NBA basketball team season
The 1997–98 NBA season was the 52nd season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association .[1] In the 1997 NBA draft , the Celtics selected Chauncey Billups from the University of Colorado with the third overall pick, and selected Ron Mercer from the University of Kentucky with the sixth pick.[2] Billups only spent half of his rookie season in Boston, and was traded along with Dee Brown to the Toronto Raptors for Kenny Anderson at midseason.[3] In the off-season, the team acquired second-year forward Walter McCarty from the New York Knicks and signed free agents Travis Knight , Andrew DeClercq and Bruce Bowen . Despite finishing with the NBA's second worst record in 1996–97, the Celtics were back in the headlines after hiring University of Kentucky head coach Rick Pitino as their new coach. Pitino's Celtics career had an auspicious beginning on opening night when the Celtics upset Michael Jordan , and the 5-time defending NBA Champion Chicago Bulls , 92–85 at the FleetCenter on October 31.[4]
After a 1–5 start to the season, the Celtics held a 16–14 record as of January 3, but then lost eight of their next nine games, and later posted a six-game losing streak in March. Although the Celtics did not make the playoffs , they improved their win total by 21 games from the previous season, finishing sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 36–46 record.[5] Second-year star Antoine Walker averaged 22.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, and was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game ,[6] while Mercer averaged 15.3 points per game and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. McCarty provided the team with 9.6 points per game, while Dana Barros contributed 9.8 points and 3.6 assists per game off the bench.[7] Following the season, Knight was traded back to the Los Angeles Lakers .
Draft picks [ ]
Main article: 1997 NBA Draft
Roster [ ]
1997–98 Boston Celtics roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB (YYYY-MM-DD)
From
PG
7
Anderson, Kenny
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
168 lb (76 kg)
1970–10–09
Georgia Tech
PG
11
Barros, Dana
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
163 lb (74 kg)
1967–04–13
Boston College
SF
12
Bowen, Bruce
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1971–06–14
Cal State Fullerton
C
45
DeClercq, Andrew
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1973–02–01
Florida
PG
20
Edney, Tyus
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
152 lb (69 kg)
1973–02–14
UCLA
PF
29
Ellison, Pervis (C)
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1967–04–03
Louisville
SF
34
Hanson, Reggie
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1968–10–06
Kentucky
SF
13
Jones, Dontae'
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1975–06–02
Mississippi State
PF
4
Jones, Popeye (IN)
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1970–06–17
Murray State
C
40
Knight, Travis
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1974–09–13
Connecticut
SF
0
McCarty, Walter
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1974–02–01
Kentucky
SG
5
Mercer, Ron
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1976–05–18
Kentucky
SF
9
Minor, Greg
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1971–09–18
Louisville
C
55
Tabak, Žan
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
1970–06–15
Croatia
PF
8
Walker, Antoine (C)
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
224 lb (102 kg)
1976–08–12
Kentucky
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(C) Team captain(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster Last transaction: April 14, 1998
Roster Notes [ ]
Power forward Popeye Jones was acquired from the Toronto Raptors at midseason, but did not play for the Celtics this season due to a torn ACL.
Regular season [ ]
Season standings [ ]
Record vs. opponents [ ]
1997-98 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
–
2–1
4–0
1–3
4–0
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–3
2–0
0–2
1–3
3–1
0–2
1–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
4–0
0–2
2–0
4–0
Boston
1–2
–
1–2
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
1–1
0–4
2–0
1–1
0–4
2–2
1–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–0
0–2
2–0
3–2
Charlotte
0–4
2–1
–
1–3
2–2
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
2–2
1–3
3–1
2–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
4–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
Chicago
3–1
3–1
3–1
–
2–2
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
2–1
4–0
1–1
4–0
4–0
3–1
2–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
4–0
0–2
2–0
3–1
Cleveland
0–4
3–1
2–2
2–2
–
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–3
2–2
2–0
3–1
1–2
2–2
3–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
2–0
1–2
Dallas
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
–
3–1
0–2
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–3
0–4
0–2
0–2
2–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–4
0–4
0–4
0–4
2–2
1–1
0–4
4–0
1–1
Denver
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–3
–
0–2
1–3
0–4
0–2
2–2
0–4
0–2
0–2
1–3
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
2–2
1–3
0–4
0–4
0–2
0–4
1–3
1–1
Detroit
2–2
2–2
1–3
1–3
1–3
2–0
2–0
–
2–0
1–1
1–3
2–0
0–2
1–2
2–2
0–2
2–2
2–2
1–2
3–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
4–0
0–2
0–2
2–2
Golden State
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
3–1
3–1
0–2
–
1–3
0–2
1–3
1–3
0–2
0–2
0–4
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–4
1–3
2–2
1–3
1–3
0–2
0–4
1–3
0–2
Houston
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
4–0
4–0
1–1
3–1
–
1–1
4–0
1–3
0–2
1–1
1–3
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–3
1–3
4–0
2–2
1–3
2–0
0–4
3–1
1–1
Indiana
3–1
4–0
1–3
2–2
2–2
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
–
2–0
0–2
3–1
4–0
2–0
2–1
2–1
3–1
4–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
4–0
1–1
2–0
4–0
L.A. Clippers
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
3–1
2–2
0–2
3–1
0–4
0–2
–
0–4
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–4
0–4
3–1
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–3
1–3
0–2
L.A. Lakers
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
4–0
4–0
2–0
3–1
3–1
2–0
4–0
–
1–1
2–0
4–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–2
2–2
4–0
4–0
1–3
2–0
3–1
4–0
1–1
Miami
3–1
4–0
1–3
1–2
3–1
2–0
2–0
2–1
2–0
2–0
1–3
2–0
1–1
–
3–1
1–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
4–0
0–2
2–0
2–0
0–2
0–2
4–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
Milwaukee
1–3
2–2
1–3
0–4
2–2
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
0–4
2–0
0–2
1–3
–
1–1
0–4
3–1
2–1
2–2
0–2
2–0
2–0
0–2
1–1
3–1
0–2
1–1
1–2
Minnesota
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–2
3–1
2–0
4–0
3–1
0–2
4–0
0–4
1–1
1–1
–
2–0
1–1
0–2
2–0
3–1
1–3
3–1
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–3
4–0
0–2
New Jersey
2–1
2–2
2–2
0–4
1–3
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
4–0
0–2
–
2–2
3–1
3–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
3–1
0–2
2–0
1–3
New York
2–2
2–2
3–1
0–4
2–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–2
2–0
1–1
2–2
1–3
1–1
2–2
–
4–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–1
0–2
2–0
1–3
Orlando
2–2
2–2
1–3
1–3
2–2
2–0
2–0
2–1
1–1
2–0
1–3
2–0
1–1
1–3
1–2
2–0
1–3
0–4
–
4–0
0–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
1–1
3–1
0–2
2–0
3–1
Philadelphia
1–3
1–3
1–2
1–2
1–3
2–0
2–0
1–3
2–0
1–1
0–4
1–1
2–0
0–4
2–2
0–2
1–3
2–2
0–4
–
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
0–2
2–0
3–1
Phoenix
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
4–0
4–0
1–1
4–0
3–1
1–1
4–0
2–2
2–0
2–0
1–3
1–1
0–2
2–0
1–1
–
2–2
3–1
3–1
2–2
2–0
1–3
4–0
1–1
Portland
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
4–0
2–2
2–0
3–1
3–1
1–1
4–0
2–2
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–2
–
3–1
2–2
0–4
2–0
3–1
2–2
1–1
Sacramento
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
4–0
3–1
1–1
2–2
0–4
0–2
1–3
0–4
0–2
0–2
1–3
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–3
1–3
–
0–4
1–3
1–1
2–2
2–2
1–1
San Antonio
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
2–0
4–0
4–0
1–1
3–1
2–2
2–0
3–1
0–4
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–3
2–2
4–0
–
2–2
2–0
1–3
4–0
1–1
Seattle
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
4–0
2–0
3–1
3–1
2–0
4–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
4–0
3–1
2–2
–
2–0
2–2
4–0
1–1
Toronto
0–4
0–3
0–4
0–4
1–3
1–1
2–0
0–4
2–0
0–2
0–4
1–1
0–2
0–4
1–3
1–1
1–3
1–3
1–3
2–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
–
0–2
1–1
0–3
Utah
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
4–0
4–0
2–0
4–0
4–0
1–1
3–1
1–3
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–3
2–2
3–1
2–2
2–0
–
4–0
0–2
Vancouver
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
3–1
2–0
3–1
1–3
0–2
3–1
0–4
0–2
1–1
0–4
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
2–2
2–2
0–4
0–4
1–1
0–4
–
1–1
Washington
0–4
2–3
2–2
1–3
2–1
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–0
1–1
0–4
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–1
2–0
3–1
3–1
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–0
2–0
1–1
—
Game log [ ]
Player statistics [ ]
Awards and records [ ]
Transactions [ ]
This section is empty. You can help by . (February 2013 )
References [ ]
^ 1997-98 Boston Celtics
^ "After Duncan, Utah Forward Steals Show" . New York Times . June 26, 1997. Retrieved July 25, 2021 .
^ "BASKETBALL; Kenny Anderson Is Traded To Celtics in 7-Player Deal" . New York Times . February 19, 1998. Retrieved July 21, 2017 .
^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Pitino Begins Era by Beating Bulls" . New York Times . November 1, 1997. Retrieved July 26, 2017 .
^ "1997–98 Boston Celtics Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021 .
^ "1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved November 27, 2021 .
^ "1997–98 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021 .
See also [ ]
Boston Celtics
Founded in 1946
Based in Boston, Massachusetts
Franchise Arenas Personnel NBA G League affiliate Retired numbers NBA Championships Rivalries Culture and lore
1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s Bold indicates NBA Finals victory