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1997–98 Los Angeles Lakers season

NBA professional basketball team season

Fox Sports West (lost to Jazz 0–4)

The 1997–98 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 50th season for the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association, and their 38th season in Los Angeles, California. During the off-season, the Lakers signed free agents Rick Fox, and three-point specialist Jon Barry.

The Lakers got off to a fast start to the regular season by winning their first eleven games, before losing Shaquille O'Neal to a strained stomach muscle that forced him to sit out 20 games; in his absence, the team posted a 13–7 record. In January, Nick Van Exel went down with a knee injury missing 18 games, and was replaced with second-year guard Derek Fisher as the team's starting point guard for the remainder of the season. The Lakers held a 34–11 record at the All-Star break, and won 22 of their final 25 games to tie the Pacific Division title with the Seattle SuperSonics with a 61–21 record, earning the third seed in the Western Conference. It was the Lakers' best record since the 1989–90 season.

O'Neal averaged 28.3 points, 11.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, while Eddie Jones averaged 16.9 points and 2.0 steals per game, led the Lakers with 143 three-point field goals, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and second-year guard Kobe Bryant emerged as a star in his second season, playing an increased role as the team's sixth man off the bench, averaging 15.4 points per game. In addition, Van Exel provided the team with 13.8 points and 6.9 assists per game, and finished second on the team with 123 three-point field goals, while Fox contributed 12.0 points per game, and Robert Horry averaged 7.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. Meanwhile, Elden Campbell provided with 10.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, Fisher contributed 5.8 points and 4.1 assists per game, and Corie Blount averaged 3.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, four members of the team, O'Neal, Bryant, Jones and Van Exel, were all selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Western Conference All-Star team; it was Bryant's first ever All-Star appearance, and the first and only All-Star appearance for Van Exel. Despite playing a sixth man role off the bench, Bryant was voted as a starter for the Western Conference at the age of 19; he scored 18 points in 22 minutes, as the Western Conference lost to the Eastern Conference, 135–114. In addition, Bryant also participated in the inaugural NBA 2Ball Competition, along with Lisa Leslie of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks. O'Neal finished in fourth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Bryant finished in second place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, behind Danny Manning of the Phoenix Suns, and also finished in seventh place in Most Improved Player voting.

In the Western Conference First Round of the 1998 NBA playoffs, and for the second consecutive year, the Lakers faced off against the 6th–seeded Portland Trail Blazers, a team that featured Isaiah Rider, Arvydas Sabonis and Rasheed Wallace. The Lakers won the first two games at home at the Great Western Forum, before losing Game 3 to the Trail Blazers on the road, 99–94 at the Rose Garden Arena. The Lakers then won Game 4 over the Trail Blazers on the road, 110–99 to win the series in four games.

In the Western Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the 2nd–seeded, and Pacific Division champion SuperSonics, who were led by the All-Star trio of Gary Payton, Vin Baker and Detlef Schrempf; despite both teams finishing with the same record during the regular season, the SuperSonics had home-court advantage in the series. The Lakers lost Game 1 on the road, 106–92 at the KeyArena at Seattle Center, but managed to defeat the SuperSonics on the road in Game 2, 92–68, then won their next two home games at the Great Western Forum. The Lakers won Game 5 over the SuperSonics on the road, 110–95 to win the series in five games.

In the Western Conference Finals, and also for the second consecutive year, the Lakers faced off against the top–seeded, and Midwest Division champion Utah Jazz, who were led by the trio of All-Star forward Karl Malone, All-Star guard John Stockton, and Jeff Hornacek. The Lakers lost the first two games on the road to the Jazz, which included a 35-point margin loss in Game 1, 112–77 at the Delta Center. The Lakers then lost their next two games at home to the Jazz, losing Game 4 at the Great Western Forum, 96–92, thus losing the series in a four-game sweep. The Jazz would go on to lose in six games to the 2-time defending NBA champion Chicago Bulls in the 1998 NBA Finals for the second consecutive year.

The Lakers finished 15th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 676,101 at the Great Western Forum during the regular season. Following the season, Van Exel was traded to the Denver Nuggets after feuding with head coach Del Harris, and Barry signed as a free agent with the Sacramento Kings.

Draft picks

Main article: 1997 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
2	52	DeJuan Wheat	PG	United States	Louisville
2	54	Paul Rogers	C	Australia	Gonzaga

Roster

Del Harris
Bill Bertka
Larry Drew
Kurt Rambis

Regular season

Season standings

Game log

Preseason

Regular season

Playoffs

3–1
- style="background:#fcc;"
1
May 4
@ Seattle
L 92–106
Shaquille O'Neal (27)
Shaquille O'Neal (11)
Rick Fox (10)
KeyArena
17,072
0–1
- style="background:#cfc;"
2
May 6
@ Seattle
W 92–68
Shaquille O'Neal (26)
Horry & O'Neal (10)
Derek Fisher (7)
KeyArena
17,072
1–1
- style="background:#cfc;"
3
May 8
Seattle
W 119–103
Shaquille O'Neal (30)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Derek Fisher (7)
Great Western Forum
17,505
2–1
- style="background:#cfc;"
4
May 10
Seattle
W 112–100
Shaquille O'Neal (39)
Shaquille O'Neal (8)
O'Neal & Van Exel (7)
Great Western Forum
17,505
3–1
- style="background:#cfc;"
5
May 12
@ Seattle
W 110–95
Shaquille O'Neal (31)
Robert Horry (11)
Derek Fisher (6)
KeyArena
17,072
4–1
-
- style="background:#fcc;"
1
May 16
@ Utah
L 77–112
Shaquille O'Neal (19)
Corie Blount (9)
Nick Van Exel (3)
Delta Center
19,911
0–1
- style="background:#fcc;"
2
May 18
@ Utah
L 95–99
Shaquille O'Neal (31)
Corie Blount (10)
Rick Fox (7)
Delta Center
19,911
0–2
- style="background:#fcc;"
3
May 22
Utah
L 98–109
Shaquille O'Neal (39)
Shaquille O'Neal (15)
Nick Van Exel (7)
Great Western Forum
17,505
0–3
- style="background:#fcc;"
4
May 24
Utah
L 92–96
Shaquille O'Neal (38)
Robert Horry (8)
Eddie Jones (6)
Great Western Forum
17,505
0–4
-

Player statistics

Regular season

GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
49	1	7.6	.365	.295	.931	0.8	1.0	0.5	0.1	2.5
45	4	7.9	.593	.500	.364	2.8	0.4	0.4	0.2	3.9
70	3	14.7	.572	.000	.500	4.3	0.5	0.4	0.4	3.6
79	1	26.0	.428	.341	.794	3.1	2.5	0.9	0.5	15.4
81	28	22.0	.463	.500	.693	5.6	1.0	0.4	1.3	10.1
82	36	21.5	.434	.383	.757	2.4	4.1	0.9	0.1	5.8
82	82	33.0	.471	.325	.743	4.4	3.4	1.2	0.6	12.0
72	71	30.4	.476	.204	.692	7.5	2.3	1.6	1.3	7.4
80	80	36.4	.484	.389	.765	3.8	3.1	2.0	0.7	16.9
60	57	36.3	.584	.	.527	11.4	2.4	0.7	2.4	28.3
41	1	10.4	.455	.	.595	2.9	0.6	0.0	0.6	3.4
4	0	2.3	.125	.000	.500	1.0	.	0.3	.	1.0
64	46	32.1	.419	.389	.791	2.5	6.9	1.0	0.1	13.8

Playoffs

GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
7	0	2.6	.000	.000		.3	.0	.1	.0	.0
4	0	2.5	.500		1.000	1.5	.0	.0	.3	1.0
12	0	17.4	.500		.636	5.3	.6	.5	.3	2.6
11	0	20.0	.408	.214	.689	1.9	1.5	.3	.7	8.7
13	0	13.8	.451		.647	3.5	.6	.2	.9	5.2
13	13	21.4	.397	.300	.621	1.9	3.8	1.3	.0	6.0
13	13	32.9	.447	.396	.826	4.5	3.9	.8	.2	10.9
13	13	32.5	.557	.353	.683	6.5	3.1	1.1	1.1	8.6
13	13	36.6	.466	.417	.829	3.9	2.5	2.0	1.6	17.0
13	13	38.5	.612		.503	10.2	2.9	.5	2.6	30.5
4	0	2.8	.333			.3	.0	.0	.8	1.0
13	0	28.2	.331	.314	.725	2.5	4.2	.6	.1	11.6

Awards and records

Awards

Shaquille O'Neal was named to the All-NBA First Team
Eddie Jones was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team

All-Star

Kobe Bryant was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game.
Eddie Jones was selected to his second NBA All-Star Game.
Nick Van Exel was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game.
Shaquille O'Neal was selected to his sixth NBA All-Star Game.

Weekly and monthly

Shaquille O'Neal was named NBA Player of the Week for games played from November 9 through November 15.
Eddie Jones was named NBA Player of the Month for November.
Shaquille O'Neal was named NBA Player of the Month for January.
Shaquille O'Neal was named NBA Player of the Week for games played from March 15 to March 21.
Shaquille O'Neal was named NBA Player of the Month for April.
Del Harris was named NBA Coach of the Month for April.

References

[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/1998.html 1997–98 Los Angeles Lakers]
Wise, Mike. (August 27, 1997). "Knicks Lose the Bidding War for Fox, Who Heads to Lakers". The New York Times.
(August 27, 1997). "Lakers Fill In a Few Foxholes". Los Angeles Times.
Howard-Cooper, Scott. (August 27, 1997). "Fox Hunt Finally Over for Lakers". Los Angeles Times.
Howard-Cooper, Scott. (November 29, 1997). "Minute by Minute, Barry Contributes". Los Angeles Times.
(November 24, 1997). "PRO BASKETBALL; Lakers Protect Perfect Record". The New York Times.
(November 22, 1997). "N.B.A.; Lakers' O'Neal Sidelined". The New York Times.
Howard-Cooper, Scott. (November 22, 1997). "O'Neal Feeling the Strain". Los Angeles Times.
(December 24, 1997). "N.B.A.; O'Neal Fractures Wrist". The New York Times.
Howard-Cooper, Scott. (January 15, 1998). "Van Exel Gives Knee a Rest". Los Angeles Times.
Howard-Cooper, Scott. (February 27, 1998). "Surgery Expected to Sideline Van Exel for Three Weeks". Los Angeles Times.
(March 15, 1998). "Lakers Activate Van Exel". Associated Press.
Howard-Cooper, Scott. (April 10, 1998). "Fisher Stays Put in Starting Lineup". Los Angeles Times.
"NBA Games Played on February 5, 1998". Basketball-Reference.
"1997–98 Los Angeles Lakers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference.
(April 13, 2016). "Ranking All 20 Seasons of Kobe Bryant's Career, from Best to Worst". For The Win.
"1997–98 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.
Howard-Cooper, Scott. (January 28, 1998). "Lakers Get Four-Star Rating as Van Exel, Jones Honored". Los Angeles Times.
(September 13, 2021). "1998 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com.
"1998 NBA All-Star Game East: 135, West 114". Basketball-Reference.
Howard-Cooper, Scott. (January 22, 1998). "Bryant Might Be All-Star Starter". Los Angeles Times.
Armour, Terry. (January 26, 1998). "Jordan Top All-Star Vote-Getter; Bryant, 19, Youngest Ever Picked". Chicago Tribune.
Heisler, Mark. (February 6, 1998). "The Kid's GOT IT!". Los Angeles Times.
Roberts, Selena. (February 9, 1998). "N.B.A. ALL-STAR GAME; Jordan Stars One Last Time (Probably)". The New York Times.
(February 9, 1998). "No Heir to Air". Los Angeles Times.
Withers, Tom. (February 8, 1998). "Cooper, Drexler Win 2Ball Contest". The Day.
Bender, Patricia. "1997–98 All-Star Events and Contestants - in New York". Eskimo.com.
Wise, Mike. (May 19, 1998). "THE N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Jordan Is Winner of M.V.P. a 5th Time". The New York Times.
"1997–98 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference.
Howard-Cooper, Scott. (April 24, 1998). "Bryant Second to Manning in Voting for Sixth Man". Los Angeles Times.
Howard-Cooper, Scott. (May 1, 1998). "On In a Blaze of Glory". Los Angeles Times.
(May 1, 1998). "Lakers 110, Trail Blazers 99". United Press International.
"1998 NBA Western Conference First Round: Trail Blazers vs. Lakers". Basketball-Reference.
(May 5, 1998). "N.B.A.: PLAYOFFS; Payton Scores 25 in Game 1". The New York Times.
(May 5, 1998). "Seattle 106, L.A. Lakers 92". United Press International.
Howard-Cooper, Scott. (May 6, 1998). "SuperSonics' Rebounding a New Concern". Los Angeles Times.
(May 13, 1998). "THE N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; The Finals In the West: It's Jazz Vs. Lakers". The New York Times.
Adande, J.A.. (May 13, 1998). "In Closing, Karl Keeps His Chin Up". Los Angeles Times.
"1998 NBA Western Conference Semifinals: Lakers vs. SuperSonics". Basketball-Reference.
Wise, Mike. (May 25, 1998). "THE N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Utah Plods Right Back to the Finals". The New York Times.
Howard-Cooper, Scott. (May 25, 1998). "Bittersweep End". Los Angeles Times.
"1998 NBA Western Conference Finals: Lakers vs. Jazz". Basketball-Reference.
Araton, Harvey. (June 15, 1998). "Sports of the Times; At the End, Jordan Lifts Bulls to Their Sixth N.B.A. Title". The New York Times.
Howard-Cooper, Scott. (June 15, 1998). "A Rousing Six-cess". Los Angeles Times.
"1998 NBA Finals: Bulls vs. Jazz". Basketball-Reference.
"1997–98 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.
Wise, Mike. (June 25, 1998). "PRO BASKETBALL; 7 Feet 1 Inch of Potential at No. 1". The New York Times.
Howard-Cooper, Scott. (June 25, 1998). "Van Exel Is Exiled to Nuggets". Los Angeles Times.
(June 25, 1998). "Van Exel Act Gets Him Exiled to the Nuggets". Deseret News.
(September 9, 2015). "Top 10 Free Agent Signings in Sacramento Kings History". A Royal Pain.
Wise, Mike. (February 4, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title". The New York Times.

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