NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1997–98 NBA season was the Kings' 49th season in the National Basketball Association , and 13th season in Sacramento .[ 1] During the off-season, the Kings signed free agent Terry Dehere .[ 2] [ 3] [ 4] The team decided to add youth to their roster with the addition of rookies Lawrence Funderburke (second round draft pick from the 1994 NBA draft ),[ 5] top draft pick Tariq Abdul-Wahad ,[ 6] second round draft pick Anthony Johnson and undrafted rookie center Michael Stewart .[ 7] The Kings got off to a slow start losing their first four games on their way to a 5–14 start, but later on won 8 of their 14 games in January, and held a 20–28 record at the All-Star break.[ 8] At midseason, the team traded Michael Smith and Bobby Hurley the Vancouver Grizzlies in exchange for former Kings forward Otis Thorpe .[ 9] [ 10] [ 11] [ 12] However, with a 26–36 record as of March 6, the Kings struggled losing 19 of their final 20 games, including a 12-game losing streak and seven straight losses to end the season.[ 13] They finished fifth in the Pacific Division with a 27–55 record, which was fourteen games behind the 8th-seeded Houston Rockets .[ 14]
Mitch Richmond averaged 23.2 points per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game , which would be his sixth and final All-Star appearance,[ 15] [ 16] [ 17] [ 18] while Corliss Williamson showed improvement becoming the team's starting power forward, averaging 17.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, and also finishing in second place in Most Improved Player voting,[ 19] [ 20] [ 21] and Billy Owens provided the team with 10.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. In addition, Funderburke played a sixth man role, averaging 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game off the bench, but only played 52 games due to injury,[ 22] while Johnson contributed 7.5 points and 4.3 assists per game, Olden Polynice provided with 7.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, and Stewart contributed 6.6 rebounds, and led the team with 2.4 blocks per game.[ 23] Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf only played just 31 games, missing the final three months of the season with the flu and an corneal ulcer, as he contributed 7.3 points per game off the bench.[ 24] [ 25]
Following the season, Richmond was traded along with Thorpe to the Washington Wizards after seven seasons in Sacramento,[ 26] [ 27] [ 28] [ 29] [ 30] while Owens and Olden Polynice both signed as free agents with the Seattle SuperSonics , whom Polynice used to play for,[ 31] [ 32] [ 33] Johnson signed with the Atlanta Hawks ,[ 34] Stewart signed with the Toronto Raptors ,[ 35] Abdul-Rauf left to play overseas in Turkey ,[ 24] [ 25] and head coach Eddie Jordan was fired.[ 36] [ 37]
1997–98 Sacramento Kings roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
G
3
Abdul-Rauf, Mahmoud
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
162 lb (73 kg)
1969–03–09
LSU
G/F
9
Abdul-Wahad, Tariq
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1974–11–03
San José State
G
24
Dehere, Terry
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1971–09–12
Seton Hall
F
51
Funderburke, Lawrence
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1970–12–15
Ohio State
F
42
Hendrickson, Mark
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1974–06–23
Washington State
G
10
Johnson, Anthony
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1974–10–02
College of Charleston
F
30
Owens, Billy
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1969–05–01
Syracuse
C
0
Polynice, Olden
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1964–11–21
Virginia
G
2
Richmond, Mitch
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1965–06–30
Kansas State
G
5
Robinson, Chris
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1974–04–02
Western Kentucky
C
13
Stewart, Michael
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1975–04–25
California
C
33
Thorpe, Otis
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1962–08–05
Providence
F
4
Williamson, Corliss
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
1973–12–04
Arkansas
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster Last transaction: February 20, 1998
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents [ edit ]
1997-98 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
–
2–1
4–0
1–3
4–0
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–3
2–0
0–2
1–3
3–1
0–2
1–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
4–0
0–2
2–0
4–0
Boston
1–2
–
1–2
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
1–1
0–4
2–0
1–1
0–4
2–2
1–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–0
0–2
2–0
3–2
Charlotte
0–4
2–1
–
1–3
2–2
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
2–2
1–3
3–1
2–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
4–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
Chicago
3–1
3–1
3–1
–
2–2
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
2–1
4–0
1–1
4–0
4–0
3–1
2–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
4–0
0–2
2–0
3–1
Cleveland
0–4
3–1
2–2
2–2
–
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–3
2–2
2–0
3–1
1–2
2–2
3–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
2–0
1–2
Dallas
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
–
3–1
0–2
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–3
0–4
0–2
0–2
2–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–4
0–4
0–4
0–4
2–2
1–1
0–4
4–0
1–1
Denver
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–3
–
0–2
1–3
0–4
0–2
2–2
0–4
0–2
0–2
1–3
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
2–2
1–3
0–4
0–4
0–2
0–4
1–3
1–1
Detroit
2–2
2–2
1–3
1–3
1–3
2–0
2–0
–
2–0
1–1
1–3
2–0
0–2
1–2
2–2
0–2
2–2
2–2
1–2
3–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
4–0
0–2
0–2
2–2
Golden State
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
3–1
3–1
0–2
–
1–3
0–2
1–3
1–3
0–2
0–2
0–4
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–4
1–3
2–2
1–3
1–3
0–2
0–4
1–3
0–2
Houston
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
4–0
4–0
1–1
3–1
–
1–1
4–0
1–3
0–2
1–1
1–3
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–3
1–3
4–0
2–2
1–3
2–0
0–4
3–1
1–1
Indiana
3–1
4–0
1–3
2–2
2–2
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
–
2–0
0–2
3–1
4–0
2–0
2–1
2–1
3–1
4–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
4–0
1–1
2–0
4–0
L.A. Clippers
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
3–1
2–2
0–2
3–1
0–4
0–2
–
0–4
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–4
0–4
3–1
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–3
1–3
0–2
L.A. Lakers
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
4–0
4–0
2–0
3–1
3–1
2–0
4–0
–
1–1
2–0
4–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–2
2–2
4–0
4–0
1–3
2–0
3–1
4–0
1–1
Miami
3–1
4–0
1–3
1–2
3–1
2–0
2–0
2–1
2–0
2–0
1–3
2–0
1–1
–
3–1
1–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
4–0
0–2
2–0
2–0
0–2
0–2
4–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
Milwaukee
1–3
2–2
1–3
0–4
2–2
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
0–4
2–0
0–2
1–3
–
1–1
0–4
3–1
2–1
2–2
0–2
2–0
2–0
0–2
1–1
3–1
0–2
1–1
1–2
Minnesota
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–2
3–1
2–0
4–0
3–1
0–2
4–0
0–4
1–1
1–1
–
2–0
1–1
0–2
2–0
3–1
1–3
3–1
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–3
4–0
0–2
New Jersey
2–1
2–2
2–2
0–4
1–3
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
4–0
0–2
–
2–2
3–1
3–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
3–1
0–2
2–0
1–3
New York
2–2
2–2
3–1
0–4
2–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–2
2–0
1–1
2–2
1–3
1–1
2–2
–
4–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–1
0–2
2–0
1–3
Orlando
2–2
2–2
1–3
1–3
2–2
2–0
2–0
2–1
1–1
2–0
1–3
2–0
1–1
1–3
1–2
2–0
1–3
0–4
–
4–0
0–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
1–1
3–1
0–2
2–0
3–1
Philadelphia
1–3
1–3
1–2
1–2
1–3
2–0
2–0
1–3
2–0
1–1
0–4
1–1
2–0
0–4
2–2
0–2
1–3
2–2
0–4
–
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
0–2
2–0
3–1
Phoenix
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
4–0
4–0
1–1
4–0
3–1
1–1
4–0
2–2
2–0
2–0
1–3
1–1
0–2
2–0
1–1
–
2–2
3–1
3–1
2–2
2–0
1–3
4–0
1–1
Portland
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
4–0
2–2
2–0
3–1
3–1
1–1
4–0
2–2
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–2
–
3–1
2–2
0–4
2–0
3–1
2–2
1–1
Sacramento
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
4–0
3–1
1–1
2–2
0–4
0–2
1–3
0–4
0–2
0–2
1–3
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–3
1–3
–
0–4
1–3
1–1
2–2
2–2
1–1
San Antonio
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
2–0
4–0
4–0
1–1
3–1
2–2
2–0
3–1
0–4
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–3
2–2
4–0
–
2–2
2–0
1–3
4–0
1–1
Seattle
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
4–0
2–0
3–1
3–1
2–0
4–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
4–0
3–1
2–2
–
2–0
2–2
4–0
1–1
Toronto
0–4
0–3
0–4
0–4
1–3
1–1
2–0
0–4
2–0
0–2
0–4
1–1
0–2
0–4
1–3
1–1
1–3
1–3
1–3
2–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
–
0–2
1–1
0–3
Utah
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
4–0
4–0
2–0
4–0
4–0
1–1
3–1
1–3
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–3
2–2
3–1
2–2
2–0
–
4–0
0–2
Vancouver
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
3–1
2–0
3–1
1–3
0–2
3–1
0–4
0–2
1–1
0–4
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
2–2
2–2
0–4
0–4
1–1
0–4
–
1–1
Washington
0–4
2–3
2–2
1–3
2–1
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–0
1–1
0–4
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–1
2–0
3–1
3–1
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–0
2–0
1–1
—
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(January 2011 )
† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Kings only.
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(January 2011 )
^ 1997-98 Sacramento Kings
^ "Barkley Is Cleared in Cleveland Brawl" . The Washington Post . August 2, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2023 .
^ Popper, Steve (August 10, 1997). "Two Guys from Jersey on Same Road Again" . The New York Times . Retrieved October 5, 2022 .
^ "Atlantic Division" . Sun Sentinel . October 31, 1997. Retrieved December 24, 2023 .
^ Smith, Sam (November 24, 1997). "This King's Concerns Are Divine" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved June 28, 2022 .
^ Heisler, Mark (June 26, 1997). "Draft Over, But Not Finished" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 1, 2022 .
^ "1997 NBA Draft" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved December 1, 2022 .
^ "NBA Games Played on February 5, 1998" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved January 2, 2023 .
^ Wise, Mike (February 19, 1998). "BASKETBALL; Kenny Anderson Is Traded to Celtics in 7-Player Deal" . The New York Times . Retrieved December 5, 2022 .
^ "Celtics Land Anderson in Deal with Raptors" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. February 19, 1998. Retrieved September 17, 2022 .
^ "In Seven-Player Swap, Raptors Trade Anderson to the Celtics" . The Washington Post . February 19, 1998. Retrieved July 27, 2021 .
^ Smith, Sam (February 20, 1998). "NBA's Rash of Trades Ends with Another Seikaly Deal" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved June 22, 2023 .
^ "Grizzlies Defeat Sacramento in OT" . CBS News . Associated Press. April 20, 1998. Retrieved July 23, 2017 .
^ "1997–98 Sacramento Kings Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021 .
^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (January 28, 1998). "Lakers Get Four-Star Rating as Van Exel, Jones Honored" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved April 20, 2023 .
^ "1998 NBA All-Star Recap" . NBA.com . NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2023 .
^ "1997-98 All-Star Events and Contestants - in New York" . Eskimo North . Retrieved December 27, 2022 .
^ "1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved November 27, 2021 .
^ "Henderson Voted Most Improved" . CBS News . CBS News.com Staff. May 1, 1998. Retrieved October 3, 2022 .
^ Povtak, Tim (May 1, 1998). "Hawks' Henderson Wins Most Improved" . Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved December 27, 2022 .
^ "1997–98 NBA Awards Voting" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved January 2, 2022 .
^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (December 31, 1997). "Just Enough Is Becoming the Laker Way" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved October 7, 2022 .
^ "1997–98 Sacramento Kings Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021 .
^ a b "PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL -- SACRAMENTO; Abdul-Rauf Bound for Turkey" . The New York Times . Associated Press. June 19, 1998. Retrieved November 9, 2022 .
^ a b Shapiro, Mark (June 19, 1998). "Abdul-Rauf Leaves NBA for Turkey" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved July 4, 2021 .
^ "N.B.A.; Webber Traded to Sacramento" . The New York Times . Associated Press. May 15, 1998. Retrieved July 4, 2021 .
^ "Webber Dealt to Kings for Richmond, Thorpe" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. May 15, 1998. Retrieved June 30, 2022 .
^ Bucher, Ric (May 15, 1998). "Webber Traded to Sacramento" . The Washington Post . Retrieved July 10, 2022 .
^ Bembry, Jerry (May 15, 1998). "Wizards Trade Webber to Kings; Richmond, Thorpe Add "Stability," "Maturity" " . The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved June 22, 2023 .
^ White, Joseph (May 15, 1998). "Wizards Trade Webber to Kings" . Associated Press . Retrieved November 30, 2022 .
^ Wise, Mike (January 21, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; The Business of Basketball Now Begins in Earnest" . The New York Times . Retrieved November 16, 2022 .
^ "Around the NBA" . Los Angeles Times . Staff and Wire Reports. January 23, 1999. Retrieved June 25, 2023 .
^ "SONICS: Owens Signs Three-Year Deal" . Kitsap Sun . Sun News Services. January 23, 1999. Retrieved June 3, 2022 .
^ Johnson, L.C. (February 20, 1999). "Headliners" . Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved January 29, 2023 .
^ Wise, Mike (February 4, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title" . The New York Times . Retrieved June 28, 2022 .
^ "Kings Ax Head Coach, Assistant" . CBS News . CBS News.com Staff. August 18, 1998. Retrieved November 9, 2022 .
^ Thompson, Jack (August 19, 1998). "Jordan Not Returning--to Kings, Who Fire Coach" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved March 21, 2023 .
Founded in 1923
Formerly the Rochester Seagrams (1923–1942), Rochester Eber Seagrams (1942–1943), Rochester Pros (1943–1945), Rochester Royals (1945–1957), Cincinnati Royals (1957–1972); played in Kansas City-Omaha (1972–1975), Kansas City (1975–1985)
Based in Sacramento, California
Franchise Arenas Administration G League affiliate Retired numbers NBA championships Rivalries Culture and lore
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