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] After finishing with the third-worst record in 1996–97, the Spurs won the 1997 NBA Draft Lottery, dubbed as the "Tim Duncan sweepstakes."[2] During the offseason, the team signed free agents Jaren Jackson and Malik Rose. 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. Duncan was named Rookie of The Year, and was selected to the 1998 NBA All-Star Game along with David Robinson. In the playoffs, the Spurs defeated the Phoenix Suns 3–1 in the Western Conference First Round, but lost 4–1 to the Utah Jazz in the semifinals. Following the season, Vinny Del Negro signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks, three-point specialist Chuck Person signed with the Charlotte Hornets, and Monty Williams was released.

1997–98 San Antonio Spurs season
Head coachGregg Popovich
OwnersPeter Holt
ArenaAlamodome
Results
Record56–26 (.683)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Midwest)
Conference: 4th (Western)
Playoff finishWest Semifinals
(Lost to Jazz 1–4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionFox Sports Southwest, KRRT, KSAT-TV
RadioKRIO

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
Roster listing
San Antonio Spurs roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
SF 9 Burton, Willie  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Minnesota
SG 15 Del Negro, Vinny 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) North Carolina State
PF 21 Duncan, Tim 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Wake Forest
SF 32 Elliott, Sean  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Arizona
PG 4 Geary, Reggie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 187 lb (85 kg) Arizona
PF 7 Herrera, Carl 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Houston
SG 2 Jackson, Jaren 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Georgetown
PG 6 Johnson, Avery 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Southern
PF 54 Lohaus, Brad 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Iowa
C 41 Perdue, Will 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Vanderbilt
SF 45 Person, Chuck 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Auburn
C 50 Robinson, David 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Navy
PF 31 Rose, Malik 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Drexel
SF 3 Williams, Monty 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Notre Dame
Head coach
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.[3] 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.[4]

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]."[5] 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."[6] 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."[7]

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

West First Round

(4) Phoenix Suns vs. (5) San Antonio Spurs Last Playoff Meeting: 1996 Western Conference First Round (San Antonio won 3-1)

Game Date Home Score Visitor Score Record

(PHO-SAS)

 Venue Box score Television
1 April 23 Phoenix 96 San Antonio 102 0–1 America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona 1 TNT 10:30et
2 April 25 Phoenix 108 San Antonio 101 1–1 America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona 2 NBC 3:30et
3 April 27 San Antonio 100 Phoenix 88 1–2 Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas 3 TNT 9:30et
4 April 29 San Antonio 99 Phoenix 80 1–3 Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas 4 TBS 8:00et
San Antonio wins series 3–1

West Conference Semifinals

(1) Utah Jazz vs. (5) San Antonio Spurs Last Playoff Meeting: 1996 Western Conference Semifinals (Utah won 4-1)

Game Date Home Score Visitor Score Record

(UTA-SAS)

 Venue Box score Television
1 May 5 Utah 83 San Antonio 82 1–0 Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 1 TNT 10:30et
2 May 7 Utah 109 San Antonio 106 2–0 Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 2 TNT 10:30et
3 May 9 San Antonio 86 Utah 64 2–1 Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas 3 NBC 3:30et
4 May 10 San Antonio 73 Utah 82 3–1 Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas 4 TNT 9:00et
5 May 12 Utah 87 San Antonio 77 4–1 Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 5 TNT 8:00et
Utah wins series 4–1

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. "Spurs Win the Tim Duncan Sweepstakes". The New York Times. May 19, 1997.
  3. 1996-97 Standings Archived 2015-11-25 at the Wayback Machine, nba.com/history, accessed 19 April 2007.
  4. Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. pp. 47. ISBN 978-1-58261-179-2.
  5. Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. pp. 13. ISBN 978-1-58261-179-2.
  6. Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. pp. 25. ISBN 978-1-58261-179-2.
  7. Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. pp. 44. ISBN 978-1-58261-179-2.
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