1997–98 Cleveland Cavaliers season

1997–98 Cleveland Cavaliers season
Head coachMike Fratello
General managerWayne Embry
Owners
ArenaGund Arena
Results
Record47–35 (.573)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Central)
Conference: 6th (Eastern)
Playoff finishFirst round
(lost to Pacers 1–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television
RadioWTAM
< 1996–97 1998–99 >

The 1997–98 NBA season was the 28th season of the National Basketball Association in Cleveland, Ohio.[1] In the 1997 NBA draft, the Cavaliers selected Derek Anderson from the University of Kentucky with the thirteenth overall pick, selected Brevin Knight out of Stanford University with the sixteenth overall pick, and selected Cedric Henderson from the University of Memphis with the 45th overall pick.[2][3][4][5] Lithuanian rookie center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who was drafted by the Cavaliers with the 20th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft, but missed all of the previous season due to a foot injury, would make his debut in the NBA this season. In the off-season, the team acquired All-Star forward Shawn Kemp from the Seattle SuperSonics in a three-team trade,[6][7][8][9][10] acquired Wesley Person from the Phoenix Suns in another three-team trade,[11][12][13][14] and signed free agent Mitchell Butler.

The Cavaliers struggled with a 4–6 start to the season, as Bob Sura went down with an ankle injury and only played just 46 games,[15][16] and Butler was out for the remainder of the season with a neck injury after 18 games.[17][18] However, the team posted a ten-game winning streak between November and December,[19] and later on held a 27–20 record at the All-Star break.[20] The Cavaliers played above .500 for the remainder of the season, finishing in fifth place in the Central Division with a 47–35 record, and qualifying for the playoffs after a one-year absence.[21] The Cavaliers had the best team defensive rating in the NBA.[22]

Kemp averaged 18.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, while Person averaged 14.7 points and 1.6 steals per game, and also led the league with 192 three-point field goals, and Ilgauskas provided the team with 13.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. In addition, Knight contributed 9.0 points, 8.2 assists, and led the league with 196 total steals, averaging 2.5 steals per game, while Anderson provided with 11.7 points and 1.3 steals per game off the bench, playing 66 games due to a knee injury,[23][24][25] Henderson contributed 10.1 points per game, and second-year center Vitaly Potapenko averaged 7.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game off the bench.[26]

During the All-Star Weekend in New York City, New York, Kemp was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game, which would be his sixth and final All-Star appearance,[27][28][29][30][31] and Ilgauskas won the MVP award in the Rookie Game.[32][33][34][35] Both Ilgauskas and Knight were named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, while Anderson and Henderson were both selected the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, and head coach Mike Fratello finished in third place in Coach of the Year voting.[36][37][38][39]

However, in the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Cavaliers would lose in four games to the Indiana Pacers,[40][41][42][43] and they would not make it back to the postseason until 2006. For the season, the team slightly redesigned their uniforms, which remained in use until 1999.[44][45]

Until 2023, this was the last time the Cavaliers made the playoffs without future All-Star LeBron James, who was selected by the team as the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft.

Offseason

Free agents

Trades

Draft picks

Main article: 1997 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 13 Derek Anderson SG  United States Kentucky
1 16* Brevin Knight PG  United States Stanford
2 45 Cedric Henderson SF  United States Memphis

*1st round pick acquired from Phoenix in three-way Antonio McDyess deal.[46]

Roster

1997–98 Cleveland Cavaliers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
G/F 23 Anderson, Derek 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1974–07–18 Kentucky
G 2 Brooks, Scott 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1965–07–31 UC Irvine
G 6 Butler, Mitchell 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1970–12–15 UCLA
G 27 Dumas, Tony 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1972–08–25 UMKC
F 35 Ferry, Danny 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1966–10–17 Duke
F 45 Henderson, Cedric 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1975–03–11 Memphis
C 11 Ilgauskas, Zydrunas 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) 238 lb (108 kg) 1975–06–05 Lithuania
F 32 James, Henry 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1965–07–29 St. Mary's (TX)
F 4 Kemp, Shawn 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1969–11–26 Trinity Valley CC
G 12 Knight, Brevin 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1975–11–08 Stanford
G 1 Person, Wesley 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1971–03–28 Auburn
C 52 Potapenko, Vitaly 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 280 lb (127 kg) 1975–03–21 Wright State
C 44 Scott, Shawnelle 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1972–06–16 St. John's
G 3 Sura, Bob 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1973–03–25 Florida State
G 30 Thomas, Carl 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1969–10–03 Eastern Michigan
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: February 22, 1998

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division
 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
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: 47–35 (home: 27–14; road: 20–21)
October: 0-1 (home: 0–0; road: 0–1)
Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record
November: 9-5 (home: 4–3; road: 5–2)
Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record
December: 8-5 (home: 4–3; road: 4–2)
Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record
January: 9-7 (home: 5–3; road: 4–4)
Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record
February: 4-9 (home: 2–3; road: 2–6)
Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record
March: 11-4 (home: 7–1; road: 4–3)
Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record
April: 6-4 (home: 5–1; road: 1–3)
Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record

Playoffs

1998 playoff game log
First round: 1–3 (home: 1–1; road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 23 @ Indiana L 77–106 Shawn Kemp (25) Shawn Kemp (13) Brevin Knight (5) Market Square Arena
16,644 		0–1
2 April 25 @ Indiana L 86–92 Shawn Kemp (27) Zydrunas Ilgauskas (10) Brevin Knight (7) Market Square Arena
16,617 		0–2
3 April 27 Indiana W 86–77 Shawn Kemp (31) Kemp, Knight (7) three players tied (5) Gund Arena
17,495 		1–2
4 April 30 Indiana L 74–80 Shawn Kemp (21) Shawn Kemp (12) Brevin Knight (6) Gund Arena
18,188 		1–3
1998 schedule

Player stats

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

Regular season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Shawn Kemp 80 80 34.6 44.5 25.0 72.7 9.3 2.5 1.4 1.1 18.0
Wesley Person 82 82 39.0 46.0 43.0 77.6 4.4 2.3 1.6 0.6 14.7
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 82 81 29.0 51.8 25.0 76.2 8.8 0.9 0.6 1.6 13.9
Derek Anderson 66 13 27.9 40.8 20.2 87.3 2.8 3.4 1.3 0.2 11.7
Cedric Henderson 82 71 30.8 48.0 0.0 71.6 4.0 2.0 1.2 0.5 10.1
Brevin Knight 80 76 31.0 44.1 0.0 80.1 3.2 8.2 2.5 0.2 9.0
Vitaly Potapenko 80 0 17.7 48.0 0.0 70.8 3.9 0.7 0.3 0.4 7.1
Bob Sura 46 4 20.5 37.7 31.7 56.5 2.0 3.7 1.0 0.2 5.8
Danny Ferry 69 3 15.0 39.5 33.3 80.0 1.7 0.9 0.4 0.2 4.2
Henry James 28 0 5.9 40.7 44.0 95.5 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.0 2.9
Carl Thomas 29 0 9.4 38.6 39.5 61.5 1.3 0.3 0.6 0.2 2.7
Greg Graham 6 0 9.3 58.3 0.0 100.0 0.2 1.0 0.2 0.0 2.7
Mitchell Butler 18 0 11.4 31.9 16.7 60.0 1.2 1.0 0.4 0.0 2.1
Tony Dumas 7 0 6.7 50.0 50.0 0.0 0.7 0.7 0.0 0.0 2.0
Scott Brooks 43 0 7.3 42.4 45.5 90.0 0.7 1.1 0.4 0.1 1.8
Shawnelle Scott 41 0 4.6 44.4 0.0 66.7 1.4 0.2 0.1 0.2 1.1

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Shawn Kemp 4 4 38.0 46.5 0.0 84.4 10.3 2.0 1.3 1.0 26.0
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 4 4 36.8 57.1 0.0 52.0 7.5 0.5 0.5 1.3 17.3
Derek Anderson 4 0 25.8 45.5 0.0 88.5 2.3 2.8 1.3 0.3 10.8
Wesley Person 4 4 34.0 37.9 36.8 75.0 2.3 2.5 0.8 0.0 8.0
Cedric Henderson 4 4 39.3 39.3 0.0 61.5 4.3 2.8 1.5 0.0 7.5
Brevin Knight 4 4 33.0 28.6 0.0 60.0 4.0 5.8 2.5 0.3 4.5
Vitaly Potapenko 4 0 17.5 40.0 0.0 50.0 2.8 0.8 0.5 0.0 4.3
Carl Thomas 1 0 11.0 0.0 0.0 66.7 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.0
Scott Brooks 1 0 8.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 0.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 2.0
Shawnelle Scott 1 0 3.0 50.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 2.0
Bob Sura 3 0 10.3 20.0 0.0 66.7 1.0 1.3 0.3 0.0 1.3
Danny Ferry 3 0 3.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Player Statistics Citation:[26]

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Milestones

All-Star

Shawn Kemp – 1998 NBA All-Star Game

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Development League

References

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