1996–97_Sacramento_Kings_season

1996–97 Sacramento Kings season

1996–97 Sacramento Kings season

NBA professional basketball team season

The 1996–97 NBA season was the Kings' 48th season in the National Basketball Association, and 12th season in Sacramento.[1] During the off-season, the Kings acquired Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf from the Denver Nuggets,[2][3][4][5] and signed free agent Jeff Grayer in January.[6][7] Coming off their first playoff appearance in ten years, expectations in Sacramento were high. However, the Kings struggled with an 8–17 start to the season, as Brian Grant only played just 24 games due to a shoulder injury,[8][9][10] and Billy Owens missed 16 games early into the season with a groin injury.[11][12][13] The Kings would rebound to get back into playoff contention, holding a 21–28 record at the All-Star break.[14] However, after holding a 28–32 record as of March 5,[15] the team went on a 7-game losing streak as head coach Garry St. Jean was fired, and replaced with assistant Eddie Jordan for the remainder of the season.[16][17][18] The Kings finished sixth in the Pacific Division with a 34–48 record, missing the playoffs by finishing just two games behind the 8th-seeded Los Angeles Clippers.[19]

Quick Facts Sacramento Kings season, Head coach ...

Mitch Richmond averaged 25.9 points and 1.5 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, and selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game,[20][21][22][23] while Abdul-Rauf finished second on the team in scoring with 13.7 points per game, and Olden Polynice provided the team with 12.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. In addition, second-year forward Corliss Williamson showed improvement averaging 11.6 points per game, while Owens provided with 11.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, Grant contributed 10.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, Michael Smith averaged 6.6 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, and second-year guard Tyus Edney contributed 6.9 points and 3.2 assists per game off the bench.[24]

Following the season, Grant signed as a free agent with the Portland Trail Blazers,[25][26][27][28] while Edney signed with the Boston Celtics,[29][30][31] Duane Causwell was traded to the Miami Heat,[32][33][34] Grayer was released to free agency, and Lionel Simmons retired due to knee surgery, after playing seven seasons in the NBA with the Kings.[35][36][37]

Draft picks

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

Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...

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

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

More information Player, GP ...

Awards and records

Transactions

References

  1. [1]
    1996-97 Sacramento Kings
  2. [2]
    "Nuggets Trade Abdul-Rauf to Sacramento". United Press International. June 13, 1996. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  3. [3]
    "PRO BASKETBALL; Nuggets Trade Abdul-Rauf, Acquire Pacers' Jackson". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 14, 1996. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  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]
    "Results Plus". The New York Times. February 4, 1997. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  7. [7]
    "Kings 85, Spurs 79". The Oklahoman. February 4, 1997. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  8. [8]
    Massel, Craig (November 11, 1996). "Kemp Is Too Much for Kings: Injured Grant Watches as He Goes Wild in First". Recordnet.com. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  9. [9]
    "Kings' Grant to Have Shoulder Surgery". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 15, 1996. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  10. [10]
    Baker, Chris (December 14, 1996). "Clippers Tonight". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  11. [11]
    Massel, Craig (October 8, 1996). "Owner Likes Having Camp in Stockton". Recordnet.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  12. [12]
    Massel, Craig (October 11, 1996). "Owens, Grant Are Out: Ailing Forwards Will Rest Tonight". Recordnet.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  13. [13]
    Steele, David (October 12, 1996). "Fresh Warriors Overthrow Kings". SFGate. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  14. [14]
    "NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  15. [15]
    "Denver Nuggets at Sacramento Kings Box Score, March 5, 1997". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  16. [16]
    "Kings Fire St. Jean". The New York Times. Associated Press. March 21, 1997. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  17. [17]
    "St. Jean Fired as Coach of Fading Kings". Los Angeles Times. Times Wire Services. March 21, 1997. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  18. [18]
    Harris, Rich (March 21, 1997). "Kings Fire Garry St. Jean". Associated Press. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  19. [19]
    "1996–97 Sacramento Kings Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  20. [20]
    Jorgensen, Loren (February 8, 1997). "No Offense, But Malone Would Rather Be Home". Deseret News. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  21. [21]
    Fry, Darrell (February 8, 1997). "On to the Next Stage". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  22. [22]
    "1997 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  23. [23]
    "1997 NBA All-Star Game: East 132, West 120". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  24. [24]
    "1996–97 Sacramento Kings Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  25. [25]
    "Trail Blazers Sign Grant to 7-Year, $63-Million Deal". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. August 24, 1997. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  26. [26]
    "NBA -- Blazers Sign Brian Grant; Clifford Robinson Is Out". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. August 24, 1997. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  27. [27]
    "Blazers Sign Brian Grant". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Services. August 24, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  28. [28]
    "Blazers Get Grant for $63-Million". Tampa Bay Times. August 24, 1997. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  29. [29]
    "Celtics Sign Chris Mills and Tyus Edney". Associated Press. August 22, 1997. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  30. [30]
    "Celtics Sign 2 Free Agents". The New York Times. Bloomberg News. August 23, 1997. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  31. [31]
    "Transactions". Hartford Courant. August 23, 1997. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  32. [32]
    "Heat Acquires Causwell". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 13, 1997. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  33. [33]
    "Mullin to Join Bird in Indiana". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Reports. August 13, 1997. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  34. [34]
    Russo, Michael (August 14, 1997). "Heat Deals 2 Reserves to Kings for 7-Foot Causwell". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  35. [35]
    "Transactions". The New York Times. October 31, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  36. [36]
    "Hill, Payton Head Team". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Reports. October 31, 1997. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  37. [37]
    "N.B.A.: LAST NIGHT; Barkley's Back for the Rockets". The New York Times. Associated Press. November 1, 1997. Retrieved December 1, 2022.

See also
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