1996–97 Utah Jazz season

The 1996–97 NBA season was the Jazz's 23rd season in the National Basketball Association, and 18th season in Salt Lake City, Utah.[1] Prior to the start of the season, the Jazz changed their primary logo that more closely reflects the state of Utah, featuring purple mountains and light blue in the script,[2][3][4] plus adding new uniforms.[5][6] The new colors seemed to agree with the Jazz as they went on a 15-game winning streak between November and December after a 2–2 start to the season.[7] With a 33–14 record at midseason,[8] the Jazz then posted a 31–4 record after the All-Star break, where they posted another 15-game winning streak between March and April,[9] winning 19 of their final 20 games, and finishing first place in the Western Conference with a franchise best record of 64–18.[10] They made their fourteenth consecutive trip to the playoffs.[11] The team also had the second best home record in the league with a 38–3 record at the Delta Center.

1996–97 Utah Jazz season
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coachJerry Sloan
General managerTim Howells
Owner(s)Larry H. Miller
ArenaDelta Center
Results
Record64–18 (.780)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Midwest)
Conference: 1st (Western)
Playoff finishNBA Finals
(lost to Bulls 2–4)

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television
RadioKFNZ
< 1995–96 1997–98 >

Karl Malone averaged 27.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game as he took home MVP honors, finishing in first place ahead of Michael Jordan in Most Valuable Player voting,[12][13][14][15][16] while being named to the All-NBA First Team and NBA All-Defensive First Team. In addition, John Stockton averaged 14.4 points, led the league with 10.5 assists, and contributed 2.0 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Both Malone and Stockton were selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game.[17][18][19][20][21] Jeff Hornacek provided the team with 14.5 points and 1.5 steals per game, while Bryon Russell showed improvement becoming the team's starting small forward, averaging 10.8 points and 1.4 steals per game, second-year center Greg Ostertag averaged 7.3 points and rebounds per game each, and led the team with 2.0 blocks per game, and Antoine Carr contributed 7.4 points per game off the bench.[22] Head coach Jerry Sloan finished in third place in Coach of the Year voting.[23][24][25][26]

In the playoffs, the Jazz got off to a flying start in the Western Conference First Round sweeping the Los Angeles Clippers in three straight games.[27][28][29][30] In the Western Conference Semi-finals, they continued to roll easily knocking the Los Angeles Lakers four games to one.[31][32][33][34] In the Western Conference Finals, they took a 2–0 series lead over the Houston Rockets, who were led by Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley and Clyde Drexler.[35][36][37] However, the Rockets would even the series at two games a piece, as Rockets forward Eddie Johnson hit a dramatic three-pointer at the buzzer to win Game 4, 95–92.[38][39][40] After the Jazz took Game 5 at home, 96–91,[41][42][43] Game 6 would be another battle and appeared to be heading for overtime, until Stockton nailed a three-point buzzer beater that launched the Jazz to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, defeating the Rockets on the road, 103–100.[44][45][46][47] In their first trip to the finals, the Jazz lost in six games to Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the defending champion Chicago Bulls.[48][49][50][51][52]

One notable highlight of the season was the Jazz trailing 70–36 at halftime to the Denver Nuggets at home on November 27, 1996, but came back from a 34-point deficit, outscoring the Nuggets 71–33 in the second half to win the game, 107–103.[53][54][55][56] The Jazz's new primary logo and uniforms would both remain in use until 2004.

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
125Martin MüürseppPF/SF  Estonia
254Shandon AndersonSF/SG  United StatesGeorgia

Roster

1996–97 Utah Jazz roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G40Anderson, Shandon6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)208 lb (94 kg)1973–12–31Georgia
F55Carr, Antoine6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)225 lb (102 kg)1961–07–23Wichita State
G10Eisley, Howard6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)177 lb (80 kg)1972–12–04Boston College
C44Foster, Greg6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)240 lb (109 kg)1968–10–03UTEP
G14Hornacek, Jeff6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg)1963–05–03Iowa State
F43Howard, Stephen6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)230 lb (104 kg)1970–05–15DePaul
F31Keefe, Adam6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)230 lb (104 kg)1970–02–22Stanford
F32Malone, Karl (C)6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)250 lb (113 kg)1963–07–24Louisiana Tech
F34Morris, Chris6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)210 lb (95 kg)1966–01–20Auburn
C00Ostertag, Greg7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)280 lb (127 kg)1973–03–06Kansas
F3Russell, Bryon6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)225 lb (102 kg)1970–12–31Long Beach State
G12Stockton, John (C)6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)170 lb (77 kg)1962–03–26Gonzaga
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: March 5, 1997

Roster Notes

Regular season

Season standings

W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Utah Jazz6418.78038–326–1519–5
x-Houston Rockets5725.695730–1127–1419–5
x-Minnesota Timberwolves4042.4882425–1615–2616–8
Dallas Mavericks2458.2934014–2710–319–15
Denver Nuggets2161.2564312–299–327–17
San Antonio Spurs2062.2444412–298–338–16
Vancouver Grizzlies1468.171508–336–356–18
1996–97 NBA West standings
#
Team W L PCT GB
1c-Utah Jazz6418.780
2y-Seattle SuperSonics5725.6957
3x-Houston Rockets5725.6957
4x-Los Angeles Lakers5626.6838
5x-Portland Trail Blazers4933.59815
6x-Minnesota Timberwolves4042.48824
7x-Phoenix Suns4042.48824
8x-Los Angeles Clippers3646.43928
9Sacramento Kings3448.41530
10Golden State Warriors3052.36634
11Dallas Mavericks2458.29340
12Denver Nuggets2161.25643
13San Antonio Spurs2062.24444
14Vancouver Grizzlies1468.17150
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

[57]

Record vs. opponents

1996-97 NBA Records
TeamATLBOSCHACHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMIAMILMINNJNNYKORLPHIPHXPORSACSASSEATORUTAVANWAS
Atlanta3–11–31–33–12–01–11–32–01–13–12–01–11–24–02–03–11–33–14–01–12–02–02–01–14–01–12–02–1
Boston1–30–40–41–21–11–10–41–10–21–20–21–10–41–30–20–40–40–41–31–11–10–21–10–23–10–20–20–4
Charlotte3–14–00–43–11–12–02–22–02–02–21–11–11–22–22–04–03–11–24–01–10–22–02–02–02–20–22–03–1
Chicago3–14–04–03–12–02–03–12–01–14–02–01–12–24–02–03–12–23–04–02–02–02–02–02–03–11–12–02–1
Cleveland1–32–11–31–32–01–12–21–10–23–12–01–10–42–22–04–01–32–23–01–11–12–00–20–23–11–12–01–3
Dallas0–21–11–10–20–23–10–20–40–41–12–20–40–20–21–31–11–11–12–01–31–32–21–31–30–21–33–10–2
Denver1–11–10–20–21–11–30–21–31–30–21–30–40–21–10–41–10–20–21–12–20–42–22–20–41–10–43–11–1
Detroit3–14–02–21–32–22–02–02–01–13–12–01–10–43–12–04–01–22–22–10–21–11–12–01–13–11–12–04–0
Golden State0–21–10–20–21–14–03–10–20–41–11–30–40–21–11–32–00–21–12–00–42–21–34–00–42–00–43–10–2
Houston1–12–00–21–12–04–03–11–14–01–13–13–10–21–14–02–01–10–22–02–22–24–03–13–11–12–23–12–0
Indiana1–32–12–20–41–31–12–01–31–11–12–01–11–32–22–02–21–31–33–01–11–11–11–11–14–00–22–01–3
L.A. Clippers0–22–01–10–20–22–23–10–23–11–30–22–20–22–01–31–10–21–11–12–20–42–24–01–32–01–34–00–2
L.A. Lakers1–11–11–11–11–14–04–01–14–01–31–12–21–12–03–12–01–11–12–04–01–34–02–23–11–11–34–02–0
Miami2–14–02–12–24–02–02–04–02–02–03–12–01–14–01–13–11–32–23–12–01–12–02–00–23–10–22–03–1
Milwaukee0–43–12–20–42–22–01–11–31–11–12–20–20–20–40–22–11–22–23–11–10–20–21–11–13–11–12–01–3
Minnesota0–22–00–20–20–23–14–00–23–10–40–23–11–31–12–02–01–11–11–13–12–20–44–00–41–11–34–01–1
New Jersey1–34–00–41–30–41–11–10–40–20–22–21–10–21–31–20–22–21–32–21–10–21–12–01–10–30–22–01–3
New York3–14–01–32–23–11–12–02–12–01–13–12–01–13–12–11–12–23–13–21–11–12–02–00–23–01–12–04–0
Orlando1–34–02–10–32–21–12–02–21–12–03–11–11–12–22–21–13–11–32–21–12–01–11–11–14–00–21–11–3
Philadelphia0–43–10–40–40–30–21–11–20–20–20–31–10–21–31–31–12–22–32–21–11–10–21–10–21–30–22–01–3
Phoenix1–11–11–10–21–13–12–22–04–02–21–12–20–40–21–11–31–11–11–11–11–34–03–12–20–21–32–21–1
Portland0–21–12–00–21–13–14–01–12–22–21–14–03–11–12–02–22–01–10–21–13–12–24–01–30–22–24–00–2
Sacramento0–22–00–20–20–22–22–21–13–10–41–12–20–40–22–04–01–10–21–12–00–42–23–11–31–10–44–00–2
San Antonio0–21–10–20–22–03–12–20–20–41–31–10–42–20–21–10–40–20–21–11–11–30–41–30–41–11–31–30–2
Seattle1–12–00–20–22–03–14–01–14–01–31–13–11–32–01–14–01–12–01–12–02–23–13–14–02–01–34–02–0
Toronto0–41–32–21–31–32–01–11–30–21–10–40–21–11–31–31–13–00–30–43–12–02–01–11–10–21–11–12–2
Utah1–12–02–01–11–13–14–01–14–02–22–03–13–12–01–13–12–01–12–02–03–12–24–03–13–11–14–02–0
Vancouver0–22–00–20–20–21–31–30–21–31–30–20–40–40–20–20–40–20–21–10–22–20–40–43–10–41–10–41–1
Washington1–24–01–31–23–12–01–10–42–00–23–12–00–21–33–11–13–10–43–13–11–12–02–02–00–22–20–21–1

Game log

Game log

Regular season

1996–97 game log
Total: 64–18 (home: 38–3; road: 26–15)
November: 11–2 (home: 8–1; road: 3–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
1November 1
7:00 p.m. MST
SeattleW 99–91Malone (27)Malone (13)Hornacek,
Stockton (8)
Delta Center
19,911
1–0
2November 2@ L.A. ClippersW 95–90Malone (21)Malone (12)Stockton (7)Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
13,041
2–0
3November 4
7:00 p.m. MST
HoustonL 72–75Malone (16)Malone (14)Hornacek (5)Delta Center
19,911
2–1
4November 9
6:30 p.m. MST
@ HoustonL 85–91Malone (32)Malone (11)Stockton (6)The Summit
16,285
2–2
5November 13SacramentoW 105–74Malone (22)Ostertag (13)Stockton (10)Delta Center
19,283
3–2
6November 15VancouverW 104–96Malone (21)Ostertag (20)Stockton (18)Delta Center
19,046
4–2
7November 16@ DallasW 88–87Stockton (23)Russell (13)Stockton (8)Reunion Arena
15,947
5–2
8November 20
7:30 p.m. MST
@ L.A. LakersW 113–97Malone (37)Ostertag (9)Stockton (13)Great Western Forum
16,122
6–2
9November 21Golden StateW 109–104 (OT)Delta Center
18,889
7–2
10November 23
7:00 p.m. MST
ChicagoW 105–100Malone (36)Malone (15)Stockton (13)Delta Center
19,911
8–2
11November 25New JerseyW 108–92Delta Center
19,132
9–2
12November 27DenverW 107–103Delta Center
19,324
10–2
13November 29L.A. ClippersW 111–94Delta Center
19,381
11–2
December: 11–5 (home: 7–1; road: 4–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
14December 1
6:00 p.m. MST
@ SeattleW 96–90KeyArena
17,072
12–2
15December 2CharlotteW 107–97Delta Center
19,410
13–2
16December 4
6:00 p.m. MST
L.A. LakersW 101–75Delta Center
19,911
14–2
17December 6MinnesotaW 106–95Delta Center
19,911
15–2
18December 7@ DenverW 104–91McNichols Sports Arena
12,837
16–2
19December 10IndianaW 110–86Delta Center
19,911
17–2
20December 12PhoenixL 87–95Delta Center
19,911
17–3
21December 14OrlandoW 101–68Delta Center
19,911
18–3
22December 17
5:30 p.m. MST
@ New YorkL 94–99Madison Square Garden
19,763
18–4
23December 19
5:30 p.m. MST
@ MiamiW 94–87 (OT)Malone (35)Malone (16)Stockton (10)Miami Arena
14,919
19–4
24December 20@ OrlandoW 98–93Orlando Arena
17,248
20–4
25December 22@ ClevelandL 94–100Gund Arena
17,205
20–5
26December 23@ MinnesotaL 98–107Target Center
14,434
20–6
27December 26PortlandW 99–94Delta Center
19,911
21–6
28December 28PhiladelphiaW 110–84Delta Center
19,911
22–6
29December 30@ L.A. ClippersL 101–115Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena22–7
January: 9–6 (home: 5–0; road: 4–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
30January 2@ San AntonioL 80–83Alamodome
15,220
22–8
31January 4
7:00 p.m. MST
MiamiW 83–80Malone (28)Malone (12)Stockton (11)Delta Center
19,911
23–8
32January 6
6:30 p.m. MST
@ ChicagoL 89–102Malone (27)Malone (11)Stockton (11)United Center
23,882
23–9
33January 8@ MilwaukeeL 112–119 (OT)Bradley Center23–10
34January 9@ TorontoL 96–110SkyDome23–11
35January 11@ DetroitL 77–87The Palace of Auburn Hills23–12
36January 13@ PhiladelphiaW 97–96 (OT)CoreStates Center24–12
37January 16PhoenixW 95–91Delta Center25–12
38January 17@ VancouverW 106–68General Motors Place26–12
39January 19@ PortlandL 96–102Rose Garden26–13
40January 20ClevelandW 94–74Delta Center27–13
41January 22@ PhoenixW 111–99America West Arena28–13
42January 25
6:30 p.m. MST
@ HoustonW 105–100 (OT)Malone (27)Malone (17)Stockton (11)The Summit
16,285
29–13
43January 28DenverW 114–99Delta Center30–13
44January 30
7:00 p.m. MST
AtlantaW 102–96Delta Center31–13
February: 9–3 (home: 7–1; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
45February 1@ DallasL 97–100Reunion Arena31–14
46February 3WashingtonW 111–89Delta Center32–14
47February 5
6:00 p.m. MST
@ SeattleW 99–95KeyArena33–14
All-Star Break
48February 11@ SacramentoW 120–98ARCO Arena34–14
49February 13PortlandW 110–86Delta Center35–14
50February 15DallasW 99–84Delta Center36–14
51February 18San AntonioW 113–105Delta Center37–14
52February 20BostonW 122–105Delta Center38–14
53February 23
1:30 p.m. MST
SeattleL 87–89 (OT)Delta Center38–15
54February 25
7:00 p.m. MST
New YorkW 110–99Delta Center39–15
55February 27TorontoW 118–114Delta Center40–15
56February 28@ PortlandL 105–115Rose Garden40–16
March: 14–1 (home: 4–0; road: 10–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
57March 2@ VancouverW 93–86General Motors Place41–16
58March 3@ Golden StateW 111–104San Jose Arena42–16
59March 5DallasW 96–65Delta Center43–16
60March 7DetroitW 95–88Delta Center44–16
61March 9@ MinnesotaW 115–106Target Center45–16
62March 11
5:30 p.m. MST
@ AtlantaL 99–106The Omni45–17
63March 12@ New JerseyW 117–102Continental Airlines Arena46–17
64March 14@ IndianaW 105–96Market Square Arena47–17
65March 15@ WashingtonW 100–93US Airways Arena48–17
66March 17@ CharlotteW 114–93Charlotte Coliseum49–17
67March 19@ BostonW 113–100Fleet Center50–17
68March 22L.A. ClippersW 107–94Delta Center51–17
69March 23@ DenverW 120–103McNichols Sports Arena52–17
70March 28MilwaukeeW 101–96Delta Center53–17
71March 29@ San AntonioW 115–102Alamodome54–17
April: 10–1 (home: 7–0; road: 3–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
72April 2SacramentoW 118–87Delta Center55–17
73April 4VancouverW 106–79Delta Center56–17
74April 6@ Golden StateW 114–100San Jose Arena57–17
75April 7San AntonioW 116–93Delta Center58–17
76April 9
6:00 p.m. MDT
L.A. LakersW 101–89Delta Center59–17
77April 11
7:00 p.m. MDT
HoustonW 104–83Malone (28)Malone (13)Stockton (8)Delta Center
19,911
60–17
78April 13
1:30 p.m. MDT
@ L.A. LakersL 98–100Great Western Forum60–18
41April 15@ PhoenixW 127–122America West Arena61–18
80April 17Golden StateW 106–93Delta Center62–18
81April 19MinnesotaW 101–89Delta Center63–18
82April 20@ SacramentoW 113–109ARCO Arena64–18
1996–97 schedule

Playoffs

1997 playoff game log
Western Conference First Round: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Series
1April 24L.A. ClippersW 106–86Malone (27)Malone (10)Stockton (17)Delta Center
19,911
1–0
2April 26L.A. ClippersW 105–99Malone (39)Malone (11)Hornacek,
Stockton (4)
Delta Center
19,911
2–0
3April 28@ L.A. ClippersW 104–92Malone (26)Malone (13)Stockton (13)Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
11,747
3–0
Western Conference Semifinals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Series
1May 4
3:30 p.m. MDT
L.A. LakersW 93–77Malone (23)Malone (13)Hornacek (7)Delta Center
19,911
1–0
2May 6
8:30 p.m. MDT
L.A. LakersW 103–101Malone (31)Malone (11)Hornacek,
Stockton (7)
Delta Center
19,911
2–0
3May 8
8:30 p.m. MDT
@ L.A. LakersL 84–104Hornacek (26)Malone (10)Stockton (8)Great Western Forum
17,505
2–1
4May 10
1:30 p.m. MDT
@ L.A. LakersW 110–95Russell (29)Russell (10)Stockton (11)Great Western Forum
17,505
3–1
5May 12
8:30 p.m. MDT
L.A. LakersW 98–93 (OT)Malone (32)Malone (20)Stockton (10)Delta Center
19,911
4–1
Western Conference Finals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Series
1May 19
6:30 p.m. MDT
HoustonW 101–86Malone (21)Malone (13)Stockton (13)Delta Center
19,911
1–0
2May 21
6:30 p.m. MDT
HoustonW 104–92Stockton (26)Malone (15)Stockton (12)Delta Center
19,911
2–0
3May 23
6:30 p.m. MDT
@ HoustonL 100–118Malone (21)Ostertag (9)Stockton (10)The Summit
16,285
2–1
4May 25
1:30 p.m. MDT
@ HoustonL 92–95Malone,
Stockton (22)
Malone (10)Stockton (8)The Summit
16,285
2–2
5May 27
7:00 p.m. MDT
HoustonW 96–91Malone (29)Malone (14)Stockton (6)Delta Center
19,911
3–2
6May 29
7:00 p.m. MDT
@ HoustonW 103–100Stockton (25)Ostertag (14)Stockton (13)The Summit
16,285
4–2
NBA Finals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Series
1June 1
5:30 p.m. MDT
@ ChicagoL 82–84Malone (23)Malone (15)Stockton (12)United Center
24,544
0–1
2June 4
7:00 p.m. MDT
@ ChicagoL 85–97Malone (20)Malone (13)Stockton (7)United Center
24,544
0–2
3June 6
7:00 p.m. MDT
ChicagoW 104–93Malone (37)Malone (10)Stockton (12)Delta Center
19,911
1–2
4June 8
5:30 p.m. MDT
ChicagoW 78–73Malone (23)Malone (10)Stockton (12)Delta Center
19,911
2–2
5June 11
7:00 p.m. MDT
ChicagoL 88–90Malone (19)Ostertag (15)Malone (6)Delta Center
19,911
2–3
6June 13
7:00 p.m. MDT
@ ChicagoL 86–90Malone (21)Ostertag (8)Stockton (5)United Center
24,544
2–4
1997 schedule

NBA Finals

In the Finals, the Jazz faced the Chicago Bulls losing the first two games on the road. However, the Jazz upon arriving at the Delta Center continued their home court advantage by taking Game 3, and Game 4 to even the series. With a chance to take a series lead in Game 5, the Jazz were beaten by a heroic performance by Michael Jordan playing with the flu like ailment 90–88.[58][59][60][61][62] Back in Chicago for Game 6, the Jazz battled the Bulls tightly before falling by four points as the Bulls won their fifth title in seven years.[63]

Player statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG% Field-goal percentage 3P% 3-point field-goal percentage FT% Free-throw percentage
 RPG Rebounds per game APG Assists per game SPG Steals per game
 BPG Blocks per game PPG Points per game

NOTE: Please write players statistics in alphabetical order by last name.

Season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Shandon Anderson65016.4
Antoine Carr82017.8
Howard Eisley82013.2
Greg Foster791211.6
Jeff Hornacek828231.6
Stephen Howard4208.3
Adam Keefe62014.8
Karl Malone828236.6
Chris Morris73113.4
Ruben Nembhard8011.8
Greg Ostertag777023.6
Bryon Russell818131.2
John Stockton828235.3
Brooks Thompson204.0
Jamie Watson1309.9

Playoffs

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Shandon Anderson
Antoine Carr14.0
Howard Eisley
Greg Foster
Jeff Hornacek35.2
Stephen Howard
Adam Keefe
Karl Malone40.8
Chris Morris
Greg Ostertag20.3
Bryon Russell37.9
John Stockton37.0

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Subtractions

PlayerLeftNew team

References