ ""Terrible" Pacers Struggle, But Beat 76ers". The Washington Post. February 20, 1998. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 "1997–98 Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  28. ↑ "NBA Games Played on February 5, 1998". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  29. ↑ "1997–98 Philadelphia 76ers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  30. ↑ "Coleman Is Cleared, But He Won't Play Yet". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. December 17, 1997. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  31. ↑ Long, Ernie (March 10, 1998). "Magic Thump Sixers Without Derrick Coleman; Philadelphia Has No Answer for the Orlando Frontcourt". The Morning Call. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  32. ↑ "Basketball Briefs". Deseret News. March 11, 1998. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  33. ↑ "1998 NBA Rookie Game Roster". Times-Union. Associated Press. February 6, 1998. p. 4B. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  34. ↑ "1998 NBA Rising Stars: East 85, West 80". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  35. ↑ "1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  36. ↑ "1997–98 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  37. ↑ "1997–98 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Hornets Pick Up Derrick Coleman". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. January 16, 1999. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  39. ↑ Wise, Mike (January 17, 1999). "BASKETBALL; Derrick Coleman Could Be the Next to Cash In". The New York Times. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  40. ↑ "Divac Is Out in Hornet Shuffle". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. January 17, 1999. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  41. ↑ Kawakami, Tim (January 23, 1999). "Lakers Propose Deal for Gugliotta". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  42. ↑ "NBA Transactions". The Washington Post. January 23, 1999. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  43. ↑ Wise, Mike (February 4, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  44. ↑ "Philadelphia 76ers Logo". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  45. ↑ "Philadelphia 76ers Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  46. ↑ "Philadelphia 76ers Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 8, 2021.

See also

[edit]
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