1996-97 NBA SEASON

'The 1996-97 NBA season' was the 51st season of the National Basketball Association. The league used this season to mark its 50th anniversary, which included the unveiling of the league's list of its 50 greatest players. The season ended with the Chicago Bulls defeating the Utah Jazz 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals to win the franchise's 5th championship.

Contents

Notable occurrences

Final standings

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

1996-97 NBA statistics leaders

NBA awards

See also

Notable occurrences

★ The Chicago Bulls narrowly miss back-to-back 70 win seasons, going 69-13, and settle for the second best record all time, behind their previous season's performance. In the final game of the regular season, the Bulls lost to the Knicks 103-101 as Scottie Pippen missed a three-pointer that would have gave the Bulls a back-to-back 70 win seasons.

★ The NBA All-Star Game was played at Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, with the East defeating the West 132-120. Glen Rice of the Charlotte Hornets was named the game's MVP, despite Michael Jordan recording the only All-Star Game triple double in NBA history.

★ The Philadelphia 76ers play their first game at the Core States Center' (later First Union Center, now Wachovia Center).

★ Due to extensive renovations at Oakland Arena, the Golden State Warriors play their home games at the San Jose Arena (now known as the HP Pavilion at San Jose, home of the NHL's San Jose Sharks).

★ Dennis Rodman was suspended for 11 games after kicking a cameraman in an away game against the Minnesota Timberwolves after tripping over him.

★ Following a last-second three-point shot by John Stockton in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, the Utah Jazz make their first ever NBA Finals appearance.

★ In Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Lakers, Karl Malone hit all 18 of his free-throw attempts, setting a playoff record for most attempts without a miss.

Final standings

Eastern Conference

'Atlantic Division' Team W L PCT. GB Miami Heat 61 21 .744 - New York Knicks 57 25 .695 4 Orlando Magic 45 37 .549 16 Washington Bullets 44 38 .537 17 New Jersey Nets 26 56 .317 35 Philadelphia 76ers 22 60 .268 39 Boston Celtics 15 67 .183 46

'Central Division' Team W L PCT. GB Chicago Bulls 'C' 69 13 .841 - Atlanta Hawks 56 26 .683 13 Charlotte Hornets 54 28 .659 15 Detroit Pistons 54 28 .659 15 Cleveland Cavaliers 42 40 .512 27 Indiana Pacers 39 43 .476 30 Milwaukee Bucks 33 49 .402 36 Toronto Raptors 30 52 .366 39

Western Conference

'Midwest Division' Team W L PCT. GB Utah Jazz 64 18 .780 - Houston Rockets 57 25 .695 7 Minnesota Timberwolves 40 42 .488 24 Dallas Mavericks 24 58 .293 40 Denver Nuggets 21 61 .256 43 San Antonio Spurs 20 62 .244 44 Vancouver Grizzlies 14 68 .171 50

'Pacific Division' Team W L PCT. GB Seattle SuperSonics 57 25 .695 - Los Angeles Lakers 56 26 .683 1 Portland Trail Blazers 49 33 .598 8 Phoenix Suns 40 42 .488 17 Los Angeles Clippers 36 46 .439 21 Sacramento Kings 34 48 .415 23 Golden State Warriors 30 52 .366 27

'C' - NBA Champions

1996-97 NBA statistics leaders

Category	Player	Team	Stat
Points per game	Michael Jordan	Chicago Bulls	29.6
Rebounds per game	Dennis Rodman	Chicago Bulls	16.1
Assists per game	Mark Jackson	Indiana Pacers	11.4
Steals per game	Mookie Blaylock	Atlanta Hawks	2.7
Blocks per game	Shawn Bradley	New Jersey Nets	3.4
FG%	Gheorghe Muresan	Washington Bullets	60.4
FT%	Mark Price	Golden State Warriors	90.6
3FG%	Glen Rice	Charlotte Hornets	47.0

NBA awards

★ 'Most Valuable Player:' Karl Malone, Utah Jazz

★ 'Rookie of the Year:' Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers

★ 'Defensive Player of the Year:' Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks

★ 'Sixth Man of the Year:' John Starks, New York Knicks

★ 'Most Improved Player:' Isaac Austin, Miami Heat

★ 'Coach of the Year:' Pat Riley, Miami Heat

★ 'All-NBA First Team:'

★
★ F - Karl Malone, Utah Jazz

★
★ F - Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons

★
★ C - Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets

★
★ G - Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls

★
★ G - Tim Hardaway, Miami Heat

★ 'All-NBA Second Team:'

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★ F Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls

★
★ F Glen Rice, Charlotte Hornets

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★ C Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks

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★ G Gary Payton, Seattle Supersonics

★
★ G Mitch Richmond, Sacramento Kings

★ 'All-NBA Third Team:'

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★ F Anthony Mason, Charlotte Hornets

★
★ F Vin Baker, Milwaukee Bucks

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★ C Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers

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★ G John Stockton, Utah Jazz

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★ G Anfernee Hardaway, Orlando Magic

★ 'NBA All-Defensive First Team:'

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★ F Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls

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★ F Karl Malone, Utah Jazz

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★ C Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks

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★ G Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls

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★ G Gary Payton, Seattle Supersonics

★ 'NBA All-Defensive Second Team:'

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★ F Anthony Mason, Charlotte Hornets

★
★ F P.J. Brown, Miami Heat

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★ C Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets

★
★ G Mookie Blaylock, Atlanta Hawks

★
★ G John Stockton, Utah Jazz

★ 'All-NBA Rookie First Team:'

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★ Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Vancouver Grizzlies

★
★ Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers

★
★ Stephon Marbury, Minnesota Timberwolves

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★ Marcus Camby, Toronto Raptors

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★ Antoine Walker, Boston Celtics

★ 'All-NBA Rookie Second Team:'

★
★ Kerry Kittles, New Jersey Nets

★
★ Ray Allen, Milwaukee Bucks

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★ Travis Knight, Los Angeles Lakers

★
★ Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

★
★ Matt Maloney, Houston Rockets
''Note: All information on this page was obtained from the History section of NBA.com''

See also

★ 1997 NBA Playoffs

★ 1997 NBA Finals

★ 1997 NBA Draft