1997–98 New Jersey Nets season
NBA professional basketball team season / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 1997–98 NBA season was the Nets' 31st season in the National Basketball Association, and 22nd season in East Rutherford, New Jersey.[1] The Nets had the seventh overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft, and selected Tim Thomas out of Villanova University,[2][3][4][5][6] but soon traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for top draft pick Keith Van Horn from the University of Utah, Lucious Harris, Michael Cage and Don MacLean,[7][8][9][10] then signed free agent Sherman Douglas on the first day of the regular season, which began on October 31, 1997.[11][12][13] The Nets had a new look as the team changed their primary logo,[14] and added new uniforms adding dark navy to their color scheme.[15][16] A youth movement began to pay off as the Nets won their first four games, and played above .500 for the entire season, holding a 27–21 record at the All-Star break.[17] At midseason, the team traded David Benoit, Kevin Edwards and Yinka Dare to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Rony Seikaly and second-year forward Brian Evans.[18][19][20][21] Despite a 7-game losing streak between February and March, the Nets made the playoffs by finishing third in the Atlantic Division with a 43–39 record.[22]
1997–98 New Jersey Nets season | |||
---|---|---|---|
Head coach | John Calipari | ||
General manager | John Nash | ||
Owners | Secaucus Seven | ||
Arena | Continental Airlines Arena | ||
Results | |||
Record | 43–39 (.524) | ||
Place | Division: 3rd (Atlantic) Conference: 8th (Eastern) | ||
Playoff finish | First round (lost to Bulls 0–3) | ||
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |||
Local media | |||
Television | |||
Radio | WOR | ||
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Van Horn shook off a preseason ankle injury, which cost him to miss the first month of the regular season,[23][24][25] and averaged 19.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in 62 games, while being selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. He also finished in second place in Rookie of the Year voting behind Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs.[26][27][28][29] In addition, Sam Cassell finished second on the team in scoring with 19.6 points, led them with 8.0 assists and contributed 1.6 steals per game, while second-year star Kerry Kittles provided the team with 17.2 points and 1.7 steals per game, and Kendall Gill contributed 13.4 points and led the team with 1.9 steals per game.[30] Jayson Williams averaged 12.9 points, led the Nets with 13.6 rebounds per game, and was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game.[31][32][33][34][35] Off the bench, sixth man Chris Gatling provided with 11.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, and Douglas contributed 8.0 points and 4.0 assists per game.[30]
In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Nets faced off against Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and the 2-time defending champion Chicago Bulls. However, due to injuries to Cassell (groin), Williams (thumb), and Van Horn (stomach virus),[36][37][38] the Nets were swept by the Bulls in three straight games.[39][40][41][42][43] The Bulls would go on to defeat the Utah Jazz in six games in the NBA Finals for their third consecutive championship, and sixth overall in eight years.[44][45][46][47][48]
Following the season, Douglas signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Clippers,[49][50] while Cage and MacLean were both traded to the Seattle SuperSonics, whom Cage used to play for,[51][52] and Xavier McDaniel retired, although he was released to free agency in January.[53] The Nets new primary logo and home uniforms both remained in use until 2012, while the road jerseys lasted until 2009.