NBA professional basketball team season
The 1998–99 NBA season was the Nuggets' 23rd season in the National Basketball Association , and 32nd season as a franchise.[1] After their dreadful season, where they finished with the league's worst record at 11–71, the Nuggets received the third overall pick the 1998 NBA draft , and selected Raef LaFrentz from the University of Kansas .[2] During the off-season, the team acquired Nick Van Exel from the Los Angeles Lakers ,[3] second-year guard Chauncey Billups from the Toronto Raptors , and second-year forward Johnny Taylor and top draft pick Keon Clark from the Orlando Magic .
Despite the return of Antonio McDyess , who was re-signed by the team after one season with the Phoenix Suns ,[4] the Nuggets continued to struggle under new head coach Mike D'Antoni , losing eight of their first nine games in a lockout shortened season cut to 50 games.[5] [6] Things would get worse as LaFrentz suffered an ankle injury after just twelve games, and was out for the remainder of the season, averaging 13.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.[7] Without their top draft pick, second-year forward Danny Fortson would step into the lineup, averaging 11.0 points and leading the team with 11.6 rebounds per game. The Nuggets lost their final seven games, and finished sixth in the Midwest Division with a 14–36 record.[8] The Nuggets had the worst team defensive rating in the NBA.[9]
McDyess had a stellar season averaging 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, while being named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Van Exel provided the team with 16.5 points and 7.4 assists per game, and Billups contributed 13.9 points per game.[10] This was also their final season playing at McNichols Sports Arena before moving to the Pepsi Center the following season. Also following the season, Fortson, Eric Williams and second-year guard Eric Washington were all traded to the Boston Celtics ,[11] and D'Antoni was fired as head coach.
Draft picks [ ]
Main article: 1998 NBA Draft
Roster [ ]
1998–99 Denver Nuggets roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB (YYYY-MM-DD)
From
G
7
Alexander, Cory
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
––
Virginia
G
4
Billups, Chauncey
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
202 lb (92 kg)
––
Colorado
F/C
13
Clark, Keon
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
––
UNLV
F
15
Fortson, Danny
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
260 lb (118 kg)
––
Cincinnati
F
21
Herrera, Carl
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
––
Houston
C
45
LaFrentz, Raef
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
––
Kansas
G
11
McCarty, Kelly
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
––
Southern Miss
F/C
24
McDyess, Antonio (C)
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
––
Alabama
C
34
Meyer, Loren
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
257 lb (117 kg)
––
Iowa State
G/F
23
Stith, Bryant
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
208 lb (94 kg)
––
Virginia
F
17
Taylor, Johnny
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
––
Chattanooga
G
31
Van Exel, Nick (C)
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
––
Cincinnati
G
14
Washington, Eric
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
––
Alabama
F
32
Williams, Eric
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
––
Providence
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(C) Team captain(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster
Roster Notes [ ]
Head coach Mike D'Antoni holds American and Italian dual citizenship. He played for the Italian national team although he was born in the United States.
Rookie shooting guard Kelly McCarty holds American and Russian dual citizenship. He played for the Russian national team although he was born in the United States.
Regular season [ ]
Season standings [ ]
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents [ ]
1998-99 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
–
3–0
3–0
3–1
2–1
0–1
0–0
1–2
0–0
1–0
3–1
1–0
0–0
0–3
1–2
0–0
1–2
2–1
2–2
2–1
1–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
2–1
0–0
1–0
2–1
Boston
0–3
–
1–2
2–1
2–2
0–0
1–0
0–3
0–0
0–0
0–3
1–0
0–0
3–0
0–3
0–1
1–2
1–2
1–2
1–2
0–0
0–1
0–1
0–0
0–0
1–2
0–0
1–0
3–1
Charlotte
0–3
2–1
–
2–1
2–1
0–0
0–0
3–0
0–1
0–0
1–2
0–0
0–1
1–2
2–2
0–0
3–0
1–3
1–2
1–2
1–0
1–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
2–1
1–0
0–0
2–1
Chicago
1–3
1–2
1–2
–
0–3
0–1
0–0
0–3
0–0
0–0
0–3
1–0
0–0
1–2
1–3
0–0
2–1
1–2
0–3
1–2
0–0
0–0
0–0
0–1
0–1
1–2
0–1
1–0
1–2
Cleveland
1–2
2–2
1–2
3–0
–
0–0
0–0
1–2
1–0
0–1
0–3
0–0
1–0
0–3
1–2
0–0
3–0
1–2
1–2
1–2
1–0
0–0
0–0
1–0
0–0
2–2
0–1
0–0
1–2
Dallas
1–0
0–0
0–0
1–0
0–0
–
2–1
0–1
2–2
2–2
0–0
3–0
0–3
0–1
0–0
1–2
0–1
0–0
1–0
0–0
1–3
0–3
2–2
1–3
0–3
0–0
0–3
2–1
0–0
Denver
0–0
0–1
0–0
0–0
0–0
1–2
–
0–0
1–3
0–4
0–1
3–0
1–2
0–1
1–0
0–3
1–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
0–3
0–3
0–3
0–4
2–2
0–0
1–2
3–1
0–1
Detroit
2–1
3–0
0–3
3–0
2–1
1–0
0–0
–
0–0
0–0
2–1
0–0
0–0
2–1
2–1
0–1
2–1
2–1
0–4
1–3
1–0
0–0
0–0
0–1
1–0
2–1
1–0
0–0
2–1
Golden State
0–0
0–0
1–0
0–0
0–1
2–2
3–1
0–0
–
0–3
1–0
2–1
1–2
0–0
0–1
2–2
0–0
0–0
0–1
0–0
1–2
2–2
1–2
0–3
1–2
0–0
0–4
4–0
0–0
Houston
0–1
0–0
0–0
0–0
1–0
2–2
4–0
0–0
3–0
–
0–0
3–1
1–2
0–1
0–0
2–1
1–0
0–0
0–1
0–0
2–2
2–1
3–0
0–3
2–1
1–0
0–3
4–0
0–0
Indiana
1–2
3–0
2–1
3–0
3–0
0–0
1–0
1–2
0–1
0–0
–
0–0
1–0
2–2
3–0
0–0
3–1
2–1
1–2
1–2
0–0
0–1
0–0
0–0
0–0
2–1
0–0
1–0
3–0
L.A. Clippers
0–1
0–1
0–0
0–1
0–0
0–3
0–3
0–0
1–2
1–3
0–0
–
0–4
0–0
0–0
2–2
1–0
0–1
0–0
0–0
0–3
1–2
1–2
0–3
0–3
0–1
1–3
1–3
0–0
L.A. Lakers
0–0
0–0
1–0
0–0
0–1
3–0
2–1
0–0
2–1
2–1
0–1
4–0
–
0–0
0–0
2–1
0–0
1–0
1–0
0–1
3–1
2–2
1–2
2–1
2–2
0–0
1–3
2–1
0–0
Miami
3–0
0–3
2–1
2–1
3–0
1–0
1–0
1–2
0–0
1–0
2–2
0–0
0–0
–
2–1
0–1
3–1
2–2
2–1
2–1
0–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
3–0
0–1
0–0
3–0
Milwaukee
2–1
3–0
2–2
3–1
2–1
0–0
0–1
1–2
1–0
0–0
0–3
0–0
0–0
1–2
–
1–0
2–1
2–1
1–2
1–2
0–1
0–0
0–0
0–0
1��0
3–1
0–0
0–0
2–1
Minnesota
0–0
1–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
2–1
3–0
1–0
2–2
1–2
0–0
2–2
1–2
1–0
0–1
–
0–0
0–1
0–0
0–0
1–2
0–3
3–1
2–2
2–1
0–1
0–3
3–1
0–0
New Jersey
2–1
2–1
0–3
1–2
0–3
1–0
0–1
1–2
0–0
0–1
1–3
0–1
0–0
1–3
1–2
0–0
–
0–3
0–3
1–2
0–0
0–1
0–0
0–0
1–0
2–1
0–0
0–0
2–1
New York
1–2
2–1
3–1
2–1
2–1
0–0
0–0
1–2
0–0
0–0
1–2
1–0
0–1
2–2
1–2
1–0
3–0
–
0–3
3–1
1–0
0–0
0–1
0–0
0–0
1–2
0–0
0–0
2–1
Orlando
2–2
2–1
2–1
3–0
2–1
0–1
0–0
4–0
1–0
1–0
2–1
0–0
0–1
1–2
2–1
0–0
3–0
3–0
–
1–2
0–0
0–0
1–0
0–1
0–0
1–2
0–0
0–0
2–1
Philadelphia
1–2
2–1
2–1
2–1
2–1
0–0
0–0
3–1
0–0
0–0
2–1
0–0
1–0
1–2
2–1
0–0
2–1
1–3
2–1
–
0–0
0–1
1–0
0–1
0–1
2–1
0–0
1–0
1–2
Phoenix
0–1
0–0
0–1
0–0
0–1
3–1
3–0
0–1
2–1
2–2
0–0
3–0
1–3
0–0
1–0
2–1
0–0
0–1
0–0
0–0
–
0–3
0–3
2–2
3–0
0–0
2–2
3–0
0–0
Portland
0–0
1–0
0–1
0–0
0–0
3–0
3–0
0–0
2–2
1–2
1–0
2–1
2–2
0–0
0–0
3–0
1–0
0–0
0–0
1–0
3–0
–
4–0
1–3
2–2
0–0
1–2
4–0
0–0
Sacramento
0–0
1–0
1–0
0–0
0–0
2–2
3–0
0–0
2–1
0–3
0–0
2–1
2–1
0–0
0–0
1–3
0–0
1–0
0–1
0–1
3–0
0–4
–
1–2
2–2
0–0
1–2
4–0
1–0
San Antonio
0–0
0–0
0–0
1–0
0–1
3–1
4–0
1–0
3–0
3–0
0–0
3–0
1–2
0–0
0–0
2–2
0–0
0–0
1–0
1–0
2–2
3–1
2–1
–
2–1
0–1
2–1
3–0
0–0
Seattle
0–0
0–0
0–0
1–0
0–0
3–0
2–2
0–1
2–1
1–2
0–0
3–0
2–2
0–0
0–1
1–2
0–1
0–0
0–0
1–0
0–3
2–2
2–2
1–2
–
0–0
2–2
2–1
0–1
Toronto
1–2
2–1
1–2
2–1
2–2
0–0
0–0
1–2
0–0
0–1
1–2
1–0
0–0
0–3
1–3
1–0
1–2
2–1
2–1
1–2
0–0
0–0
0–0
1–0
0–0
–
0–0
1–0
2–2
Utah
0–0
0–0
0–1
1–0
1–0
3–0
2–1
0–1
4–0
3–0
0–0
3–1
3–1
1–0
0–0
3–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
0–0
2–2
2–1
2–1
1–2
2–2
0–0
–
3–0
1–0
Vancouver
0–1
0–1
0–0
0–1
0–0
1–2
1–3
0–0
0–3
0–4
0–1
3–1
1–2
0–0
0–0
1–3
0–0
0–0
0–0
0–1
0–3
0–3
0–4
0–3
1–2
0–1
0–3
–
0–0
Washington
1–2
1–3
1–2
2–1
2–1
0–0
1–0
1–2
0–1
0–0
0–3
0–0
0–0
0–3
1–2
0–0
1–2
1–2
1–2
2–1
0–0
0–1
0–1
0–0
1–0
2–2
0–1
0–0
—
Game log [ ]
This section is empty. You can help by . (January 2011 )
Player statistics [ ]
Regular season [ ]
Player Statistics Citation:[10]
Awards and records [ ]
Transactions [ ]
This section is empty. You can help by . (January 2011 )
References [ ]
^ 1998-99 Denver Nuggets
^ "PRO BASKETBALL; 7 Feet 1 Inch of Potential at No. 1" . New York Times . June 25, 1998. Retrieved July 25, 2021 .
^ "Van Exel Is Exiled to Nuggets" . Los Angeles Times . June 25, 1998. Retrieved December 28, 2021 .
^ "NBA DEALINGS: McDyess, Divac and Smith sign" . Kitsap Sun . January 23, 1999. Retrieved July 27, 2021 .
^ "BASKETBALL; It's Their Ball, and N.B.A. Owners Call for Lockout" . New York Times . June 30, 1998. Retrieved January 20, 2022 .
^ "With Lockout Over, Players Work Out" . New York Times . January 24, 1999. Retrieved January 20, 2022 .
^ "Lafrentz Injury Worse Than Feared" . Chicago Tribune . February 27, 1999. Retrieved March 2, 2017 .
^ "1998–99 Denver Nuggets Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 15, 2021 .
^ "Teams Defense" . NBA.com . Retrieved April 17, 2021 .
^ a b "1998–99 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 15, 2021 .
^ "NBA Trade Roundup" . AP News . August 4, 1999. Retrieved January 20, 2022 .
See also [ ]
Franchise Arenas Personnel G League affiliate Retired numbers Culture and lore
1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s