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1996–97 Denver Nuggets season

NBA professional basketball team season

NBA professional basketball team season

  • Bernie Bickerstaff (resigned)
  • Dick Motta
  • Bernie Bickerstaff
  • Allan Bristow
  • KWGN-TV
  • Fox Sports Rocky Mountain

The 1996–97 Denver Nuggets season was the 21st season for the Denver Nuggets in the National Basketball Association, and their 30th season as a franchise. During the off-season, the Nuggets acquired Mark Jackson and Ricky Pierce from the Indiana Pacers, acquired Šarūnas Marčiulionis from the Sacramento Kings, and signed free agents Ervin Johnson, Eric Murdock, and undrafted rookie power forward Darvin Ham; Murdock was later on released to free agency in November after just 12 games. Early into the regular season, the Nuggets signed Brooks Thompson, who was previously released by the Utah Jazz.

However, after a 4–9 start to the regular season, Bernie Bickerstaff resigned as head coach and was replaced with Dick Motta, where the Nuggets then lost ten straight games, and held a 16–32 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, Jackson and Ham were both traded to the Indiana Pacers, whom Jackson had previously played for, while Pierce was dealt to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for second-year guard Anthony Goldwire. The team also signed free agent and three-point specialist Kenny Smith, who won two NBA championships with the Houston Rockets. As the season progressed, the Nuggets still struggled losing 26 of their final 30 games, finishing in fifth place in the Midwest Division with a 21–61 record.

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, 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, and led them with 192 three-point field goals. In addition, Bryant Stith contributed 14.9 points per game, but only played 52 games due to a foot injury, while Smith provided with 7.9 points and 3.1 assists per game in 33 games, and Goldwire contributed 7.3 points and 4.6 assists per game in 27 games after the trade. Meanwhile, Johnson averaged 7.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game, while off the bench, Thompson contributed 6.8 points and 2.8 assists per game, and Tom Hammonds provided with 6.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, Dale Ellis participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout, while before the mid-season trade, Ham participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. LaPhonso Ellis finished tied in ninth place in Most Improved Player voting. The Nuggets finished 28th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 340,486 at the McNichols Sports Arena during the regular season, which was the second-lowest in the league.

Following the season, McDyess was traded to the Phoenix Suns in a three-team trade, while Dale Ellis was traded back to his former team, the Seattle SuperSonics, Johnson was dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks, Hammonds signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves during the next season, Smith and Marčiulionis both retired, Thompson was released to free agency, and Motta was fired as head coach.

Draft picks

Main article: 1996 NBA draft

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalitySchool/Club team
123Efthimios RentziasCPAOK
237Jeff McInnisPG/SGNorth Carolina

Roster

  • Bernie Bickerstaff (resigned)
  • Dick Motta
  • Jim Brovelli
  • Gene Littles

Roster Notes

  • Point guard Eric Murdock was waived on November 26, 1996.

Regular season

Season standings

:z - clinched division title :y - clinched division title :x - clinched playoff spot

Game log

Player statistics

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
LaPhonso Ellis554936.4.439.367.7737.02.40.80.721.9
Antonio McDyess747334.7.463.171.7087.31.40.81.718.3
Dale Ellis825135.9.414.364.8173.62.00.70.116.6
Bryant Stith525234.4.416.385.8634.22.61.20.414.9
Mark Jackson525238.5.425.397.8015.212.31.00.210.4
Ricky Pierce331018.2.462.308.9021.60.90.40.210.2
Kenny Smith33319.8.422.425.8541.13.10.50.07.9
Anthony Goldwire272122.7.392.394.8161.74.60.50.07.3
Ervin Johnson828231.7.520.000.61511.10.90.82.87.1
Brooks Thompson65616.1.400.398.6321.52.80.80.06.8
Sarunas Marciulionis17015.0.376.367.8061.81.50.70.16.8
Tom Hammonds81821.7.480.000.7215.00.80.20.36.2
Aaron Williams1010.0.6005.00.00.03.06.0
Vincent Askew109.0.6671.0000.00.00.00.06.0
Jeff McInnis1309.0.469.462.7000.51.40.20.15.0
Eric Murdock1209.5.455.400.9170.92.00.80.23.8
George Zidek1605.5.485.8001.40.30.10.03.3
Jimmy King2011.0.333.5001.01.01.50.03.0
Jerome Allen25010.0.284.206.6001.31.70.20.22.6
Elmer Bennett5011.8.308.333.5000.61.40.40.02.4
Darvin Ham3538.9.525.4851.60.40.20.22.3
Melvin Booker504.2.500.5000.20.60.00.01.0
LaSalle Thompson1706.2.188.5001.50.00.20.40.4

Player statistics citation:

Awards and records

Transactions

References

References

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

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