1997–98 Dallas Mavericks season

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1997–98 Dallas Mavericks season
Head coach
General managerDon Nelson
ArenaReunion Arena
Results
Record20–62 (.244)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Midwest)
Conference: 10th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKXTX-TV
Fox Sports Southwest
RadioWBAP
< 1996–97 1998–99 >

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Mavericks' 18th season in the National Basketball Association.[1] In the off-season, the Mavericks acquired three-point specialist Dennis Scott from the Orlando Magic,[2] and signed free agent Hubert Davis.[3] After winning their first three games of the season, the Mavericks struggled once again losing ten straight in November. Head coach Jim Cleamons was fired and replaced with General Manager Don Nelson after a 4–12 start.[4] Along the way, forward A.C. Green broke the NBA's Iron Man record of most consecutive games played, breaking Randy Smith's record which was 906 consecutive games.[5] After winning their first game under Nelson, which was a 105–91 home victory over the New York Knicks on December 4, the Mavericks traveled to Mexico City, Mexico, where they lost to the Houston Rockets 108–106 on December 6, 1997, which was the first NBA regular season game played in Mexico.[6]

The Mavericks posted a 15-game losing streak between December and January, which led to a dreadful 5–27 start, then later holding a 9–38 record before the All-Star break. Players like Shawn Bradley, Robert Pack, Kurt Thomas and second-year forward Samaki Walker all missed large parts of the season with injuries. At midseason, the team traded Scott to the Phoenix Suns for Cedric Ceballos,[7] who played just 12 games before sitting out the remainder of the season with a knee injury. The team also signed free agent Shawn Respert, who was previously released by the Toronto Raptors. The Mavericks played .500 basketball posting an 8–8 record in March, but then lost eight of their final nine games finishing fifth in the Midwest Division with a 20–62 record.[8]

Michael Finley averaged 21.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game, while Bradley averaged 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game, and Davis contributed 11.1 points per game. In addition, Walker provided the team with 8.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in only just 41 games, while Khalid Reeves contributed 8.7 points per game, and Green provided with 7.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.[9] Following the season, Thomas signed as a free agent with the New York Knicks, while second-year forward Martin Muursepp was traded to the Phoenix Suns, and Respert was released to free agency.

Offseason[]

Draft picks[]

Main article: 1997 NBA Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 15 Kelvin Cato C  United States Iowa State
2 34 Bubba Wells SF/SG  United States Austin Peay State

Roster[]

1997–98 Dallas Mavericks roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From
C 11 Anstey, Chris 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 249 lb (113 kg) 1975–01–01 Australia
C 44 Bradley, Shawn 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1972–03–22 BYU
F 23 Ceballos, Cedric Injured 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1969–08–02 Cal State Fullerton
G 24 Davis, Hubert 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 183 lb (83 kg) 1970–05–17 North Carolina
G/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
F 13 Muursepp, Martin 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1974–09–26 Estonia
G 14 Pack, Robert Injured 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 21 Respert, Shawn 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1972–02–06 Michigan State
C 50 Riley, Eric 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1970–06–02 Michigan
G 20 Strickland, Erick 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1973–11–25 Nebraska
F 40 Thomas, Kurt Injured 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1972–10–04 TCU
F 52 Walker, Samaki Injured 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1976–02–25 Louisville
G/F 35 Wells, Bubba 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1974–07–26 Austin Peay
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 Injured

Roster
Last transaction: March 27, 1998

Roster Notes[]

  • Center Shawn Bradley holds both American and German citizenship.
  • Rookie power forward Ace Custis missed the entire season with a torn ACL, and never played for the Mavericks.

Regular season[]

Season standings[]

Midwest Division
W L PCT GB Home Road Div
z-Utah Jazz 62 20 .756 – 36–5 26–15 22–2
x-San Antonio Spurs 56 26 .683 6 31–10 25–16 18–6
x-Minnesota Timberwolves 45 37 .549 17 26–15 19–22 14–10
x-Houston Rockets 41 41 .500 21 24–17 17–24 14–10
Dallas Mavericks 20 62 .244 42 13–28 7–34 9–15
Vancouver Grizzlies 19 63 .232 43 14–27 5–36 4–20
Denver Nuggets 11 71 .134 51 9–32 2–39 3–21
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Utah Jazz 62 20 .756 –
2 y-Seattle SuperSonics 61 21 .744 1
3 x-Los Angeles Lakers 61 21 .744 1
4 x-Phoenix Suns 56 26 .683 6
5 x-San Antonio Spurs 56 26 .683 6
6 x-Portland Trail Blazers 46 36 .561 16
7 x-Minnesota Timberwolves 45 37 .549 17
8 x-Houston Rockets 41 41 .500 21
9 Sacramento Kings 27 55 .329 35
10 Dallas Mavericks 20 62 .244 42
11 Vancouver Grizzlies 19 63 .232 43
11 Golden State Warriors 19 63 .232 43
13 Los Angeles Clippers 17 65 .207 45
14 Denver Nuggets 11 71 .134 51


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: 20–62 (Home: 13–28; Road: 7–34)
October: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
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
1997–98 schedule

Player statistics[]

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Michael Finley 82 82 41.4 44.9 35.7 78.4 5.3 4.9 1.6 0.4 21.5
Cedric Ceballos 12 9 30.3 47.8 30.0 77.0 6.0 2.1 0.9 0.7 16.9
Dennis Scott 52 42 34.6 38.7 34.4 82.2 3.8 2.5 0.8 0.6 13.6
Shawn Bradley 64 46 28.5 42.2 33.3 72.2 8.1 0.9 0.8 3.3 11.4
Hubert Davis 81 30 29.4 45.6 43.9 83.6 2.1 1.9 0.5 0.1 11.1
Samaki Walker 41 19 25.0 48.6 0.0 54.6 7.4 0.6 0.7 1.0 8.9
Khalid Reeves 82 54 23.8 41.8 36.8 77.5 2.3 2.8 1.0 0.1 8.7
Shawn Respert 10 0 21.5 42.9 23.1 57.1 2.7 1.7 0.5 0.0 8.2
Robert Pack 12 10 24.3 33.7 50.0 69.4 2.8 3.5 1.7 0.1 7.8
Erick Strickland 67 19 22.5 35.7 29.4 77.4 2.4 2.5 0.8 0.1 7.6
Kurt Thomas 5 0 14.6 37.8 0.0 100.0 4.8 0.6 0.2 0.0 7.4
A.C. Green 82 68 32.3 45.3 0.0 71.6 8.1 1.5 1.0 0.3 7.3
Chris Anstey 41 8 16.6 39.8 18.8 71.6 3.8 0.9 0.8 0.7 5.9
Martin Muursepp 41 7 14.7 43.5 42.1 76.1 2.8 0.7 0.7 0.3 5.7
Eric Riley 39 14 13.9 41.5 0.0 75.0 3.4 0.6 0.4 1.2 3.6
Bubba Wells 39 2 10.1 41.4 16.7 72.1 1.7 0.9 0.4 0.1 3.3
Kevin Ollie 16 0 13.4 33.3 0.0 72.0 1.3 2.0 0.4 0.0 2.9
Adrian Caldwell 1 0 3.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

[9]

Awards and records[]

Transactions[]

References[]

  1. ^ "1997-98 Dallas Mavericks". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved 2012-06-11.
  2. ^ "Mavericks send Harper, O'Bannon to Magic for Scott, cash". AP News. September 25, 1997. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  3. ^ "Two Free Agents Sign". New York Times. September 5, 1997. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  4. ^ "Mavericks Name Don Nelson Coach". AP News. December 5, 1997. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  5. ^ "They're Iron Men at Heart". Los Angeles Times. November 21, 1997. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  6. ^ "IN MEXICO, ROCKETS EDGE MAVS". Washington Post. December 7, 1997. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  7. ^ "Celtics Land Anderson in Deal With Raptors". Los Angeles Times. February 19, 1998. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  8. ^ "1997–98 Dallas Mavericks Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  9. ^ a b "1997–98 Dallas Mavericks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.

See also[]

  • 1997-98 NBA season
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