NBA professional basketball team season
The 1996–97 NBA season was the Nets' 30th season in the National Basketball Association , and 21st season in East Rutherford, New Jersey .[1] In the 1996 NBA draft , the Nets selected Kerry Kittles out of Villanova with the eighth pick.[2] In the off-season, the team acquired Robert Pack from the Washington Bullets , and signed free agents Tony Massenburg , Xavier McDaniel and David Benoit , who missed the entire season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Under new head coach John Calipari , the Nets continued to struggle losing their first five games of the season, which included two games against the Orlando Magic in Tokyo, Japan .[3] At midseason, the Nets traded Pack along with Shawn Bradley , Khalid Reeves and second-year forward Ed O'Bannon to the Dallas Mavericks for Sam Cassell , Jim Jackson , Chris Gatling , Eric Montross and George McCloud , who never played with the Nets and was dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers for Joe Kleine .[4] Gatling only played just three games after the trade due to an ear infection, and was out for the rest of the season.[5] The Nets ended their season with a 26–56 record, finishing fifth in the Atlantic Division.[6]
Kendall Gill averaged 21.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game, while Kittles averaged 16.4 points and 1.9 steals per game, and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, and Jayson Williams continued to show improvement averaging 13.4 points, and leading the team with 13.5 rebounds per game, before sitting out the remainder of the season with a thumb injury after 41 games.[7] Following the season, Jackson and Montross were both dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers , Massenburg signed as a free agent with the Boston Celtics , but was then traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies , and Kleine signed with the Chicago Bulls .
Draft picks [ ]
Main article: 1996 NBA Draft
Round
Pick
Player
Position
Nationality
College
1
8
Kerry Kittles
SG
United States
Villanova
Roster [ ]
1996–97 New Jersey Nets roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB (YYYY-MM-DD)
From
SF
2
Benoit, David (IN)
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
––
Alabama
PG
10
Cassell, Sam
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
––
Florida State
C
33
Dare, Yinka
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
265 lb (120 kg)
––
George Washington
SG
21
Edwards, Kevin
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
––
DePaul
PF
15
Gatling, Chris
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
––
Old Dominion
SG
13
Gill, Kendall
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
––
Illinois
PF
54
Haley, Jack
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
––
UCLA
SF
22
Jackson, Jim
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
––
Ohio State
SG
30
Kittles, Kerry
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
179 lb (81 kg)
––
Villanova
C
35
Kleine, Joe
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
255 lb (116 kg)
––
Arkansas
PF
44
Massenburg, Tony
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
––
Maryland
SF
34
McDaniel, Xavier
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
––
Wichita State
C
00
Montross, Eric
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
270 lb (122 kg)
––
North Carolina
PF
55
Williams, Jayson
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
––
St. John's
SF
7
Williams, Reggie
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
––
Georgetown
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(C) Team captain(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster
Roster Notes [ ]
Small forward David Benoit missed the entire season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.
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 [ ]
This section is empty. You can help by . (January 2011 )
Player statistics [ ]
Regular Season [ ]
Player Statistics Citation:[7]
Awards and records [ ]
Transactions [ ]
This section is empty. You can help by . (January 2011 )
References [ ]
^ 1996–97 New Jersey Nets
^ "For 76ers, Iverson Is No. 1 Choice" . Washington Post . June 27, 1996. Retrieved July 25, 2021 .
^ "Before 38,600 Fans in Tokyo, Nets Run Out of Luck" . New York Times . November 8, 1996. Retrieved July 24, 2017 .
^ "Nets and Mavericks Clean House and Start Over" . New York Times . February 18, 1997. Retrieved July 21, 2017 .
^ "As Scary Ailment Heals, Gatling Finds a Smile" . New York Times . March 28, 1997. Retrieved July 31, 2021 .
^ "1996–97 New Jersey Nets Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021 .
^ a b "1996–97 New Jersey Nets Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021 .
See also [ ]
Franchise Arenas Personnel G League affiliate Retired numbers ABA Championships Rivalries Culture and lore
1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s