1997–98 Boston Celtics season

The 1997–98 NBA season was the 52nd season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association.[1] In the 1997 NBA draft, the Celtics selected Chauncey Billups from the University of Colorado with the third overall pick, and selected Ron Mercer from the University of Kentucky with the sixth overall pick.[2][3][4][5][6] Despite finishing with the NBA's second worst record in 1996–97, the Celtics were back in the headlines after hiring University of Kentucky head coach Rick Pitino as their new coach.[7][8][9][10] In the off-season, the team signed free agent Chris Mills,[11][12][13] but then sent him to the New York Knicks in exchange for second-year forward Walter McCarty in October,[14][15][16] and also signed second-year center Travis Knight,[17][18] Andrew DeClercq,[19] Bruce Bowen and Tyus Edney.[11]

1997–98 Boston Celtics season
Head coachRick Pitino
General managerChris Wallace
Owner(s)Paul Gaston
ArenaFleet Center
Results
Record36–46 (.439)
PlaceDivision: 6th (Atlantic)
Conference: 12th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWSBK-TV
SportsChannel/Fox Sports New England
RadioWEEI

Pitino's Celtics career had an auspicious beginning on opening night when the Celtics defeated Michael Jordan, and the 5-time defending NBA champion Chicago Bulls, 92–85 at the FleetCenter on October 31, 1997.[20][21][22][23] After a 1–5 start to the season, the Celtics held a 16–14 record as of January 3, but then lost eight of their next nine games. At midseason, the team traded Billups along with Dee Brown to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Kenny Anderson, Popeye Jones and Žan Tabak;[24][25][26][27] the Raptors had acquired Anderson from the Portland Trail Blazers.[28][29][30][31] The Celtics held a 22–25 record at the All-Star break,[32] and continued to struggle as they later on posted a six-game losing streak in March. Although the team did not make the playoffs, they improved their win total by 21 games from the previous season, finishing sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 36–46 record.[33]

Second-year star Antoine Walker averaged 22.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, and was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game,[34][35][36][37] while Mercer averaged 15.3 points and 1.6 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In addition, McCarty provided the team with 9.6 points and 1.3 steals per game, and Dana Barros contributed 9.8 points and 3.6 assists per game off the bench. On the defensive side, Knight averaged 6.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, and DeClercq provided with 5.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.[38]

Following the season, Knight was traded back to his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, after only playing just one season with the Celtics,[39][40] and Edney and Tabak were both released to free agency.

Draft picks
Main article: 1997 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 3 Chauncey Billups PG  United States Colorado
1 6 Ron Mercer SF/SG  United States Kentucky
2 56 Ben Pepper C  Australia Newcastle Falcons

Roster
1997–98 Boston Celtics roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G 7 Anderson, Kenny 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1970–10–09 Georgia Tech
G 11 Barros, Dana 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 163 lb (74 kg) 1967–04–13 Boston College
F 12 Bowen, Bruce Injured 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1971–06–14 Cal State Fullerton
C 45 DeClercq, Andrew 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1973–02–01 Florida
G 20 Edney, Tyus 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 152 lb (69 kg) 1973–02–14 UCLA
F 29 Ellison, Pervis Injured (C) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1967–04–03 Louisville
F 34 Hanson, Reggie 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1968–10–06 Kentucky
F 13 Jones, Dontae' 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1975–06–02 Mississippi State
F 4 Jones, Popeye Injured (IN) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1970–06–17 Murray State
C 40 Knight, Travis 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1974–09–13 Connecticut
F 0 McCarty, Walter 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1974–02–01 Kentucky
G 5 Mercer, Ron 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1976–05–18 Kentucky
G 9 Minor, Greg 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1971–09–18 Louisville
C 55 Tabak, Žan 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1970–06–15 Croatia
F 8 Walker, Antoine (C) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 224 lb (102 kg) 1976–08–12 Kentucky
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: April 14, 1998

Roster Notes

Regular season

Season standings
Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Miami Heat 5527.671–30-1125–1618–6
x-New York Knicks 4339.5241228–1315–2613–11
x-New Jersey Nets 4339.5241226–1517–2412–12
Washington Wizards 4240.5121324–1718–2312–13
Orlando Magic 4141.5001424–1717–2411–13
Boston Celtics 3646.4391924–1712–2912–12
Philadelphia 76ers 3151.3782419–2212–297–17
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Chicago Bulls6220.756–
2 y-Miami Heat5527.6717
3 x-Indiana Pacers5824.7074
4 x-Charlotte Hornets5131.62211
5 x-Atlanta Hawks5032.61012
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers4735.57315
7 x-New York Knicks4339.52419
8 x-New Jersey Nets4339.52419
9 Washington Wizards4240.51220
10 Orlando Magic4141.50021
11 Detroit Pistons3745.45125
12 Boston Celtics3646.43926
12 Milwaukee Bucks3646.43926
14 Philadelphia 76ers3151.37831
15 Toronto Raptors1666.19546

Record vs. opponents
1997-98 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 –2–14–01–34–02–02–02–22–01–11–32–00–21–33–10–21–22–22–23–10–21–12–01–11–14–00–22–04–0
Boston 1–2–1–21–31–31–11–12–21–11–10–42–01–10–42–21–12–22–22–23–10–21–11–10–21–13–00–22–03–2
Charlotte 0–42–1–1–32–22–02–03–11–12–03–12–01–13–13–11–12–21–33–12–11–12–01–11–11–14–01–12–02–2
Chicago 3–13–13–1–2–21–12–03–12–02–02–22–01–12–14–01–14–04–03–12–11–11–12–02–01–14–00–22–03–1
Cleveland 0–43–12–22–2–1–12–03–12–01–12–22–01–11–32–22–03–11–22–23–12–01–12–00–20–23–11–12–01–2
Dallas 0–21–10–21–11–1–3–10–21–30–41–11–30–40–20–22–20–21–10–20–20–40–40–40–42–21–10–44–01–1
Denver 0–21–10–20–20–21–3–0–21–30–40–22–20–40–20–21–30–20–20–20–20–42–21–30–40–40–20–41–31–1
Detroit 2–22–21–31–31–32–02–0–2–01–11–32–00–21–22–20–22–22–21–23–11–10–21–11–10–24–00–20–22–2
Golden State 0–21–11–10–20–23–13–10–2–1–30–21–31–30–20–20–40–21–11–10–20–41–32–21–31–30–20–41–30–2
Houston 1–11–10–20–21–14–04–01–13–1–1–14–01–30–21–11–31–11–10–21–11–31–34–02–21–32–00–43–11–1
Indiana 3–14–01–32–22–21–12–03–12–01–1–2–00–23–14–02–02–12–13–14–01–11–12–00–20–24–01–12–04–0
L.A. Clippers 0–20–20–20–20–23–12–20–23–10–40–2–0–40–20–20–41–10–20–21–10–40–43–11–30–41–11–31–30–2
L.A. Lakers 2–01–11–11–11–14–04–02–03–13–12–04–0–1–12–04–01–11–11–10–22–22–24–04–01–32–03–14–01–1
Miami 3–14–01–31–23–12–02–02–12–02–01–32–01–1–3–11–13–12–23–14–00–22–02–00–20–24–01–12–02–2
Milwaukee 1–32–21–30–42–22–02–02–22–01–10–42–00–21–3–1–10–43–12–12–20–22–02–00–21–13–10–21–11–2
Minnesota 2–01–11–11–10–22–23–12–04–03–10–24–00–41–11–1–2–01–10–22–03–11–33–11–31–31–11–34–00–2
New Jersey 2–12–22–20–41–32–02–02–22–01–11–21–11–11–34–00–2–2–23–13–11–11–12–01–10–23–10–22–01–3
New York 2–22–23–10–42–11–12–02–21–11–11–22–01–12–21–31–12–2–4–02–22–01–11–10–21–13–10–22–01–3
Orlando 2–22–21–31–32–22–02–02–11–12–01–32–01–11–31–22–01–30–4–4–00–22–00–20–21–13–10–22–03–1
Philadelphia 1–31–31–21–21–32–02–01–32–01–10–41–12–00–42–20–21–32–20–4–1–11–11–10–20–22–20–22–03–1
Phoenix 2–02–01–11–10–24–04–01–14–03–11–14–02–22–02–01–31–10–22–01–1–2–23–13–12–22–01–34–01–1
Portland 1–11–10–21–11–14–02–22–03–13–11–14–02–20–20–23–11–11–10–21–12–2–3–12–20–42–03–12–21–1
Sacramento 0–21–11–10–20–24–03–11–12–20–40–21–30–40–20–21–30–21–12–01–11–31–3–0–41–31–12–22–21–1
San Antonio 1–12–01–10–22–04–04–01–13–12–22–03–10–42–02–03–11–12–02–02–01–32–24–0–2–22–01–34–01–1
Seattle 1–11–11–11–12–02–24–02–03–13–12–04–03–12–01–13–12–01–11–12–02–24–03–12–2–2–02–24–01–1
Toronto 0–40–30–40–41–31–12–00–42–00–20–41–10–20–41–31–11–31–31–32–20–20–21–10–20–2–0–21–10–3
Utah 2–02–01–12–01–14–04–02–04–04–01–13–11–31–12–03–12–02–02–02–03–11–32–23–12–22–0–4–00–2
Vancouver 0–20–20–20–20–20–43–12–03–11–30–23–10–40–21–10–40–20–20–20–20–42–22–20–40–41–10–4–1–1
Washington 0–42–32–21–32–11–11–12–22–01–10–42–01–12–22–12–03–13–11–31–31–11–11–11–11–13–02–01–1—

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. 1997-98 Boston Celtics
  2. Wise, Mike (June 26, 1997). "After Duncan, Utah Forward Steals Show". The New York Times. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  3. Heisler, Mark (June 26, 1997). "Draft Over, But Not Finished". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  4. Cotton, Anthony (June 26, 1997). "No. 1 Pick Turns Duncan Into Spur of Moment". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  5. "First Round Selections in the 1997 NBA Draft Wednesday in Charlotte, N.C." Hartford Courant. June 26, 1997. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  6. "1997 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  7. Dohrmann, George (May 7, 1997). "Pitino Is Lured by Celtic Green". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  8. Greenberg, Alan (May 7, 1997). "Pitino Celtics' 1st Step". Hartford Courant. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  9. "With Pitino in Boston, Bird Goes to Pacers". The New York Times. May 9, 1997. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  10. Wise, Mike (October 12, 1997). "Pitino Rides to the Rescue; Celtics Are the Coach's Latest and Most Difficult Reclamation Project". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  11. "Celtics Sign Chris Mills and Tyus Edney". Associated Press. August 22, 1997. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  12. "Celtics Sign 2 Free Agents". The New York Times. Bloomberg News. August 23, 1997. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  13. "Transactions". Hartford Courant. August 23, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  14. Roberts, Selena (October 23, 1997). "PRO BASKETBALL; Knicks Send Four Players to the Celtics for Mills". The New York Times. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  15. "Knicks Trade Four Players to Get Mills". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. October 23, 1997. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  16. Greenberg, Alan (October 23, 1997). "One of Pitino's Slick Moves". Hartford Courant. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  17. Howard-Cooper, Scott (July 5, 1997). "Knight Agrees to $22-Million Celtic Contract". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  18. Greenberg, Alan (July 8, 1997). "To Sign Knight, Celtics Give Up Rights to Fox". Hartford Courant. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  19. Greenberg, Alan (October 26, 1997). "Can Pitino Handle Full Control?". Hartford Courant. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  20. Berkow, Ira (November 1, 1997). "PRO BASKETBALL; Pitino Begins Era by Beating Bulls". The New York Times. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  21. Armour, Terry (November 1, 1997). "Celtics 92, Bulls 85". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  22. Berkow, Ira (November 2, 1997). "ON BASKETBALL; Pitino's Young Guns Overrun the Bulls". The New York Times. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  23. "Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics Box Score, October 31, 1997". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  24. Wise, Mike (February 19, 1998). "BASKETBALL; Kenny Anderson Is Traded to Celtics in 7-Player Deal". The New York Times. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  25. "Celtics Land Anderson in Deal with Raptors". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 19, 1998. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  26. "In Seven-Player Swap, Raptors Trade Anderson to the Celtics". The Washington Post. February 19, 1998. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  27. Smith, Sam (February 20, 1998). "NBA's Rash of Trades Ends with Another Seikaly Deal". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  28. Popper, Steve (February 14, 1998). "PRO BASKETBALL; The Trade Comes, to Stoudamire's Relief". The New York Times. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  29. "Stoudamire Finally Traded to Portland". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 14, 1998. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  30. "Raptors Deal Stoudamire for Blazers' Anderson". The Washington Post. February 14, 1998. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  31. Heisler, Mark (February 20, 1998). "It's a Big Deal for Clippers: There Are No Slam Dunks in the Flurry of NBA Deals". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  32. "NBA Games Played on February 5, 1998". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  33. "1997–98 Boston Celtics Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  34. Howard-Cooper, Scott (January 28, 1998). "Lakers Get Four-Star Rating as Van Exel, Jones Honored". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  35. "1998 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  36. "1997-98 All-Star Events and Contestants - in New York". Eskimo North. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  37. "1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  38. "1997–98 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  39. "Knight's Out". Hartford Courant. January 20, 1999. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  40. Wise, Mike (February 4, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  41. Szostak, Mike (June 26, 1998). "Celtics Caught in the Middle". South Coast Today. Retrieved November 7, 2022.

See also
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