The 1996–97 NBA season was the Mavericks' 17th season in the National Basketball Association .[1] The Mavericks had the ninth pick in the 1996 NBA draft , and selected Samaki Walker out of Louisville .[2] In the off-season, the team signed free agents Chris Gatling and former Mavs guard Derek Harper ,[3] [4] acquired Eric Montross from the Boston Celtics , and signed undrafted rookie guard Erick Strickland . With new head coach Jim Cleamons , the Mavericks struggles continued with a 4–10 start in November. With the team not showing any improvement, they traded All-Star guard Jason Kidd to the Phoenix Suns for second-year star Michael Finley , Sam Cassell and A.C. Green in late December.[5]
Gatling played a sixth man role, averaging 19.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game off the bench during the first half of the season, and was selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game .[6] [7] At midseason, he was traded along with Cassell, Montross, Jim Jackson and George McCloud to the New Jersey Nets for Shawn Bradley , Robert Pack , Khalid Reeves and second-year forward Ed O'Bannon ,[8] while Jamal Mashburn was dealt to the Miami Heat for second-year guard Sasha Danilovic , second-year forward Kurt Thomas , and rookie forward Martin Muursepp .[9] In February, former Golden State Warriors coach Don Nelson became the team's General Manager. The Mavericks suffered an 11-game losing streak between March and April, which included an 87–80 road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on April 6, where the Mavs scored just two points in the third quarter. It was the fewest points scored in a quarter of a game in NBA history.[10] The Mavericks lost 16 of their final 18 games, finishing fourth in the Midwest Division with a 24–58 record.[11]
For the players who were acquired in trades during the season, Finley averaged 15.6 points per game in 56 games with the Mavericks, while Bradley averaged 14.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game in 32 games, Pack contributed 11.5 points, 6.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game in 20 games, and Green contributed 7.9 points and 9.1 rebounds per game in 56 games. In addition, for the players who spent the entire season with the Mavericks this season, Harper provided with 10.0 points and 4.3 assists per game, and Strickland contributed 10.6 points per game in only just 28 games.[6] Following the season, Harper and O'Bannon were both traded to the Orlando Magic , who released O'Bannon to free agency,[12] and Danilovic was released.
Offseason [ ]
Draft picks [ ]
Main article: 1996 NBA Draft
Roster [ ]
1996–97 Dallas Mavericks roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB (YYYY-MM-DD)
From
C
44
Bradley, Shawn
7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1972–03–22
BYU
G
5
Danilovic, Sasha
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1970–02–26
Serbia
C
50
Dreiling, Greg
7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1962–11–07
Kansas
F
4
Finley, Michael
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1973–03–06
Wisconsin
F
45
Green, A. C.
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1963–10–04
Oregon State
G
12
Harper, Derek
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1961–10–13
Illinois
C
33
King, Stacey
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1967–01–29
Oklahoma
F
13
Muursepp, Martin
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1974–09–26
Estonia
F
31
O'Bannon, Ed
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
222 lb (101 kg)
1972–08–14
UCLA
G
14
Pack, Robert
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1969–02–03
Southern California
G
6
Reeves, Khalid
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
199 lb (90 kg)
1972–07–15
Arizona
G
20
Strickland, Erick
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1973–11–25
Nebraska
F/C
40
Thomas, Kurt (IN)
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1972–10–04
TCU
F
52
Walker, Samaki
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1976–02–25
Louisville
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(C) Team captain(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended(L) On leave from the team Injured
Roster Last transaction: April 15, 1997
Roster Notes [ ]
Center Shawn Bradley holds both American and German citizenship.
Power forward Kurt Thomas was acquired from the Miami Heat at midseason, but did not play with the Mavericks this season due to an ankle injury.
Regular season [ ]
Season standings [ ]
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
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: 24–58 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0)
November: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
December: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
January: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
February: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
March: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
April: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
1996–97 schedule
Player statistics [ ]
[6]
Awards and records [ ]
This section is empty. You can help by . (October 2014 )
Transactions [ ]
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References [ ]
^ "1996-97 Dallas Mavericks" . Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved 2012-06-11 .
^ "For 76ers, Iverson Is No. 1 Choice" . Washington Post . June 27, 1996. Retrieved July 25, 2021 .
^ "Mavericks sign Gatling to 5-year deal" . UPI Archives . July 17, 1996. Retrieved January 18, 2022 .
^ "BASKETBALL; Harper Appears Headed To Mavs" . New York Times . July 26, 1996. Retrieved July 31, 2021 .
^ "Kidd Is Traded to Suns for Cassell, Finley, Green" . Los Angeles Times . December 27, 1996. Retrieved February 28, 2017 .
^ a b c "1996–97 Dallas Mavericks Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021 .
^ "1997 NBA All-Star Game: East 132, West 120" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved November 27, 2021 .
^ "Nets and Mavericks Clean House and Start Over" . New York Times . February 18, 1997. Retrieved July 3, 2021 .
^ "Heat gets Mavericks' Mashburn for three players" . AP News . February 14, 1997. Retrieved July 18, 2021 .
^ "Mavs Score Just 2 Points In a Quarter" . New York Times . April 7, 1997. Retrieved February 28, 2017 .
^ "1996–97 Dallas Mavericks Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021 .
^ "Mavericks send Harper, O'Bannon to Magic for Scott, cash" . AP News . September 25, 1997. Retrieved July 31, 2021 .
See also [ ]
Franchise Arenas Personnel G League affiliate Retired numbers NBA Championships Rivalries Culture and lore
1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s