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1996–97 Washington Bullets season

NBA professional basketball team season

NBA professional basketball team season

Bob Staak (interim) (0–1) Bernie Bickerstaff (22–13) Baltimore Arena (4 games) (lost to Bulls 0–3)

  • WBDC
  • Home Team Sports

The 1996–97 Washington Bullets season was the 36th season for the Washington Bullets in the National Basketball Association, and their 24th season in Washington, D.C.. During the off-season, the Bullets acquired Rod Strickland, and former Bullets forward Harvey Grant from the Portland Trail Blazers, and signed free agents Tracy Murray, Jaren Jackson and Lorenzo Williams. Despite a stellar season last year, Juwan Howard signed a 7-year $100 million contract with the Miami Heat. However, the deal was voided claiming that the Heat exceeded their salary cap; the Bullets quickly re-signed Howard, but would lose their first-round draft pick next year.

The Bullets got off to a 7–6 start to the regular season, but then lost five straight games, as the team played around .500 in winning percentage for the first half of the season, holding a 22–25 record at the All-Star break. After 46 games, the team fired head coach Jim Lynam, then after playing one game under assistant Bob Staak, they hired former Bullets assistant Bernie Bickerstaff as their new coach. Under Bickerstaff, the Bullets finished the season strong by winning 16 of their final 21 games, including a six-game winning streak between March and April.

On the final day of the regular season on April 20, 1997, the Bullets defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road, 85–81 at the Gund Arena to capture the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference; the team finished in fourth place in the Atlantic Division with a 44–38 record, ending an eight-year playoff drought, and qualifying for the NBA playoffs for the first time since the 1987–88 season.

Chris Webber averaged 20.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.9 blocks per game, while Howard averaged 19.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, and Strickland provided the team with 17.2 points, 8.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game. In addition, Calbert Cheaney contributed 10.6 points per game, while last season's Most Improved Player Gheorghe Mureșan averaged 10.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. Off the bench, Murray contributed 10.0 points per game, and led the Bullets with 106 three-point field goals, while Chris Whitney provided with 5.2 points and 2.2 assists per game, Jackson contributed 5.0 points per game, and Grant averaged 4.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, Webber was selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; it was his first ever All-Star appearance. Meanwhile, Tim Legler participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout for the second consecutive year; Legler won the competition the previous year.

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1997 NBA playoffs, the Bullets faced off against the top–seeded, and defending NBA champion Chicago Bulls, who won the Central Division title, and were led by the trio of All-Star guard Michael Jordan, All-Star forward Scottie Pippen, and rebound-specialist Dennis Rodman. The Bullets lost the first two games to the Bulls on the road at the United Center, including a 109–104 loss in Game 2, in which Jordan scored 55 points. In Game 3 at US Airways Arena, and despite taking a 14–2 lead early in the first quarter, the Bullets lost to the Bulls, 96–95, thus losing the series in a three-game sweep; this would be their final NBA playoff appearance until the 2004–05 season. The Bulls would go on to defeat the Utah Jazz in six games in the 1997 NBA Finals, winning their second consecutive NBA championship, and their fifth championship in seven years.

The Bullets finished twelfth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 700,646 at US Airways Arena during the regular season; this was also the team's final full season playing at the arena that was known as "Capital Centre" in Landover, Maryland. Following the season, Jackson signed as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs.

Game 3 of the first-round series against the Bulls at US Airways Arena was officially the team's final game as the "Bullets". In 1995, Bullets owner Abe Pollin decided to change the team's name due to gun violence in Washington, D.C., and after the assassination of his friend, Israel Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. On May 15, 1997, the team officially changed its name to the "Wizards", and became known as the "Washington Wizards" the following season. The rebrand was held up by a copyright lawsuit filed by the Harlem Wizards, a traveling comedy basketball team with the same name. Still, the team won the trademark infringement case, as a court ruling allowed them to change their name to the "Wizards".

Draft picks

Main article: 1996 NBA draft

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
255Ronnie HendersonUnited StatesLSU

Roster

  • Jim Lynam (fired)
  • Bob Staak (interim)
  • Bernie Bickerstaff
  • Buzz Braman

Regular season

Season standings

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

Game log

Regular season

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | November 1, 1996 | @ Orlando | W 96–92 | | | | Orlando Arena | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | November 2, 1996 | Cleveland | L 96–98 (OT) | | | | US Airways Arena | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | November 6, 1996 | San Antonio | W 96–86 | | | | US Airways Arena | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | November 8, 1996 | Charlotte | L 87–102 | | | | US Airways Arena | 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | November 9, 1996 | @ Indiana | L 100–103 (OT) | | | | Market Square Arena | 2–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | November 12, 1996 | Detroit | L 79–92 | | | | US Airways Arena | 2–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 | November 13, 1996 | @ New Jersey | W 106–91 | | | | Continental Airlines Arena | 3–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 8 | November 15, 1996 | @ Detroit | L 84–95 | | | | The Palace of Auburn Hills | 3–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 9 | November 16, 1996 | Boston | W 106–92 | | | | US Airways Arena | 4–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 10 | November 20, 1996 | Seattle | L 110–115 (2OT) | | | | US Airways Arena | 4–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 | November 22, 1996 | Philadelphia | W 88–76 | | | | US Airways Arena | 5–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 12 | November 23, 1996 | @ Milwaukee | W 95–90 | | | | Bradley Center | 6–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 13 | November 25, 1996 | Minnesota | W 105–98 | | | | US Airways Arena | 7–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 14 | November 29, 1996 | @ Atlanta | L 81–110 | | | | The Omni | 7–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 15 | November 30, 1996 | Houston | L 99–103 | | | | US Airways Arena | 7–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 16 | December 5, 1996 | @ Toronto | L 80–82 | | | | SkyDome | 7–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 17 | December 7, 1996 | Milwaukee | L 118–126 | | | | US Airways Arena | 7–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 18 | December 10, 1996 | @ New York | L 73–85 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 7–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 19 | December 11, 1996 | Cleveland | W 106–95 | | | | US Airways Arena | 8–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 20 | December 13, 1996 | Denver | W 108–104 | | | | US Airways Arena | 9–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 | December 15, 1996 | @ Golden State | W 110–102 | | | | San Jose Arena | 10–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 22 | December 16, 1996 | @ Sacramento | W 97–89 | | | | ARCO Arena | 11–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 23 | December 18, 1996 | @ Phoenix | L 107–114 | | | | America West Arena | 11–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 24 | December 19, 1996 | @ L.A. Clippers | W 102–93 | | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena | 12–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 25 | December 22, 1996 | @ Vancouver | L 87–91 | | | | General Motors Place | 12–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 26 | December 23, 1996 | @ Portland | W 106–84 | | | | Rose Garden Arena | 13–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 27 | December 27, 1996 | Toronto | W 100–82 | | | | US Airways Arena | 14–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 | December 28, 1996 | Atlanta (at Baltimore, MD) | W 97–86 | | | | Baltimore Arena | 15–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 29 | December 30, 1996 | Charlotte | L 92–101 | | | | US Airways Arena | 15–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 30 | January 2, 1997 | New York | L 80–92 | | | | US Airways Arena | 15–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 31 | January 4, 1997 | @ Charlotte | W 104–93 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 16–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 32 | January 8, 1997 | Phoenix | W 115–113 (OT) | | | | US Airways Arena | 17–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 33 | January 10, 1997 | L.A. Clippers | W 102–98 | | | | US Airways Arena | 18–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 34 | January 11, 1997 | @ Cleveland | W 98–85 | | | | Gund Arena | 19–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 35 | January 13, 1997 | @ Miami | L 95–93 | | | | Miami Arena | 19–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 36 | January 14, 1997 | @ Chicago | L 107–108 | | | | United Center | 19–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 37 | January 17, 1997 | Miami (at Baltimore, MD) | L 92–103 | | | | Baltimore Arena | 19–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 38 | January 18, 1997 | @ Boston | W 112–106 | | | | FleetCenter | 20–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 39 | January 20, 1997 | @ New York | L 79–95 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 20–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 40 | January 21, 1997 | @ Orlando | L 88–93 | | | | Orlando Arena | 20–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 41 | January 24, 1997 | @ Atlanta | L 105–117 (OT) | | | | The Omni | 20–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 | January 25, 1997 | Sacramento | W 113–105 | | | | US Airways Arena | 21–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 43 | January 28, 1997 | Orlando | W 102–82 | | | | US Airways Arena | 22–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 44 | January 31, 1997 | @ Seattle | L 95–97 | | | | KeyArena | 22–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 45 | February 2, 1997 | @ L.A. Lakers | L 99–129 | | | | Great Western Forum | 22–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 46 | February 3, 1997 | @ Utah | L 89–111 | | | | Delta Center | 22–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 47 | February 5, 1997 | @ Denver | L 104–106 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 22–25 |- align="center" |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 48 | February 11, 1997 | New York | L 92–97 | | | | US Airways Arena | 22–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 49 | February 14, 1997 | New Jersey (at Baltimore, MD) | W 125–107 | | | | Baltimore Arena | 23–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 50 | February 15, 1997 | @ New Jersey | L 86–107 | | | | Continental Airlines Arena | 23–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 51 | February 17, 1997 | Milwaukee | W 95–93 | | | | US Airways Arena | 24–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 52 | February 19, 1997 | @ Detroit | L 85–100 | | | | The Palace of Auburn Hills | 24–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 53 | February 21, 1997 | Chicago | L 99–103 | | | | US Airways Arena | 24–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 54 | February 23, 1997 | Detroit | L 79–85 | | | | US Airways Arena | 24–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 55 | February 25, 1997 | Indiana | W 108–87 | | | | US Airways Arena | 25–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 56 | February 27, 1997 | L.A. Lakers | L 107–122 | | | | US Airways Arena | 25–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 57 | March 1, 1997 | Golden State | W 118–108 | | | | US Airways Arena | 26–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 58 | March 4, 1997 | @ Philadelphia | W 107–106 | | | | CoreStates Center | 27–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 59 | March 6, 1997 | @ Miami | W 99–95 | | | | Miami Arena | 28–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 60 | March 7, 1997 | Miami | L 105–108 (OT) | | | | US Airways Arena | 28–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 61 | March 9, 1997 | Philadelphia | L 93–99 | | | | US Airways Arena | 28–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 62 | March 12, 1997 | Vancouver | W 104–82 | | | | US Airways Arena | 29–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 63 | March 14, 1997 | @ Milwaukee | W 105–96 | | | | Bradley Center | 30–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 64 | March 15, 1997 | Utah | L 93–100 | | | | US Airways Arena | 30–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 65 | March 17, 1997 | @ San Antonio | W 109–85 | | | | Alamodome | 31–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 66 | March 18, 1997 | @ Dallas | W 86–85 | | | | Reunion Arena | 32–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 67 | March 20, 1997 | @ Houston | L 90–96 | | | | The Summit | 32–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 68 | March 22, 1997 | Portland | W 108–104 | | | | US Airways Arena | 33–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 69 | March 26, 1997 | Boston | W 105–92 | | | | US Airways Arena | 34–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 70 | March 28, 1997 | Toronto | W 113–86 | | | | US Airways Arena | 35–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 71 | March 29, 1997 | Dallas (at Baltimore, MD) | W 94–87 | | | | Baltimore Arena | 36–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 72 | April 1, 1997 | @ Indiana | W 104–100 | | | | Market Square Arena | 37–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 73 | April 3, 1997 | Chicago | W 110–102 | | | | US Airways Arena | 38–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 74 | April 4, 1997 | @ Minnesota | L 95–97 | | | | Target Center | 38–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 75 | April 6, 1997 | @ Boston | W 120–114 | | | | FleetCenter | 39–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 76 | April 8, 1997 | @ Toronto | L 94–100 | | | | SkyDome | 39–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 77 | April 11, 1997 | New Jersey | W 109–90 | | | | US Airways Arena | 40–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 78 | April 12, 1997 | @ Charlotte | L 97–99 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 40–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 79 | April 14, 1997 | @ Philadelphia | W 131–110 | | | | CoreStates Center | 41–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 80 | April 16, 1997 | Indiana | W 103–90 | | | | US Airways Arena | 42–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 81 | April 18, 1997 | Orlando | W 104–93 | | | | US Airways Arena | 43–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 82 | April 20, 1997 | @ Cleveland | W 85–81 | | | | Gund Arena | 44–38

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 25, 1997 | @ Chicago | L 86–98 | Juwan Howard (21) | Rod Strickland (10) | Rod Strickland (8) | United Center 24,122 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | April 27, 1997 | @ Chicago | L 104–109 | Calbert Cheaney (26) | Chris Webber (12) | Rod Strickland (8) | United Center 24,267 | 0–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | April 30, 1997 | Chicago | L 95–96 | Rod Strickland (24) | Chris Webber (8) | Rod Strickland (9) | US Airways Arena 18,756

0–3

Player statistics

Regular season

|- | 31 || 0 || 4.6 || .300 || 1.000 || .536 || 1.7 || .1 || .2 || .1 || 1.3 |- | 79 || 79 || 30.5 || .505 || .133 || .693 || 3.4 || 1.4 || 1.0 || .2 || 10.6 |- | 5 || 0 || 1.4 || .333 || || || 1.0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .4 |- | 78 || 25 || 20.6 || .411 || .315 || .769 || 3.3 || .9 || .6 || .6 || 4.1 |- | 82 || 82 || 40.5 || .486 || .000 || .756 || 8.0 || 3.8 || 1.1 || .3 || 19.1 |- | 75 || 0 || 15.1 || .407 || .335 || .768 || 1.8 || .9 || .6 || .2 || 5.0 |- | 15 || 0 || 12.1 || .313 || .276 || .857 || 1.4 || .5 || .2 || .3 || 2.9 |- | 73 || 69 || 25.3 || .604 || || .618 || 6.6 || .4 || .6 || 1.3 || 10.6 |- | 82 || 1 || 22.1 || .425 || .353 || .839 || 3.1 || 1.0 || .8 || .2 || 10.0 |- | 1 || 0 || 6.0 || .333 || .000 || || 1.0 || .0 || 1.0 || .0 || 2.0 |- | 82 || 81 || 36.5 || .466 || .169 || .738 || 4.1 || 8.9 || 1.7 || .2 || 17.2 |- | 34 || 0 || 5.8 || .348 || || .300 || 1.7 || .1 || .2 || .3 || 1.1 |- | 72 || 72 || 39.0 || .518 || .397 || .565 || 10.3 || 4.6 || 1.7 || 1.9 || 20.1 |- | 82 || 1 || 13.6 || .421 || .356 || .832 || 1.3 || 2.2 || .6 || .0 || 5.2 |- | 19 || 0 || 13.9 || .645 || || .714 || 3.6 || .2 || .3 || .4 || 2.4 |}

Playoffs

|- | 3 || 3 || 40.0 || .439 || .000 || .750 || 3.7 || 1.3 || 1.0 || .7 || 15.0 |- | 3 || 0 || 9.7 || .000 || .000 || || 1.3 || .0 || .0 || .7 || .0 |- | 3 || 3 || 43.0 || .465 || || .889 || 6.0 || 1.7 || .7 || .7 || 18.7 |- | 3 || 0 || 3.7 || || || .000 || .7 || .3 || .0 || .0 || .0 |- | 3 || 0 || 6.3 || .000 || .000 || .500 || .3 || .7 || .0 || .0 || .3 |- | 3 || 3 || 23.3 || .444 || || .875 || 6.0 || .0 || .0 || 1.3 || 5.0 |- | 3 || 0 || 29.0 || .567 || .500 || .941 || 3.0 || .7 || 1.3 || .7 || 18.3 |- | 3 || 3 || 41.3 || .423 || .500 || .737 || 6.0 || 8.3 || 1.0 || .0 || 19.7 |- | 3 || 3 || 35.3 || .633 || .455 || .500 || 8.0 || 3.3 || .7 || 2.3 || 15.7 |- | 3 || 0 || 6.7 || .400 || .500 || 1.000 || .7 || .7 || .0 || .0 || 2.3 |- | 2 || 0 || 2.5 || || || || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 |}

  • † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Bullets only. Player statistics citation:

Awards and records

No Awards.

References

References

  1. [https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WAS/1997.html 1996-97 Washington Bullets]
  2. Bembry, Jerry. (July 16, 1996). "Bullets Get Strickland, Grant from Trail Blazers; Washington Deals Wallace and Butler, Signs Murray; Rockets Get Brent Price". The Baltimore Sun.
  3. (July 16, 1996). "Blazers Trade Strickland to Bullets". Tampa Bay Times.
  4. Asher, Mark. (July 22, 1996). "Strickland Decision Has Bullets on Hold". The Washington Post.
  5. Adande, J.A.. (October 7, 1996). "Bullets' Front Line a Bonus". The Washington Post.
  6. Brown, Clifton. (November 10, 1996). "Bullets Open Up Their Gifts and Run". The New York Times.
  7. Adande, J.A.. (November 29, 1996). "Murray Takes a Shot at Getting on Track". The Washington Post.
  8. Parks, Brad. (July 27, 1996). "Bullets Sign Williams to Seven-Year Deal". The Washington Post.
  9. Adande, J.A.. (October 3, 1996). "Bullets Add C. Ray as Assistant". The Washington Post.
  10. (August 1, 1996). "N.B.A. Rejects Howard Deal". The New York Times.
  11. Asher, Mark. (August 1, 1996). "NBA Rejects Heat's Contract with Howard". The Washington Post.
  12. Brown, Clifton. (August 13, 1996). "An Angry Pat Riley Insists the Heat Broke No Salary Cap Rules". The New York Times.
  13. Brown, Clifton. (August 6, 1996). "Howard: 2 Deals, 2 Teams, $200 Million". The New York Times.
  14. Asher, Mark. (August 6, 1996). "Howard's End a Mystery Even with Bullet Signing". Los Angeles Times.
  15. Nakamura, David. (August 6, 1996). "If You Can't Stand the Heat...". The Washington Post.
  16. "NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997". Basketball-Reference.
  17. Adande, J.A.. (February 6, 1997). ""It Just Wasn't Happening," So Bullets Fire Lynam". The Washington Post.
  18. Schmuck, Peter. (February 6, 1997). "Lynam Fired as Bullets Coach; Unseld: "It Wasn't Happening"; Staak Will Serve as Fill-In". The Baltimore Sun.
  19. (February 11, 1997). "Bullets Hire Bickerstaff". The New York Times.
  20. Frey, Jennifer. (February 12, 1997). "For Bickerstaff, Time to Get a Job and a Haircut". The Washington Post.
  21. Adande, J.A.. (February 14, 1997). "Changing Times for Bullets". The Washington Post.
  22. "1996–97 Washington Bullets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference.
  23. Adande, J.A.. (April 21, 1997). "Rebounding, with Much Emotion". The Washington Post.
  24. Bembry, Jerry. (April 21, 1997). "Last-Chance Bullets Hit Bull's Eye; Washington Rallies Past Cavaliers, 85-81, Gains Playoff Goal; Bulls Series Begins Friday; Longest Postseason Drought in NBA Ends". The Baltimore Sun.
  25. "Washington Bullets at Cleveland Cavaliers Box Score, April 20, 1997". Basketball-Reference.
  26. "Washington Bullets". Basketball-Reference.
  27. "1996–97 Washington Bullets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.
  28. Fry, Darrell. (February 8, 1997). "On to the Next Stage". Tampa Bay Times.
  29. (September 13, 2021). "1997 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com.
  30. "1997 NBA All-Star Game: East 132, West 120". Basketball-Reference.
  31. "NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners". Basketball-Reference.
  32. Roberts, Selena. (May 1, 1997). "Bulls Prevail, But Bullets Go Out Fighting". The New York Times.
  33. Adande, J.A.. (May 1, 1997). "In Their Final Shot, Bullets Just Miss". The Washington Post.
  34. "1997 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Bullets vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference.
  35. Wise, Mike. (June 14, 1997). "A Fistful of Rings: Bulls Grab Fifth Title of 90's". The New York Times.
  36. Howard-Cooper, Scott. (June 14, 1997). "Bulls Get Fifth Element". Los Angeles Times.
  37. "1997 NBA Finals: Jazz vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference.
  38. "1996–97 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.
  39. Broussard, Chris. (June 18, 1999). "N.B.A. FINALS; For Spurs' Jackson, Depth Is the Key". The New York Times.
  40. Justice, Richard. (November 10, 1995). "Bullets Seek New Name". The Washington Post.
  41. Justice, Richard. (February 23, 1996). "For Bullets, "Wizards" Casts Magic Spell". The Washington Post.
  42. Adande, J.A.. (May 16, 1997). "They're the Wizards of Ahhhhs". The Washington Post.
  43. (June 25, 1996). "Harlem Wizards Sue to Stop Name Change". United Press International.
  44. Heath, Thomas. (November 6, 1996). "Bullets In a Battle for Name's Sake". The Washington Post.
  45. (January 11, 1997). "Court Ruling Allows Bullets to Become Wizards". The Washington Post.
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