1997–98 New Jersey Nets season

Off-season

NBA draft

Main article: 1997 NBA draft

Roster

• John Calipari
• Don Casey
• Johnny Davis
• Kenny Gattison ;Roster notes
• Small forward Xavier McDaniel was waived on January 24, 1998.

Regular season

The Nets began the season by winning their first four games, and maintained a winning record through all 82 games for the first time in the franchise's NBA history. The Nets clinched a playoff berth with a victory over the Detroit Pistons on the final day of the season. It was the Nets first postseason appearance since 1994, and the season brought excitement back to the Meadowlands. The heart and soul of the Nets was center Jayson Williams, who averaged 13.6 rebounds, (2nd in the NBA), and 12.9 points per game. Williams became the first Net to appear in an All-Star Game since 1994. After missing the first 17 games of the season due to a leg injury, rookie Keith Van Horn quickly acclimated himself to the NBA game and led the Nets in scoring at 19.7 points per game. Another strong presence in the frontcourt was forward Kendall Gill, who averaged 13.4 points per game.

The Nets backcourt consisted of Sam Cassell and Kerry Kittles in the backcourt. Cassell ranked second on the team in scoring, behind Van Horn at 19.6 ppg, and led the Nets in assists with 8.0 apg. Kittles was in his second NBA season, and was third on the team in scoring with 17.2 ppg. The Nets bench included Sherman Douglas (8.0 ppg, 4.0 apg) and Chris Gatling (11.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg). Late in the season, the Nets added depth with the trade for Rony Seikaly, who joined the Nets in a five-player trade with the Orlando Magic on Feb. 19. Seikaly played in only nine games for New Jersey, because of a nagging injury to his right foot.

Season standings

Playoffs

Injuries would become a problem in the playoffs for the Nets. In Game 1 against Chicago, Cassell nursed a strained groin and Williams played despite a broken thumb. Williams would manage to get 21 rebounds in the game. The Nets forced overtime at the United Center before falling by a score of 96–93. The Bulls ultimately swept the series, but the Nets' effort suggested that the team had a bright future.

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 24 | @ Chicago | L 93–96 (OT) | Chris Gatling (24) | Jayson Williams (21) | Sherman Douglas (5) | United Center 23,844 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | April 26 | @ Chicago | L 91–96 | Kerry Kittles (23) | Jayson Williams (11) | Sherman Douglas (12) | United Center 23,844 | 0–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | April 29 | Chicago | L 101–116 | Sherman Douglas (19) | Jayson Williams (10) | Sherman Douglas (8) | Continental Airlines Arena 20,049 | 0–3

Player statistics

Regular season

|- |Keith Van Horn |62 |62 |37.5 |.426 |.308 |.846 |6.6 |1.7 |1.0 |0.4

| |.593 |4.0 |0.9 |0.3 |0.4

| |.667 |3.3 |0.1 |0.3 |0.3

| |.625 |1.6 |0.5 |0.2 |0.1

| |.500 |1.7 |0.1 |0.0 |0.2

| |0.6 |0.0 |0.0 |0.0 |0.3 |}

Playoffs

|- |Sherman Douglas |3 |2 |41.7 |.523 |.400 |.700 |2.7 |8.3 |2.0 |0.0

| |.667 |3.3 |0.7 |0.7 |0.7

| |.875 |4.3 |1.0 |1.3 |0.3

| |.500 |14.0 |1.7 |0.7 |1.0

| |.667 |3.0 |0.0 |0.3 |0.0

| | |1.0 |1.7 |0.0 |0.3

| | | |0.3 |0.0 |0.0 |0.0

| | | |0.0 |0.0 |0.0 |1.0 |0.0 |} Player statistics citation:

Awards, Records and Honors

• Jayson Williams, NBA All-Star Game
• Keith Van Horn, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

References

• New Jersey Nets on Basketball Reference

References

1. [https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NJN/1998.html 1997–98 New Jersey Nets]
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4. "1997 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference.
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6. (June 28, 1997). "Van Horn Finally on His Way to New Jersey in 76er Trade". Los Angeles Times.
7. Kepner, Tyler. (June 28, 1997). "Nets Get Van Horn from 76ers". The Washington Post.
8. Diamos, Jason. (October 29, 1997). "N.B.A. PREVIEW '97-'98; Kenny Smith, a Poor Fit with Nets, Is Cut". The New York Times.
9. Diamos, Jason. (November 18, 1997). "N.B.A.: LAST NIGHT -- NETS; For Douglas, Home Is Where the Court Is". The New York Times.
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39. White, Lonnie. (February 5, 1999). "Douglas Signs, May Play Tonight". Los Angeles Times.
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41. Nunyo, Demasio. (January 19, 1999). "Sonics to Send McIlvaine to New Jersey -- Will Get Cage and MacLean, Plus Salary Room". The Seattle Times.
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46. [http://www.nba.com/nets/history/00400579.html#25 NETS: New Jersey Nets History] {{webarchive. link. (2010-08-19)