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1996–97 Seattle SuperSonics season

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1996–97 Seattle SuperSonics season
Division champions
Head coachGeorge Karl
General managerWally Walker
ArenaKeyArena at Seattle Center
Results
Record57–25 (.695)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Pacific)
Conference: 2nd (Western)
Playoff finishWest Semi-finals
(lost to Rockets 3–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKSTW
Fox Sports Northwest
RadioKJR
< 1995–96 1997–98 >

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

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Main article: 1996 NBA draft
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

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1996–97 Seattle SuperSonics roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
F 34 Cummings, Terry 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1961–03–15 DePaul
G 3 Ehlo, Craig 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1961–08–11 Washington State
G 21 Graham, Greg 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 1970–11–26 Indiana
C 24 Harvey, Antonio 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1970–07–06 Pfeiffer
G 33 Hawkins, Hersey 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1966–09–29 Bradley
F 40 Kemp, Shawn 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1969–11–26 Trinity Valley CC
C 22 McIlvaine, Jim 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1972–07–30 Marquette
G 10 McMillan, Nate 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1964–08–03 NC State
G 20 Payton, Gary 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1968–07–23 Oregon State
C 14 Perkins, Sam 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1961–06–14 North Carolina
C 55 Scheffler, Steve 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1967–09–03 Purdue
F 11 Schrempf, Detlef 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 214 lb (97 kg) 1963–01–21 Washington
G 13 Snow, Eric 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1973–04–24 Michigan State
F 23 Stewart, Larry 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1968–09–21 Coppin State
G 25 Wingate, David 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1963–12–15 Georgetown
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

[edit]

Season standings

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Pacific Division
 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
1996–97 NBA West standings
#
Western Conference
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

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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

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Playoffs

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1997 playoff game log
First round: 3–2 (home: 2–1; road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 25 Phoenix L 101–106 Gary Payton (23) Shawn Kemp (15) Gary Payton (9) KeyArena
17,072 		0–1
2 April 27 Phoenix W 122–78 Payton, Kemp (23) Shawn Kemp (15) Gary Payton (6) KeyArena
17,072 		1–1
3 April 29 @ Phoenix L 103–110 Gary Payton (34) Shawn Kemp (11) Gary Payton (6) America West Arena
19,023 		1–2
4 May 1 @ Phoenix W 122–115 (OT) Gary Payton (28) Shawn Kemp (20) Gary Payton (14) America West Arena
19,023 		2–2
5 May 3 Phoenix W 116–92 Detlef Schrempf (24) Shawn Kemp (11) Gary Payton (10) KeyArena
17,072 		3–2
Conference Semi-finals: 3–4 (home: 1–2; road: 2–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 5 @ Houston L 102–112 Shawn Kemp (24) Shawn Kemp (11) Eric Snow (7) The Summit
16,285 		0–1
2 May 7 @ Houston W 106–101 Shawn Kemp (22) Shawn Kemp (15) Gary Payton (9) The Summit
16,285 		1–1
3 May 9 Houston L 93–97 Payton, Kemp (28) Shawn Kemp (10) Payton, Kemp (5) KeyArena
17,072 		1–2
4 May 11 Houston L 106–110 (OT) Gary Payton (27) Kemp, Cummings (9) Gary Payton (11) KeyArena
17,072 		1–3
5 May 13 @ Houston W 100–94 Hersey Hawkins (23) Shawn Kemp (10) Gary Payton (11) The Summit
16,285 		2–3
6 May 15 Houston W 99–96 Shawn Kemp (22) Shawn Kemp (11) Gary Payton (13) KeyArena
17,072 		3–3
7 May 17 @ Houston L 91–96 Gary Payton (27) Shawn Kemp (10) Gary Payton (7) The Summit
16,285 		3–4
1997 schedule

Player statistics

[edit]
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.

Season

[edit]
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Gary Payton 82 82 39.2 .476 .313 .715 4.6 7.1 2.4 .2 21.8
Hersey Hawkins 82 82 33.6 .464 .403 .875 3.9 3.0 1.9 .1 13.9
Jim McIlvaine 82 79 18.0 .471 .143 .495 4.0 .3 .5 2.0 3.8
Shawn Kemp 81 75 34.0 .510 .364 .742 10.0 1.9 1.5 1.0 18.7
Sam Perkins 81 4 24.4 .439 .395 .817 3.7 1.3 .9 .6 11.0
Larry Stewart 70 21 14.0 .444 .243 .720 2.4 .7 .4 .3 4.3
Eric Snow 67 0 11.6 .451 .267 .712 1.0 2.4 .6 .0 3.0
David Wingate 65 2 14.3 .416 .352 .825 1.1 1.2 .7 .1 3.6
Craig Ehlo 62 0 13.7 .351 .284 .500 1.8 1.1 .6 .1 3.5
Detlef Schrempf 61 60 35.9 .492 .354 .801 6.5 4.4 1.0 .3 16.8
Terry Cummings 45 3 18.4 .486 .600 .695 4.1 .9 .7 .2 8.2
Nate McMillan 37 2 21.6 .409 .333 .655 3.2 3.8 1.6 .2 4.6
Greg Graham 28 0 7.0 .363 .290 .650 .5 .4 .4 .0 3.3
Steve Scheffler 7 0 4.1 .857 .500 .4 .0 .0 .0 1.9
Antonio Harvey 6 0 4.3 .455 .833 1.7 .2 .0 .7 2.5
Elmore Spencer 1 0 5.0 .000 .0 .0 1.0 .0 .0

Playoffs

[edit]
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Gary Payton 12 12 45.5 .412 .333 .820 5.4 8.7 2.2 .3 23.8
Hersey Hawkins 12 12 40.3 .470 .458 .914 4.5 2.8 2.5 .3 15.3
Detlef Schrempf 12 12 38.3 .472 .552 .815 5.8 3.4 1.1 .1 16.9
Shawn Kemp 12 12 36.8 .486 .200 .829 12.3 3.0 1.2 1.3 21.6
Sam Perkins 12 6 28.3 .337 .311 .862 4.4 1.3 1.0 1.0 8.4
Terry Cummings 12 6 24.3 .489 .667 6.0 1.2 .9 .5 8.8
David Wingate 12 0 16.0 .424 .387 .692 3.1 1.2 .4 .3 6.4
Eric Snow 8 0 6.0 .455 .500 .500 .3 1.5 .5 .0 1.6
Greg Graham 6 0 7.2 .286 .250 .750 .8 1.0 .3 .0 2.0
Jim McIlvaine 5 0 5.6 .571 .500 .4 .0 .2 .4 1.8
Larry Stewart 4 0 4.0 .833 .500 1.000 .3 .5 .5 .3 3.3
Nate McMillan 3 0 13.7 .000 .000 1.7 1.0 .3 .0 .0

Awards and records

[edit]

Awards

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Records

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Transactions

[edit]

Trades

[edit]

Free agents

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 1996–97 Seattle SuperSonics
  2. ^ Cour, Jim (July 22, 1996). "Sonics Get Their Center: Jim McIlvaine". Associated Press. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  3. ^ Allen, Percy (July 23, 1996). "McIlvaine Solution in Middle?". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  4. ^ "McIlvaine Signs with Sonics". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Reports. July 23, 1996. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  5. ^ "Sonics Sign Free Agent Craig Ehlo". United Press International. July 23, 1996. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  6. ^ Armour, Terry (October 11, 1996). "Bulls, Sonics Pick Up Where They Left Off--This Time for Fun". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  7. ^ Blanchette, John (October 24, 1996). "Journeyman Ehlo Takes Career Turn for the Better". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Underwood, Roger (November 24, 1996). "ROGER UNDERWOOD'S NBA NOTEBOOK: Injured McMillan Helps from the Sonics' Bench". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  10. ^ "Seattle May Sign Cummings". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. January 12, 1997. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  11. ^ "Sonics Dump Pacers; Cummings May Sign Monday with Seattle". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. January 12, 1997. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  12. ^ "Sonics Sign Terry Cummings". Associated Press. January 13, 1997. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  13. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  14. ^ "1996–97 Seattle SuperSonics Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  15. ^ "Teams Defense". NBA.com. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  16. ^ Jorgensen, Loren (February 8, 1997). "No Offense, But Malone Would Rather Be Home". Deseret News. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  17. ^ Fry, Darrell (February 8, 1997). "On to the Next Stage". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  18. ^ "1997 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  19. ^ "1997 NBA All-Star Game: East 132, West 120". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  20. ^ "Schrempf Lost at Least Five Games with Foot Injury". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Reports. February 28, 1997. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  21. ^ "Schrempf Says He'll Return Soon". The Spokesman-Review. Tacoma News Tribune. March 7, 1997. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  22. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (April 2, 1997). "Lakers Ease Pain with Key Victory". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  23. ^ "1996–97 Seattle SuperSonics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  24. ^ "So Far, Sonics Are Anything But Super". Deseret News. Associated Press. December 9, 1996. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  25. ^ "Basketball Briefs". Deseret News. December 14, 1996. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  26. ^ "Nate McMillan Rejoins NBA Team". Associated Press. February 11, 1997. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  27. ^ 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.
  28. ^ a b c "1996-97 Regular Season Award Winners". Eskimo North. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  29. ^ a b c "1996–97 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  30. ^ Saladino, Tom (April 25, 1997). "Mutombo Tops on Defense". South Coast Today. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  31. ^ "Knicks' Starks Turns Demotion Into Honor". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. April 24, 1997. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  32. ^ Friend, Tom (April 30, 1997). "Sonics Fall in Familiar 2-1 Hole". The New York Times. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  33. ^ "Suns Beat SuperSonics, Again". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 30, 1997. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  34. ^ Reisner, Mel (April 30, 1997). "Person Rises, Leads Suns Past Sonics". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  35. ^ Friend, Tom (May 4, 1997). "Sonics Beat Suns, Dousing Lights on Johnson's Career". The New York Times. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  36. ^ Moore, Jim (May 4, 1997). "Sonics 116, Suns 92". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  37. ^ Underwood, Roger (May 4, 1997). "Hello, Houston". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  38. ^ "1997 NBA Western Conference First Round: Suns vs. SuperSonics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  39. ^ "Rockets Are Almost Home Free After Overtime Victory". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 12, 1997. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  40. ^ Adande, J.A. (May 12, 1997). "Rockets 110, SuperSonics 106". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  41. ^ "After Blowing Lead, Rockets Get OT Victory". Deseret News. Associated Press. May 12, 1997. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  42. ^ Friend, Tom (May 16, 1997). "Fisticuffs Fever Spreads to Seattle". The New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  43. ^ "It Gets Worse for Rockets". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 16, 1997. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  44. ^ "SuperSonics 99, Rockets 96". The Washington Post. May 16, 1997. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  45. ^ Howe Verhovek, Sam (May 18, 1997). "Barkley Closer to Goal as Rockets Move Ahead". The New York Times. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  46. ^ "Rockets Survive SuperSonic Scare". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 18, 1997. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  47. ^ Shipley, Amy (May 18, 1997). "Rockets K.O. Sonics in Game 7, 96-91". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  48. ^ "1997 NBA Western Conference Semifinals: SuperSonics vs. Rockets". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  49. ^ Roberts, Selena (September 26, 1997). "PRO BASKETBALL; Sonics' Kemp Gets Wish and Is Traded, to Cavs". The New York Times. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  50. ^ Baker, Chris (September 26, 1997). "Kemp Is Key Player in Three-Way Trade". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  51. ^ 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.
  52. ^ "Kemp Is Traded to Cavaliers in Three-Way Deal". The Washington Post. September 26, 1997. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  53. ^ "Sonics Send Kemp to Cavs in 3-Way Deal". Deseret News. Associated Press. September 26, 1997. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  54. ^ "Two Free Agents Sign". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 5, 1997. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  55. ^ Shapiro, Mark (September 5, 1997). "76ers Sign Cummings to 2-Year Deal". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  56. ^ "NBA Referee Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Returns". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. September 5, 1997. Retrieved January 13, 2023.

See also

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