1996–97 Houston Rockets season

The 1996–97 NBA season was the Rockets' 30th season in the National Basketball Association, and 26th season in Houston.[1] During the off-season, the Rockets acquired All-Star forward Charles Barkley from the Phoenix Suns,[2] and signed free agents Kevin Willis,[3] Brent Price, undrafted rookie guard Matt Maloney and re-signed three-point specialist Matt Bullard, who was a member of the championship team from the 1994 NBA Finals. The Rockets began the season with a 21–2 start, but later on struggled posting a six-game losing streak between January and February. Barkley averaged 19.2 points and 13.5 rebounds per game, but appeared in just 53 games due to ankle and hip injuries.[4] At midseason, the Rockets signed free agents Eddie Johnson and Sedale Threatt,[5] as they won 14 of their final 17 games, finishing second in the Midwest Division with a 57–25 record.[6]

1996–97 Houston Rockets season
Head coachRudy Tomjanovich
General managerCarroll Dawson
Owner(s)Leslie Alexander
ArenaThe Summit
Results
Record57–25 (.695)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Midwest)
Conference: 3rd (Western)
Playoff finishConference Finals
(Lost to Jazz 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television
RadioKTRH

Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and head coach Rudy Tomjanovich all represented the Western Conference during the 1997 NBA All-Star Game. However, Barkley and Drexler did not play due to injuries.[7] Olajuwon averaged 23.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and finished in seventh place in Most Valuable Player voting,[8] while Drexler averaged 18.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.9 steals per game. In addition, Mario Elie contributed 11.7 points per game, while Willis provided the team with 11.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, and Maloney provided with 9.4 points per game, led the team with 154 three-point field goals, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.[9]

In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Rockets swept the Minnesota Timberwolves in three straight games.[10] In the Western Conference Semi-finals, they jumped out to a 3–1 series lead over the Seattle SuperSonics.[11] However, the Sonics would win the next two games to even the series at three games a piece.[12] The Rockets would win Game 7 and advanced to the Western Conference Finals,[13] where they faced regular season MVP Karl Malone, John Stockton and the Utah Jazz. The Jazz won the first two games,[14] but the Rockets would even the series at two games a piece as Johnson hit a buzzer beater to win Game 4.[15] However, the Rockets would lose to the Jazz in six games.[16] Following the season, Threatt retired and Sam Mack was traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies.

After the departures of Barkley, Olajuwon and Drexler, the Rockets did not reach the Conference Finals again until 2015, where they were defeated by the Golden State Warriors in five games.

Offseason

During the 1996 offseason, Charles Barkley was traded from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Sam Cassell, Robert Horry, Mark Bryant, and Chucky Brown. Barkley chose Houston specifically because he hoped to win an NBA Championship with the team.

Draft picks
Main article: 1996 NBA Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
2 30 Othella Harrington PF/C  United States Georgetown
2 42 Randy Livingston SG/PG  United States LSU
2 50 Terrell Bell C  United States Georgia

Roster
1996–97 Houston Rockets roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
F 4 Barkley, Charles (C) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 252 lb (114 kg) 1963–02–20 Auburn
F 50 Bullard, Matt 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1967–06–05 Iowa
G 15 Davis, Emanual  6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1968–08–27 Delaware State
G 22 Drexler, Clyde (C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1962–06–22 Houston
G/F 17 Elie, Mario 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1963–11–26 American International
F 32 Harrington, Othella 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1974–01–31 Georgetown
G/F 8 Johnson, Eddie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1959–05–01 Illinois
F/C 27 Jones, Charles 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1957–04–03 Albany State
G 3 Livingston, Randy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 209 lb (95 kg) 1975–04–02 LSU
F 5 Mack, Sam  6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1970–05–26 Houston
G 12 Maloney, Matt 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 192 lb (87 kg) 1971–12–06 Pennsylvania
C 34 Olajuwon, Hakeem (C) 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1963–01–21 Houston
G 20 Price, Brent  6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1968–12–09 Oklahoma
G 2 Threatt, Sedale 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1961–09–10 West Virginia Tech
F/C 42 Willis, Kevin 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1962–09–06 Michigan State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster

Regular season

In his first game with the Houston Rockets, Charles Barkley got 33 rebounds, a career high.[17]

Season standings
Midwest Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Utah Jazz 6418.780–38–326–1519–5
x-Houston Rockets 5725.695730–1127–1419–5
x-Minnesota Timberwolves 4042.4882425–1615–2616–8
Dallas Mavericks 2458.2934014–2710–319–15
Denver Nuggets 2161.2564312–299–327–17
San Antonio Spurs 2062.2444412–298–338–16
Vancouver Grizzlies 1468.171508–336–356–18
1996–97 NBA West standings
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Utah Jazz6418.780–
2 y-Seattle SuperSonics5725.6957
3 x-Houston Rockets5725.6957
4 x-Los Angeles Lakers5626.6838
5 x-Portland Trail Blazers4933.59815
6 x-Minnesota Timberwolves4042.48824
7 x-Phoenix Suns4042.48824
8 x-Los Angeles Clippers3646.43928
9 Sacramento Kings3448.41530
10 Golden State Warriors3052.36634
11 Dallas Mavericks2458.29340
12 Denver Nuggets2161.25643
13 San Antonio Spurs2062.24444
14 Vancouver Grizzlies1468.17150
c – clinched conference 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 —3–11–31–33–12–01–11–32–01–13–12–01–11–24–02–03–11–33–14–01–12–02–02–01–14–01–12–02–1
Boston 1–3—0–40–41–21–11–10–41–10–21–20–21–10–41–30–20–40–40–41–31–11–10–21–10–23–10–20–20–4
Charlotte 3–14–0—0–43–11–12–02–22–02–02–21–11–11–22–22–04–03–11–24–01–10–22–02–02–02–20–22–03–1
Chicago 3–14–04–0—3–12–02–03–12–01–14–02–01–12–24–02–03–12–23–04–02–02–02–02–02–03–11–12–02–1
Cleveland 1–32–11–31–3—2–01–12–21–10–23–12–01–10–42–22–04–01–32–23–01–11–12–00–20–23–11–12–01–3
Dallas 0–21–11–10–20–2—3–10–20–40–41–12–20–40–20–21–31–11–11–12–01–31–32–21–31–30–21–33–10–2
Denver 1–11–10–20–21–11–3—0–21–31–30–21–30–40–21–10–41–10–20–21–12–20–42–22–20–41–10–43–11–1
Detroit 3–14–02–21–32–22–02–0—2–01–13–12–01–10–43–12–04–01–22–22–10–21–11–12–01–13–11–12–04–0
Golden State 0–21–10–20–21–14–03–10–2—0–41–11–30–40–21–11–32–00–21–12–00–42–21–34–00–42–00–43–10–2
Houston 1–12–00–21–12–04–03–11–14–0—1–13–13–10–21–14–02–01–10–22–02–22–24–03–13–11–12–23–12–0
Indiana 1–32–12–20–41–31–12–01–31–11–1—2–01–11–32–22–02–21–31–33–01–11–11–11–11–14–00–22–01–3
L.A. Clippers 0–22–01–10–20–22–23–10–23–11–30–2—2–20–22–01–31–10–21–11–12–20–42–24–01–32–01–34–00–2
L.A. Lakers 1–11–11–11–11–14–04–01–14–01–31–12–2—1–12–03–12–01–11–12–04–01–34–02–23–11–11–34–02–0
Miami 2–14–02–12–24–02–02–04–02–02–03–12–01–1—4–01–13–11–32–23–12–01–12–02–00–23–10–22–03–1
Milwaukee 0–43–12–20–42–22–01–11–31–11–12–20–20–20–4—0–22–11–22–23–11–10–20–21–11–13–11–12–01–3
Minnesota 0–22–00–20–20–23–14–00–23–10–40–23–11–31–12–0—2–01–11–11–13–12–20–44–00–41–11–34–01–1
New Jersey 1–34–00–41–30–41–11–10–40–20–22–21–10–21–31–20–2—2–21–32–21–10–21–12–01–10–30–22–01–3
New York 3–14–01–32–23–11–12–02–12–01–13–12–01–13–12–11–12–2—3–13–21–11–12–02–00–23–01–12–04–0
Orlando 1–34–02–10–32–21–12–02–21–12–03–11–11–12–22–21–13–11–3—2–21–12–01–11–11–14–00–21–11–3
Philadelphia 0–43–10–40–40–30–21–11–20–20–20–31–10–21–31–31–12–22–32–2—1–11–10–21–10–21–30–22–01–3
Phoenix 1–11–11–10–21–13–12–22–04–02–21–12–20–40–21–11–31–11–11–11–1—1–34–03–12–20–21–32–21–1
Portland 0–21–12–00–21–13–14–01–12–22–21–14–03–11–12–02–22–01–10–21–13–1—2–24–01–30–22–24–00–2
Sacramento 0–22–00–20–20–22–22–21–13–10–41–12–20–40–22–04–01–10–21–12–00–42–2—3–11–31–10–44–00–2
San Antonio 0–21–10–20–22–03–12–20–20–41–31–10–42–20–21–10–40–20–21–11–11–30–41–3—0–41–11–31–30–2
Seattle 1–12–00–20–22–03–14–01–14–01–31–13–11–32–01–14–01–12–01–12–02–23–13–14–0—2–01–34–02–0
Toronto 0–41–32–21–31–32–01–11–30–21–10–40–21–11–31–31–13–00–30–43–12–02–01–11–10–2—1–11–12–2
Utah 1–12–02–01–11–13–14–01–14–02–22–03–13–12–01–13–12–01–12–02–03–12–24–03–13–11–1—4–02–0
Vancouver 0–22–00–20–20–21–31–30–21–31–30–20–40–40–20–20–40–20–21–10–22–20–40–43–10–41–10–4—1–1
Washington 1–24–01–31–23–12–01–10–42–00–23–12–00–21–33–11–13–10–43–13–11–12–02–02–00–22–20–21–1—

Game log
GameDateOpponentResultTeam pointsOpponent scoreRecordStreakOT
1November 1vs SacramentoWin96851-0Won 1
2November 2at PhoenixWin110952-0Won 2
3November 4at UtahWin75723-0Won 3
4November 5at SacramentoWin102804-0Won 4
5November 7at DenverWin1101085-0Won 5OT
6November 9vs UtahWin91856-0Won 6
7November 12vs LA LakersLoss1151266-1Lost 12OT
8November 14vs IndianaWin90887-1Won 1
9November 16vs Golden StateWin1151038-1Won 2
10November 19vs MinnesotaWin122939-1Won 3
11November 21vs PhoenixWin11510510-1Won 4
12November 23at Golden StateWin12011511-1Won 5OT
13November 24at LA LakersWin908512-1Won 6
14November 26vs PortlandWin10210113-1Won 7OT
15November 29at BostonWin1209414-1Won 8
16November 30at WashingtonWin1039915-1Won 9
17December 2at TorontoLoss8910015-2Lost 1
18December 4vs BostonWin948916-2Won 1
19December 7vs PhiladelphiaWin12310817-2Won 2
20December 10at MinnesotaWin969418-2Won 3
21December 12vs DetroitWin1159619-2Won 4
22December 14at SeattleWin10910020-2Won 5
23December 15at PortlandWin998921-2Won 6
24December 17at VancouverLoss929321-3Lost 1
25December 19vs San AntonioLoss10111521-4Lost 2
26December 21vs MiamiLoss668621-5Lost 3
27December 23vs MilwaukeeLoss768121-6Lost 4
28December 26at MilwaukeeWin1019022-6Won 1
29December 28vs Golden StateWin1049523-6Won 2
30December 30vs SeattleWin999124-6Won 3
31January 2vs PortlandLoss9611224-7Lost 1
32January 4vs LA ClippersLoss919524-8Lost 2
33January 7at MinnesotaWin1049525-8Won 1
34January 8at ClevelandWin817826-8Won 2
35January 10at PhiladelphiaWin1209927-8Won 3
36January 11at ChicagoLoss8611027-9Lost 1
37January 14vs New YorkWin1068628-9Won 1
38January 16vs SacramentoWin898029-9Won 2
39January 17at DallasWin887830-9Won 3
40January 19vs ChicagoWin1028631-9Won 4
41January 21at CharlotteLoss10811431-10Lost 1
42January 23vs New JerseyWin11110432-10Won 1
43January 25vs UtahLoss10010532-11Lost 1OT
44January 30vs DenverLoss10911332-12Lost 2
45January 31at IndianaLoss7410032-13Lost 3
46February 2at OrlandoLoss9010332-14Lost 4
47February 4at New YorkLoss959932-15Lost 5
48February 6at DetroitLoss879632-16Lost 6
49February 11vs VancouverWin1069733-16Won 1
50February 14at SeattleLoss8510533-17Lost 1
51February 15at PortlandLoss10510933-18Lost 2
52February 17vs AtlantaWin1279834-18Won 1
53February 20vs TorontoWin1079735-18Won 2
54February 21at AtlantaLoss747635-19Lost 1
55February 23vs San AntonioWin958536-19Won 1
56February 25vs LA LakersWin1009637-19Won 2
57February 27vs CharlotteLoss9510637-20Lost 1
58March 1vs DallasWin898038-20Won 1
59March 4at LA ClippersWin11310939-20Won 2
60March 5at Golden StateWin908540-20Won 3
61March 7at LA LakersWin1119041-20Won 4
62March 9at DallasWin888342-20Won 5
63March 11at San AntonioWin1037943-20Won 6
64March 12vs OrlandoLoss959643-21Lost 1
65March 16at MiamiLoss8010143-22Lost 2
66March 18at New JerseyWin978944-22Won 1
67March 20vs WashingtonWin969045-22Won 2
68March 22vs PhoenixLoss9910445-23Lost 1
69March 25vs MinnesotaWin11210346-23Won 1
70March 27vs ClevelandWin1078947-23Won 2
71March 29vs DenverWin12010548-23Won 3
72April 1at DenverWin1169949-23Won 4
73April 2at PhoenixLoss9610949-24Lost 1
74April 4at SacramentoWin1089450-24Won 1
75April 6at VancouverWin948551-24Won 2
76April 8at LA ClippersWin12711752-24Won 3
77April 10vs VancouverWin1029453-24Won 4
78April 11at UtahLoss8310453-25Lost 1
79April 13vs SeattleWin1137354-25Won 1
80April 15vs LA ClippersWin12311955-25Won 2
81April 18vs DallasWin11210256-25Won 3OT
82April 20at San AntonioWin1039957-25Won 4

Playoffs
1997 playoff game log
First Round: 3–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 24 Minnesota W 112–95 Mario Elie (21) Kevin Willis (13) Clyde Drexler (8) The Summit
16,285		 1–0
2 April 26 Minnesota W 96–84 Charles Barkley (20) Charles Barkley (15) Clyde Drexler (7) The Summit
16,285		 2–0
3 April 29 @ Minnesota W 125–120 Matt Maloney (26) Hakeem Olajuwon (11) Clyde Drexler (9) Target Center
19,006		 3–0
Conference Semifinals: 4–3 (Home: 2–2; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 5 Seattle W 112–102 Clyde Drexler (22) Hakeem Olajuwon (11) Mario Elie (8) The Summit
16,285		 1–0
2 May 7 Seattle L 101–106 Clyde Drexler (25) Hakeem Olajuwon (12) Clyde Drexler (8) The Summit
16,285		 1–1
3 May 9 @ Seattle W 97–93 Hakeem Olajuwon (24) Hakeem Olajuwon (11) Sedale Threatt (5) KeyArena
17,072		 2–1
4 May 11 @ Seattle W 110–106 (OT) Maloney, Barkley (26) Charles Barkley (15) Hakeem Olajuwon (9) KeyArena
17,072		 3–1
5 May 13 Seattle L 94–100 Hakeem Olajuwon (31) Charles Barkley (20) Mario Elie (6) The Summit
16,285		 3–2
6 May 15 @ Seattle L 96–99 Hakeem Olajuwon (30) Charles Barkley (12) Clyde Drexler (6) KeyArena
17,072		 3–3
7 May 17 Seattle W 96–91 Clyde Drexler (24) Charles Barkley (14) Mario Elie (11) The Summit
16,285		 4–3
Conference Finals: 2–4 (Home: 2–1; Road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 19 @ Utah L 86–101 Hakeem Olajuwon (30) Hakeem Olajuwon (13) Hakeem Olajuwon (5) Delta Center
19,911		 0–1
2 May 21 @ Utah L 92–104 Hakeem Olajuwon (30) Charles Barkley (12) Clyde Drexler (4) Delta Center
19,911		 0–2
3 May 23 Utah W 118–100 Eddie Johnson (31) Charles Barkley (16) three players tied (6) The Summit
16,285		 1–2
4 May 25 Utah W 95–92 Hakeem Olajuwon (27) Charles Barkley (16) Matt Maloney (6) The Summit
16,285		 2–2
5 May 27 @ Utah L 91–96 Hakeem Olajuwon (33) Hakeem Olajuwon (10) Charles Barkley (5) Delta Center
19,911		 2–3
6 May 29 Utah L 100–103 Clyde Drexler (33) Hakeem Olajuwon (11) Sedale Threatt (9) The Summit
16,285		 2–4
1997 schedule

Player statistics
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

NOTE: Please write the players statistics in alphabetical order by last name.

Season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Charles Barkley
Elmer Bennett
Matt Bullard
Emanual Davis
Clyde Drexler
Mario Elie
Othella Harrington
Eddie Johnson
Charles Jones
Randy Livingston
Sam Mack
Matt Maloney
Tracy Moore
Hakeem Olajuwon
Brent Price
Joe Stephens
Sedale Threatt
Kevin Willis

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Charles Barkley
Matt Bullard
Clyde Drexler
Mario Elie
Othella Harrington
Eddie Johnson
Charles Jones
Randy Livingston
Matt Maloney
Hakeem Olajuwon
Sedale Threatt
Kevin Willis

Awards and records

Awards

Transactions

Trades
August 19, 1996 To Houston Rockets
Charles Barkley		 To Phoenix Suns
Robert Horry
Sam Cassell
Mark Bryant
Chucky Brown


Free agents

Player Transactions Citation:[18]

See also

References
  1. 1996-97 Houston Rockets
  2. "Barkley Confirms His Trade To Rockets". New York Times. August 19, 1996. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  3. "Barkley Gets His Wish: He's on the Rockets". AP News. August 20, 1996. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  4. "Rockets unsure when Barkley can return". UPI Archives. March 25, 1997. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  5. "Johnson Gives Rockets A Boost From the Bench". New York Times. May 24, 1997. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  6. "1996–97 Houston Rockets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  7. "1997 NBA All-Star Game: East 132, West 120". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  8. "1996–97 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  9. "1996–97 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  10. "Houston moves on; Orlando stays alive". Deseret News. April 30, 1997. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  11. "Rockets Are Almost Home Free After Overtime Victory". New York Times. May 12, 1997. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  12. "Fisticuffs Fever Spreads to Seattle". New York Times. May 16, 1997. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  13. "Rockets Survive SuperSonic Scare". Los Angeles Times. May 18, 1997. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  14. "Jazz No-Names Introduce Themselves to Rockets". New York Times. May 22, 1997. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  15. "Jazz-killer Johnson does it again". Deseret News. May 26, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  16. "Stockton Sends Jazz to Finals At Last Second". New York Times. May 30, 1997. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  17. Ferraro, Michael X.; Veneziano, John (2007). Numbelievable!. Chicago: Triumph Books. p. 101. ISBN 978-1-57243-990-0.
  18. "1996–97 Houston Rockets Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
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