1997–98 San Antonio Spurs season

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1997–98 San Antonio Spurs season
Head coachGregg Popovich
General managerGregg Popovich
Owner(s)Peter Holt
ArenaAlamodome
Results
Record56–26 (.683)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Midwest)
Conference: 5th (Western)
Playoff finishConference Semifinals
(Lost to Jazz 1–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKSAT-TV
KRRT
Fox Sports Southwest
RadioWOAI
< 1996–97 1998–99 >

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Spurs' 22nd season in the National Basketball Association, and 31st season as a franchise.[1] This season is most memorable when the Spurs selected Tim Duncan out of Wake Forest University with the first overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft.[2] After finishing with the third-worst record in 1996–97, the Spurs won the 1997 NBA Draft Lottery, dubbed as the "Tim Duncan sweepstakes".[3] During the offseason, the team signed free agents, three-point specialist Jaren Jackson and second-year forward Malik Rose. The Spurs got off to a mediocre 10–10 start, but then won 17 of their next 19 games. Despite losing Sean Elliott for the remainder of the season to a knee injury after 36 games, the Spurs finished second in the Midwest Division with a 56–26 record, and returned to the playoffs after a one-year absence.[4] Duncan averaged 21.1 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game, and was named Rookie of The Year,[5] and was also named to the All-NBA First Team and NBA All-Rookie First Team, while David Robinson averaged 21.6 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team.[6] Both Duncan and Robinson were selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game, and to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. The Spurs had the second best team defensive rating in the NBA.[7]

In the playoffs, the Spurs defeated the 4th-seeded Phoenix Suns 3–1 in the Western Conference First Round,[8] but lost 4–1 to the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference Semifinals.[9] The Jazz would go on to lose in six games to the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year.[10] Following the season, Vinny Del Negro signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks, three-point specialist Chuck Person signed with the Charlotte Hornets, Monty Williams was released to free agency, and Carl Herrera was traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies.

NBA Draft[]

Main article: 1997 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 1 Tim Duncan PF/C  United States Virgin Islands Wake Forest

Roster[]

1997–98 San Antonio Spurs roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From
SF 9 Burton, Willie Injured 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1968-05-26 Minnesota
SG 15 Del Negro, Vinny 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1966-08-09 North Carolina State
PF 21 Duncan, Tim 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1976-04-25 Wake Forest
SF 32 Elliott, Sean Injured 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1968-02-02 Arizona
PG 4 Geary, Reggie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 187 lb (85 kg) 1973-08-31 Arizona
PF 7 Herrera, Carl 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1966-12-14 Houston
SG 2 Jackson, Jaren 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1967-10-27 Georgetown
PG 6 Johnson, Avery 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1965-03-25 Southern
PF 54 Lohaus, Brad 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1964-09-29 Iowa
C 41 Perdue, Will 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1965-08-29 Vanderbilt
SF 45 Person, Chuck 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1964-06-27 Auburn
C 50 Robinson, David 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1965-08-06 Navy
PF 31 Rose, Malik 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1974-11-23 Drexel
SF 3 Williams, Monty 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1971-10-08 Notre Dame
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster

Regular season[]

Tim Duncan[]

The Spurs were coming off a poor 1996–97 NBA season; in which their best player, David Robinson—himself a number one draft pick in 1987—was sidelined for most of the year with an injury. The Spurs had finished with a 20–62 win-loss record.[11] However, as the 1997–98 NBA season approached, the Spurs were considered a notable threat in the NBA. With both an experienced center in Robinson and the number one pick in Duncan, the Spurs featured one of the best frontcourts in the NBA. Duncan and Robinson became known as the "Twin Towers", having earned a reputation for their exceptional defense close to the basket, forcing opponents to take lower percentage shots from outside. From the beginning, Duncan established himself as a quality player: in his second-ever road game, he grabbed 22 rebounds against opposing Chicago Bulls power forward Dennis Rodman, a multiple rebounding champion and NBA Defensive Player of the Year.[12]

Later, when Duncan played against opposing Houston Rockets Hall-of-Fame power forward Charles Barkley, Barkley was so impressed he said: "I have seen the future and he wears number 21 [Duncan's jersey number]."[13] In his rookie season, Duncan lived up the expectations of being the number one draft pick, starting in all 82 regular-season games, and averaging 21.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.5 blocks per game. His defensive contributions ensured that he was elected to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team and was also named NBA Rookie of the Year. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich lauded Duncan's mental toughness, stating his rookie's "demeanor was singularly remarkable", Duncan always "put things into perspective" and never got "too upbeat or too depressed."[14] Center Robinson was equally impressed with Duncan: "He's the real thing. I'm proud of his attitude and effort. He gives all the extra effort and work and wants to become a better player."[15]

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


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[]

Playoffs[]

1998 playoff game log
First Round: 3–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–1)
Conference Semifinals: 1–4 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–3)
1998 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

Season[]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Cory Alexander 37 3 13.5 .414 .313 .676 1.3 1.9 .7 .1 4.5
Willie Burton 13 0 3.3 .381 .333 .667 .7 .1 .2 .2 2.1
Vinny Del Negro 54 38 31.9 .441 .436 .796 2.8 3.4 .7 .1 9.5
Tim Duncan 82 82 39.1 .549 .000 .662 11.9 2.7 .7 2.5 21.1
Reggie Geary 62 2 11.0 .331 .300 .500 1.1 1.2 .6 .2 2.5
Sean Elliott 36 36 28.1 .403 .378 .718 3.4 1.7 .7 .4 9.3
Carl Herrera 58 1 8.9 .434 .000 .409 1.6 .4 .3 .2 2.9
Jaren Jackson 82 45 27.1 .394 .377 .797 2.6 1.9 .7 .1 8.8
Avery Johnson 75 73 35.7 .478 .154 .726 2.0 7.9 1.1 .2 10.2
Brad Lohaus 9 0 11.3 .333 .286 .333 1.3 .6 .1 .2 2.1
Will Perdue 79 30 18.9 .549 . .526 6.8 .7 .3 .6 5.0
Chuck Person 61 11 23.9 .359 .344 .757 3.3 1.4 .5 .2 6.7
David Robinson 73 73 33.7 .511 .250 .735 10.6 2.7 .9 2.6 21.6
Malik Rose 53 0 8.1 .434 .333 .639 1.7 .4 .4 .1 3.0
Monty Williams 72 16 18.3 .448 .500 .670 2.5 1.2 .5 .3 6.3

Playoffs[]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Vinny Del Negro 9 3 31.4 .481 .200 .941 2.7 3.2 .9 . 10.7
Tim Duncan 9 9 41.6 .521 . .667 9.0 1.9 .6 2.6 20.7
Reggie Geary 7 0 6.6 .429 .250 .500 .3 .9 .1 . 1.3
Carl Herrera 5 0 5.0 .333 . . .8 .2 . . .4
Jaren Jackson 9 8 35.4 .341 .305 .737 4.3 1.6 .6 .1 10.2
Avery Johnson 9 9 38.0 .604 . .667 1.4 6.1 1.0 . 17.3
Brad Lohaus 4 0 2.5 . . . .5 .3 .3 . .
Will Perdue 9 7 21.2 .333 . .857 6.7 .1 .7 1.0 4.0
Chuck Person 9 0 21.8 .340 .350 1.000 3.0 .8 .4 . 5.8
David Robinson 9 9 39.2 .425 . .635 14.1 2.6 1.2 3.3 19.4
Malik Rose 5 0 3.6 .667 . .500 1.4 .2 .2 . 2.0
Monty Williams 5 0 5.6 .625 . .667 1.2 .2 . . 2.4

Award winners[]

Transactions[]

References[]

  1. ^ 1997-98 San Antonio Spurs
  2. ^ "After Duncan, Utah Forward Steals Show". New York Times. June 26, 1997. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  3. ^ "Spurs Win the Tim Duncan Sweepstakes". The New York Times. May 19, 1997.
  4. ^ "1997–98 San Antonio Spurs Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  5. ^ "Duncan Wins Rookie of Year Award". Washington Post. April 27, 1998. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  6. ^ "1997–98 San Antonio Spurs Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  7. ^ "Teams Defense". NBA.com. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  8. ^ "Spurs' Johnson soars in game of 'Small Ball'". Deseret News. April 30, 1998. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  9. ^ "Utah 87, San Antonio 77". UPI Archives. May 12, 1998. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  10. ^ "Michael Jordan hits 'The Shot', and the Chicago Bulls beat Utah Jazz for their 6th NBA championship". Chicago Tribune. June 15, 1998. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  11. ^ 1996-97 Standings Archived 2015-11-25 at the Wayback Machine, nba.com/history, accessed 19 April 2007.
  12. ^ Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. pp. 47. ISBN 978-1-58261-179-2.
  13. ^ Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. pp. 13. ISBN 978-1-58261-179-2.
  14. ^ Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. pp. 25. ISBN 978-1-58261-179-2.
  15. ^ Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. pp. 44. ISBN 978-1-58261-179-2.
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