1997–98 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Lakers' 50th season in the National Basketball Association, and 38th in the city of Los Angeles.[1] During the off-season, the Lakers signed free agents Rick Fox and three-point specialist Jon Barry.[2] Second-year shooting guard, and last season's Slam Dunk champion Kobe Bryant emerged as a star in his second season, playing an increased role as the team's sixth man, averaging 15.4 points per game off the bench, while being selected to start in the 1998 NBA All-Star Game at the age of 19, which was his first All-Star appearance.[3] Joining him on the Western Conference All-Star roster were teammates Shaquille O'Neal, Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel.[4][5] Bryant also finished in second place in Sixth Man of the Year voting behind Danny Manning of the Phoenix Suns.[6]

1997–98 Los Angeles Lakers season
Head coachDel Harris
General managerJerry West
Owner(s)Jerry Buss
ArenaGreat Western Forum
Results
Record61–21 (.744)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Pacific)
Conference: 3rd (Western)
Playoff finishConference Finals
(Lost to Jazz 0–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKCAL-TV
Fox Sports West
RadioKLAC

The Lakers got off to a fast start to the season winning their first eleven games, before losing O'Neal to a strained stomach muscle that forced him to sit out 20 games.[7] In his absence, the Lakers went 13–7. In February, Van Exel went down with an knee injury missing 18 games,[8] and was replaced with second-year guard Derek Fisher in the lineup at point guard for the remainder of the season.[9] The Lakers won 22 of their final 25 games to tie the Pacific Division title with the Seattle SuperSonics with a 61–21 record.[10] It was the Lakers' best record since the 1989–90 season.

O'Neal finished second in the league in scoring averaging 28.3 points, averaged 11.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, and also finished in fourth place in Most Valuable Player voting.[11] In addition, Jones averaged 16.9 points and 2.0 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, while Van Exel provided the team with 13.8 points and 6.9 assists per game, and Fox contributed 12.0 points per game. Robert Horry averaged 7.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.3 blocks per game, and Elden Campbell provided with 10.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game off the bench.[12]

In the playoffs, the Lakers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 3–1 in the Western Conference First Round for the second consecutive year,[13] then defeated the 2nd–seeded SuperSonics 4–1 in the Western Conference Semi-finals after losing Game 1.[14] However, in the Western Conference Finals, they were swept by the top-seeded Utah Jazz in four straight games.[15] The Jazz would go on to lose in six games to the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals for the second straight year.[16] Following the season, Van Exel was traded to the Denver Nuggets after feuding with head coach Del Harris,[17] and Barry signed as a free agent with the Sacramento Kings.[18]

Draft picks
Main article: 1997 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
2 52 DeJuan Wheat PG  United States Louisville
2 54 Paul Rogers C  Australia Gonzaga

Roster
1997–98 Los Angeles Lakers roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
G 20 Barry, Jon 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1969–07–25 Georgia Tech
F 23 Bennett, Mario 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1973–08–01 Arizona State
F 43 Blount, Corie 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1969–01–04 Cincinnati
G 8 Bryant, Kobe 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1978–08–23 Lower Merion HS
C 41 Campbell, Elden 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1968–07–23 Clemson
G 2 Fisher, Derek 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1974–08–09 Little Rock
F 17 Fox, Rick 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1969–07–24 North Carolina
F 5 Horry, Robert 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1970–08–25 Alabama
G 6 Jones, Eddie 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1971–10–20 Temple
C 34 O'Neal, Shaquille (C) 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 325 lb (147 kg) 1972–03–06 LSU
C 45 Rooks, Sean 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1969–09–09 Arizona
G 24 Seals, Shea  6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1975–08–26 Tulsa
G 9 Van Exel, Nick 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1971–11–27 Cincinnati
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: October 20, 1997

Regular season

Season standings
Pacific Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Seattle SuperSonics 6121.744–35–626–1519–5
x-Los Angeles Lakers 6121.744 –33–828–1316–8
x-Phoenix Suns 5626.683530–1126–1517–7
x-Portland Trail Blazers 4636.5611526–1520–2114–10
Sacramento Kings 2755.3293421–206–356–18
Golden State Warriors 1963.2324212–297–346–18
Los Angeles Clippers 1765.2074411–306–356–18
# 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 24 Portland W 104–102 Shaquille O'Neal (30) O'Neal, Jones (7) Robert Horry (5) Great Western Forum
17,505		 1–0
2 April 26 Portland W 108–99 Rick Fox (24) Shaquille O'Neal (9) Derek Fisher (7) Great Western Forum
17,505		 2–0
3 April 28 @ Portland L 94–99 Shaquille O'Neal (36) Shaquille O'Neal (16) Robert Horry (7) Rose Garden
21,558		 2–1
4 April 30 @ Portland W 110–99 Shaquille O'Neal (31) Shaquille O'Neal (15) Nick Van Exel (7) Rose Garden
21,558		 3–1
Conference Semi-finals: 4–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 4 @ Seattle L 92–106 Shaquille O'Neal (27) Shaquille O'Neal (11) Rick Fox (10) KeyArena
17,072		 0–1
2 May 6 @ Seattle W 92–68 Shaquille O'Neal (26) O'Neal, Horry (10) Derek Fisher (7) KeyArena
17,072		 1–1
3 May 8 Seattle W 119–103 Shaquille O'Neal (30) Shaquille O'Neal (10) Derek Fisher (7) Great Western Forum
17,505		 2–1
4 May 10 Seattle W 112–100 Shaquille O'Neal (39) Shaquille O'Neal (8) O'Neal, Van Exel (7) Great Western Forum
17,505		 3–1
5 May 12 @ Seattle W 110–95 Shaquille O'Neal (31) Robert Horry (11) Derek Fisher (6) KeyArena
17,072		 4–1
Conference Finals: 0–4 (Home: 0–2; Road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 16 @ Utah L 77–112 Shaquille O'Neal (19) Corie Blount (9) Nick Van Exel (3) Delta Center
19,911		 0–1
2 May 18 @ Utah L 95–99 Shaquille O'Neal (31) Corie Blount (10) Rick Fox (7) Delta Center
19,911		 0–2
3 May 22 Utah L 98–109 Shaquille O'Neal (39) Shaquille O'Neal (15) Nick Van Exel (7) Great Western Forum
17,505		 0–3
4 May 24 Utah L 92–96 Shaquille O'Neal (38) Robert Horry (8) Eddie Jones (6) Great Western Forum
17,505		 0–4
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

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

Regular Season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Jon Barry 4917.6.365.295.9310.81.00.50.12.5
Mario Bennett 4547.9.593.500.3642.80.40.40.23.9
Corie Blount 70314.7.572.000.5004.30.50.40.43.6
Kobe Bryant 79126.0.428.341.7943.12.50.90.515.4
Elden Campbell 812822.0.463.500.6935.61.00.41.310.1
Derek Fisher 823621.5.434.383.7572.44.10.90.15.8
Rick Fox 828233.0.471.325.7434.43.41.20.612.0
Robert Horry 727130.4.476.204.6927.52.31.61.37.4
Eddie Jones 808036.4.484.389.7653.83.12.00.716.9
Shaquille O'Neal 605736.3.584..52711.42.40.72.428.3
Sean Rooks 41110.4.455..5952.90.60.00.63.4
Shea Seals 402.3.125.000.5001.0.0.3.1.0
Nick Van Exel 644632.1.419.389.7912.56.91.00.113.8

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Jon Barry
Mario Bennett
Corie Blount
Kobe Bryant
Elden Campbell
Derek Fisher
Rick Fox
Robert Horry
Eddie Jones
Shaquille O'Neal
Sean Rooks
Nick Van Exel

Awards and records

Awards

All-Star

Weekly and monthly
  • Shaquille O'Neal was named NBA Player of the Week for games played from November 9 through November 15.
  • Eddie Jones was named NBA Player of the Month for November.
  • Shaquille O'Neal was named NBA Player of the Month for January.
  • Shaquille O'Neal was named NBA Player of the Week for games played from March 15 to March 21.
  • Shaquille O'Neal was named NBA Player of the Month for April.
  • Del Harris was named NBA Coach of the Month for April.

References
  1. 1997–98 Los Angeles Lakers
  2. Howard-Cooper, Scott (August 27, 1997). "Fox Hunt Finally Over for Lakers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  3. "Ranking all 20 seasons of Kobe Bryant's career, from best to worst". For The Win. April 13, 2016. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  4. "N.B.A.: ALL-STAR GAME; Four Lakers Make Team". New York Times. January 28, 1998. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  5. "1998 NBA All-Star Game East: 135, West 114". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  6. Howard-Cooper, Scott (April 24, 1998). "Bryant Second to Manning in Voting for Sixth Man". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  7. Howard-Cooper, Scott (November 22, 1997). "O'Neal Feeling the Strain". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  8. "Lakers Activate Van Exel". AP News. March 15, 1998. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  9. Howard-Cooper, Scott (April 10, 1998). "Fisher Stays Put in Starting Lineup". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  10. "1997–98 Los Angeles Lakers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  11. "1997–98 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  12. "1997–98 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  13. Howard-Cooper, Scott (May 1, 1998). "On in a Blaze of Glory". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  14. "Lakers Finish Sonics". CBS News. May 13, 1998. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  15. "JAZZ 96, LAKERS 92". Chicago Tribune. May 25, 1998. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  16. "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.
  17. Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 25, 1998). "Van Exel Is Exiled to Nuggets". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  18. "Top 10 Free Agent Signings in Sacramento Kings History". A Royal Pain. September 9, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
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