1996–97 Denver Nuggets season
The 1996–97 NBA season was the Nuggets' 21st season in the National Basketball Association, and 30th season as a franchise.[1] In the off-season, the Nuggets acquired Mark Jackson and Ricky Pierce from the Indiana Pacers,[2] acquired Šarūnas Marčiulionis from the Sacramento Kings, and signed free agents Ervin Johnson and Eric Murdock,[3] although Murdock was released to free agency in November after just 12 games. However, after a 4–9 start to the season, Bernie Bickerstaff resigned as head coach and was replaced with Dick Motta, where the Nuggets then lost ten straight games. Midway through the season, Jackson was traded back to the Indiana Pacers, while Pierce was dealt to the Charlotte Hornets for second-year guard Anthony Goldwire.[4] The team also signed free agent and three-point specialist Kenny Smith, who won two championships with the Houston Rockets. As the season drew, the Nuggets still struggled losing 26 of their final 30 games, finishing fifth in the Midwest Division with a 21–61 record.[5]
1996–97 Denver Nuggets season | |
---|---|
Head coach |
|
General manager | |
President | Bernie Bickerstaff |
Arena | McNichols Sports Arena |
Results | |
Record | 21–61 (.256) |
Place | Division: 5th (Midwest) Conference: 12th (Western) |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | |
Radio | KKFN |
Despite playing just 55 games due to a knee injury and a ruptured Achilles tendon, LaPhonso Ellis led the team in scoring with a career-high of 21.9 points per game, and contributed 7.0 rebounds per game, while second-year star Antonio McDyess averaged 18.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. In addition, Dale Ellis provided the team with 16.6 points per game, while Bryant Stith contributed 14.9 points per game, and Johnson provided with 7.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game.[6] Following the season, McDyess was traded to the Phoenix Suns,[7] while Dale Ellis was traded back to his former team, the Seattle SuperSonics,[8] Johnson was dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks, Tom Hammonds signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Smith and Marčiulionis both retired, and Motta was fired as head coach.
Draft picks
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 23 | Efthimios Rentzias | C | ![]() | PAOK |
2 | 37 | Jeff McInnis | PG/SG | ![]() | North Carolina |
Roster
Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Roster |
Roster Notes
- Point guard Eric Murdock was waived on November 26.
Regular season
Season standings
Midwest Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y-Utah Jazz | 64 | 18 | .780 | – | 38–3 | 26–15 | 19–5 |
x-Houston Rockets | 57 | 25 | .695 | 7 | 30–11 | 27–14 | 19–5 |
x-Minnesota Timberwolves | 40 | 42 | .488 | 24 | 25–16 | 15–26 | 16–8 |
Dallas Mavericks | 24 | 58 | .293 | 40 | 14–27 | 10–31 | 9–15 |
Denver Nuggets | 21 | 61 | .256 | 43 | 12–29 | 9–32 | 7–17 |
San Antonio Spurs | 20 | 62 | .244 | 44 | 12–29 | 8–33 | 8–16 |
Vancouver Grizzlies | 14 | 68 | .171 | 50 | 8–33 | 6–35 | 6–18 |
# | Western Conference | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | c-Utah Jazz | 64 | 18 | .780 | – |
2 | y-Seattle SuperSonics | 57 | 25 | .695 | 7 |
3 | x-Houston Rockets | 57 | 25 | .695 | 7 |
4 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 56 | 26 | .683 | 8 |
5 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 49 | 33 | .598 | 15 |
6 | x-Minnesota Timberwolves | 40 | 42 | .488 | 24 |
7 | x-Phoenix Suns | 40 | 42 | .488 | 24 |
8 | x-Los Angeles Clippers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 28 |
9 | Sacramento Kings | 34 | 48 | .415 | 30 |
10 | Golden State Warriors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 34 |
11 | Dallas Mavericks | 24 | 58 | .293 | 40 |
12 | Denver Nuggets | 21 | 61 | .256 | 43 |
13 | San Antonio Spurs | 20 | 62 | .244 | 44 |
14 | Vancouver Grizzlies | 14 | 68 | .171 | 50 |
- z - clinched division title
- y - clinched division title
- x - clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
1996-97 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 | – | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
Boston | 1–3 | – | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 |
Charlotte | 3–1 | 4–0 | – | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
Chicago | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | – | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
Cleveland | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
Dallas | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | – | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 |
Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | – | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
Detroit | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | – | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–2 |
Houston | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | – | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
Indiana | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | – | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
Miami | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
Milwaukee | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | – | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
Minnesota | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
New Jersey | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–2 | – | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
New York | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
Orlando | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | – | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
Philadelphia | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
Portland | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | – | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
Sacramento | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | – | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
San Antonio | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | – | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
Seattle | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | – | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
Toronto | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
Utah | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | – | 4–0 | 2–0 |
Vancouver | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | – | 1–1 |
Washington | 1–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — |
Player statistics
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% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LaPhonso Ellis | 55 | 49 | 36.4 | .439 | .367 | .773 | 7.0 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 21.9 |
Antonio McDyess | 74 | 73 | 34.7 | .463 | .171 | .708 | 7.3 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 18.3 |
Dale Ellis | 82 | 51 | 35.9 | .414 | .364 | .817 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 16.6 |
Bryant Stith | 52 | 52 | 34.4 | .416 | .385 | .863 | 4.2 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 14.9 |
Mark Jackson | 52 | 52 | 38.5 | .425 | .397 | .801 | 5.2 | 12.3 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 10.4 |
Ricky Pierce | 33 | 10 | 18.2 | .462 | .308 | .902 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 10.2 |
Kenny Smith | 33 | 3 | 19.8 | .422 | .425 | .854 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 7.9 |
Anthony Goldwire | 27 | 21 | 22.7 | .392 | .394 | .816 | 1.7 | 4.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 7.3 |
Ervin Johnson | 82 | 82 | 31.7 | .520 | .000 | .615 | 11.1 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 7.1 |
Brooks Thompson | 65 | 6 | 16.1 | .400 | .398 | .632 | 1.5 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 6.8 |
Sarunas Marciulionis | 17 | 0 | 15.0 | .376 | .367 | .806 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 6.8 |
Tom Hammonds | 81 | 8 | 21.7 | .480 | .000 | .721 | 5.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 6.2 |
Aaron Williams | 1 | 0 | 10.0 | .600 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 | ||
Vincent Askew | 1 | 0 | 9.0 | .667 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.0 | |
Jeff McInnis | 13 | 0 | 9.0 | .469 | .462 | .700 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 5.0 |
Eric Murdock | 12 | 0 | 9.5 | .455 | .400 | .917 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 3.8 |
George Zidek | 16 | 0 | 5.5 | .485 | .800 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3.3 | |
Jimmy King | 2 | 0 | 11.0 | .333 | .500 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 3.0 | |
Jerome Allen | 25 | 0 | 10.0 | .284 | .206 | .600 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2.6 |
Elmer Bennett | 5 | 0 | 11.8 | .308 | .333 | .500 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2.4 |
Darvin Ham | 35 | 3 | 8.9 | .525 | .485 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2.3 | |
Melvin Booker | 5 | 0 | 4.2 | .500 | .500 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
LaSalle Thompson | 17 | 0 | 6.2 | .188 | .500 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
Player Statistics Citation:[6]
References
- 1996-97 Denver Nuggets
- "Pacers trade Jackson, Pierce to Denver". UPI Archives. June 13, 1996. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- "C Ervin Johnson signs with Nuggets". UPI Archives. July 23, 1996. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
- "Nuggets made three trades, Hornets and Pacers two each". AP News. February 20, 1997. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
- "1996–97 Denver Nuggets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
- "1996–97 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
- "Suns Make Trade for McDyess". Los Angeles Times. October 2, 1997. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
- "SONICS: Long-range bomber Ellis returns a 'changed man'". Kitsap Sun. October 3, 1997. Retrieved December 30, 2021.