NBA 1996/97

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National Basketball Association
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Duration November 1996 -
June 1997
Season games per team 82
Number of teams 29
Regular season
Best record United StatesUnited States Chicago Bulls
Season MVP United StatesUnited States Karl Malone
Top scorer United StatesUnited States Michael Jordan
Playoffs
Eastern - Champion United StatesUnited States Chicago Bulls
  Runner-up team      United StatesUnited States Miami Heat
Western - Champion United StatesUnited States Utah Jazz
  Runner-up team      United StatesUnited States Houston Rockets
Finals
NBA champions United StatesUnited States Chicago Bulls
   Runner-up      United StatesUnited States Utah Jazz
Finals MVP United StatesUnited States Michael Jordan

The 1996–97 NBA season marked the National Basketball Association's 51st season . Therefore, this season celebrated the 50th anniversary of the NBA and announced the team of the 50 best NBA players . It was also the debut season of Allen Iverson , Ray Allen , Kobe Bryant , Steve Nash and Jermaine O'Neal . At the end of the season, the Chicago Bulls were 4-2 in the finals against the Utah Jazz Masters.

Season Notes

  • With a record of 69-13, the Chicago Bulls narrowly missed out on two seasons in a row with 70 wins, but still had the second-best record (along with the Los Angeles Lakers ) ever.
  • The Philadelphia 76ers played their first season at the Core States Center (now the Wells Fargo Center )
  • Allen Iverson became the first rookie to score 40 points in five games in a row.
  • Because of the renovation of the Oakland Arena , the Golden State Warriors played their home games in the San Jose Arena (now renamed the HP Pavilion).
  • Dennis Rodman was suspended for 11 games for kicking a cameraman during the away game against the Minnesota Timberwolves .
  • With a three-point throw in the last second by John Stockton in game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, the Utah Jazz reached the finals for the first time.
  • In Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers , Karl Malone set a record as he converted all of his 18 free throws. This record was later broken by Paul Pierce .
  • After seven seasons, the Minnesota Timberwolves reached the playoffs for the first time, making them the last team of the NBA expansion in the 1980s to reach the playoffs.
  • The Atlanta Hawks played their final season at the Omni Coliseum .
  • The season was the 50th anniversary of the NBA. Therefore, the teams mostly wore retro jerseys and the NBA logo on the jerseys was decorated with gold. Furthermore, the team of the 50 best players in NBA history was announced at halftime of the All-Star Games.

Final results

S = wins, N = defeats, PCT = percentage of wins, P = deficit on division leaders

The placements in the seed lists of the respective conference playoffs are listed in brackets.

Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
# team S. N PCT P
1 Miami Heat (2) 61 21st .744 -
2 New York Knicks (3) 57 25th .695 4th
3 Orlando Magic (7) 45 37 .549 16
4th Washington Wizards (8) 44 38 .537 17th
5 New Jersey Nets 26th 56 .317 35
6th Philadelphia 76ers 22nd 60 .268 39
7th Boston Celtics 15th 67 .183 46
Central Division
# team S. N PCT P
1 Chicago Bulls (1) 69 13 .841 -
2 Atlanta Hawks (4) 56 26th .683 4th
3 Detroit Pistons (5) 54 28 .659 11
4th Charlotte Hornets (6) 54 28 .659 12
5 Cleveland Cavaliers 42 40 .512 15th
6th Indiana Pacers 39 43 .476 25th
7th Milwaukee Bucks 33 49 .402 26th
8th Toronto Raptors 30th 52 .366 46
Western Conference
Midwest Division
# team S. N PCT P
1 Utah Jazz (1) 64 18th .780 -
2 Houston Rockets (3) 57 25th .695 7th
3 Minnesota Timberwolves (6) 40 42 .488 24
4th Dallas Mavericks 24 58 .293 40
5 Denver nuggets 21st 61 .256 43
6th San Antonio Spurs 20th 62 .244 44
7th Vancouver grizzlies 14th 68 .171 50
Pacific Division
# team S. N PCT P
1 Seattle SuperSonics (2) 57 25th .695 -
2 Los Angeles Lakers (4) 56 26th .683 1
3 Portland Trail Blazers (5) 49 33 .598 8th
4th Phoenix Suns (7) 40 42 .488 17th
5 Los Angeles Clippers (8) 36 46 .439 21st
6th Sacramento Kings 34 48 .415 23
7th Golden State Warriors 30th 52 .366 27

Honors

Play-offs

The first play-off round was played in the best-of-five format. All other rounds were best-of-seven series. After seven years in the NBA, the Minnesota Timberwolves started for the first time in the postseason.

  First round   Conference semifinals   Conference Finals   NBA finals
                                     
1 Utah 3                  
8th LA Clippers 0  
1 Utah 4th
  4th LA Lakers 1  
4th LA Lakers 3
 
5 Portland 1  
1 Utah 4th
Western Conference
  3 Houston 2  
3 Houston 3      
 
6th Minnesota 0  
3 Houston 4th
  2 Seattle 3  
2 Seattle 3
 
7th Phoenix 2  
W 1 Utah 2
  E 1 Chicago 4th
1 Chicago 3            
 
8th Washington 0  
1 Chicago 4th
  4th Atlanta 1  
4th Atlanta 3
 
5 Detroit 2  
1 Chicago 4th
Eastern Conference
  2 Miami 1  
3 new York 3      
 
6th Charlotte 0  
3 new York 3
  2 Miami 4th  
2 Miami 3
 
7th Orlando 2  

See also

NBA Draft 1996