1996–97 Philadelphia 76ers season

The 1996–97 NBA season was the 76ers 48th season in the National Basketball Association, and 34th season in Philadelphia.[1] This season is most memorable when the 76ers won the Draft Lottery,[2][3] and selected point guard Allen Iverson out of Georgetown University with the first overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft.[4][5][6][7][8] After two seasons at Georgetown, Iverson quickly established himself as one of the premier point guards in the NBA. During the off-season, the Sixers signed free agents Don MacLean,[9] Mark Davis,[10] Lucious Harris,[11] and Michael Cage.[12][13] Under new head coach Johnny Davis,[14][15] the Sixers played around .500 in November with a 7–8 start to the season. However, they struggled and lost 23 of their next 24 games, including 10 and 13-game losing streaks posted respectively, and held a 12–34 record at the All-Star break.[16] The Sixers lost ten of their final eleven games, and finished sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 22–60 record.[17]

1996–97 Philadelphia 76ers season
Head coachJohnny Davis
General managerBrad Greenberg
OwnersComcast Spectacor
ArenaCoreStates Center
Results
Record22–60 (.268)
PlaceDivision: 6th (Atlantic)
Conference: 14th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television
RadioWIP

Iverson had a successful rookie season, scoring 30 points in his NBA debut in a 111–103 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on November 1, 1996,[18][19][20] and finishing the season averaging 23.5 points, 7.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game. He was named Rookie of the Year, and was a member of the NBA All-Rookie First Team,[21][22][23][24] while also winning the MVP award in the Rookie Game during the All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, Ohio.[25][26][27][28] Iverson also set a rookie record of scoring 40 or more points in five consecutive games in April, plus scoring a season-high of 50 points in a road game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 12, 1997, despite the Sixers losing all five of those games.[29][30][31][32][33]

In addition, second-year star Jerry Stackhouse finished second on the team in scoring averaging 20.7 points per game, while Derrick Coleman averaged 18.1 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, but only played 57 games due to a finger injury,[34][35][36] and Clarence Weatherspoon provided the team with 12.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Off the bench, MacLean contributed 10.9 points per game, but only played just 37 games due to a hip injury,[37] while Davis provided with 8.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, and starting center Scott Williams averaged 5.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.[38]

The team also moved into the new 20,000 plus seat CoreStates Center (now the Wells Fargo Center), after calling The Spectrum home from 1967 to 1996. Davis and General Manager Brad Greenberg were both fired after Iverson's first season with the club.[39][40] Following the season, MacLean, Harris and Cage were all traded to the New Jersey Nets.[41][42][43]

Offseason

NBA draft
Main article: 1996 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 1 Allen Iverson (PG/SG)  United States Georgetown
2 31 Mark Hendrickson (SF)  United States Washington State
2 32 Ryan Minor (from Toronto) (SG)  United States Oklahoma
2 48 Jamie Feick (from Detroit) (PF)  United States Michigan State

Roster
1996–97 Philadelphia 76ers roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
C 50 Bradtke, Mark 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 265 lb (120 kg) –– Australia
C 4 Cage, Michael 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 224 lb (102 kg) –– San Diego State
F 45 Caldwell, Adrian 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 265 lb (120 kg) –– Lamar
F 44 Coleman, Derrick 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) –– Syracuse
F 7 Davis, Mark 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) –– Texas Tech
G 30 Harris, Lucious Injured 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) –– Long Beach State
F 14 Hendrickson, Mark 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) –– Washington State
G 3 Iverson, Allen 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 165 lb (75 kg) –– Georgetown
G 20 King, Frankie 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) –– Western Carolina
F 25 MacLean, Don Injured 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) –– UCLA
G 9 Overton, Doug 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) –– La Salle
G 42 Stackhouse, Jerry 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 218 lb (99 kg) –– North Carolina
G 23 Walters, Rex Injured 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) –– Kansas
F 35 Weatherspoon, Clarence 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 240 lb (109 kg) –– Southern Miss
C 55 Williams, Scott 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) –– North Carolina
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: {{{access-date}}}

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—

Season schedule
GameDateOpponentResult76ers pointsOpponent pointsRecordStreakOT
1November 1MilwaukeeLoss1031110-1Lost 1
2November 2@ ChicagoLoss861150-2Lost 2
3November 5DetroitLoss81830-3Lost 3
4November 8@ BostonWin1151051-3Won 1
5November 9PhoenixWin112952-3Won 2
6November 12@ New YorkWin101973-3Won 3
7November 13@ TorontoLoss981103-4Lost 1
8November 15ClevelandLoss891053-5Lost 2
9November 16@ MiamiWin91894-5Won 1
10November 20IndianaLoss921034-6Lost 1
11November 22@ WashingtonLoss76884-7Lost 2
12November 23New YorkWin109925-7Won 1
13November 26LA LakersLoss881005-8Lost 1
14November 29OrlandoWin100916-8Won 1
15November 30VancouverWin96907-8Won 2
16December 4@ San AntonioLoss1031137-9Lost 1
17December 5@ DallasLoss1021067-10Lost 2
18December 7@ HoustonLoss1081237-11Lost 3
19December 9SeattleLoss941187-12Lost 4
20December 11MiamiLoss79847-13Lost 5
21December 13@ CharlotteLoss75847-14Lost 6
22December 14@ AtlantaLoss811067-15Lost 7
23December 17CharlotteLoss84937-16Lost 8
24December 20New YorkLoss1031107-17Lost 9
25December 21ChicagoLoss1051117-18Lost 10
26December 26@ DenverWin118898-18Won 1
27December 28@ UtahLoss841108-19Lost 1
28December 29@ LA LakersLoss1021158-20Lost 2
29January 2@ SeattleLoss82968-21Lost 3
30January 3@ Golden StateLoss1141228-22Lost 4OT
31January 5@ SacramentoLoss1061078-23Lost 5
32January 7@ OrlandoLoss881098-24Lost 6
33January 8DallasLoss931118-25Lost 7
34January 10HoustonLoss991208-26Lost 8
35January 13UtahLoss96978-27Lost 9OT
36January 15Golden StateLoss1111288-28Lost 10
37January 17New JerseyLoss1031058-29Lost 11OT
38January 19@ IndianaLoss1071118-30Lost 12
39January 20MilwaukeeLoss1041148-31Lost 13
40January 22@ BostonWin1271259-31Won 1OT
41January 24SacramentoLoss921079-32Lost 1
42January 25@ DetroitLoss951049-33Lost 2
43January 29TorontoWin1019910-33Won 1
44January 31OrlandoLoss9910910-34Lost 1
45February 1@ MilwaukeeWin10910011-34Won 1
46February 5San AntonioWin1139712-34Won 2
47February 11@ ClevelandLoss9410512-35Lost 1
48February 13@ New YorkLoss9210712-36Lost 2
49February 15@ MiamiLoss9912512-37Lost 3
50February 16DenverLoss9711212-38Lost 4
51February 18MiamiLoss8311112-39Lost 5
52February 20LA ClippersWin1018413-39Won 1
53February 22PortlandWin978014-39Won 2
54February 25@ LA ClippersLoss939814-40Lost 1
55February 26@ PhoenixLoss10411114-41Lost 2
56February 28@ VancouverWin10410015-41Won 1
57March 2@ PortlandLoss9511215-42Lost 1
58March 4WashingtonLoss10610715-43Lost 2
59March 6AtlantaLoss10411715-44Lost 3
60March 9@ WashingtonWin999316-44Won 1
61March 11@ MinnesotaLoss10010416-45Lost 1
62March 12ChicagoLoss10410816-46Lost 2
63March 14MinnesotaWin1099517-46Won 1
64March 15CharlotteLoss9910717-47Lost 1
65March 18@ TorontoLoss10511717-48Lost 2
66March 19New YorkLoss10011117-49Lost 3
67March 21New JerseyWin11211018-49Won 1
68March 26@ New JerseyLoss10512318-50Lost 1
69March 28BostonWin11310519-50Won 1
70March 30@ DetroitWin969220-50Won 2
71April 1@ OrlandoWin1059321-50Won 3
72April 2TorontoLoss9011221-51Lost 1
73April 4IndianaLoss10311421-52Lost 2
74April 5@ CharlotteLoss11311521-53Lost 3
75April 7@ ChicagoLoss10212821-54Lost 4
76April 9AtlantaLoss10111621-55Lost 5
77April 11@ MilwaukeeLoss11812621-56Lost 6
78April 12@ ClevelandLoss11812521-57Lost 7
79April 14WashingtonLoss11013121-58Lost 8
80April 16@ New JerseyWin11310522-58Won 1
81April 18BostonLoss11311922-59Lost 1
82April 19@ AtlantaLoss10413622-60Lost 2

Player stats

Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Average

Player GP REB AST STL BLK PTS AVG
Allen Iverson7631256715724178723.5
Jerry Stackhouse813382539363167920.7
Derrick Coleman575731935075103218.1
Clarence Weatherspoon826791407486100312.2
Mark Davis7532313585316398.5
Don McLean3714037121040210.9
Rex Walters591071132834026.8
Scott Williams623974144413625.8
Lucious Harris5471504132935.4
Doug Overton61681012402173.6
Michael Cage823204348421511.8
Mark Hendrickson29923104852.9
Adrian Caldwell27111787722.7
Mark Bradtke3668755591.6
Frankie King714540202.9
Joe Courtney49000123.0

Award winners

Transactions

References
  1. 1996-97 Philadelphia 76ers
  2. Roberts, Selena (May 20, 1996). "PRO BASKETBALL; Sixers Win the Jackpot and Iverson, or Marbury". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  3. Long, Ernie (May 20, 1996). "Crystal Ball Helps 76ers Get No. 1 Pick; Croce Couldn't Give Much Insight as to Whether His Team Would Go Big or Small". The Morning Call. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  4. Brown, Clifton (June 27, 1996). "PRO BASKETBALL; Big Trade and Some Twists in N.B.A. Youth Parade". The New York Times. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  5. Heisler, Mark (June 27, 1996). "The Surprises Are Few". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  6. Cotton, Anthony (June 27, 1996). "For 76ers, Iverson Is No. 1 Choice". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  7. Bembry, Jerry (June 27, 1996). "76ers Make Iverson the 1, Philadelphia Takes Georgetown Guard; Camby Goes Second". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
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  13. Long, Ernie (August 23, 1996). "Cage Brings Solid Work Ethic to 76ers; Veteran Free Agent Hopes to Shore Up Philly's Inside Game". The Morning Call. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
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  36. "Coleman Checks In". The Washington Post. January 28, 1997. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
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