1997-98_Phoenix_Suns_season

1997–98 Phoenix Suns season

1997–98 Phoenix Suns season

NBA team season

The 1997–98 NBA season was the 30th season for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association.[1] In the off-season, the Suns acquired Antonio McDyess from the Denver Nuggets in a three-team trade,[2][3][4][5] and signed free agents Clifford Robinson,[6][7][8][9] and George McCloud.[10][11][12] Danny Ainge returned for his first full season as the Suns head coach, as they won nine of their first eleven games, which included a 140–139 quadruple overtime road win over the Portland Trail Blazers on November 14, 1997.[13][14][15][16] The Suns continued to play competitive basketball holding a 31–15 record at the All-Star break.[17] At midseason, the team traded Cedric Ceballos to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for three-point specialist Dennis Scott,[18][19][20][21] as they posted a ten-game winning streak between March and April, winning eleven of their final twelve games of the season. The Suns posted a 56–26 record as members of the Pacific Division, finishing third in their division and fourth in the Western Conference.[22] All home games were played in America West Arena.

Quick Facts Phoenix Suns season, Head coach ...

The team's top scorer Rex Chapman, who averaged 15.9 points per game, was part of a Suns offense that included four other players averaging double-digits in points in McDyess, Robinson, Danny Manning and Jason Kidd. Kidd was the team's sole member to be selected as a member of the 1998 NBA All-Star Game,[23][24][25][26] averaging 11.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 9.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He also finished second in the league in assists. In addition, McDyess averaged 15.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, while Robinson provided the team with 14.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.[27] Manning averaged 13.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game off the bench, and was named Sixth Man of the Year, but did not play in any of the Suns' playoff games due to a knee ligament.[28][29][30][31] Kevin Johnson only played in just 50 games, starting in just 12 of them due to tendinitis in his right knee,[32][33][34] as he averaged 9.5 points and 4.9 assists per game, while also off the bench, second-year guard Steve Nash contributed 9.1 points and 3.4 assists per game, and McCloud contributed 7.2 points per game.[27]

The Suns would make their 10th consecutive playoff appearance. In the Western Conference First Round, they faced off against the 5th-seeded San Antonio Spurs, who were led by David Robinson, and Rookie of the Year, Tim Duncan. Despite having home-court advantage in the series, the Suns would lose to the Spurs, three games to one.[35][36][37][38]

Following the season, McDyess re-signed as a free agent with his former team, the Denver Nuggets,[39][40][41][42] while Johnson retired after eleven seasons in the NBA, but would make a comeback late during the 1999–2000 season,[43][44][45][46] Nash was traded to the Dallas Mavericks,[47][48][49][50] Hot Rod Williams signed as a free agent with the Mavericks,[42][51][52] Scott signed with the New York Knicks,[53][54][55] and Mark Bryant was traded to the Chicago Bulls.[56][57][58]

Offseason

NBA draft

Main article: 1997 NBA draft
More information Round, Pick ...

The Suns used their only draft pick to select future star Stephen Jackson, who was waived before the start of the season. The Suns traded their first-round pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1995 when they dealt Dan Majerle and Antonio Lang for John "Hot Rod" Williams.

Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...

Roster Notes

  • Center Mike Brown did not play in any regular season games with the Suns this season, due to previously playing overseas in Italy. However, he was re-signed by the team on April 18, 1998, just one day before the final day of the regular season, and only played in one playoff game.
  • Center Loren Meyer missed the entire season due to a back injury.[59][60]

Salaries

More information Player, Salary ...

Regular season

Standings

More information W, L ...
More information #, Team ...

Record vs. opponents

More information Team, ATL ...

Playoffs

Even with a 56–26 record, the Suns were the fourth seed in the West heading into the Playoffs. They would face the fifth-seeded San Antonio Spurs, headlined by star center David Robinson and Rookie of the Year forward Tim Duncan. Duncan led the Spurs to a game one upset in Phoenix, scoring 28 second-half points in a 102–96 victory. The Suns recovered to win game two 108–101. Antonio McDyess led the Suns with 21 points and 11 rebounds, while holding Duncan to 16 points with six turnovers. On the night he received the Rookie of the Year Award, Duncan again led the Spurs with 22 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks. Despite 26 points and 17 rebounds from McDyess, the Suns fell 88–100 and into a 1–2 series hole. The Spurs would clinch the series 3–1 in San Antonio, behind 30 points from Avery Johnson, 21 rebounds from Robinson, and 6 blocks from Duncan. McDyess pulled down 19 rebounds for the Suns, but shot only 5 of 14 from the field, while Kevin Johnson led the team with 18 points.[37]

Game log

More information 1998 playoff game log, Game ...

Awards and honors

Week/Month

  • Jason Kidd was named Player of the Week for games played March 8 through March 14.
  • Jason Kidd was named Player of the Week for games played April 12 through April 18.

All-Star

  • Jason Kidd was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his second All-Star selection. Kidd finished fifth in voting among Western Conference guards with 305,834 votes.

Season

Injuries/Missed games

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

Season

More information Player, GP ...

* – Stats with the Suns.
† – Minimum 300 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 55 three-pointers made.

Playoffs

More information Player, GP ...

† – Minimum 20 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 10 free throws made.

Transactions

Trades

October 1, 1997 To Denver Nuggets
1998 first-round draft pick (United States Tyronn Lue)
1999 first-round draft pick (United States James Posey)
2000 second-round draft pick (United States Dan McClintock)
2001 first-round draft pick (United States Joseph Forte)
2002 second-round draft pick (United States Rod Grizzard)
 To Phoenix Suns
United States Antonio McDyess
2005 first-round draft pick (United States Sean May)
 To Cleveland Cavaliers
United States Wesley Person
United States Tony Dumas
November 21, 1997 To Philadelphia 76ers
United States Tom Chambers		 To Phoenix Suns
Slovenia Marko Milič
February 18, 1998 To Dallas Mavericks
United States Cedric Ceballos		 To Phoenix Suns
United States Dennis Scott

Free agents

Additions

More information Date, Player ...

Subtractions

More information Date, Player ...

Player Transactions Citation:[62]

References

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