From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
1997–98 Milwaukee Bucks season
NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
Wisconsin Sports Network (Jim Paschke, Jon McGlocklin)
The 1997–98 Milwaukee Bucks season was the 30th season for the Milwaukee Bucks in the National Basketball Association. The Bucks received the tenth overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft, and selected power forward Danny Fortson from the University of Cincinnati, but soon traded him to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Ervin Johnson. During the off-season, the team acquired All-Star guard Terrell Brandon, and former All-Star forward Tyrone Hill from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team trade, signed free agent Michael Curry, and re-signed former Bucks star and sixth man Ricky Pierce in December.
With the addition of Brandon, Hill and Johnson, the Bucks won four of their first five games of the regular season. However, after an 11–8 start to the season, the team then posted a 5-game losing streak afterwards, and began to fall under .500 in winning percentage. After holding an 18–22 record as of January 20, 1998, the Bucks recovered and posted a six-game winning streak between January and February, and held a 24–23 record at the All-Star break. However, with Glenn Robinson out for the remainder of the season due to a season-ending left knee injury after 56 games, while Brandon only played just 50 games due to an ankle injury, and Hill only appeared in 57 games due to a knee injury, and a strained back, the Bucks struggled and posted a nine-game losing streak in March, losing 13 of their 16 games during that month. The team finished in seventh place in the Central Division with a 36–46 record, missing the NBA playoffs for the seventh consecutive year.
Robinson averaged 23.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while second-year star Ray Allen had a stellar season, averaging 19.5 points, 4.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game, and leading the Bucks with 134 three-point field goals, and Brandon provided the team with 16.8 points, 7.7 assists and 2.2 steals per game. In addition, Hill contributed 10.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, while Armen Gilliam provided with 11.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, Johnson averaged 8.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game, Elliot Perry provided with 7.3 points and 2.8 assists per game, and Curry contributed 6.6 points per game, and finished tied in sixth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
One notable highlight of the regular season was a game between the Bucks, and the 2-time defending NBA champion Chicago Bulls at the United Center on January 2, 1998; Robinson and All-Star guard Michael Jordan both scored 44 points each, while Brandon and Gilliam both posted double-doubles, as Brandon scored 24 points along with 13 assists, and Gilliam contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds. The Bulls defeated the Bucks, 114–100.
The Bucks finished 22nd in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 638,034 at the Bradley Center during the regular season. Following the season, Pierce retired after playing in his second stint with the Bucks, while Andrew Lang signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls, and head coach Chris Ford was fired after coaching the Bucks for two seasons.
Draft picks
Main article: 1997 NBA draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | Danny Fortson | PF | Cincinnati | |
| 2 | 38 | Jerald Honeycutt | SF | Tulane |
Roster
- Chris Ford
- Jim Todd
- Dick Versace
- Mike Woodson
Regular season
Season standings
:z - clinched division title :y - clinched division title :x - clinched playoff spot
Game log
|-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 1 || October 31, 1997 || @ Philadelphia | W 103–88 |Ray Allen (29) | | | CoreStates Center | 1–0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 2 || November 1, 1997 || New Jersey | L 109–113 | | | | Bradley Center 18,717 | 1–1 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 3 || November 4, 1997 || Orlando | W 110–76 |Ray Allen (20) | | | Bradley Center 12,764 | 2–1 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 4 || November 6, 1997 || Philadelphia | W 100–93 | | | | Bradley Center 13,851 | 3–1 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 5 || November 8, 1997 || Boston | W 105–96 | | | | Bradley Center 17,653 | 4–1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 6 || November 12, 1997 || @ Phoenix | L 95–103 | | | | America West Arena 19,023 | 4–2 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 7 || November 13, 1997 || @ L. A. Clippers | W 102–94 | | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 4,300 | 5–2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 8 || November 15, 1997 || @ Vancouver | L 94–109 | | | | General Motors Place 17,666 | 5–3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 9 || November 16, 1997 || @ Seattle | L 99–119 | | | | Key Arena 17,072 | 5–4 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 10 || November 18, 1997 || Detroit | W 87–79 | | | | Bradley Center 13,065 | 6–4 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 11 || November 20, 1997 || Indiana | L 83–109 | | | | Bradley Center 14,106 | 6–5 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 12 || November 22, 1997 || @ Dallas | W 104–109 | | | | Reunion Arena 11,425 | 7–5 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 13 || November 26, 1997 || Vancouver | W 101–82 | | | | Bradley Center 15,126 | 8–5 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 14 || November 28, 1997 || @ Orlando | L 95–103 | | | | Orlando Arena 17,070 | 8–6 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 15 || November 29, 1997 || @ Miami | W 93–87 | | | | Miami Arena 14,897 | 9–6 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 16 || December 2, 1997 || Phoenix | L 86–90 | | | | Bradley Center 13,131 | 9–7 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 17 || December 4, 1997 || Charlotte | W 102–92 | | | | Bradley Center 13,898 | 10–7 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 18 || December 5, 1997 || @ Chicago | L 62–84 | | | | United Center 24,041 | 10–8 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 19 || December 7, 1997 || Seattle | W 97–91 | | | | Bradley Center 15,806 | 11–8 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 20 || December 10, 1997 || @ Boston | L 91–96 | | | | Fleet Center 17,012 | 11–9 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 21 || December 11, 1997 || Cleveland | L 77–79 | | | | Bradley Center 13,105 | 11–10 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 22 || December 13, 1997 || Miami | L 87–87 | | | | Bradley Center 15,803 | 11–11 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 23 || December 17, 1997 || @ Charlotte | L 90–99 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum 20,691 | 11–12 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 24 || December 19, 1997 || @ Toronto | L 91–92 | | | | SkyDome 15,076 | 11–13 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 25 || December 20, 1997 || New York | W 98–78 | | | | Bradley Center 15,955 | 12–13 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 26 || December 22, 1997 || Washington | L 79–110 | | | | Bradley Center 14,442 | 12–14 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 27 || December 26, 1997 || Atlanta | W 99–94 | | | | Bradley Center 17,038 | 13–14 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 28 || December 27, 1997 || @ New Jersey | L 104–112 | | | | Meadowlands Arena 16,351 | 13–15 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 29 || December 30, 1997 || Dallas | W 105–98 | | | | Bradley Center 14,948 | 14–15 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 30 || January 2, 1998 || @ Chicago | L 100–114 | | | | United Center 23,897 | 14–16 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 31 || January 3, 1998 || Boston | L 99–106 | | | | Bradley Center 16,211 | 14–17 |-style="background:#bbffbb;" | 32 || January 5, 1998 || @ Portland | W 98–92 | | | | Rose Garden Arena 19,215 | 15–17 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 33 || January 7, 1998 || @ L. A. Lakers | L 98–92 | | | | Great Western Forum 15,483 | 15–18
Player statistics
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenn Robinson | 56 | 56 | 41.0 | 47.0 | 38.5 | 80.8 | 5.5 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 23.4 |
| Ray Allen | 82 | 82 | 40.1 | 42.8 | 36.4 | 87.5 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 19.5 |
| Terrell Brandon | 50 | 48 | 35.7 | 46.4 | 33.3 | 84.6 | 3.5 | 7.7 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 16.8 |
| Armen Gilliam | 82 | 25 | 25.8 | 48.4 | 0.0 | 80.2 | 5.4 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 11.2 |
| Tyrone Hill | 57 | 56 | 36.2 | 49.8 | 0.0 | 60.8 | 10.7 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 10.0 |
| Ervin Johnson | 81 | 81 | 27.9 | 53.7 | 0.0 | 60.1 | 8.5 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 8.0 |
| Elliot Perry | 81 | 33 | 21.6 | 43.0 | 34.0 | 84.4 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 7.3 |
| Michael Curry | 82 | 27 | 24.1 | 46.9 | 44.4 | 83.5 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 6.6 |
| 38 | 0 | 13.9 | 40.7 | 37.7 | 62.1 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 6.4 | |
| Ricky Pierce | 39 | 0 | 11.3 | 36.4 | 30.8 | 82.7 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 3.9 |
| 57 | 0 | 12.1 | 37.8 | 0.0 | 77.2 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 2.7 | |
| Tony Smith | 7 | 0 | 11.4 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 75.0 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 2.7 |
| Jamie Feick | 45 | 2 | 10.0 | 43.3 | 30.8 | 48.8 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 2.3 |
| Tim Breaux | 6 | 0 | 5.0 | 36.4 | 33.3 | 50.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 1.7 |
| Jeff Nordgaard | 13 | 0 | 3.7 | 27.8 | 0.0 | 88.9 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.4 |
| Litterial Green | 21 | 0 | 5.9 | 21.7 | 0.0 | 75.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.2 |
Player statistics citation:
Transactions
Trades
| September 25, 1997 | To **Milwaukee Bucks**Terrell Brandon |
|---|---|
| Tyrone Hill | To **Cleveland Cavaliers**Sherman Douglas |
| Shawn KempTo **Seattle SuperSonics**Vin Baker |
Free agents
| Ricky Pierce | December 4, 1997 | Charlotte Hornets |
|---|
Player Transactions Citation:
References
References
- [https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIL/1998.html 1997-98 Milwaukee Bucks]
- Wise, Mike. (June 26, 1997). "After Duncan, Utah Forward Steals Show". The New York Times.
- Heisler, Mark. (June 26, 1997). "Draft Over, But Not Finished". Los Angeles Times.
- "1997 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference.
- Roberts, Selena. (September 26, 1997). "PRO BASKETBALL; Sonics' Kemp Gets Wish and Is Traded, to Cavs". The New York Times.
- Baker, Chris. (September 26, 1997). "Kemp Is Key Player in Three-Way Trade". Los Angeles Times.
- 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.
- (July 31, 1997). "Sports People". The Spokesman-Review.
- Myslenski, Skip. (December 6, 1997). "A Whole New Deal for Bucks". Chicago Tribune.
- (December 5, 1997). "Transactions". The New York Times.
- (December 5, 1997). "Nelson Replaces Cleamons". Los Angeles Times.
- (December 5, 1997). "Mavs Respond to Change". The Spokesman-Review.
- "NBA Games Played on February 5, 1998". Basketball-Reference.
- (March 8, 1998). "Game at a Glance". Deseret News.
- (March 10, 1998). "Bucks' Robinson on Injured List". Associated Press.
- (March 10, 1998). "Webber Leads Wizards to Win". CBS News.
- (February 13, 1998). "Brandon on Injured List, Green Signed". United Press International.
- Thompson, Jack. (February 14, 1998). "Bucks' Brandon on Injured List with Bad Ankle". Chicago Tribune.
- (February 14, 1998). "Bucks' 4th Qrt Run Beats Cavs". CBS News.
- Facer, Dirk. (January 9, 1998). "Results of Mega-Trade Please Bucks Coach". Deseret News.
- (March 22, 1998). "Pacers Comeback to Beat Bucks". CBS News.
- Johnson, K.C.. (March 30, 1998). "Talent-Depleted Bucks Playing Out the String". Chicago Tribune.
- "1997–98 Milwaukee Bucks Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference.
- "1997–98 Milwaukee Bucks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.
- "1997–98 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference.
- (January 3, 1998). "Red-Hot Jordan Nets 44 More". The Spokesman-Review.
- (January 4, 1998). "Jordan Leads Bulls Romp Over Bucks". New Straits Times.
- "Milwaukee Bucks at Chicago Bulls Box Score, January 2, 1998". Basketball-Reference.
- "1997–98 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.
- Mannix, Chris. (July 2, 2007). "RICKY PIERCE: One of the NBA's Premier Sixth Men, Now Provides Hands-On Instruction in the Art of the Perfect Jumper".
- Armour, Terry. (February 8, 1999). "Result Raises Eyebrows--and Some Hope". Chicago Tribune.
- Carney, Brian. (February 19, 1999). "Chicago's Temperature Is Minus 23". The Washington Post.
- (August 26, 1998). "Bucks Fire Head Coach Ford". CBS News.
- (August 27, 1998). "PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL -- MILWAUKEE; Dismal Bucks Dismiss Ford". The New York Times.
- (August 27, 1998). "Improvement Not Enough: Bucks Fire Ford". Los Angeles Times.
- "1997–98 Milwaukee Bucks Transactions". Basketball-Reference.
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about 1997–98 Milwaukee Bucks season — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report