1996–97 Seattle SuperSonics season | |
---|---|
Division champions | |
Head coach | George Karl |
General manager | Wally Walker |
Arena | KeyArena at Seattle Center |
Results | |
Record | 57–25 (.695) |
Place | Division: 1st (Pacific) Conference: 2nd (Western) |
Playoff finish | West Semi-finals (lost to Rockets 3–4) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | KSTW Fox Sports Northwest |
Radio | KJR |
The 1996–97 NBA season was the 29th season for the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association.[1] The SuperSonics entered the season as runners-up in the 1996 NBA Finals, having lost to the Chicago Bulls in six games. During the off-season, the team signed free agents Jim McIlvaine,[2][3][4] Craig Ehlo,[5][6][7] and Larry Stewart,[8][9] and then later on signed former All-Star forward Terry Cummings in January.[10][11][12] Coming off their trip to the NBA Finals, the Sonics remained as one of the elite teams in the Western Conference posting an 11-game winning streak after losing two of their first three games. They later on posted a nine-game winning streak in January, then won seven straight games in February, and held a 32–15 record at the All-Star break.[13] The Sonics won their third Division title in four years with a 57–25 record, and entered the playoffs as the #2 seed in the Western Conference.[14] The SuperSonics had the sixth best team defensive rating in the NBA.[15]
Three members of the team, Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp and Detlef Schrempf, were all selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game.[16][17][18][19] Payton averaged 21.8 points, 7.1 assists and 2.4 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, and NBA All-Defensive First Team, while Kemp averaged 18.7 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, and Schrempf provided the team with 16.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game, but only played 61 games due to a foot injury.[20][21][22] In addition, Hersey Hawkins contributed 13.9 points and 1.9 steals per game, while off the bench, sixth man Sam Perkins provided with 11.0 points per game, Cummings averaged 8.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in 45 games, and McIlvaine led the team with 2.0 blocks per game.[23] Defensive guard Nate McMillan only played just 37 games this season due to a torn right abductor muscle.[24][25][26] Payton also finished in sixth place in Most Valuable Player voting,[27][28][29] and in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting,[30][28][29] while Perkins finished tied in fifth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.[31][28][29]
In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Sonics trailed 2–1 to the 7th-seeded Phoenix Suns,[32][33][34] but won the series in five games.[35][36][37][38] In the Western Conference Semi-finals, they faced the Houston Rockets, who had home-court advantage in the series, and took a 3–1 series lead.[39][40][41] The Sonics won the next two games to even the series,[42][43][44] but lost Game 7 to the Rockets.[45][46][47][48]
This season was Kemp's final season with the SuperSonics, as he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team trade the following year.[49][50][51][52][53] Also following the season, Cummings signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers,[54][55][56] while Stewart was released to free agency, and Ehlo retired.
Draft picks
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 35 | Joseph Blair | C | United States | Arizona |
2 | 45 | Joe Vogel | C | United States | Colorado State |
2 | 47 | Ron Riley | SG/SF | United States | Arizona State |
2 | 57 | Drew Barry | PG | United States | Georgia Tech |
Roster
1996–97 Seattle SuperSonics roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Regular season
Season standings
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y-Seattle SuperSonics | 57 | 25 | .695 | – | 31–10 | 26–15 | 16–8 |
x-Los Angeles Lakers | 56 | 26 | .683 | 1 | 31–10 | 25–16 | 18–6 |
x-Portland Trail Blazers | 49 | 33 | .598 | 8 | 29–12 | 20–21 | 15–9 |
x-Phoenix Suns | 40 | 42 | .488 | 17 | 25–16 | 15–26 | 13–11 |
x-Los Angeles Clippers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 21 | 21–20 | 15–26 | 10–14 |
Sacramento Kings | 34 | 48 | .415 | 23 | 22–19 | 12–29 | 8–16 |
Golden State Warriors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 27 | 18–23 | 12–29 | 4–20 |
# | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | c-Utah Jazz | 64 | 18 | .780 | – |
2 | y-Seattle SuperSonics | 57 | 25 | .695 | 7 |
3 | x-Houston Rockets | 57 | 25 | .695 | 7 |
4 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 56 | 26 | .683 | 8 |
5 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 49 | 33 | .598 | 15 |
6 | x-Minnesota Timberwolves | 40 | 42 | .488 | 24 |
7 | x-Phoenix Suns | 40 | 42 | .488 | 24 |
8 | x-Los Angeles Clippers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 28 |
9 | Sacramento Kings | 34 | 48 | .415 | 30 |
10 | Golden State Warriors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 34 |
11 | Dallas Mavericks | 24 | 58 | .293 | 40 |
12 | Denver Nuggets | 21 | 61 | .256 | 43 |
13 | San Antonio Spurs | 20 | 62 | .244 | 44 |
14 | Vancouver Grizzlies | 14 | 68 | .171 | 50 |
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 | – | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
Boston | 1–3 | – | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 |
Charlotte | 3–1 | 4–0 | – | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
Chicago | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | – | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
Cleveland | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
Dallas | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | – | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 |
Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | – | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
Detroit | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | – | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–2 |
Houston | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | – | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
Indiana | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | – | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
Miami | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
Milwaukee | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | – | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
Minnesota | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
New Jersey | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–2 | – | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
New York | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
Orlando | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | – | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
Philadelphia | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
Portland | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | – | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
Sacramento | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | – | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
San Antonio | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | – | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
Seattle | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | – | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
Toronto | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
Utah | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | – | 4–0 | 2–0 |
Vancouver | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | – | 1–1 |
Washington | 1–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — |
Game log
Playoffs
1997 playoff game log | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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First round: 3–2 (home: 2–1; road: 1–1)
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Conference Semi-finals: 3–4 (home: 1–2; road: 2–2)
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1997 schedule |
Player statistics
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Terry Cummings | 45 | 3 | 18.4 | .486 | .600 | .695 | 4.1 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 8.2 |
Craig Ehlo | 62 | 0 | 13.7 | ||||||||
Greg Graham | 28 | 0 | 7.0 | ||||||||
Antonio Harvey | 6 | 0 | 4.3 | ||||||||
Hersey Hawkins | 82 | 82 | 33.6 | ||||||||
Shawn Kemp | 81 | 75 | 34.0 | ||||||||
Jim McIlvaine | 82 | 79 | 18.0 | ||||||||
Nate McMillan | 37 | 2 | 21.6 | ||||||||
Gary Payton | 82 | 82 | 39.2 | ||||||||
Sam Perkins | 81 | 4 | 24.4 | ||||||||
Steve Scheffler | 7 | 0 | 4.1 | ||||||||
Detlef Schrempf | 61 | 60 | 35.9 | ||||||||
Eric Snow | 67 | 0 | 11.6 | ||||||||
Elmore Spencer | 1 | 0 | 5.0 | ||||||||
Larry Stewart | 70 | 21 | 14.0 | ||||||||
David Wingate | 65 | 2 | 14.3 |
Playoffs
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Terry Cummings | |||||||||||
Greg Graham | |||||||||||
Hersey Hawkins | |||||||||||
Shawn Kemp | |||||||||||
Jim McIlvaine | |||||||||||
Nate McMillan | |||||||||||
Gary Payton | |||||||||||
Sam Perkins | |||||||||||
Detlef Schrempf | |||||||||||
Eric Snow | |||||||||||
Larry Stewart | |||||||||||
David Wingate |
Awards and records
Awards
Records
Transactions
Trades
Free agents
Additions
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Subtractions
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References
- ↑ 1996–97 Seattle SuperSonics
- ↑ Cour, Jim (July 22, 1996). "Sonics Get Their Center: Jim McIlvaine". Associated Press. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ↑ Allen, Percy (July 23, 1996). "McIlvaine Solution in Middle?". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
- ↑ "McIlvaine Signs with Sonics". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Reports. July 23, 1996. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
- ↑ "Sonics Sign Free Agent Craig Ehlo". United Press International. July 23, 1996. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
- ↑ Armour, Terry (October 11, 1996). "Bulls, Sonics Pick Up Where They Left Off--This Time for Fun". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
- ↑ Blanchette, John (October 24, 1996). "Journeyman Ehlo Takes Career Turn for the Better". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
- ↑ Smith, Theresa (October 4, 1996). "Stewart Sets Blurry Sights on Making Sonics' Roster; Competition Getting Physical Among Seattle's Free Agents". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ↑ Underwood, Roger (November 24, 1996). "ROGER UNDERWOOD'S NBA NOTEBOOK: Injured McMillan Helps from the Sonics' Bench". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- ↑ "Seattle May Sign Cummings". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. January 12, 1997. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- ↑ "Sonics Dump Pacers; Cummings May Sign Monday with Seattle". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. January 12, 1997. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
- ↑ "Sonics Sign Terry Cummings". Associated Press. January 13, 1997. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
- ↑ "NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
- ↑ "1996–97 Seattle SuperSonics Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ↑ "Teams Defense". NBA.com. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
- ↑ Jorgensen, Loren (February 8, 1997). "No Offense, But Malone Would Rather Be Home". Deseret News. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- ↑ Fry, Darrell (February 8, 1997). "On to the Next Stage". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ↑ "1997 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
- ↑ "1997 NBA All-Star Game: East 132, West 120". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
- ↑ "Schrempf Lost at Least Five Games with Foot Injury". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Reports. February 28, 1997. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
- ↑ "Schrempf Says He'll Return Soon". The Spokesman-Review. Tacoma News Tribune. March 7, 1997. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ↑ Howard-Cooper, Scott (April 2, 1997). "Lakers Ease Pain with Key Victory". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ↑ "1996–97 Seattle SuperSonics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ↑ "So Far, Sonics Are Anything But Super". Deseret News. Associated Press. December 9, 1996. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ↑ "Basketball Briefs". Deseret News. December 14, 1996. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ↑ "Nate McMillan Rejoins NBA Team". Associated Press. February 11, 1997. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
- ↑ Kawakami, Tim (May 19, 1997). "MVP: Malone, the Standout Jazz Forward Known as Mailman, Edges Jordan in the Voting to Earn Stamp of Greatness". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
- 1 2 3 "1996-97 Regular Season Award Winners". Eskimo North. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
- 1 2 3 "1996–97 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
- ↑ Saladino, Tom (April 25, 1997). "Mutombo Tops on Defense". South Coast Today. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ↑ "Knicks' Starks Turns Demotion Into Honor". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. April 24, 1997. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
- ↑ Friend, Tom (April 30, 1997). "Sonics Fall in Familiar 2-1 Hole". The New York Times. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
- ↑ "Suns Beat SuperSonics, Again". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 30, 1997. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
- ↑ Reisner, Mel (April 30, 1997). "Person Rises, Leads Suns Past Sonics". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ↑ Friend, Tom (May 4, 1997). "Sonics Beat Suns, Dousing Lights on Johnson's Career". The New York Times. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- ↑ Moore, Jim (May 4, 1997). "Sonics 116, Suns 92". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ↑ Underwood, Roger (May 4, 1997). "Hello, Houston". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ↑ "1997 NBA Western Conference First Round: Suns vs. SuperSonics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
- ↑ "Rockets Are Almost Home Free After Overtime Victory". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 12, 1997. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
- ↑ Adande, J.A. (May 12, 1997). "Rockets 110, SuperSonics 106". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
- ↑ "After Blowing Lead, Rockets Get OT Victory". Deseret News. Associated Press. May 12, 1997. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ↑ Friend, Tom (May 16, 1997). "Fisticuffs Fever Spreads to Seattle". The New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
- ↑ "It Gets Worse for Rockets". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 16, 1997. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
- ↑ "SuperSonics 99, Rockets 96". The Washington Post. May 16, 1997. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ↑ Howe Verhovek, Sam (May 18, 1997). "Barkley Closer to Goal as Rockets Move Ahead". The New York Times. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- ↑ "Rockets Survive SuperSonic Scare". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 18, 1997. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
- ↑ Shipley, Amy (May 18, 1997). "Rockets K.O. Sonics in Game 7, 96-91". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ↑ "1997 NBA Western Conference Semifinals: SuperSonics vs. Rockets". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
- ↑ Roberts, Selena (September 26, 1997). "PRO BASKETBALL; Sonics' Kemp Gets Wish and Is Traded, to Cavs". The New York Times. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
- ↑ Baker, Chris (September 26, 1997). "Kemp Is Key Player in Three-Way Trade". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
- ↑ 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 15, 2022.
- ↑ "Kemp Is Traded to Cavaliers in Three-Way Deal". The Washington Post. September 26, 1997. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ↑ "Sonics Send Kemp to Cavs in 3-Way Deal". Deseret News. Associated Press. September 26, 1997. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
- ↑ "Two Free Agents Sign". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 5, 1997. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ↑ Shapiro, Mark (September 5, 1997). "76ers Sign Cummings to 2-Year Deal". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ↑ "NBA Referee Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Returns". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. September 5, 1997. Retrieved January 13, 2023.