1997–98 New York Knicks season

The 1997–98 New York Knicks season was the 52nd season for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[1] During the off-season, the Knicks acquired Chris Mills from the Boston Celtics, and Chris Dudley from the Portland Trail Blazers.[2][3] At midseason, the team traded Herb Williams to the Philadelphia 76ers for Terry Cummings.[4] However, Williams never played for the 76ers, and was re-signed by the Knicks for the remainder of the season.[5] In the regular season, the Knicks finished with a 43–39 record,[6] which placed them in a tie for second place in the Atlantic Division with the New Jersey Nets.[7] Despite their lowest winning percentage since the 1990–91 season,[1] the team qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the #7 seed.[7] They also hosted the 1998 NBA All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden.[8] The Knicks had the fourth-best team defensive rating in the NBA.[9]

1997–98 New York Knicks season
Head coachJeff Van Gundy
General managerErnie Grunfeld
OwnersCablevision
ArenaMadison Square Garden
Results
Record43–39 (.524)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Atlantic)
Conference: 7th (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference Semifinals
(Lost to Pacers 1–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionMSG Network
RadioWFAN

This season saw All-Star center Patrick Ewing break his wrist trying to catch an alley-oop during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on December 20.[10] The injury kept Ewing out for the rest of the regular season, and the entire Eastern Conference first round series against the Miami Heat. However, he did return for Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.[11][12] Ewing averaged 20.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game in 26 games.[13] Without their star center for most of the season, Allan Houston finished second on the team in scoring, averaging 18.4 points per game, while Larry Johnson averaged 15.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.[13] In addition, John Starks provided scoring off the bench, averaging 12.9 points per game,[13] and finished in fourth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting,[14] while Charles Oakley provided the team with 9.0 points and 9.2 rebounds per game,[13] and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team,[7] and Mills contributed 9.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game off the bench.[13] The team used Charlie Ward as its starting point guard, with Chris Childs coming off the bench.[13] Ward contributed 7.8 points, 5.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game.[13] During the All-Star Weekend, Houston participated in the 2Ball competition, which replaced the Slam Dunk Contest this season, and Ward participated in the Three-Point Contest.[15]

The 1998 NBA Playoffs matched the Knicks against the #2 seed Heat, who had eliminated the Knicks in the 1997 playoffs in a series that featured a brawl during Game 5.[16][17] The altercation led to the suspension of six players, including five Knicks.[18] In the 1998 series, another brawl occurred in the closing seconds of Game 4, which the Knicks won to even the series at two games each. Johnson and Alonzo Mourning exchanged punches, and New York coach Jeff Van Gundy clung to one of Mourning's legs at one point in an attempt to separate the two.[19][20] Three players were suspended for Game 5: Johnson, Mourning, and Mills, who left the bench during the fight.[21] The Knicks won Game 5 at Miami to advance to the second round,[22] where they lost to the Pacers in five games.[23]

Following the season, Oakley was traded to the Toronto Raptors,[24] while Starks was dealt along with Mills and Cummings to the Golden State Warriors,[25][26] and Buck Williams retired.[27] For the season, the Knicks changed their home uniforms, adding blue side panels to their jerseys and shorts,[28] while their alternate uniforms they wore on the road frequently for the previous two seasons became their primary road jerseys.[29] Both uniforms remained in use until 2012, although they were slightly redesigned in 2001, where the side panels were removed from the bottom of their shorts.[30][31]

NBA Draft
Main article: 1997 NBA Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 25 John Thomas PF  United States Minnesota

Roster
1997–98 New York Knicks roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
G 13 Bowie, Anthony 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1963–11–09 Oklahoma
G 1 Childs, Chris 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1970–11–20 Boise State
F 35 Cummings, Terry 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1961–03–15 DePaul
F 4 Davis, Ben  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1972–12–26 Arizona
C 14 Dudley, Chris 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1965–02–22 Yale
C 33 Ewing, Patrick 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1962–08–05 Georgetown
G 20 Houston, Allan 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1971–04–20 Tennessee
F 2 Johnson, Larry 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1969–03–14 UNLV
F 42 Mills, Chris 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1970–01–25 Arizona
F 34 Oakley, Charles 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1963–12–18 Virginia Union
G 3 Starks, John 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–08–10 Oklahoma State
G 7 Thompson, Brooks 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 1970–07–19 Oklahoma State
G 21 Ward, Charlie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1970–10–12 Florida State
F 52 Williams, Buck 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1960–03–08 Maryland
C 32 Williams, Herb 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 242 lb (110 kg) 1958–02–16 Ohio State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster

Roster notes

Regular season

Season standings
Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Miami Heat 5527.671–30-1125–1618–6
x-New York Knicks 4339.5241228–1315–2613–11
x-New Jersey Nets 4339.5241226–1517–2412–12
Washington Wizards 4240.5121324–1718–2312–13
Orlando Magic 4141.5001424–1717–2411–13
Boston Celtics 3646.4391924–1712–2912–12
Philadelphia 76ers 3151.3782419–2212–297–17
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Chicago Bulls6220.756–
2 y-Miami Heat5527.6717
3 x-Indiana Pacers5824.7074
4 x-Charlotte Hornets5131.62211
5 x-Atlanta Hawks5032.61012
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers4735.57315
7 x-New York Knicks4339.52419
8 x-New Jersey Nets4339.52419
9 Washington Wizards4240.51220
10 Orlando Magic4141.50021
11 Detroit Pistons3745.45125
12 Boston Celtics3646.43926
12 Milwaukee Bucks3646.43926
14 Philadelphia 76ers3151.37831
15 Toronto Raptors1666.19546

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: 3–2 (Home: 1–1; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 24 @ Miami L 79–94 Larry Johnson (21) Charles Oakley (12) Charles Oakley (4) Miami Arena
15,200		 0–1
2 April 26 @ Miami W 96–86 John Starks (25) Terry Cummings (14) Charlie Ward (7) Miami Arena
15,200		 1–1
3 April 28 Miami L 85–91 Allan Houston (27) Johnson, Oakley (7) four players tied (3) Madison Square Garden
19,763		 1–2
4 April 30 Miami W 90–85 Houston, Johnson (18) Larry Johnson (9) Charlie Ward (7) Madison Square Garden
19,763		 2–2
5 May 3 @ Miami W 98–81 Allan Houston (30) Buck Williams (14) Charlie Ward (14) Miami Arena
15,200		 3–2
Conference Semifinals: 1–4 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 5 @ Indiana L 83–93 John Starks (17) Charles Oakley (11) Charlie Ward (6) Market Square Arena
16,630		 0–1
2 May 7 @ Indiana L 77–85 John Starks (20) Charles Oakley (9) Charlie Ward (10) Market Square Arena
16,765		 0–2
3 May 9 Indiana W 83–76 Patrick Ewing (19) Chris Mills (8) Chris Childs (5) Madison Square Garden
19,763		 1–2
4 May 10 Indiana L 107–118 (OT) Houston, Starks (19) Charles Oakley (10) Chris Childs (6) Madison Square Garden
19,763		 1–3
5 May 13 @ Indiana L 88–99 Allan Houston (33) Patrick Ewing (7) Patrick Ewing (11) Market Square Arena
16,767		 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

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

Season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Anthony Bowie
Chris Childs
Terry Cummings
Ben Davis
Chris Dudley
Patrick Ewing
Allan Houston
Larry Johnson
Chris Mills
Pete Myers
Charles Oakley
John Starks
Brooks Thompson
Charlie Ward
Buck Williams
Herb Williams

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Anthony Bowie
Chris Childs
Terry Cummings
Chris Dudley
Patrick Ewing
Allan Houston
Larry Johnson
Chris Mills
Charles Oakley
John Starks
Charlie Ward
Buck Williams

Awards and records

References
  1. "New York Knickerbockers Franchise Index". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  2. Roberts, Selena (October 23, 1997). "Pro Basketball; Knicks Send Four Players To the Celtics for Mills". The New York Times. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  3. Shapiro, Mark (September 8, 1997). "Dudley's Trade To Knicks Approved". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  4. Smith, Stephen A. (February 20, 1998). "Cummings Dealt By The 76ers For A Pair Of Knicks: The Forward, Swapped For Herb Williams And Ronnie Grandison, Landed With A Winner". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on August 25, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  5. Wise, Mike (February 24, 1998). "Basketball: Knicks Notebook; Williams Is in Line To Sign a Third Time". The New York Times. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  6. "1997–98 New York Knicks Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  7. "1997–98 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on July 4, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  8. Iannazzone, Al (September 24, 2013). "League source: Knicks, Nets to co-host NBA All-Star Weekend in 2015". Newsday. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  9. "Teams General Defense". National Basketball Association. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  10. Roberts, Selena (December 22, 1997). "Pro Basketball; Wrist Surgery Sidelines Ewing For the Season". The New York Times. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  11. Roberts, Selena (May 7, 1998). "The N.B.A. Playoffs; Ewing Works Out As the Knicks Wait and Wait". The New York Times. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  12. Roberts, Selena (May 8, 1998). "The N.B.A. Playoffs; Ewing Starts, but Pacers Have the Endgame". The New York Times. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  13. "1997–98 New York Knicks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  14. "1997–98 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  15. Popper, Steve (February 8, 1998). "N.B.A. All-Star Weekend: Kids Slam and Ham, but a Grown-Up Shoots for Dough; Houston Pair Win in 2Ball". The New York Times. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  16. "1997 NBA Playoffs Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  17. Wise, Mike (May 15, 1997). "Not for the Faint-Hearted: Knicks–Heat Turns Nasty". The New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  18. Wise, Mike (May 16, 1997). "5 Knicks Barred for Melee; 3 to Miss Game 6". The New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  19. Wise, Mike (May 2, 1998). "THE N.B.A. Playoffs; Suspensions, Again, Hit Knicks and Heat After N.B.A. Melee". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  20. Sutton, Larry; Standora, Leo (May 1, 1998). "Knicks & Heat Slug It Out: Johnson–Mourning Fight Clears The Benches". New York Daily News. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  21. "Tough play big part of Rileyball". The Augusta Chronicle. Associated Press. May 3, 1998. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  22. Roberts, Selena (May 4, 1998). "The N.B.A. Playoffs; Staying Serene Under Pressure, the Knicks Oust Miami". The New York Times. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  23. Roberts, Selena (May 14, 1998). "The N.B.A. Playoffs; Guarantees? Pacers Eliminate Knicks". The New York Times. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  24. Roberts, Selena (June 25, 1998). "Pro Basketball; Knicks Part With Oakley to Get Toronto's Camby". The New York Times. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  25. Zwerling, Jared (February 25, 2011). "Top 10 trades in Knicks history". ESPN New York. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  26. "Knicks Get Spree, Lose Starks". CBS News. January 18, 1999. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  27. "Pro Basketball; Buck Williams Ends Career". The New York Times. January 28, 1999. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  28. "New York Knicks Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page – SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  29. "New York Knicks Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page – SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  30. "New York Knicks Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page – SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  31. "New York Knicks Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page – SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  32. Jeffers, Glenn (April 13, 1998). "Knicks: 'We Know We Won'". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
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