NBA professional basketball team season
The 1996–97 NBA season was the 27th season of the National Basketball Association in Cleveland, Ohio .[1] During the off-season, the Cavaliers signed free agent Mark West . The Cavaliers started their season winning nine of their first twelve games, but after a 21–10 start, they lost six straight games in January while losing 11 of their next 14 games. The team played above .500 for the entire season, but started to struggle down the stretch, losing 10 of their 16 games in March.[2] On the final day of the regular season, the Cavaliers faced the Washington Bullets at the Gund Arena , as both teams were fighting for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Bullets won 85–81 as the Cavs missed the playoffs , finishing 5th in the Central Division with a 42–40 record.[3] The Cavaliers had the fifth best team defensive rating in the NBA.[4]
Terrell Brandon led the team with 19.5 points, 6.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game, and was selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game , which Cleveland hosted.[5] Chris Mills averaged 13.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, while Tyrone Hill provided the team with 12.9 points, 9.9 rebounds per game and shot .600 in field-goal percentage, Bobby Phills contributed 12.6 points and 1.6 steals per game, and Danny Ferry provided with 10.6 points per game.[6] Following the season, Brandon and Hill were both traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in an off-season three-team trade,[7] Mills signed as a free agent with the Boston Celtics , who then traded him to the New York Knicks two months later, Phills signed with the Charlotte Hornets , and West signed with the Indiana Pacers .
Offseason [ ]
Free agents [ ]
Trades [ ]
Draft picks [ ]
* 1st round pick acquired from Washington in Mark Price deal.[8] ** 2nd round pick acquired from Orlando in Steve Kerr deal.[9]
Roster [ ]
1996–97 Cleveland Cavaliers roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB (YYYY-MM-DD)
From
PG
1
Brandon, Terrell (C)
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1970–05–20
Oregon
PF
35
Ferry, Danny
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1966–10–17
Duke
PG
2
Geary, Reggie
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
187 lb (85 kg)
1973–08–31
Arizona
C
32
Hill, Tyrone
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1968–03–19
Xavier
C
11
Ilgauskas, Zydrunas (IN)
7 ft 3 in (2.21 m)
238 lb (108 kg)
1975–06–05
Lithuania
PF
21
Lang, Antonio
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1972–05–15
Duke
SF
33
Marshall, Donny
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1972–07–17
Connecticut
SF
24
Mills, Chris
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1970–01–25
Arizona
SG
14
Phills, Bobby
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1969–12–20
Southern
C
52
Potapenko, Vitaly
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
280 lb (127 kg)
1975–03–21
Wright State
C
44
Scott, Shawnelle
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1972–06–16
St. John's
SG
3
Sura, Bob
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1973–03–25
Florida State
SG
23
Thomas, Carl
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
1969–10–03
Eastern Michigan
C
41
West, Mark
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1960–11–05
Old Dominion
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(C) Team captain(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster Last transaction: September 23, 1996
Roster Notes [ ]
Regular season [ ]
Season standings [ ]
Record vs. opponents [ ]
1996-97 NBA Records
Team
ATL
BOS
CHA
CHI
CLE
DAL
DEN
DET
GSW
HOU
IND
LAC
LAL
MIA
MIL
MIN
NJN
NYK
ORL
PHI
PHO
POR
SAC
SAS
SEA
TOR
UTA
VAN
WAS
Atlanta
–
3–1
1–3
1–3
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–3
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–2
4–0
2–0
3–1
1–3
3–1
4–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
4–0
1–1
2–0
2–1
Boston
1–3
–
0–4
0–4
1–2
1–1
1–1
0–4
1–1
0–2
1–2
0–2
1–1
0–4
1–3
0–2
0–4
0–4
0–4
1–3
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
3–1
0–2
0–2
0–4
Charlotte
3–1
4–0
–
0–4
3–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
2–0
2–0
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–2
2–2
2–0
4–0
3–1
1–2
4–0
1–1
0–2
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–2
0–2
2–0
3–1
Chicago
3–1
4–0
4–0
–
3–1
2–0
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
4–0
2–0
1–1
2–2
4–0
2–0
3–1
2–2
3–0
4–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–1
2–0
2–1
Cleveland
1–3
2–1
1–3
1–3
–
2–0
1–1
2–2
1–1
0–2
3–1
2–0
1–1
0–4
2–2
2–0
4–0
1–3
2–2
3–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
2–0
1–3
Dallas
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
–
3–1
0–2
0–4
0–4
1–1
2–2
0–4
0–2
0–2
1–3
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–3
1–3
2–2
1–3
1–3
0–2
1–3
3–1
0–2
Denver
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–3
–
0–2
1–3
1–3
0–2
1–3
0–4
0–2
1–1
0–4
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
2–2
0–4
2–2
2–2
0–4
1–1
0–4
3–1
1–1
Detroit
3–1
4–0
2–2
1–3
2–2
2–0
2–0
–
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–0
1–1
0–4
3–1
2–0
4–0
1–2
2–2
2–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
3–1
1–1
2–0
4–0
Golden State
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
4–0
3–1
0–2
–
0–4
1–1
1–3
0–4
0–2
1–1
1–3
2–0
0–2
1–1
2–0
0–4
2–2
1–3
4–0
0–4
2–0
0–4
3–1
0–2
Houston
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
2–0
4–0
3–1
1–1
4–0
–
1–1
3–1
3–1
0–2
1–1
4–0
2–0
1–1
0–2
2–0
2–2
2–2
4–0
3–1
3–1
1–1
2–2
3–1
2–0
Indiana
1–3
2–1
2–2
0–4
1–3
1–1
2–0
1–3
1–1
1–1
–
2–0
1–1
1–3
2–2
2–0
2–2
1–3
1–3
3–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
4–0
0–2
2–0
1–3
L.A. Clippers
0–2
2–0
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
3–1
0–2
3–1
1–3
0–2
–
2–2
0–2
2–0
1–3
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–2
0–4
2–2
4–0
1–3
2–0
1–3
4–0
0–2
L.A. Lakers
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
4–0
4–0
1–1
4–0
1–3
1–1
2–2
–
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
4–0
1–3
4–0
2–2
3–1
1–1
1–3
4–0
2–0
Miami
2–1
4–0
2–1
2–2
4–0
2–0
2–0
4–0
2–0
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
–
4–0
1–1
3–1
1–3
2–2
3–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
0–2
3–1
0–2
2–0
3–1
Milwaukee
0–4
3–1
2��2
0–4
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–3
1–1
1–1
2–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
–
0–2
2–1
1–2
2–2
3–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
3–1
1–1
2–0
1–3
Minnesota
0–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
0–2
3–1
4–0
0–2
3–1
0–4
0–2
3–1
1–3
1–1
2–0
–
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–2
0–4
4–0
0–4
1–1
1–3
4–0
1–1
New Jersey
1–3
4–0
0–4
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–1
0–4
0–2
0–2
2–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
1–2
0–2
–
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–3
0–2
2–0
1–3
New York
3–1
4–0
1–3
2–2
3–1
1–1
2–0
2–1
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–1
1–1
2–2
–
3–1
3–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
0–2
3–0
1–1
2–0
4–0
Orlando
1–3
4–0
2–1
0–3
2–2
1–1
2–0
2–2
1–1
2–0
3–1
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–2
1–1
3–1
1–3
–
2–2
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
4–0
0–2
1–1
1–3
Philadelphia
0–4
3–1
0–4
0–4
0–3
0–2
1–1
1–2
0–2
0–2
0–3
1–1
0–2
1–3
1–3
1–1
2–2
2–3
2–2
–
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
0–2
2–0
1–3
Phoenix
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–1
2–2
2–0
4–0
2–2
1–1
2–2
0–4
0–2
1–1
1–3
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
–
1–3
4–0
3–1
2–2
0–2
1–3
2–2
1–1
Portland
0–2
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
3–1
4–0
1–1
2–2
2–2
1–1
4–0
3–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–1
–
2–2
4–0
1–3
0–2
2–2
4–0
0–2
Sacramento
0–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
0–2
2–2
2–2
1–1
3–1
0–4
1–1
2–2
0–4
0–2
2–0
4–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–0
0–4
2–2
–
3–1
1–3
1–1
0–4
4–0
0–2
San Antonio
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–0
3–1
2–2
0–2
0–4
1–3
1–1
0–4
2–2
0–2
1–1
0–4
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
0–4
1–3
–
0–4
1–1
1–3
1–3
0–2
Seattle
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
2–0
3–1
4–0
1–1
4–0
1–3
1–1
3–1
1–3
2–0
1–1
4–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
3–1
4–0
–
2–0
1–3
4–0
2–0
Toronto
0–4
1–3
2–2
1–3
1–3
2–0
1–1
1–3
0–2
1–1
0–4
0–2
1–1
1–3
1–3
1–1
3–0
0–3
0–4
3–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
–
1–1
1–1
2–2
Utah
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
3–1
4–0
1–1
4–0
2–2
2–0
3–1
3–1
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
3–1
2–2
4–0
3–1
3–1
1–1
–
4–0
2–0
Vancouver
0–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–3
1–3
0–2
1–3
1–3
0–2
0–4
0–4
0–2
0–2
0–4
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
2–2
0–4
0–4
3–1
0–4
1–1
0–4
–
1–1
Washington
1–2
4–0
1–3
1–2
3–1
2–0
1–1
0–4
2–0
0–2
3–1
2–0
0–2
1–3
3–1
1–1
3–1
0–4
3–1
3–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
0–2
2–2
0–2
1–1
—
Game log [ ]
1996–97 game log Total: 42–40 (Home: 25–16; Road: 17–24)
November: 9–5 (Home: 5–3; Road: 4–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
December : 10–5 (Home: 8–1; Road: 2–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
January : 5–9 (Home: 3–5; Road: 2–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
February : 7–5 (Home: 3–2; Road: 4–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
March : 6–10 (Home: 4–2; Road: 2–8)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
April : 5–6 (Home: 2–3; Road: 3–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
1996–97 schedule
Player stats [ ]
Regular season [ ]
Player
GP
GS
MPG
FG%
3FG%
FT%
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
Terrell Brandon
78
78
36.8
43.8
37.3
90.2
3.9
6.3
1.8
0.4
19.5
Chris Mills
80
79
39.6
45.3
39.1
84.2
6.2
2.5
1.1
0.5
13.4
Tyrone Hill
74
70
34.9
60.0
0.0
63.3
9.9
1.2
0.9
0.4
12.9
Bobby Phills
69
65
34.4
42.8
39.4
71.8
3.6
3.4
1.6
0.3
12.6
Danny Ferry
82
48
32.1
42.9
40.1
85.1
4.1
1.8
0.7
0.4
10.6
Bob Sura
82
23
27.7
43.1
32.3
61.4
3.8
4.8
1.1
0.4
9.2
Vitaly Potapenko
80
3
15.5
44.0
50.0
73.6
2.7
0.5
0.3
0.4
5.8
Mark West
70
43
13.7
55.6
0.0
48.2
2.7
0.3
0.2
0.8
3.2
Donny Marshall
56
0
9.8
32.5
37.9
70.4
1.3
0.4
0.4
0.1
3.1
Antonio Lang
64
1
13.2
42.0
0.0
72.9
2.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
2.7
Reggie Geary
39
0
6.3
37.9
38.1
45.5
0.4
0.9
0.3
0.1
1.5
Shawnelle Scott
16
0
3.1
50.0
0.0
36.4
1.0
0.0
0.0
0.2
1.3
Carl Thomas
19
0
4.1
37.5
16.7
100.0
0.7
0.4
0.1
0.1
1.1
Player Statistics Citation:[6]
Awards and records [ ]
Awards [ ]
Records [ ]
Milestones [ ]
All-Star [ ]
Terrell Brandon - 1997 NBA All-Star Game
Transactions [ ]
Trades [ ]
Free agents [ ]
Development League [ ]
References [ ]
^ 1996–97 Cleveland Cavaliers
^ "1996–97 Cleveland Cavaliers Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021 .
^ "Bullets Beat Cavs, Earn Playoff Berth" . Eugene Register-Guard . 21 April 1997. Retrieved 15 June 2011 .
^ "Teams Defense" . NBA.com . Retrieved April 16, 2021 .
^ "1997 NBA All-Star Game: East 132, West 120" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved November 27, 2021 .
^ a b "1996–97 Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021 .
^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Sonics' Kemp Gets Wish And Is Traded, to Cavs" . New York Times . September 26, 1997. Retrieved July 25, 2021 .
^ O'Dell, Larry. "Price, William Mark (1964- )" . Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture . Oklahoma Historical Society. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2012 .
^ "Trail Blazers Obtain Derek Anderson and Steve Kerr" . Portland Trail Blazers. Archived from the original on 7 March 2005. Retrieved 18 October 2012 .
^ "Ilgauskas sidelined again by foot problem" . UPI Archives . December 26, 2000. Retrieved October 22, 2021 .
External links [ ]
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