1997–98 Phoenix Suns season

The 1997–98 NBA season was the 30th season for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association.[1] In the off-season, the Suns acquired Antonio McDyess from the Denver Nuggets,[2] and signed free agents Clifford Robinson,[3] and George McCloud. Danny Ainge returned for his first full season as the Suns head coach, as they won nine of their first eleven games, which included a 140–139 quadruple overtime road win over the Portland Trail Blazers on November 14, 1997.[4] The Suns continued to play competitive basketball holding a 31–15 record at the All-Star break. At midseason, the team traded Cedric Ceballos to the Dallas Mavericks for three-point specialist Dennis Scott,[5] as they posted a ten-game winning streak between March and April, winning eleven of their final twelve games of the season. The Suns posted a 56–26 record as members of the Pacific Division, finishing third in their division and fourth in the Western Conference.[6] They would make their 10th straight playoff appearance before losing in the Western Conference First Round, 1–3 to the 5th-seeded San Antonio Spurs.[7] All home games were played in America West Arena.

1997–98 Phoenix Suns season
Head coachDanny Ainge
General managerBryan Colangelo
Owner(s)Jerry Colangelo
ArenaAmerica West Arena
Results
Record56–26 (.683)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Pacific)
Conference: 4th (Western)
Playoff finishFirst Round
(Lost to Spurs 1–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKUTP
Fox Sports Arizona
Cox Sports
RadioKTAR

The team's top scorer Rex Chapman, who averaged 15.9 points per game, was part of a Suns offense that included four other players averaging double-digits in points in McDyess, Robinson, Danny Manning and Jason Kidd. Kidd was the team's sole member to be selected as a member of the 1998 NBA All-Star Game,[8] averaging 11.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 9.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He also finished second in the league in assists. In addition, McDyess averaged 15.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, while Robinson provided the team with 14.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.[9] Manning averaged 13.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game off the bench, and was named Sixth Man of the Year, but did not play in any of the Suns’ playoff games due to a knee ligament.[10] Kevin Johnson only played in just 50 games, starting in just 12 of them due to tendinitis in his right knee,[11] as he averaged 9.5 points and 4.9 assists per game, and second-year guard Steve Nash contributed 9.1 points and 3.4 assists per game off the bench.[9]

Following the season, McDyess re-signed as a free agent with his former team, the Denver Nuggets,[12] while Johnson retired (but would make a comeback late in the 1999–2000 season), Nash was traded to the Dallas Mavericks,[13] Hot Rod Williams signed as a free agent with the Mavericks, Scott signed with the New York Knicks, and Mark Bryant was traded to the Chicago Bulls.

Offseason

NBA Draft
Main article: 1997 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
2 43 Stephen Jackson SF/SG  United States Butler CC

The Suns used their only draft pick to select future star Stephen Jackson, who was waived before the start of the season. The Suns traded their first-round pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1995 when they dealt Dan Majerle and Antonio Lang for John "Hot Rod" Williams.

Roster
1997–98 Phoenix Suns roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
C 45 Brown, Mike 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 257 lb (117 kg) 1963–07–19 George Washington
C 2 Bryant, Mark 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1965–04–25 Seton Hall
G/F 3 Chapman, Rex 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1967–10–05 Kentucky
G 7 Johnson, Kevin 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1966–03–04 California
G 32 Kidd, Jason 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1973–03–23 California
C 17 Llamas, Horacio 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 285 lb (129 kg) 1973–07–17 Grand Canyon
F/C 15 Manning, Danny  6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1966–05–17 Kansas
F 21 McCloud, George 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1967–05–27 Florida State
F 34 McDyess, Antonio 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1974–09–07 Alabama
C 40 Meyer, Loren  (IN) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 257 lb (117 kg) 1972–12–30 Iowa State
F 20 Milič, Marko 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1977–05–07 Slovenia
G 13 Nash, Steve 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1974–02–07 Santa Clara
F 30 Robinson, Clifford 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1966–12–16 Connecticut
F 4 Scott, Dennis 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 229 lb (104 kg) 1968–09–05 Georgia Tech
C 18 Williams, John 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1962–08–09 Tulane
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (IN) Inactive
  • Injured

Roster Notes
  • Center Loren Meyer missed the entire season due to a spine injury.
  • Center Mike Brown did not play in any regular season games with the Suns this season, due to previously playing in Italy. However, he was re-signed by the team on April 18, just one day before the final day of the regular season, and only played in one playoff game.

Salaries
Player Salary
Kevin Johnson $8,000,000
Danny Manning $6,833,333
Jason Kidd $5,223,333
Hot Rod Williams $4,550,000
Antonio McDyess $2,876,640
Cedric Ceballos $2,605,000
Mark Bryant $2,250,000
Steve Nash $1,053,360
Clifford Robinson $1,000,000
Loren Meyer $722,760
Mario Bennett $630,000
Rex Chapman $326,700
Tom Chambers $272,250
George McCloud $272,250
Horacio Llamas $272,250
William Cunningham $50,000
Total $36,937,876

Regular 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

Even with a 56–26 record, the Suns were the fourth seed in the West heading into the Playoffs. They would face the fifth-seeded San Antonio Spurs, headlined by star center David Robinson and Rookie of the Year forward Tim Duncan. Duncan led the Spurs to a game one upset in Phoenix, scoring 28 second-half points in a 102–96 victory. The Suns recovered to win game two 108–101. Antonio McDyess led the Suns with 21 points and 11 rebounds, while holding Duncan to 16 points with six turnovers. On the night he received the Rookie of the Year Award, Duncan again led the Spurs with 22 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks. Despite 26 points and 17 rebounds from McDyess, the Suns fell 88–100 and into a 1–2 series hole. The Spurs would clinch the series 3–1 in San Antonio, behind 30 points from Avery Johnson, 21 rebounds from Robinson, and 6 blocks from Duncan. McDyess pulled down 19 rebounds for the Suns, but shot only 5 of 14 from the field, while Kevin Johnson led the team with 18 points.[7]

Game log
1998 playoff game log
First Round: 1–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 23 San Antonio L 96–102 Kevin Johnson (18) George McCloud (9) Jason Kidd (11) America West Arena
19,023		 0–1
2 April 25 San Antonio W 108–101 George McCloud (22) Antonio McDyess (11) Jason Kidd (10) America West Arena
19,023		 1–1
3 April 27 @ San Antonio L 88–100 Antonio McDyess (26) Antonio McDyess (17) Johnson, Kidd (6) Alamodome
20,486		 1–2
4 April 29 @ San Antonio L 80–99 Kevin Johnson (18) Antonio McDyess (19) Steve Nash (5) Alamodome
27,528		 1–3
1998 schedule

Awards and honors

Week/Month
  • Jason Kidd was named Player of the Week for games played March 8 through March 14.
  • Jason Kidd was named Player of the Week for games played April 12 through April 18.

All-Star
  • Jason Kidd was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his second All-Star selection. Kidd finished fifth in voting among Western Conference guards with 305,834 votes.

Season

Injuries/Missed games

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
Mark Bryant702215.9.484.000.7683.50.7.5.24.2
Cedric Ceballos*351617.9.500.300.7144.31.0.6.29.5
Rex Chapman686733.3.427.386.7812.53.01.0.215.9
Kevin Johnson501225.8.447.154.8713.34.9.5.29.5
Jason Kidd828238.0.416.313.7996.29.12.0.311.6
Horacio Llamas805.3.381.333.7002.30.1.1.43.0
Danny Manning701125.6.516.000.7395.62.01.0.713.5
George McCloud631319.3.405.341.7653.51.3.9.27.2
Antonio McDyess818130.1.536†.000.7027.61.31.21.715.1
Marko Milič3304.9.609†.500^.6470.80.4.3.02.8
Steve Nash76921.9.459.415^.8602.13.4.8.19.1
Clifford Robinson806429.5.479.321.6895.12.11.21.114.2
Dennis Scott*29317.0.438.449^.6671.70.8.3.26.2
Brooks Thompson*1303.5.370.313.3330.40.2.3.02.0
John Williams713018.8.470..6994.40.7.5.83.6

* – Stats with the Suns.
† – Minimum 300 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 55 three-pointers made.

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Mike Brown101.0...0.00.0.0.00.0
Mark Bryant4123.3.500..5005.80.31.0.510.0
Rex Chapman2229.0.261.000.857^0.02.01.0.09.0
Kevin Johnson4130.5.548†.250.6672.34.8.5.213.8
Jason Kidd4442.8.379.000.813^5.87.84.0.514.3
George McCloud4331.5.512.571.7504.82.0.2.214.3
Antonio McDyess4436.8.477..64313.31.0.51.517.8
Marko Milič202.0.667†..0.50.0.5.02.0
Steve Nash4112.8.444.200.6252.51.8.5.05.5
Clifford Robinson4423.0.273.000.7783.00.8.7.56.3
Dennis Scott4015.5.412.375.2.00.3.2.04.3
John Williams3011.0.286..6671.30.3.0.72.0

† – Minimum 20 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 10 free throws made.

Transactions

Trades
October 1, 1997 To Denver Nuggets---- To Phoenix Suns---- To Cleveland Cavaliers----
November 21, 1997 To Philadelphia 76ers---- To Phoenix Suns----
February 18, 1998 To Dallas Mavericks---- To Phoenix Suns----

Free agents
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