NBA professional basketball team season
The 1997–98 NBA season was the 28th season of the National Basketball Association in Cleveland, Ohio .[1] In the off-season, the Cavaliers acquired All-Star forward Shawn Kemp from the Seattle SuperSonics in a three-team trade,[2] and acquired Wesley Person from the Phoenix Suns in another three-team trade.[3] After a 4–6 start to the season, the Cavs posted a ten-game winning streak between November and December,[4] and played above .500 for the remainder of the season finishing 5th in the Central Division with a 47–35 record, qualifying for the playoffs after a one-year absence.[5] Kemp led the team with 18.0 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, and was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game , which would be his sixth and final All-Star appearance.[6] Person averaged 14.7 points per game and led the league with 192 three-point field goals.[7] The Cavaliers had the best team defensive rating in the NBA.[8]
Last year's first round draft pick Zydrunas Ilgauskas from Lithuania , who missed the previous season with a foot injury, averaged 13.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, while first round draft pick Brevin Knight averaged 9.0 points, 8.2 assists, and led the league with 196 total steals averaging 2.5 per game. Top draft pick Derek Anderson provided the team with 11.7 points per game, and second round draft pick Cedric Henderson contributed 10.1 points per game.[7] Both Ilgauskas and Knight were selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, while Anderson and Henderson both made the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. However, the Cavaliers would lose in four games in the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs to the Indiana Pacers ,[9] and they would not make it back to the postseason until 2006 .
Offseason [ ]
Free Agents [ ]
Trades [ ]
Draft picks [ ]
Main article: 1997 NBA Draft
* 1st round pick acquired from Phoenix in three-way Antonio McDyess deal.[10]
Roster [ ]
1997–98 Cleveland Cavaliers roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB (YYYY-MM-DD)
From
SF
23
Anderson, Derek
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1974–07–18
Kentucky
PG
2
Brooks, Scott
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
165 lb (75 kg)
1965–07–31
UC Irvine
SG
6
Butler, Mitchell
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1970–12–15
UCLA
SG
27
Dumas, Tony
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1972–08–25
UKMC
PF
35
Ferry, Danny
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1966–10–17
Duke
SF
45
Henderson, Cedric
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1975–03–11
Memphis
C
11
Ilgauskas, Zydrunas
7 ft 3 in (2.21 m)
238 lb (108 kg)
1975–06–05
Lithuania
PF
32
James, Henry
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1965–07–29
St. Mary's (TX)
PF
4
Kemp, Shawn (C)
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1969–11–26
Trinity Valley CC
PG
12
Knight, Brevin
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
1975–11–08
Stanford
SG
1
Person, Wesley
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1971–03–28
Auburn
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
30
Thomas, Carl
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
1969–10–03
Eastern Michigan
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(C) Team captain(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster Last transaction: February 22, 1998
Regular season [ ]
Season standings [ ]
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
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 [ ]
1997–98 Game Log Total: 47–35 (Home: 27–14; Road: 20–21)
October: 0-1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–1)
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location/Attendance
Record
November: 9-5 (Home: 4–3; Road: 5–2)
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location/Attendance
Record
December: 8-5 (Home: 4–3; Road: 4–2)
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location/Attendance
Record
January: 9-7 (Home: 5–3; Road: 4–4)
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location/Attendance
Record
February: 4-9 (Home: 2–3; Road: 2–6)
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location/Attendance
Record
March: 11-4 (Home: 7–1; Road: 4–3)
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location/Attendance
Record
April: 6-4 (Home: 5–1; Road: 1–3)
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location/Attendance
Record
Playoffs [ ]
1998 playoff game log
First round: 1–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–2)
1998 schedule
Player stats [ ]
Regular season [ ]
Playoffs [ ]
Player Statistics Citation:[7]
Awards and records [ ]
Awards [ ]
Records [ ]
Milestones [ ]
All-Star [ ]
Shawn Kemp - 1998 NBA All-Star Game
Transactions [ ]
Trades [ ]
Free Agents [ ]
Development League [ ]
References [ ]
^ 1997-98 Cleveland Cavaliers
^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Sonics' Kemp Gets Wish And Is Traded, to Cavs" . New York Times . September 26, 1997. Retrieved March 1, 2017 .
^ "Nuggets Send McDyess to Phoenix" . AP News . October 1, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2021 .
^ "N.B.A.: LAST NIGHT; Cleveland Wins It At the Line" . New York Times . December 12, 1997. Retrieved October 22, 2021 .
^ "1997–98 Cleveland Cavaliers Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ "1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved November 27, 2021 .
^ a b c "1997–98 Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ "Teams Defense" . NBA.com . Retrieved April 16, 2021 .
^ "N.B.A.: PLAYOFFS; Cleveland Ousted" . New York Times . May 1, 1998. Retrieved July 2, 2021 .
^ SUNS: Suns Rise Again in West
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