1996–97_Denver_Nuggets_season

1996–97 Denver Nuggets season

1996–97 Denver Nuggets season

NBA professional basketball team season

The 1996–97 NBA season was the Nuggets' 21st season in the National Basketball Association, and 30th season as a franchise.[1] In the off-season, the Nuggets acquired Mark Jackson and Ricky Pierce from the Indiana Pacers,[2][3][4][5] acquired Šarūnas Marčiulionis from the Sacramento Kings,[6][3][4] and signed free agents Ervin Johnson and Eric Murdock,[7][8][9] although Murdock was released to free agency in November after just 12 games.[10] However, after a 4–9 start to the season, Bernie Bickerstaff resigned as head coach and was replaced with Dick Motta,[11][12] where the Nuggets then lost ten straight games, and held a 16–32 record at the All-Star break.[13]

Quick Facts Denver Nuggets season, Head coach ...

At midseason, Jackson was traded back to his former team, the Indiana Pacers, while Pierce was dealt to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for second-year guard Anthony Goldwire.[14][15][16][17] The team also signed free agent and three-point specialist Kenny Smith, who won two championships with the Houston Rockets.[18][19][20] As the season drew, the Nuggets still struggled losing 26 of their final 30 games, finishing fifth in the Midwest Division with a 21–61 record.[21]

LaPhonso Ellis had a stellar season, averaging 21.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, but only played 55 games due to knee injuries and a ruptured Achilles tendon,[22][23][24] while second-year star Antonio McDyess averaged 18.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, and Dale Ellis provided the team with 16.6 points per game. In addition, Bryant Stith contributed 14.9 points per game, but only played 52 games due to a foot injury,[25] while Johnson provided with 7.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game, and Tom Hammonds averaged 6.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game off the bench.[26]

Following the season, McDyess was traded to the Phoenix Suns in a three-team trade,[27][28][29][30] while Dale Ellis was traded back to his former team, the Seattle SuperSonics,[31][32][33] Johnson was dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks,[34][35][36] Hammonds signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves during the next season,[37][38] Smith and Marčiulionis both retired, and Motta was fired as head coach.[39][40]

Draft picks

Main article: 1996 NBA draft
More information Round, Pick ...

Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...

Roster Notes

Regular season

Season standings

More information W, L ...
More information #, Team ...
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

More information Team, ATL ...

Game log

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

Regular season

More information Player, GP ...

Player Statistics Citation:[26]

Awards and records

Transactions

References

  1. [1]
    1996-97 Denver Nuggets
  2. [2]
    "Pacers Trade Jackson, Pierce to Denver". United Press International. June 13, 1996. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  3. [3]
    "PRO BASKETBALL; Nuggets Trade Abdul-Rauf, Acquire Pacers' Jackson". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 14, 1996. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  4. [4]
    "In One of Two Deals, Abdul-Rauf Is Traded". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 14, 1996. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  5. [5]
    "Rose, Abdul-Rauf Traded". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Reports. June 14, 1996. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  6. [6]
    "Nuggets Trade Abdul-Rauf to Sacramento". United Press International. June 13, 1996. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  7. [7]
    "Grant Signs with Magic for $50 Million". Los Angeles Times. Times News Services. July 18, 1996. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  8. [8]
    "C Ervin Johnson Signs with Nuggets". United Press International. July 23, 1996. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  9. [9]
    Heisler, Mark (October 31, 1996). "NBA Preview". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  10. [10]
    "Jackson Can Shop Himself at a Whim". Deseret News. Associated Press. November 30, 1996. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  11. [11]
    "Motta Is a Winner in Debut with Nuggets". The New York Times. November 27, 1996. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  12. [12]
    "Motta Steps In for Bickerstaff". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 27, 1996. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  13. [13]
    "NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  14. [14]
    Sheridan, Chris (February 20, 1997). "Nuggets Made Three Trades, Hornets and Pacers Two Each". Associated Press. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  15. [15]
    Brown, Clifton (February 21, 1997). "Jackson Is Back with Pacers". The New York Times. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  16. [16]
    "Trading Deadline Becomes Much Ado About a Little". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 21, 1997. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  17. [17]
    "Pacers Make Point in Reacquiring Jackson". The Washington Post. February 21, 1997. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  18. [18]
    "Basketball Briefs". Deseret News. January 25, 1997. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  19. [19]
    "Griz End Winters of Their Discontent". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Reports. January 25, 1997. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  20. [20]
    "Nuggets Put Guard Smith on Injured List". Los Angeles Times. Times Wire Services. February 22, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  21. [21]
    "1996–97 Denver Nuggets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  22. [22]
    "Nuggets' Ellis Will Have Knee Surgery". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 8, 1996. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  23. [23]
    "Suns Surging; LaPhonso Ellis Hurt Again". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 5, 1997. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  24. [24]
    "Nuggets Look Overseas for Team Additions". Deseret News. Associated Press. April 7, 1997. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  25. [25]
    "Injured Stith Unsure of Future". Associated Press. March 17, 2000. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  26. [26]
    "1996–97 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  27. [27]
    Berger, Ken (October 1, 1997). "Nuggets Send McDyess to Phoenix". Associated Press. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  28. [28]
    "PLUS: IN THE NEWS -- PRO BASKETBALL; McDyess to Suns in Three-Team Deal". The New York Times. Associated Press. October 2, 1997. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  29. [29]
    "Suns Make Trade for McDyess". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. October 2, 1997. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  30. [30]
    "Nuggets Deal McDs to Phoenix". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. October 2, 1997. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  31. [31]
    "Dale Ellis Joins SuperSonics, Again". Associated Press. October 2, 1997. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  32. [32]
    "Sonics Trade for Ellis". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Reports. October 3, 1997. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  33. [33]
    Wallingford, John (October 3, 1997). "SONICS: Long-Range Bomber Ellis Returns a 'Changed Man'". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  34. [34]
    Wise, Mike (June 26, 1997). "After Duncan, Utah Forward Steals Show". The New York Times. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  35. [35]
    Heisler, Mark (June 26, 1997). "Draft Over, But Not Finished". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  36. [36]
    Cotton, Anthony (June 26, 1997). "No. 1 Pick Turns Duncan into Spur of Moment". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  37. [37]
    "The Houston Rockets, Who Will Be Without..." Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 26, 1997. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  38. [38]
    Facer, Dick (November 30, 1997). "24-Second Clock". Deseret News. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  39. [39]
    Mossman, John (April 21, 1997). "Nuggets Clean House Following Disastrous Season". Associated Press. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  40. [40]
    "Nuggets Fire Motta and His Staff". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 22, 1997. Retrieved November 9, 2022.

See also
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