1996–97 Boston Celtics season

The 1996–97 NBA season was the 51st season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association.[1] Celebrating its 50th anniversary as one of the NBA's original franchises, the Celtics selected Antoine Walker from the University of Kentucky with the sixth overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft.[2][3][4][5][6] During the off-season, the team signed free agents Frank Brickowski and Marty Conlon.[7][8] However, after a 4–8 start to the season, the Celtics lost 13 of their next 14 games as players like Dino Radja, Dana Barros, Dee Brown, Greg Minor and Pervis Ellison were all out for long stretches of the season with injuries.[9] The team suffered through their worst season, holding an 11–35 record at the All-Star break,[10] then posting a 13-game losing streak between February and March, and losing ten straight games near the end of the season. The Celtics lost 34 of their final 38 games, finishing last place in the Atlantic Division with a dreadful 15–67 record, which is the team's worst record in franchise history.[11]

1996–97 Boston Celtics season
Head coachM. L. Carr
General managerJan Volk
Owner(s)Paul Gaston
ArenaFleet Center
Results
Record15–67 (.183)
PlaceDivision: 7th (Atlantic)
Conference: 15th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWSBK-TV
SportsChannel New England
RadioWRKO

Walker averaged 17.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, and finished in fourth place in Rookie of the Year voting.[12][13][14] In addition, David Wesley averaged 16.8 points, 7.3 assists and 2.2 steals per game, while Rick Fox provided the team with 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game, second-year forward Eric Williams contributed 15.0 points per game, and Todd Day provided with 14.5 points per game. Barros averaged 12.5 points and 3.2 assists per game in 24 games, while Minor contributed 9.6 points per game in 23 games, Brown provided with 7.6 points, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game in 21 games, and Conlon averaged 7.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.[15]

Following the season, head coach M.L. Carr resigned,[16][17] while Fox signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers,[18][19][20] Wesley signed with the Charlotte Hornets,[21][22][23] Williams was traded to the Denver Nuggets,[24][25][26] Day signed with the Miami Heat,[27][28] and Brickowski, Conlon and Alton Lister were all released to free agency. This was also the final season for Radja, who only played just 25 games this season due to a left knee injury, averaging 14.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. After failing his physical exam, voiding an off-season trade that would have sent him to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Clarence Weatherspoon and Michael Cage, he returned to play in Europe, signing a contract to play in Greece, and ending his four-year career in the NBA.[29][30][31][32]

For the season, the Celtics updated their primary logo of a leprechaun spinning a basketball, adding gold, black and mahogany colors. The logo is still present as of 2023.[33]

Draft picks
Main article: 1996 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 6 Antoine Walker SF/PF  United States Kentucky
2 38 Steve Hamer C  United States Tennessee

Roster
1996–97 Boston Celtics roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G 11 Barros, Dana Injured 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 163 lb (74 kg) 1967–04–13 Boston College
F 34 Brickowski, Frank Injured 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1959–08–14 Penn State
G 7 Brown, Dee Injured 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1968–11–29 Jacksonville
C 30 Conlon, Marty 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 224 lb (102 kg) 1968–01–19 Providence
G 13 Day, Todd 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 188 lb (85 kg) 1970–01–07 Arkansas
F 29 Ellison, Pervis Injured 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1967–04–03 Louisville
F 44 Fox, Rick (C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1969–07–24 North Carolina
G 5 Hawkins, Michael 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 178 lb (81 kg) 1972–10–28 Xavier
C 53 Lister, Alton 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1958–10–01 Arizona State
G/F 9 Minor, Greg Injured 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1971–09–18 Louisville
C 40 Radja, Dino Injured 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1967–04–24 Croatia
C 43 Szabo, Brett 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1968–02–01 Augustana (SD)
F 8 Walker, Antoine 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 224 lb (102 kg) 1976–08–12 Kentucky
G 4 Wesley, David 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1970–11–14 Baylor
F 55 Williams, Eric 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1972–07–17 Providence
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: March 10, 1997

Regular season

Season standings
Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Miami Heat 6121.744–29–1232–916–8
x-New York Knicks 5725.695431–1026–1519–6
x-Orlando Magic 4537.5491626–1519–2213–11
x-Washington Bullets 4438.5371725–1619–2214–10
New Jersey Nets 2656.3173516–2510–3111–13
Philadelphia 76ers 2260.2683911–3011–3011–14
Boston Celtics 1567.1834611–304–371–23
1996–97 NBA East standings
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Chicago Bulls6913.841–
2 y-Miami Heat6121.7448
3 x-New York Knicks5725.69512
4 x-Atlanta Hawks5626.68313
5 x-Detroit Pistons5428.65915
6 x-Charlotte Hornets5428.65915
7 x-Orlando Magic4537.54924
8 x-Washington Bullets4438.53725
9 Cleveland Cavaliers4240.51227
10 Indiana Pacers3943.47630
11 Milwaukee Bucks3349.40236
12 Toronto Raptors3052.36639
13 New Jersey Nets2656.31743
14 Philadelphia 76ers2260.26847
15 Boston Celtics1567.18354

Record vs. opponents
1996-97 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 –3–11–31–33–12–01–11–32–01–13–12–01–11–24–02–03–11–33–14–01–12–02–02–01–14–01–12–02–1
Boston 1–3–0–40–41–21–11–10–41–10–21–20–21–10–41–30–20–40–40–41–31–11–10–21–10–23–10–20–20–4
Charlotte 3–14–0–0–43–11–12–02–22–02–02–21–11–11–22–22–04–03–11–24–01–10–22–02–02–02–20–22–03–1
Chicago 3–14–04–0–3–12–02–03–12–01–14–02–01–12–24–02–03–12–23–04–02–02–02–02–02–03–11–12–02–1
Cleveland 1–32–11–31–3–2–01–12–21–10–23–12–01–10–42–22–04–01–32–23–01–11–12–00–20–23–11–12–01–3
Dallas 0–21–11–10–20–2–3–10–20–40–41–12–20–40–20–21–31–11–11–12–01–31–32–21–31–30–21–33–10–2
Denver 1–11–10–20–21–11–3–0–21–31–30–21–30–40–21–10–41–10–20–21–12–20–42–22–20–41–10–43–11–1
Detroit 3–14–02–21–32–22–02–0–2–01–13–12–01–10–43–12–04–01–22–22–10–21–11–12–01–13–11–12–04–0
Golden State 0–21–10–20–21–14–03–10–2–0–41–11–30–40–21–11–32–00–21–12–00–42–21–34–00–42–00–43–10–2
Houston 1–12–00–21–12–04–03–11–14–0–1–13–13–10–21–14–02–01–10–22–02–22–24–03–13–11–12–23–12–0
Indiana 1–32–12–20–41–31–12–01–31–11–1–2–01–11–32–22–02–21–31–33–01–11–11–11–11–14–00–22–01–3
L.A. Clippers 0–22–01–10–20–22–23–10–23–11–30–2–2–20–22–01–31–10–21–11–12–20–42–24–01–32–01–34–00–2
L.A. Lakers 1–11–11–11–11–14–04–01–14–01–31–12–2–1–12–03–12–01–11–12–04–01–34–02–23–11–11–34–02–0
Miami 2–14–02–12–24–02–02–04–02–02–03–12–01–1–4–01–13–11–32–23–12–01–12–02–00–23–10–22–03–1
Milwaukee 0–43–12–20–42–22–01–11–31–11–12–20–20–20–4–0–22–11–22–23–11–10–20–21–11–13–11–12–01–3
Minnesota 0–22–00–20–20–23–14–00–23–10–40–23–11–31–12–0–2–01–11–11–13–12–20–44–00–41–11–34–01–1
New Jersey 1–34–00–41–30–41–11–10–40–20–22–21–10–21–31–20–2–2–21–32–21–10–21–12–01–10–30–22–01–3
New York 3–14–01–32–23–11–12–02–12–01–13–12–01–13–12–11–12–2–3–13–21–11–12–02–00–23–01–12–04–0
Orlando 1–34–02–10–32–21–12–02–21–12–03–11–11–12–22–21–13–11–3–2–21–12–01–11–11–14–00–21–11–3
Philadelphia 0–43–10–40–40–30–21–11–20–20–20–31–10–21–31–31–12–22–32–2–1–11–10–21–10–21–30–22–01–3
Phoenix 1–11–11–10–21–13–12–22–04–02–21–12–20–40–21–11–31–11–11–11–1–1–34–03–12–20–21–32–21–1
Portland 0–21–12–00–21–13–14–01–12–22–21–14–03–11–12–02–22–01–10–21–13–1–2–24–01–30–22–24–00–2
Sacramento 0–22–00–20–20–22–22–21–13–10–41–12–20–40–22–04–01–10–21–12–00–42–2–3–11–31–10–44–00–2
San Antonio 0–21–10–20–22–03–12–20–20–41–31–10–42–20–21–10–40–20–21–11–11–30–41–3–0–41–11–31–30–2
Seattle 1–12–00–20–22–03–14–01–14–01–31–13–11–32–01–14–01–12–01–12–02–23–13–14–0–2–01–34–02–0
Toronto 0–41–32–21–31–32–01–11–30–21–10–40–21–11–31–31–13–00–30–43–12–02–01–11–10–2–1–11–12–2
Utah 1–12–02–01–11–13–14–01–14–02–22–03–13–12–01–13–12–01–12–02–03–12–24–03–13–11–1–4–02–0
Vancouver 0–22–00–20–20–21–31–30–21–31–30–20–40–40–20–20–40–20–21–10–22–20–40–43–10–41–10–4–1–1
Washington 1–24–01–31–23–12–01–10–42–00–23–12–00–21–33–11–13–10–43–13–11–12–02–02–00–22–20–21–1—

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

Awards and records

Transactions

References
  1. 1996-97 Boston Celtics
  2. Heisler, Mark (June 27, 1996). "The Surprises Are Few". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  3. Cotton, Anthony (June 27, 1996). "For 76ers, Iverson Is No. 1 Choice". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  4. Greenberg, Alan (June 27, 1996). "Celtics Expecting Big Things from Their Top Pick". Hartford Courant. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  5. Bembry, Jerry (June 27, 1996). "76ers Make Iverson the 1, Philadelphia Takes Georgetown Guard; Camby Goes Second". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  6. "1996 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  7. "Transactions". Hartford Courant. August 2, 1996. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  8. "Celtics Sign Forward Marty Conlon". Associated Press. October 21, 1999. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  9. Henrique, Chris (December 25, 2021). "Boston Celtics: 'Thank God for Marty Conlon', the Tank for Tim Duncan and Rick Pitino". Boston Sports Syndicate. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  10. "NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  11. "1996–97 Boston Celtics Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  12. "Iverson Is Voted Top Rookie". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 2, 1997. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  13. "Iverson Calls Rookie Award a Triumph Over His Critics". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 2, 1997. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  14. "1996–97 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  15. "1996–97 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  16. "Carr, Brown Resign as Coaches". The Washington Post. May 1, 1997. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  17. "Carr Steps Down, Bird's Decision Next". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 8, 1997. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  18. Wise, Mike (August 27, 1997). "Knicks Lose the Bidding War for Fox, Who Heads to Lakers". The New York Times. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  19. "Lakers Fill In a Few Foxholes". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. August 27, 1997. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  20. Howard-Cooper, Scott (August 27, 1997). "Fox Hunt Finally Over for Lakers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  21. "Hornets Get Wesley, a Free Agent". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 2, 1997. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  22. "The Charlotte Hornets Signed Free Agent Point..." Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. July 2, 1997. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  23. Nowell, Paul (July 2, 1997). "Expendable Wesley to Hornets". South Coast Today. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  24. Gardner, Kris (August 21, 1997). "Celtics Trade Williams to Denver". The Houston Roundball Review. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  25. "Celtics Send Eric Williams to Nuggets". Tampa Bay Times. August 22, 1997. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  26. Greenberg, Alan (October 23, 1997). "One of Pitino's Slick Moves". Hartford Courant. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  27. "Rodman's Special Kind of Contract Isn't Fine with NBA". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. September 18, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  28. Winderman, Ira (September 18, 1997). "Wholesale Changes Fit Heat Budget". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  29. "Radja's Failed Physical Voids Celtic-76er Deal". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 25, 1997. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  30. "Bad Knee Nixes Radja Trade". Deseret News. Associated Press. June 25, 1997. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  31. "Celtics Appeal on Radja Trade". Tampa Bay Times. June 26, 1997. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  32. "Celtics Waive Radja". Associated Press. July 17, 1997. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  33. "Boston Celtics Logo". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 8, 2021.

See also
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