1997–98 Philadelphia 76ers season
NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1997–98 NBA season was the 76ers 49th season in the National Basketball Association , and 35th season in Philadelphia .[ 1] The 76ers had the second overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft , and selected Keith Van Horn from the University of Utah ,[ 2] [ 3] [ 4] [ 5] [ 6] but soon traded him to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Jim Jackson , Eric Montross , top draft pick Tim Thomas out of Villanova University , and first-round draft pick Anthony Parker out of Bradley University ,[ 7] [ 8] [ 9] [ 10] and signed free agent and former All-Star forward Terry Cummings during the off-season.[ 11] [ 12] [ 13] In November, the team traded their second-round draft pick, Slovenian rookie forward Marko Milič , to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for former All-Star forward Tom Chambers ; however, after only just one game for the 76ers, Chambers retired in December.[ 14] [ 15] [ 16] [ 17]
Under new head coach Larry Brown ,[ 18] [ 19] [ 20] [ 21] the Sixers got off to a rough start losing their first five games. In late December, the team traded Montross along with Jerry Stackhouse to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Theo Ratliff and Aaron McKie ,[ 22] [ 23] [ 24] [ 25] then later on acquired Eric Snow from the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for a draft pick.[ 26] At mid-season, they traded Jackson along with Clarence Weatherspoon to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Joe Smith and Brian Shaw ,[ 27] [ 28] [ 29] [ 30] while Cummings was dealt to the New York Knicks in exchange for Herb Williams , who was released by the 76ers, and re-signed with the Knicks.[ 31] [ 32] [ 33] [ 34] With a 14–31 record at the All-Star break,[ 35] the Sixers showed improvement posting a 17–20 record for the remainder of the season, finishing last place in the Atlantic Division with a 31–51 record, missing the playoffs for seven straight seasons.[ 36]
Second-year star Allen Iverson had a stellar season leading the team with 22.0 points, 6.2 assists and 2.2 steals per game, while Derrick Coleman provided the team with 17.6 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, but only played 59 games due to an irregular heartbeat, and an ankle injury,[ 37] [ 38] [ 39] and Thomas contributed 11.0 points per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.[ 40]
The start of the rebuilding of the franchise began with the acquisitions of Ratliff, McKie and Snow. These three players blended well with coach Brown's philosophy, and this would be the last season in which the Sixers missed the postseason until 2004 . Following the season, Coleman signed as a free agent with the Charlotte Hornets ,[ 41] [ 42] [ 43] [ 44] while Smith signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves ,[ 45] [ 46] [ 47] and Shaw and Mark Davis were both released to free agency.
For the season, the Sixers revealed a new primary logo with the team name "76ers" in gold,[ 48] and changed their uniforms, replacing the red and blue colors with black and gold in their color scheme.[ 49] [ 50] The jerseys were slightly redesigned in 2000, while the logo remained in use until 2009.
Offseason
Draft picks
Roster
1997–98 Philadelphia 76ers roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
C
00
Benjamin, Benoit
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1964–11–22
Creighton
F
44
Coleman, Derrick
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1967–06–21
Syracuse
F
7
Davis, Mark
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1973–04–26
Texas Tech
G
3
Iverson, Allen
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
165 lb (75 kg)
1975–06–07
Georgetown
G
8
McKie, Aaron
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
209 lb (95 kg)
1972–10–02
Temple
G
11
Overton, Doug
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1969–08–03
La Salle
G
12
Parker, Anthony
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1975–06–19
Bradley
C
42
Ratliff, Theo
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1973–04–17
Wyoming
G
22
Shaw, Brian
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1966–03–22
UC Santa Barbara
F
9
Smith, Joe
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1975–07–26
Maryland
G
20
Snow, Eric
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1973–04–24
Michigan State
F
41
Stewart, Kebu
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
239 lb (108 kg)
1973–12–19
Cal State Bakersfield
F
1
Thomas, Tim
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1977–02–26
Villanova
C
55
Williams, Scott
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1968–03–21
North Carolina
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster Last transaction: March 30, 1998
Regular season
Season standings
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
° - did not make playoffs
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
—
Player statistics
Regular season
† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the 76ers only.
Awards and records
Transactions
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adding to it .
(July 2021 )
References
^ 1997-98 Philadelphia 76ers
^ Wise, Mike (June 26, 1997). "After Duncan, Utah Forward Steals Show" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 25, 2021 .
^ Heisler, Mark (June 26, 1997). "Draft Over, But Not Finished" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 1, 2022 .
^ Cotton, Anthony (June 26, 1997). "No. 1 Pick Turns Duncan Into Spur of Moment" . The Washington Post . Retrieved December 1, 2022 .
^ "First Round Selections in the 1997 NBA Draft Wednesday in Charlotte, N.C." Hartford Courant . June 26, 1997. Retrieved June 2, 2023 .
^ "1997 NBA Draft" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved December 1, 2022 .
^ "NBA Trade Sends No. 2 Pick Van Horn to New Jersey" . Chicago Tribune . June 27, 1997. Retrieved June 22, 2023 .
^ Roberts, Selena (June 28, 1997). "The Nets Decide the Future Can't Wait" . The New York Times . Retrieved June 22, 2023 .
^ "Van Horn Finally on His Way to New Jersey in 76er Trade" . Los Angeles Times . Staff and Wire Reports. June 28, 1997. Retrieved June 22, 2023 .
^ Kepner, Tyler (June 28, 1997). "Nets Get Van Horn from 76ers" . The Washington Post . Retrieved June 22, 2023 .
^ "Two Free Agents Sign" . The New York Times . Associated Press. September 5, 1997. Retrieved June 29, 2022 .
^ Shapiro, Mark (September 5, 1997). "76ers Sign Cummings to 2-Year Deal" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved January 4, 2023 .
^ "NBA Referee Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Returns" . Los Angeles Times . Staff and Wire Reports. September 5, 1997. Retrieved January 13, 2023 .
^ Gardner, Kris (November 21, 1997). "Tom Chambers Goes from Phoenix to Philly" . The Houston Roundball Review . Retrieved January 4, 2023 .
^ "Suns Trade Chambers" . Today's News-Herald . Associated Press. November 23, 1997. p. 16A. Retrieved November 1, 2024 .
^ "Chambers Retires From 76ers" . Today's News-Herald . Associated Press. December 11, 1997. Retrieved November 1, 2024 .
^ "Chambers Retires from Sixers, Eyes Possible Post with Suns" . Deseret News . Associated Press. December 12, 1997. Retrieved January 4, 2023 .
^ "Larry Brown Meets with 76ers' Brass" . The New York Times . Associated Press. May 3, 1997. Retrieved January 18, 2022 .
^ "Brown Expected to Coach 76ers" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. May 5, 1997. Retrieved September 17, 2022 .
^ "Sixers Set to Hire Larry Brown as Next Head Coach" . Deseret News . Associated Press. May 5, 1997. Retrieved September 25, 2023 .
^ Adande, J.A. (May 6, 1997). "76ers Hire Brown for 5 Years" . The Washington Post . Retrieved January 4, 2023 .
^ "Philadelphia 76ers Trade Guard Jerry Stackhouse and Center Eric Montross to the Detroit Pistons" . Associated Press . December 18, 1997. Retrieved June 20, 2023 .
^ "PRO BASKETBALL; 76ers Send Stackhouse and Montross to Pistons" . The New York Times . Associated Press. December 19, 1997. Retrieved July 26, 2017 .
^ "76ers Give Up on Backcourt, Deal Stackhouse to Pistons" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. December 19, 1997. Retrieved July 11, 2022 .
^ "Stackhouse to Pistons" . The Washington Post . December 19, 1997. Retrieved December 5, 2022 .
^ "76ers Get Snow from the Sonics" . The Washington Post . January 19, 1998. Retrieved January 18, 2022 .
^ "Warriors Trade Joe Smith to 76ers" . Associated Press . February 17, 1998. Retrieved July 27, 2021 .
^ "76ers Acquire Smith from the Warriors" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. February 18, 1998. Retrieved September 17, 2022 .
^ "76ers Obtain J. Smith in Four-Player Swap" . The Washington Post . February 18, 1998. Retrieved December 5, 2022 .
^ Heisler, Mark (February 20, 1998). "It's a Big Deal for Clippers: There Are No Slam Dunks in the Flurry of NBA Deals" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved June 22, 2023 .
^ Roberts, Selena (February 20, 1998). "PRO BASKETBALL; Knicks Add Cummings to Fill a Hole" . The New York Times . Retrieved June 29, 2022 .
^ "Smith Arrives Right on Time for 76ers' Loss" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. February 20, 1998. Retrieved January 6, 2024 .
^ Smith, Sam (February 20, 1998). "NBA's Rash of Trades Ends with Another Seikaly Deal" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved December 27, 2022 .
^ " "Terrible" Pacers Struggle, But Beat 76ers" . The Washington Post . February 20, 1998. Retrieved June 21, 2023 .
^ "NBA Games Played on February 5, 1998" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved July 19, 2022 .
^ "1997–98 Philadelphia 76ers Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021 .
^ "Coleman Is Cleared, But He Won't Play Yet" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. December 17, 1997. Retrieved February 2, 2023 .
^ Long, Ernie (March 10, 1998). "Magic Thump Sixers Without Derrick Coleman; Philadelphia Has No Answer for the Orlando Frontcourt" . The Morning Call . Retrieved November 19, 2022 .
^ "Basketball Briefs" . Deseret News . March 11, 1998. Retrieved November 19, 2022 .
^ "1997–98 Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021 .
^ "Hornets Pick Up Derrick Coleman" . CBS News . CBS News.com Staff. January 16, 1999. Retrieved June 25, 2023 .
^ "Report: Coleman to Sign with Hornets" . United Press International . January 16, 1999. Retrieved December 12, 2022 .
^ Wise, Mike (January 17, 1999). "BASKETBALL; Derrick Coleman Could Be the Next to Cash In" . The New York Times . Retrieved October 13, 2021 .
^ "Divac Is Out in Hornet Shuffle" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. January 17, 1999. Retrieved September 17, 2022 .
^ Kawakami, Tim (January 23, 1999). "Lakers Propose Deal for Gugliotta" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November 16, 2022 .
^ "NBA Transactions" . The Washington Post . January 23, 1999. Retrieved January 30, 2023 .
^ Wise, Mike (February 4, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title" . The New York Times . Retrieved June 28, 2022 .
^ "Philadelphia 76ers Logo" . Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net . Retrieved July 8, 2021 .
^ "Philadelphia 76ers Uniform" . Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net . Retrieved July 8, 2021 .
^ "Philadelphia 76ers Uniform" . Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net . Retrieved July 8, 2021 .
See also
Franchise Arenas Personnel G League affiliate Retired numbers NBA championships Rivalries Culture and lore
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