1996–97 Washington Bullets season

The 1996–97 NBA season was the Bullets' 36th season in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the off-season, the Bullets acquired Rod Strickland and former Bullets forward Harvey Grant from the Portland Trail Blazers,[2][3][4][5] and signed free agents Tracy Murray,[6][7][8] Jaren Jackson and Lorenzo Williams.[9][10] Despite a stellar season last year, Juwan Howard signed a 7-year $100 million contract with the Miami Heat. However, the deal was voided claiming that Miami exceeded their salary cap;[11][12][13][14][15] the Bullets quickly re-signed Howard, but would lose their first round draft pick next year.[16][17][18][19][20]

1996–97 Washington Bullets season
Head coachJim Lynam (fired) (22–24)
Bob Staak (interim) (0–1)
Bernie Bickerstaff (22–13)
General managerWes Unseld
Owner(s)Abe Pollin
ArenaUS Airways Arena (37 games)
Baltimore Arena (4 games)
Results
Record44–38 (.537)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Atlantic)
Conference: 8th (Eastern)
Playoff finishFirst round
(lost to Bulls 0–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television
RadioWTOP

After 46 games into the season, the Bullets fired head coach Jim Lynam,[21][22] then after playing one game under assistant Bob Staak, and holding a 22–25 record at the All-Star break,[23] they hired former Bullets assistant Bernie Bickerstaff as their new coach.[24][25][26] Under Bickerstaff, the Bullets finished the season winning 16 of their final 21 games.[27] On the final day of the regular season on April 20, 1997, the Bullets defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 85–81 at the Gund Arena to capture the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference.[28][29][30][31] They finished fourth in the Atlantic Division with a 44–38 record, ending an eight-year playoff drought, and making the playoffs for the first time since 1988.[32]

Chris Webber averaged 20.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.9 blocks per game, and was selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, which was his first All-Star appearance.[33][34][35][36][37] In addition, Howard averaged 19.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, while Strickland provided the team with 17.2 points, 8.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Calbert Cheaney and last season's Most Improved Player, Gheorghe Mureșan both contributed 10.6 points per game each, while Mureșan provided with 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, and Murray contributed 10.0 points per game off the bench.[38]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Bullets were swept by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the defending champion Chicago Bulls in three straight games, losing Game 3 at home by one point, 96–95 after taking a 14–2 lead early in the first quarter.[39][40][41][42] This would be their final playoff appearance until 2005. The Bulls would go on to defeat the Utah Jazz in six games in the NBA Finals, winning their fifth championship in seven years.[43][44][45][46][47] Following the season, Jackson signed as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs.[48]

For Washington, Game 3 of that series at US Airways Arena was officially their final game as the "Bullets". In 1995, Bullets owner Abe Pollin decided to change the team's name due to gun violence in Washington D.C., and after the assassination of his friend, Israel Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. On May 15, 1997, the team officially changed its name to the "Wizards", and became known as the "Washington Wizards" the following season.[49][50][51][52][53] However, the Bullets were held up by a copyright lawsuit filed by the Harlem Wizards, a traveling comedy basketball team with the same name. Still, the Bullets won the trademark infringement case as a court ruling allowed them to change their name to the "Wizards".[54][55][56][57][58]

Draft picks
Main article: 1996 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
255Ronnie Henderson United StatesLSU

Roster
1996–97 Washington Bullets roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
F 50 Amaya, Ashraf 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1971–11–23 Southern Illinois
G 40 Cheaney, Calbert 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 209 lb (95 kg) 1971–07–17 Indiana
C 22 Fish, Matt 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1969–11–18 UNC Wilmington
F 44 Grant, Harvey 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1965–07–04 Oklahoma
F 5 Howard, Juwan (C) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1973–02–07 Michigan
G 32 Jackson, Jaren 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1967–10–27 Georgetown
G 23 Legler, Tim 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1966–12–26 La Salle
C 77 Mureșan, Gheorghe 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m) 303 lb (137 kg) 1971–02–14 Romania
F 35 Murray, Tracy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1971–07–25 UCLA
G 1 Strickland, Rod (C) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1966–07–11 DePaul
F 30 Wallace, Ben 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1974–09–10 Virginia Union
F 4 Webber, Chris (C) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1973–03–01 Michigan
G 12 Whitney, Chris 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1971–10–05 Clemson
C 43 Williams, Lorenzo 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1969–07–15 Stetson
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Buzz Braman
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: April 16, 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
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—

Game log

Regular season
1996–97 game log
Total: 44–38 (home: 25–16; road: 19–22)
November: 7–8 (home: 4–5; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 November 1, 1996 @ Orlando W 96–92 Orlando Arena 1–0
2 November 2, 1996 Cleveland L 96–98 (OT) US Airways Arena 1–1
3 November 6, 1996 San Antonio W 96–86 US Airways Arena 2–1
4 November 8, 1996 Charlotte L 87–102 US Airways Arena 2–2
5 November 9, 1996 @ Indiana L 100–103 (OT) Market Square Arena 2–3
6 November 12, 1996 Detroit L 79–92 US Airways Arena 2–4
7 November 13, 1996 @ New Jersey W 106–91 Continental Airlines Arena 3–4
8 November 15, 1996 @ Detroit L 84–95 The Palace of Auburn Hills 3–5
9 November 16, 1996 Boston W 106–92 US Airways Arena 4–5
10 November 20, 1996 Seattle L 110–115 (2OT) US Airways Arena 4–6
11 November 22, 1996 Philadelphia W 88–76 US Airways Arena 5–6
12 November 23, 1996 @ Milwaukee W 95–90 Bradley Center 6–6
13 November 25, 1996 Minnesota W 105–98 US Airways Arena 7–6
14 November 29, 1996 @ Atlanta L 81–110 The Omni 7–7
15 November 30, 1996 Houston L 99–103 US Airways Arena 7–8
December: 8–6 (home: 4–2; road: 4–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
16 December 5, 1996 @ Toronto L 80–82 SkyDome 7–9
17 December 7, 1996 Milwaukee L 118–126 US Airways Arena 7–10
18 December 10, 1996 @ New York L 73–85 Madison Square Garden 7–11
19 December 11, 1996 Cleveland W 106–95 US Airways Arena 8–11
20 December 13, 1996 Denver W 108–104 US Airways Arena 9–11
21 December 15, 1996 @ Golden State W 110–102 San Jose Arena 10–11
22 December 16, 1996 @ Sacramento W 97–89 ARCO Arena 11–11
23 December 18, 1996 @ Phoenix L 107–114 America West Arena 11–12
24 December 19, 1996 @ L.A. Clippers W 102–93 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 12–12
25 December 22, 1996 @ Vancouver L 87–91 General Motors Place 12–13
26 December 23, 1996 @ Portland W 106–84 Rose Garden Arena 13–13
27 December 27, 1996 Toronto W 100–82 US Airways Arena 14–13
28 December 28, 1996 Atlanta
(at Baltimore, MD)		 W 97–86 Baltimore Arena 15–13
29 December 30, 1996 Charlotte L 92–101 US Airways Arena 15–14
January: 7–8 (home: 4–2; road: 3–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
30 January 2, 1997 New York L 80–92 US Airways Arena 15–15
31 January 4, 1997 @ Charlotte W 104–93 Charlotte Coliseum 16–15
32 January 8, 1997 Phoenix W 115–113 (OT) US Airways Arena 17–15
33 January 10, 1997 L.A. Clippers W 102–98 US Airways Arena 18–15
34 January 11, 1997 @ Cleveland W 98–85 Gund Arena 19–15
35 January 13, 1997 @ Miami L 95–93 Miami Arena 19–16
36 January 14, 1997 @ Chicago L 107–108 United Center 19–17
37 January 17, 1997 Miami
(at Baltimore, MD)		 L 92–103 Baltimore Arena 19–18
38 January 18, 1997 @ Boston W 112–106 FleetCenter 20–18
39 January 20, 1997 @ New York L 79–95 Madison Square Garden 20–19
40 January 21, 1997 @ Orlando L 88–93 Orlando Arena 20–20
41 January 24, 1997 @ Atlanta L 105–117 (OT) The Omni 20–21
42 January 25, 1997 Sacramento W 113–105 US Airways Arena 21–21
43 January 28, 1997 Orlando W 102–82 US Airways Arena 22–21
44 January 31, 1997 @ Seattle L 95–97 KeyArena 22–22
February: 3–9 (home: 3–4; road: 0–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
45 February 2, 1997 @ L.A. Lakers L 99–129 Great Western Forum 22–23
46 February 3, 1997 @ Utah L 89–111 Delta Center 22–24
47 February 5, 1997 @ Denver L 104–106 McNichols Sports Arena 22–25
All-Star Break
48 February 11, 1997 New York L 92–97 US Airways Arena 22–26
49 February 14, 1997 New Jersey
(at Baltimore, MD)		 W 125–107 Baltimore Arena 23–26
50 February 15, 1997 @ New Jersey L 86–107 Continental Airlines Arena 23–27
51 February 17, 1997 Milwaukee W 95–93 US Airways Arena 24–27
52 February 19, 1997 @ Detroit L 85–100 The Palace of Auburn Hills 24–28
53 February 21, 1997 Chicago L 99–103 US Airways Arena 24–29
54 February 23, 1997 Detroit L 79–85 US Airways Arena 24–30
55 February 25, 1997 Indiana W 108–87 US Airways Arena 25–30
56 February 27, 1997 L.A. Lakers L 107–122 US Airways Arena 25–31
March: 11–4 (home: 6–3; road: 5–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
57 March 1, 1997 Golden State W 118–108 US Airways Arena 26–31
58 March 4, 1997 @ Philadelphia W 107–106 CoreStates Center 27–31
59 March 6, 1997 @ Miami W 99–95 Miami Arena 28–31
60 March 7, 1997 Miami L 105–108 (OT) US Airways Arena 28–32
61 March 9, 1997 Philadelphia L 93–99 US Airways Arena 28–33
62 March 12, 1997 Vancouver W 104–82 US Airways Arena 29–33
63 March 14, 1997 @ Milwaukee W 105–96 Bradley Center 30–33
64 March 15, 1997 Utah L 93–100 US Airways Arena 30–34
65 March 17, 1997 @ San Antonio W 109–85 Alamodome 31–34
66 March 18, 1997 @ Dallas W 86–85 Reunion Arena 32–34
67 March 20, 1997 @ Houston L 90–96 The Summit 32–35
68 March 22, 1997 Portland W 108–104 US Airways Arena 33–35
69 March 26, 1997 Boston W 105–92 US Airways Arena 34–35
70 March 28, 1997 Toronto W 113–86 US Airways Arena 35–35
71 March 29, 1997 Dallas
(at Baltimore, MD)		 W 94–87 Baltimore Arena 36–35
April: 8–3 (home: 4–0; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
72 April 1, 1997 @ Indiana W 104–100 Market Square Arena 37–35
73 April 3, 1997 Chicago W 110–102 US Airways Arena 38–35
74 April 4, 1997 @ Minnesota L 95–97 Target Center 38–36
75 April 6, 1997 @ Boston W 120–114 FleetCenter 39–36
76 April 8, 1997 @ Toronto L 94–100 SkyDome 39–37
77 April 11, 1997 New Jersey W 109–90 US Airways Arena 40–37
78 April 12, 1997 @ Charlotte L 97–99 Charlotte Coliseum 40–38
79 April 14, 1997 @ Philadelphia W 131–110 CoreStates Center 41–38
80 April 16, 1997 Indiana W 103–90 US Airways Arena 42–38
81 April 18, 1997 Orlando W 104–93 US Airways Arena 43–38
82 April 20, 1997 @ Cleveland W 85–81 Gund Arena 44–38
1996–97 schedule

Playoffs
1997 playoff game log
First round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 25, 1997 @ Chicago L 86–98 Juwan Howard (21) Rod Strickland (10) Rod Strickland (8) United Center
24,122		 0–1
2 April 27, 1997 @ Chicago L 104–109 Calbert Cheaney (26) Chris Webber (12) Rod Strickland (8) United Center
24,267		 0–2
3 April 30, 1997 Chicago L 95–96 Rod Strickland (24) Chris Webber (8) Rod Strickland (9) US Airways Arena
18,756		 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

NOTE: Please write the players statistics in alphabetical order by last name.

Season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Awards and records

References
  1. 1996-97 Washington Bullets
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See also
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