1996–97 Los Angeles Clippers season

The 1996–97 NBA season was the Clippers' 27th season in the National Basketball Association, 13th in Los Angeles and 3rd in which they played occasional home games in Anaheim.[1] The Clippers had the seventh overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft, and selected Lorenzen Wright from the University of Memphis.[2][3][4][5][6] During the off-season, the team signed free agents Darrick Martin,[7][8] and former All-Star center Kevin Duckworth.[9][10] With the loss of Brian Williams to free agency, the Clippers were expected to sink in the bottom of the NBA again. After a 6–4 start to the season, the team lost ten of their next eleven games, as Duckworth only played just 26 games due to a sore heel injury, and Stanley Roberts only played just 18 games due to a back injury.[11][12][13] However, with the continued solid play of Loy Vaught, who once again led the team in scoring and rebounding, the Clippers held a 19–25 record at the All-Star break,[14] and managed to slip into the playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference with a below .500 record of 36–46, fifth in the Pacific Division.[15]

1996–97 Los Angeles Clippers season
Head coachBill Fitch
OwnersDonald Sterling
ArenaLos Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Arrowhead Pond
Results
Record36–46 (.439)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Pacific)
Conference: 8th (Western)
Playoff finishWest First Round
(lost to Jazz 0–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKCAL-TV
(Ralph Lawler, Bill Walton)
RadioKNNS
(Rory Markas)

Vaught led the team with 14.9 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, while Malik Sealy averaged 13.5 points and 1.6 steals per game, and Rodney Rogers provided the team with 13.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. In addition, Martin contributed 10.9 points and 4.1 assists per game, and Wright provided with 7.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Off the bench, Roberts averaged 9.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, while Bo Outlaw provided with 7.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, second-year guard Brent Barry contributed 7.5 points per game, but only played 59 games due to thumb and ankle injuries,[16][17][18] and Lamond Murray contributed 7.4 points per game.[19]

However, in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Clippers were swept by the top-seeded Utah Jazz in three straight games.[20][21][22][23] The Jazz would reach the NBA Finals for the first time, but would lose to the defending champion Chicago Bulls in six games.[24][25][26][27][28] This would also be the Clippers' final playoff appearance until 2006.

Following the season, Sealy signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons,[29][30][31] while Roberts was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves,[32][33][34] Outlaw signed with the Orlando Magic,[35][36][37] Terry Dehere signed with the Sacramento Kings,[38][39] and Duckworth retired.

Draft picks
Main article: 1996 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
17Lorenzen WrightC/PF United StatesMemphis
236Doron ShefferF IsraelUConn

Roster
1996–97 Los Angeles Clippers roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G 31 Barry, Brent 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1971–12–31 Oregon State
G 24 Dehere, Terry 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1971–09–12 Seton Hall
C 00 Duckworth, Kevin Injured 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 300 lb (136 kg) 1964–04–01 Eastern Illinois
C 50 Manning, Rich 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1970–06–23 Washington
G 15 Martin, Darrick 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1971–03–06 UCLA
F 7 Murray, Lamond 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 236 lb (107 kg) 1973–04–20 California
F 45 Outlaw, Bo 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1971–04–13 Houston
G/F 52 Piatkowski, Eric 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1970–09–30 Nebraska
G 2 Richardson, Pooh (C) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1966–05–14 UCLA
C 53 Roberts, Stanley Injured 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 285 lb (129 kg) 1970–02–07 LSU
F 54 Rogers, Rodney 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1971–06–20 Wake Forest
C 33 Schintzius, Dwayne Injured 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1968–10–14 Florida
G 21 Sealy, Malik 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1970–02–01 St. John's
F 35 Vaught, Loy 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1968–02–27 Michigan
C 55 Wright, Lorenzen 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1975–11–04 Memphis
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: 2009-10-04

Roster Notes

A number of players from the 1996–97 roster have either died prematurely, or ended up in unfortunate circumstances; these players are:

  • Center Stanley Roberts (banned from the NBA for drug use in 1999).
  • Guard Malik Sealy (died in an automobile accident in 2000 at age 30).
  • Center Kevin Duckworth (died of heart failure in 2008 at age 44).
  • Forward Rodney Rogers (became paralyzed after a dirt bike accident in 2008 at age 37).
  • Center Lorenzen Wright (murdered by his ex-wife in 2010 at age 34).
  • Center Dwayne Schintzius (died from cancer complications in 2012 at age 43).

[40]

Interestingly enough, one player, Brent Barry, would enjoy a long and productive career in the NBA, winning two titles (2005 and 2007) with the San Antonio Spurs, as well as being a consistent starter for the Seattle SuperSonics in the 2000s, but was divorced from his wife Erin in 2011, allegedly due to an extra-marital affair with his Spurs teammate Tony Parker.

Regular season

Season standings
Pacific Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Seattle SuperSonics 5725.695–31–1026–1516–8
x-Los Angeles Lakers 5626.683131–1025–1618–6
x-Portland Trail Blazers 4933.598829–1220–2115–9
x-Phoenix Suns 4042.4881725–1615–2613–11
x-Los Angeles Clippers 3646.4392121–2015–2610–14
Sacramento Kings 3448.4152322–1912–298–16
Golden State Warriors 3052.3662718–2312–294–20
1996–97 NBA West standings
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Utah Jazz6418.780–
2 y-Seattle SuperSonics5725.6957
3 x-Houston Rockets5725.6957
4 x-Los Angeles Lakers5626.6838
5 x-Portland Trail Blazers4933.59815
6 x-Minnesota Timberwolves4042.48824
7 x-Phoenix Suns4042.48824
8 x-Los Angeles Clippers3646.43928
9 Sacramento Kings3448.41530
10 Golden State Warriors3052.36634
11 Dallas Mavericks2458.29340
12 Denver Nuggets2161.25643
13 San Antonio Spurs2062.24444
14 Vancouver Grizzlies1468.17150
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

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—

Playoffs
1997 playoff game log
First round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 24 @ Utah L 86–106 Loy Vaught (20) Loy Vaught (11) three players tied (3) Delta Center
19,911		 0–1
2 April 26 @ Utah L 99–105 Lorenzen Wright (17) Loy Vaught (9) Darrick Martin (6) Delta Center
19,911		 0–2
3 April 28 Utah L 92–104 Loy Vaught (20) Vaught, Wright (9) Darrick Martin (5) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
11,747		 0–3
1997 schedule

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
Brent Barry59018.5.409.324.8171.92.6.9.37.5
Terry Dehere73314.4.386.325.8241.32.2.4.06.4
Kevin Duckworth262214.8.437.750.6882.3.6.3.44.0
Rich Manning1017.3.412.000.5001.6.1.1.13.1
Darrick Martin 826422.2.407.389.8721.44.1.7.010.9
Lamond Murray74117.5.416.341.7393.1.8.7.47.4
Bo Outlaw822526.8.609.000.5045.51.91.11.77.6
Eric Piatkowski65011.5.450.425.8211.6.8.5.26.0
Pooh Richardson591818.1.381.328.6051.72.9.9.15.6
Stanley Roberts18221.0.426..7035.1.5.41.39.5
Rodney Rogers 816230.6.462.361.6635.12.71.1.813.2
Dwayne Schintzius1507.7.361.500.8751.5.3.1.62.3
Malik Sealy 807930.7.396.356.8763.02.11.6.613.5
Loy Vaught 828234.6.500.167.70210.01.31.0.314.9
Lorenzen Wright 775125.1.481.250.5876.1.6.6.87.3

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Brent Barry3028.0.407.455.8892.33.31.3.011.7
Terry Dehere202.5.000.000..5.0.0.0.0
Rich Manning307.0.222..8331.3.3.0.33.0
Darrick Martin3325.7.440.556.667.74.3.0.011.0
Lamond Murray3021.7.300.2501.0003.71.0.71.07.0
Bo Outlaw3022.0.545.000.3004.71.3.3.75.0
Eric Piatkowski3012.7.364.400.857.7.0.3.05.3
Pooh Richardson209.0.500.000.000.01.5.5.02.0
Rodney Rogers3328.3.414.200.7502.32.01.31.010.7
Malik Sealy3326.3.480.200.7331.01.7.0.012.0
Loy Vaught3330.0.613.333.6679.0.71.0.715.0
Lorenzen Wright3330.7.406.1.0007.3.71.0.710.3

Awards and records

Transactions

The Clippers have been involved in the following transactions during the 1996–97 season.

Trades

No trades occurred for this team this season.

Free agents

Player Transactions Citation:[41]

See also

References
  1. 1996-97 Los Angeles Clippers
  2. Brown, Clifton (June 27, 1996). "PRO BASKETBALL; Big Trade and Some Twists in N.B.A. Youth Parade". The New York Times. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  3. Heisler, Mark (June 27, 1996). "The Surprises Are Few". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  4. Cotton, Anthony (June 27, 1996). "For 76ers, Iverson Is No. 1 Choice". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  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. Baker, Chris (September 20, 1996). "Clippers Sign Former Bruin". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  8. Baker, Chris (February 11, 1997). "He's Tiny, But His Presence Is Huge". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  9. Baker, Chris (October 11, 1996). "They Cut to the Fat--Sign Duckworth". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  10. Baker, Chris (November 1, 1996). "Long Season? Try an Eternity". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  11. Baker, Chris (December 4, 1996). "Roberts Missing on Next Trip". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  12. Baker, Chris (December 24, 1996). "Fitch Extends Holiday Break". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  13. Heisler, Mark (December 28, 1996). "Wright Script, Wrong Result for Clippers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  14. "NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  15. "1996–97 Los Angeles Clippers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  16. Baker, Chris (October 18, 1996). "Barry's Injured Thumb Put in a Cast". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  17. Baker, Chris (October 22, 1996). "Thumb Injury Sidelines Barry". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  18. Baker, Chris (January 28, 1997). "Barry Suffering Another Setback". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  19. "1996–97 Los Angeles Clippers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  20. "Jazz Gets a Sweep of Its Own". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 29, 1997. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  21. Plaschke, Bill (April 29, 1997). "It's Over, But at Least There Is Hope Now". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  22. "Jazz 104, Clippers 92". United Press International. April 29, 1997. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  23. "1997 NBA Western Conference First Round: Clippers vs. Jazz". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  24. Wise, Mike (June 14, 1997). "A Fistful of Rings: Bulls Grab Fifth Title of 90's". The New York Times. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  25. Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 14, 1997). "Bulls Get Fifth Element". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  26. Johnson, K.C. (June 16, 1997). "Bulls Got There, Because They'd Been There". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  27. Benson, Lee (June 14, 1997). "Chicago Heartbreaker". Deseret News. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  28. "1997 NBA Finals: Jazz vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  29. "Pistons Sign Sealy". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 26, 1997. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  30. "Robinson Takes Pay Cut to Sign with Suns". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. August 26, 1997. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  31. Thompson, Jack (August 26, 1997). "Suns Sign Clifford Robinson". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  32. Gardner, Kris (June 25, 1997). "ARCHIVE: Houston Roundball Review NBA Trade Analyses -- 1997 NBA Draft Day Deals". The Houston Roundball Review. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  33. Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 26, 1997). "Draft Over, But Not Finished". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  34. Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 27, 1997). "Goodbye, Stanley, We Barely Knew You". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  35. Baker, Chris (September 6, 1997). "Just Like Magic, Versatile Outlaw Leaves Clippers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  36. "Magic Corrals Outlaw". Tampa Bay Times. September 6, 1997. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  37. "Outlaw Breaks Free to Spark Magic". Orlando Sentinel. November 9, 1997. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  38. "Barkley Is Cleared in Cleveland Brawl". The Washington Post. August 2, 1997. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  39. Popper, Steve (August 10, 1997). "Two Guys from Jersey on Same Road Again". The New York Times. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  40. "1996–97 Los Angeles Clippers Tragic Team". MaceoBarry90. February 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  41. "1996–97 Los Angeles Clippers Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
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