1997–98 Milwaukee Bucks season

1997–98 Milwaukee Bucks season
Head coach	Chris Ford
General manager	Bob Weinhauer
Owner(s)	Herb Kohl
Arena	Bradley Center
Results
Record	36–46 (.439)
Place	Division: 7th (Central) Conference: 13th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	WVTV Wisconsin Sports Network (Jim Paschke, Jon McGlocklin)
Radio	WTMJ
< 1996–97 1998–99 >

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Bucks' 30th season in the National Basketball Association.^[1] In the off-season, the Bucks acquired All-Star guard Terrell Brandon and Tyrone Hill from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team trade.^[2] The team also selected Danny Fortson from the University of Cincinnati with the tenth pick in the 1997 NBA draft, but soon traded him to the Denver Nuggets for Ervin Johnson,^[3] signed free agent Michael Curry, and re-signed former Bucks star Ricky Pierce in December.^[4] After an 11–8 start to the season, the Bucks slipped under .500, but then posted a six-game winning streak between January and February. However, with Glenn Robinson out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury after 56 games,^[5] the Bucks struggled and went on a nine-game losing streak in March. Brandon only played just 50 games due to an ankle injury, and Hill played just 57 games due to a strained back.^[6] The Bucks finished seventh in the Central Division with a 36–46 record, missing the playoffs in seven straight seasons.^[7]

Robinson averaged 23.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while second-year star Ray Allen had a stellar season, averaging 19.5 points and 1.4 steals per game, and Brandon provided the team with 16.8 points, 7.7 assists and 2.2 steals per game. In addition, Hill contributed 10.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, while Armen Gilliam provided with 11.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, Johnson averaged 8.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game, and Elliot Perry contributed 7.3 points and 2.8 assists per game.^[8]

Following the season, Pierce retired after playing in his second stint with the Bucks, while Andrew Lang signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls, and head coach Chris Ford was fired.

Draft picks[]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	10	Danny Fortson	PF	United States	Cincinnati
2	38	Jerald Honeycutt	SF	United States	Tulane

Roster[]

1997–98 Milwaukee Bucks roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From G 34 Allen, Ray 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1975–07–20 Connecticut G 7 Brandon, Terrell 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1970–05–20 Oregon G/F 12 Curry, Michael 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1968–08–22 Georgia Southern C 11 Feick, Jamie 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1974–07–03 Michigan State F 10 Gilliam, Armen 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1964–05–28 UNLV G 9 Green, Litterial 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1970–03–07 Georgia F 42 Hill, Tyrone 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1968–03–19 Xavier F 25 Honeycutt, Jerald 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1974–10–20 Tulane C 40 Johnson, Ervin 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1967–12–21 New Orleans C 28 Lang, Andrew 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1966–06–28 Arkansas G 5 Perry, Elliot 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 150 lb (68 kg) 1969–03–28 Memphis G 22 Pierce, Ricky 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1959–08–19 Rice F 13 Robinson, Glenn  6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1973–01–10 Purdue

Head coach Chris Ford Assistant coach(es) Jim Todd Dick Versace Mike Woodson Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

Regular season[]

Season standings[]

Central Division v t	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Chicago Bulls	62	20	.756	–	37–4	25–16	21–7
x-Indiana Pacers	58	24	.707	4	32–9	26–15	19–9
x-Charlotte Hornets	51	31	.622	11	32–9	19–22	16–12
x-Atlanta Hawks	50	32	.610	12	29–12	21–20	19–9
x-Cleveland Cavaliers	47	35	.573	15	27–14	20–21	14–14
Detroit Pistons	37	45	.451	25	25–16	12–29	12–16
Milwaukee Bucks	36	46	.439	26	21–20	15–26	9–19
Toronto Raptors	16	66	.195	46	9–32	7–34	2–26

#	Eastern Conference v t
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Chicago Bulls	62	20	.756	–
2	y-Miami Heat	55	27	.671	7
3	x-Indiana Pacers	58	24	.707	4
4	x-Charlotte Hornets	51	31	.622	11
5	x-Atlanta Hawks	50	32	.610	12
6	x-Cleveland Cavaliers	47	35	.573	15
7	x-New York Knicks	43	39	.524	19
8	x-New Jersey Nets	43	39	.524	19
9	Washington Wizards	42	40	.512	20
10	Orlando Magic	41	41	.500	21
11	Detroit Pistons	37	45	.451	25
12	Boston Celtics	36	46	.439	26
12	Milwaukee Bucks	36	46	.439	26
14	Philadelphia 76ers	31	51	.378	31
15	Toronto Raptors	16	66	.195	46

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: 36–46 (Home: 3–1; Road: 2–1)
October: 1–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 1–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 31, 1997 @ Philadelphia W 103–88 Ray Allen (29) CoreStates Center 1–0
November: 8–6 (Home: 5–2; Road: 3–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 2 November 1, 1997 New Jersey L 109–113 Bradley Center 18,717 1–1 3 November 4, 1997 Orlando W 110–76 Ray Allen (20) Bradley Center 12,764 2–1 4 November 6, 1997 Philadelphia W 100–93 Bradley Center 13,851 3–1 5 November 8, 1997 Boston W 105–96 Bradley Center 17,653 4–1 6 November 12, 1997 @ Phoenix L 95–103 America West Arena 19,023 4–2 7 November 13, 1997 @ L. A. Clippers W 102–94 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 4,300 5–2 8 November 15, 1997 @ Vancouver L 94–109 General Motors Place 17,666 5–3 9 November 16, 1997 @ Seattle L 99–119 Key Arena 17,072 5–4 10 November 18, 1997 Detroit W 87–79 Bradley Center 13,065 6–4 11 November 20, 1997 Indiana L 83–109 Bradley Center 14,106 6–5 12 November 22, 1997 @ Dallas W 104–109 Reunion Arena 11,425 7–5 13 November 26, 1997 Vancouver W 101–82 Bradley Center 15,126 8–5 14 November 28, 1997 @ Orlando L 95–103 Orlando Arena 17,070 8–6 15 November 29, 1997 @ Miami W 93–87 Miami Arena 14,897 9–6
December: 5–9 (Home: 5–4; Road: 0–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 16 December 2, 1997 Phoenix L 86–90 Bradley Center 13,131 9–7 17 December 4, 1997 Charlotte W 102–92 Bradley Center 13,898 10–7 18 December 5, 1997 @ Chicago L 62–84 United Center 24,041 10–8 19 December 7, 1997 Seattle W 97–91 Bradley Center 15,806 11–8 20 December 10, 1997 @ Boston L 91–96 Fleet Center 17,012 11–9 21 December 11, 1997 Cleveland L 77–79 Bradley Center 13,105 11–10 22 December 13, 1997 Miami L 87–87 Bradley Center 15,803 11–11 23 December 17, 1997 @ Charlotte L 90–99 Charlotte Coliseum 20,691 11–12 24 December 19, 1997 @ Toronto L 91–92 SkyDome 15,076 11–13 25 December 20, 1997 New York W 98–78 Bradley Center 15,955 12–13 26 December 22, 1997 Washington L 79–110 Bradley Center 14,442 12–14 27 December 26, 1997 Atlanta W 99–94 Bradley Center 17,038 13–14 28 December 27, 1997 @ New Jersey L 104–112 Meadowlands Arena 16,351 13–15 29 December 30, 1997 Dallas W 105–98 Bradley Center 14,948 14–15
January: 1–3 (Home: 0–1; Road: 1–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 30 January 2, 1998 @ Chicago L 100–114 United Center 23,897 14–16 31 January 3, 1998 Boston L 99–106 Bradley Center 16,211 14–17 32 January 5, 1998 @ Portland W 98–92 Rose Garden Arena 19,215 15–17 33 January 7, 1998 @ L. A. Lakers L 98–92 Great Western Forum 15,483 15–18
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
Glenn Robinson	56	56	41.0	47.0	38.5	80.8	5.5	2.8	1.2	0.6	23.4
Ray Allen	82	82	40.1	42.8	36.4	87.5	4.9	4.3	1.4	0.1	19.5
Terrell Brandon	50	48	35.7	46.4	33.3	84.6	3.5	7.7	2.2	0.3	16.8
Armen Gilliam	82	25	25.8	48.4	0.0	80.2	5.4	1.3	0.8	0.5	11.2
Tyrone Hill	57	56	36.2	49.8	0.0	60.8	10.7	1.5	1.2	0.5	10.0
Ervin Johnson	81	81	27.9	53.7	0.0	60.1	8.5	0.7	1.0	2.0	8.0
Elliot Perry	81	33	21.6	43.0	34.0	84.4	1.3	2.8	1.1	0.0	7.3
Michael Curry	82	27	24.1	46.9	44.4	83.5	1.2	1.7	0.7	0.2	6.6
Jerald Honeycutt	38	0	13.9	40.7	37.7	62.1	2.4	0.9	0.5	0.2	6.4
Ricky Pierce	39	0	11.3	36.4	30.8	82.7	1.2	0.9	0.2	0.0	3.9
Andrew Lang	57	0	12.1	37.8	0.0	77.2	2.7	0.3	0.3	0.5	2.7
Tony Smith	7	0	11.4	33.3	0.0	75.0	1.0	1.4	0.7	0.3	2.7
Jamie Feick	45	2	10.0	43.3	30.8	48.8	2.8	0.4	0.6	0.4	2.3
Tim Breaux	6	0	5.0	36.4	33.3	50.0	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.2	1.7
Jeff Nordgaard	13	0	3.7	27.8	0.0	88.9	1.1	0.2	0.2	0.0	1.4
Litterial Green	21	0	5.9	21.7	0.0	75.0	0.3	0.8	0.2	0.0	1.2

^[8]

Awards and records[]

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Transactions[]

Trades[]

June 25, 1997	To Milwaukee Bucks---- Ervin Johnson	To Denver Nuggets---- Danny Fortson Johnny Newman Joe Wolf
September 25, 1997	To Milwaukee Bucks Terrell Brandon Tyrone Hill	To Cleveland Cavaliers Sherman Douglas Shawn Kemp To Seattle SuperSonics Vin Baker

Free agents[]

Player	Signed	Former team
Michael Curry	July 30, 1997	Detroit Pistons
Tim Breaux	August 6, 1997	Rockford Lightning
Jamie Feick	October 2, 1997	San Antonio Spurs
Ricky Pierce	December 4, 1997	Charlotte Hornets

Player Transactions Citation:^[9]

References[]

See also[]

• 1997-98 NBA season