1996–97 Cleveland Cavaliers season

The 1996–97 NBA season was the 27th season of the National Basketball Association in Cleveland, Ohio.[1] In the 1996 NBA draft, the Cavaliers selected Ukrainian center Vitaly Potapenko out of Wright State University with the 12th overall pick, and Lithuanian center Zydrunas Ilgauskas with the 20th overall pick.[2][3][4] However, Ilgauskas would miss the entire season with a broken bone in his right foot.[5][6][7] During the off-season, the team signed free agent Mark West.[8][9] The Cavaliers started their season winning nine of their first twelve games, but after a 21–10 start, they lost six straight games in January while losing 11 of their next 14 games. The team played above .500 for the entire season, holding a 25–22 record at the All-Star break,[10] but started to struggle down the stretch, losing 10 of their 16 games in March.[11] On the final day of the regular season on April 20, 1997, the Cavaliers faced the Washington Bullets at the Gund Arena, as both teams were fighting for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Bullets won 85–81 as the Cavs missed the playoffs, finishing 5th in the Central Division with a 42–40 record.[12][13][14][15] The Cavaliers had the fifth best team defensive rating in the NBA.[16]

1996–97 Cleveland Cavaliers season
Head coachMike Fratello
General managerWayne Embry
Owners
ArenaGund Arena
Results
Record42–40 (.512)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Central)
Conference: 9th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television
RadioWTAM

Terrell Brandon led the team with 19.5 points, 6.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game, and was selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, which Cleveland hosted at the Gund Arena.[17][18][19][20] In addition, Chris Mills averaged 13.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, while Tyrone Hill provided the team with 12.9 points, 9.9 rebounds per game and shot .600 in field-goal percentage, and Bobby Phills contributed 12.6 points and 1.6 steals per game. Danny Ferry provided with 10.6 points per game, while off the bench, second-year guard Bob Sura contributed 9.2 points and 4.8 assists per game, and Potapenko averaged 5.8 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.[21]

Following the season, Brandon and Hill were both traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in an off-season three-team trade,[22][23][24][25][26] while Mills signed as a free agent with the Boston Celtics,[27][28][29] who then traded him to the New York Knicks two months later,[30][31][32] Phills signed with the Charlotte Hornets,[33][34][35] and West signed with the Indiana Pacers.[36][37]

Offseason

Draft picks
Main article: 1996 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 12* Vitaly Potapenko Center  Ukraine Wright State
1 20 Zydrunas Ilgauskas Center  Lithuania Atletas
2 56** Reggie Geary Guard  United States Arizona

*1st round pick acquired from Washington in Mark Price deal.[38]
**2nd round pick acquired from Orlando in Steve Kerr deal.[39]

Roster
1996–97 Cleveland Cavaliers roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G 1 Brandon, Terrell (C) 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1970–05–20 Oregon
F 35 Ferry, Danny 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1966–10–17 Duke
G 2 Geary, Reggie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 187 lb (85 kg) 1973–08–31 Arizona
C 32 Hill, Tyrone 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1968–03–19 Xavier
C 11 Ilgauskas, Zydrunas Injured (IN) 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) 238 lb (108 kg) 1975–06–05 Lithuania
F 21 Lang, Antonio 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1972–05–15 Duke
F 33 Marshall, Donny 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1972–07–17 Connecticut
F 24 Mills, Chris 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1970–01–25 Arizona
G 14 Phills, Bobby 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1969–12–20 Southern
C 52 Potapenko, Vitaly 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 280 lb (127 kg) 1975–03–21 Wright State
C 44 Scott, Shawnelle 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1972–06–16 St. John's
G 3 Sura, Bob 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1973–03–25 Florida State
G 23 Thomas, Carl Injured 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1969–10–03 Eastern Michigan
C 41 West, Mark 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1960–11–05 Old Dominion
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (IN) Inactive
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: September 23, 1996

Roster Notes
  • Rookie center Zydrunas Ilgauskas missed the entire season due to a broken bone in his right foot.

Regular season

Season standings
Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Chicago Bulls 6913.841–39–230–1124–4
x-Atlanta Hawks 5626.6831336–520–2117–11
x-Detroit Pistons 5428.6591530–1124–1717–11
x-Charlotte Hornets 5428.6591530–1124–1714–14
Cleveland Cavaliers 4240.5122725–1617–2413–15
Indiana Pacers 3943.4763021–2018–2311–17
Milwaukee Bucks 3349.4023620–2113–2810–18
Toronto Raptors 3052.3663918–2312–296–22
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—

Game log
1996–97 game log
Total: 42–40 (home: 25–16; road: 17–24)
November: 9–5 (home: 5–3; road: 4–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
December : 10–5 (home: 8–1; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
January : 5–9 (home: 3–5; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
February : 7–5 (home: 3–2; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
March : 6–10 (home: 4–2; road: 2–8)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
April : 5–6 (home: 2–3; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1996–97 schedule

Player stats
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

Regular season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Terrell Brandon 78 78 36.8 43.8 37.3 90.2 3.9 6.3 1.8 0.4 19.5
Chris Mills 80 79 39.6 45.3 39.1 84.2 6.2 2.5 1.1 0.5 13.4
Tyrone Hill 74 70 34.9 60.0 0.0 63.3 9.9 1.2 0.9 0.4 12.9
Bobby Phills 69 65 34.4 42.8 39.4 71.8 3.6 3.4 1.6 0.3 12.6
Danny Ferry 82 48 32.1 42.9 40.1 85.1 4.1 1.8 0.7 0.4 10.6
Bob Sura 82 23 27.7 43.1 32.3 61.4 3.8 4.8 1.1 0.4 9.2
Vitaly Potapenko 80 3 15.5 44.0 50.0 73.6 2.7 0.5 0.3 0.4 5.8
Mark West 70 43 13.7 55.6 0.0 48.2 2.7 0.3 0.2 0.8 3.2
Donny Marshall 56 0 9.8 32.5 37.9 70.4 1.3 0.4 0.4 0.1 3.1
Antonio Lang 64 1 13.2 42.0 0.0 72.9 2.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 2.7
Reggie Geary 39 0 6.3 37.9 38.1 45.5 0.4 0.9 0.3 0.1 1.5
Shawnelle Scott 16 0 3.1 50.0 0.0 36.4 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 1.3
Carl Thomas 19 0 4.1 37.5 16.7 100.0 0.7 0.4 0.1 0.1 1.1

Player Statistics Citation:[21]

Awards and records

All-Star

Terrell Brandon - 1997 NBA All-Star Game

Transactions

References
  1. 1996–97 Cleveland Cavaliers
  2. Heisler, Mark (June 27, 1996). "The Surprises Are Few". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  3. Bembry, Jerry (June 27, 1996). "76ers Make Iverson the 1, Philadelphia Takes Georgetown Guard; Camby Goes Second". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  4. "1996 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  5. "Cleveland Rookie to Miss Camp Opening". The New York Times. September 27, 1996. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  6. Walters, John (February 2, 1998). "Who Is Zydrunas Ilgauskas?". Sports Illustrated Vault. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  7. "Ilgauskas Sidelined Again by Foot Problem". United Press International. December 26, 2000. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  8. Fischer, Bob (August 10, 1996). "Magic Acquires Spencer to Fill Gap". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  9. "Transactions". Hartford Courant. August 10, 1996. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  10. "NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  11. "1996–97 Cleveland Cavaliers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  12. "Final Day: Charlotte Slips, Washington Soars, O'Neal Misses". The New York Times. April 21, 1997. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  13. Adande, J.A. (April 21, 1997). "Rebounding, with Much Emotion". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  14. Bembry, Jerry (April 21, 1997). "Last-Chance Bullets Hit Bull's Eye; Washington Rallies Past Cavaliers, 85-81, Gains Playoff Goal; Bulls Series Begins Friday; Longest Postseason Drought in NBA Ends". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  15. "Washington Bullets at Cleveland Cavaliers Box Score, April 20, 1997". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  16. "Teams Defense". NBA.com. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  17. Jorgensen, Loren (February 8, 1997). "No Offense, But Malone Would Rather Be Home". Deseret News. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  18. Fry, Darrell (February 8, 1997). "On to the Next Stage". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  19. "1997 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  20. "1997 NBA All-Star Game: East 132, West 120". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  21. "1996–97 Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  22. Roberts, Selena (September 26, 1997). "PRO BASKETBALL; Sonics' Kemp Gets Wish and Is Traded, to Cavs". The New York Times. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  23. Baker, Chris (September 26, 1997). "Kemp Is Key Player in Three-Way Trade". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  24. Sherwin, Bob (September 26, 1997). "Shawn Kemp Moves On -- Reign Comes to an End -- Kemp Is a Cav, Baker Is a Sonic After 3-Way Deal". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  25. "Kemp Is Traded to Cavaliers in Three-Way Deal". The Washington Post. September 26, 1997. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  26. "Sonics Send Kemp to Cavs in 3-Way Deal". Deseret News. Associated Press. September 26, 1997. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  27. "Celtics Sign Chris Mills and Tyus Edney". Associated Press. August 22, 1997. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  28. "Celtics Sign 2 Free Agents". The New York Times. Bloomberg News. August 23, 1997. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  29. "Transactions". Hartford Courant. August 23, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  30. Roberts, Selena (October 23, 1997). "PRO BASKETBALL; Knicks Send Four Players to the Celtics for Mills". The New York Times. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  31. "Knicks Trade Four Players to Get Mills". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. October 23, 1997. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  32. Greenberg, Alan (October 23, 1997). "One of Pitino's Slick Moves". Hartford Courant. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  33. "Hornets Sign Phills". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 20, 1997. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  34. "Hornets Complete Renovation of Backcourt by Signing Phills". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. August 20, 1997. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  35. "Hornets Sign Phills". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Services. August 20, 1997. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  36. "Hornacek Re-Signs with Jazz". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 9, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  37. "Jazz Re-Sign Hornacek". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Services. September 9, 1997. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  38. O'Dell, Larry. "Price, William Mark (1964- )". Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  39. "Trail Blazers Obtain Derek Anderson and Steve Kerr". Portland Trail Blazers. Archived from the original on March 7, 2005. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
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