1997–98 San Antonio Spurs season

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Spurs' 22nd season in the National Basketball Association, and 31st season as a franchise.[1] This season is most memorable when the Spurs selected Tim Duncan out of Wake Forest University with the first overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft.[2] After finishing with the third-worst record in 1996–97, the Spurs won the 1997 NBA Draft Lottery, dubbed as the "Tim Duncan sweepstakes".[3] During the off-season, the team signed free agents, three-point specialist Jaren Jackson and second-year forward Malik Rose. The Spurs got off to a mediocre 10–10 start, but then won 17 of their next 19 games. Despite losing Sean Elliott for the remainder of the season to a knee injury after 36 games, the Spurs finished second in the Midwest Division with a 56–26 record, and returned to the playoffs after a one-year absence.[4] The Spurs had the second best team defensive rating in the NBA.[5]

1997–98 San Antonio Spurs season
Head coachGregg Popovich
General managerGregg Popovich
PresidentGregg Popovich (vice)
Owner(s)Peter Holt
ArenaAlamodome
Results
Record56–26 (.683)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Midwest)
Conference: 5th (Western)
Playoff finishConference Semifinals
(Lost to Jazz 1–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKSAT-TV
KRRT
Fox Sports Southwest
RadioWOAI

Duncan averaged 21.1 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game, and was named Rookie of The Year,[6] and was also named to the All-NBA First Team and NBA All-Rookie First Team, while David Robinson averaged 21.6 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team. In addition, Avery Johnson provided the team with 10.2 points and 7.9 assists per game, while Vinny Del Negro contributed 9.5 points per game, and Elliott provided with 9.3 points per game.[7] Both Duncan and Robinson were named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game, which was Duncan's first All-Star appearance.[8] Duncan finished in fifth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Robinson finished in seventh place. Robinson also finished in third place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, while Duncan finished tied in fifth place.[9]

In the playoffs, the Spurs defeated the 4th-seeded Phoenix Suns 3–1 in the Western Conference First Round,[10] but lost 4–1 to the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference Semi-finals.[11] The Jazz would go on to lose in six games to the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year.[12] Following the season, Del Negro signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks,[13] while three-point specialist Chuck Person signed with the Charlotte Hornets, Monty Williams was released to free agency, and Carl Herrera was traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies.

NBA Draft
Main article: 1997 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 1 Tim Duncan PF/C  United States Virgin Islands Wake Forest

Roster
1997–98 San Antonio Spurs roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
F 9 Burton, Willie  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1968–05–26 Minnesota
G 15 Del Negro, Vinny 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1966–08–09 North Carolina State
F 21 Duncan, Tim 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1976–04–25 Wake Forest
F 32 Elliott, Sean  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1968–02–02 Arizona
G 4 Geary, Reggie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 187 lb (85 kg) 1973–08–31 Arizona
F 7 Herrera, Carl 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1966–12–14 Houston
G 2 Jackson, Jaren 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1967–10–27 Georgetown
G 6 Johnson, Avery 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1965–03–25 Southern
F 54 Lohaus, Brad 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1964–09–29 Iowa
F/C 41 Perdue, Will 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1965–08–29 Vanderbilt
F 45 Person, Chuck 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1964–06–27 Auburn
C 50 Robinson, David 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1965–08–06 Navy
F 31 Rose, Malik 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1974–11–23 Drexel
F 3 Williams, Monty 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1971–10–08 Notre Dame
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster

Regular season

Tim Duncan

The Spurs were coming off a poor 1996–97 NBA season; in which their best player, David Robinson—himself a number one draft pick in 1987—was sidelined for most of the year with an injury. The Spurs had finished with a 20–62 win–loss record.[14] However, as the 1997–98 NBA season approached, the Spurs were considered a notable threat in the NBA. With both an experienced center in Robinson and the number one pick in Duncan, the Spurs featured one of the best frontcourts in the NBA. Duncan and Robinson became known as the "Twin Towers", having earned a reputation for their exceptional defense close to the basket, forcing opponents to take lower percentage shots from outside. From the beginning, Duncan established himself as a quality player: in his second-ever road game, he grabbed 22 rebounds against opposing Chicago Bulls power forward Dennis Rodman, a multiple rebounding champion and NBA Defensive Player of the Year.[15]

Later, when Duncan played against opposing Houston Rockets Hall-of-Fame power forward Charles Barkley, Barkley was so impressed he said: "I have seen the future and he wears number 21 [Duncan's jersey number]."[16] In his rookie season, Duncan lived up the expectations of being the number one draft pick, starting in all 82 regular-season games, and averaging 21.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.5 blocks per game. His defensive contributions ensured that he was elected to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team and was also named NBA Rookie of the Year. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich lauded Duncan's mental toughness, stating his rookie's "demeanor was singularly remarkable", Duncan always "put things into perspective" and never got "too upbeat or too depressed."[17] Center Robinson was equally impressed with Duncan: "He's the real thing. I'm proud of his attitude and effort. He gives all the extra effort and work and wants to become a better player."[18]

Season standings
Midwest Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
z-Utah Jazz 6220.756–36–526–1522–2
x-San Antonio Spurs 5626.683631–1025–1618–6
x-Minnesota Timberwolves 4537.5491726–1519–2214–10
x-Houston Rockets 4141.5002124–1717–2414–10
Dallas Mavericks 2062.2444213–287–349–15
Vancouver Grizzlies 1963.2324314–275–364–20
Denver Nuggets 1171.134519–322–393–21
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Utah Jazz6220.756–
2 y-Seattle SuperSonics6121.7441
3 x-Los Angeles Lakers6121.7441
4 x-Phoenix Suns5626.6836
5 x-San Antonio Spurs5626.6836
6 x-Portland Trail Blazers4636.56116
7 x-Minnesota Timberwolves4537.54917
8 x-Houston Rockets4141.50021
9 Sacramento Kings2755.32935
10 Dallas Mavericks2062.24442
11 Vancouver Grizzlies1963.23243
11 Golden State Warriors1963.23243
13 Los Angeles Clippers1765.20745
14 Denver Nuggets1171.13451

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 —2–14–01–34–02–02–02–22–01–11–32–00–21–33–10–21–22–22–23–10–21–12–01–11–14–00–22–04–0
Boston 1–2—1–21–31–31–11–12–21–11–10–42–01–10–42–21–12–22–22–23–10–21–11–10–21–13–00–22–03–2
Charlotte 0–42–1—1–32–22–02–03–11–12–03–12–01–13–13–11–12–21–33–12–11–12–01–11–11–14–01–12–02–2
Chicago 3–13–13–1—2–21–12–03–12–02–02–22–01–12–14–01–14–04–03–12–11–11–12–02–01–14–00–22–03–1
Cleveland 0–43–12–22–2—1–12–03–12–01–12–22–01–11–32–22–03–11–22–23–12–01–12–00–20–23–11–12–01–2
Dallas 0–21–10–21–11–1—3–10–21–30–41–11–30–40–20–22–20–21–10–20–20–40–40–40–42–21–10–44–01–1
Denver 0–21–10–20–20–21–3—0–21–30–40–22–20–40–20–21–30–20–20–20–20–42–21–30–40–40–20–41–31–1
Detroit 2–22–21–31–31–32–02–0—2–01–11–32–00–21–22–20–22–22–21–23–11–10–21–11–10–24–00–20–22–2
Golden State 0–21–11–10–20–23–13–10–2—1–30–21–31–30–20–20–40–21–11–10–20–41–32–21–31–30–20–41–30–2
Houston 1–11–10–20–21–14–04–01–13–1—1–14–01–30–21–11–31–11–10–21–11–31–34–02–21–32–00–43–11–1
Indiana 3–14–01–32–22–21–12–03–12–01–1—2–00–23–14–02–02–12–13–14–01–11–12–00–20–24–01–12–04–0
L.A. Clippers 0–20–20–20–20–23–12–20–23–10–40–2—0–40–20–20–41–10–20–21–10–40–43–11–30–41–11–31–30–2
L.A. Lakers 2–01–11–11–11–14–04–02–03–13–12–04–0—1–12–04–01–11–11–10–22–22–24–04–01–32–03–14–01–1
Miami 3–14–01–31–23–12–02–02–12–02–01–32–01–1—3–11–13–12–23–14–00–22–02–00–20–24–01–12–02–2
Milwaukee 1–32–21–30–42–22–02–02–22–01–10–42–00–21–3—1–10–43–12–12–20–22–02–00–21–13–10–21–11–2
Minnesota 2–01–11–11–10–22–23–12–04–03–10–24–00–41–11–1—2–01–10–22–03–11–33–11–31–31–11–34–00–2
New Jersey 2–12–22–20–41–32–02–02–22–01–11–21–11–11–34–00–2—2–23–13–11–11–12–01–10–23–10–22–01–3
New York 2–22–23–10–42–11–12–02–21–11–11–22–01–12–21–31–12–2—4–02–22–01–11–10–21–13–10–22–01–3
Orlando 2–22–21–31–32–22–02–02–11–12–01–32–01–11–31–22–01–30–4—4–00–22–00–20–21–13–10–22–03–1
Philadelphia 1–31–31–21–21–32–02–01–32–01–10–41–12–00–42–20–21–32–20–4—1–11–11–10–20–22–20–22–03–1
Phoenix 2–02–01–11–10–24–04–01–14–03–11–14–02–22–02–01–31–10–22–01–1—2–23–13–12–22–01–34–01–1
Portland 1–11–10–21–11–14–02–22–03–13–11–14–02–20–20–23–11–11–10–21–12–2—3–12–20–42–03–12–21–1
Sacramento 0–21–11–10–20–24–03–11–12–20–40–21–30–40–20–21–30–21–12–01–11–31–3—0–41–31–12–22–21–1
San Antonio 1–12–01–10–22–04–04–01–13–12–22–03–10–42–02–03–11–12–02–02–01–32–24–0—2–22–01–34–01–1
Seattle 1–11–11–11–12–02–24–02–03–13–12–04–03–12–01–13–12–01–11–12–02–24–03–12–2—2–02–24–01–1
Toronto 0–40–30–40–41–31–12–00–42–00–20–41–10–20–41–31–11–31–31–32–20–20–21–10–20–2—0–21–10–3
Utah 2–02–01–12–01–14–04–02–04–04–01–13–11–31–12–03–12–02–02–02–03–11–32–23–12–22–0—4–00–2
Vancouver 0–20–20–20–20–20–43–12–03–11–30–23–10–40–21–10–40–20–20–20–20–42–22–20–40–41–10–4—1–1
Washington 0–42–32–21–32–11–11–12–22–01–10–42–01–12–22–12–03–13–11–31–31–11–11–11–11–13–02–01–1—

Playoffs
1998 playoff game log
First Round: 3–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 23 @ Phoenix W 102–96 Tim Duncan (32) David Robinson (15) Vinny Del Negro (6) America West Arena
19,023		 1–0
2 April 25 @ Phoenix L 101–108 David Robinson (23) David Robinson (16) Avery Johnson (8) America West Arena
19,023		 1–1
3 April 27 Phoenix W 100–88 Tim Duncan (22) Tim Duncan (14) Avery Johnson (5) Alamodome
20,486		 2–1
4 April 29 Phoenix W 99–80 Avery Johnson (30) David Robinson (21) Avery Johnson (7) Alamodome
27,528		 3–1
Conference Semifinals: 1–4 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 5 @ Utah L 82–83 Tim Duncan (33) David Robinson (16) Avery Johnson (8) Delta Center
19,911		 0–1
2 May 7 @ Utah L 106–109 Tim Duncan (26) David Robinson (14) Vinny Del Negro (5) Delta Center
19,911		 0–2
3 May 9 Utah W 86–64 David Robinson (21) Will Perdue (11) Avery Johnson (5) Alamodome
26,086		 1–2
4 May 10 Utah L 73–82 Tim Duncan (22) David Robinson (11) Avery Johnson (7) Alamodome
28,587		 1–3
5 May 12 @ Utah L 77–87 David Robinson (21) David Robinson (13) Avery Johnson (8) Delta Center
19,911		 1–4
1998 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

Season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Cory Alexander 37313.5.414.313.6761.31.9.7.14.5
Willie Burton 1303.3.381.333.667.7.1.2.22.1
Vinny Del Negro 543831.9.441.436.7962.83.4.7.19.5
Tim Duncan 828239.1.549.000.66211.92.7.72.521.1
Reggie Geary 62211.0.331.300.5001.11.2.6.22.5
Sean Elliott 363628.1.403.378.7183.41.7.7.49.3
Carl Herrera 5818.9.434.000.4091.6.4.3.22.9
Jaren Jackson 824527.1.394.377.7972.61.9.7.18.8
Avery Johnson 757335.7.478.154.7262.07.91.1.210.2
Brad Lohaus 9011.3.333.286.3331.3.6.1.22.1
Will Perdue 793018.9.549..5266.8.7.3.65.0
Chuck Person 611123.9.359.344.7573.31.4.5.26.7
David Robinson 737333.7.511.250.73510.62.7.92.621.6
Malik Rose 5308.1.434.333.6391.7.4.4.13.0
Monty Williams 721618.3.448.500.6702.51.2.5.36.3

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Vinny Del Negro 9331.4.481.200.9412.73.2.9.10.7
Tim Duncan 9941.6.521..6679.01.9.62.620.7
Reggie Geary 706.6.429.250.500.3.9.1.1.3
Carl Herrera 505.0.333...8.2...4
Jaren Jackson 9835.4.341.305.7374.31.6.6.110.2
Avery Johnson 9938.0.604..6671.46.11.0.17.3
Brad Lohaus 402.5....5.3.3..
Will Perdue 9721.2.333..8576.7.1.71.04.0
Chuck Person 9021.8.340.3501.0003.0.8.4.5.8
David Robinson 9939.2.425..63514.12.61.23.319.4
Malik Rose 503.6.667..5001.4.2.2.2.0
Monty Williams 505.6.625..6671.2.2..2.4

Award winners

References
  1. 1997-98 San Antonio Spurs
  2. "After Duncan, Utah Forward Steals Show". New York Times. June 26, 1997. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  3. "Spurs Win the Tim Duncan Sweepstakes". The New York Times. May 19, 1997.
  4. "1997–98 San Antonio Spurs Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  5. "Teams Defense". NBA.com. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  6. "Duncan Wins Rookie of Year Award". Washington Post. April 27, 1998. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  7. "1997–98 San Antonio Spurs Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  8. "1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  9. "1997–98 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  10. "Spurs' Johnson soars in game of 'Small Ball'". Deseret News. April 30, 1998. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  11. "Utah 87, San Antonio 77". UPI Archives. May 12, 1998. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  12. "Michael Jordan hits 'The Shot', and the Chicago Bulls beat Utah Jazz for their 6th NBA championship". Chicago Tribune. June 15, 1998. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  13. "Del Negro Becomes A Buck". CBS News. January 30, 1999. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  14. 1996-97 Standings Archived 2015-11-25 at the Wayback Machine, nba.com/history, accessed 19 April 2007.
  15. Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. pp. 47. ISBN 978-1-58261-179-2.
  16. Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. pp. 13. ISBN 978-1-58261-179-2.
  17. Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. pp. 25. ISBN 978-1-58261-179-2.
  18. Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. pp. 44. ISBN 978-1-58261-179-2.
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