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1997–98 Cleveland Cavaliers season

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The 1997–98 NBA season was the 28th season of the National Basketball Association in Cleveland, Ohio.[1] With the departure of their top players from last season, the Cavaliers added youth to their roster, with the addition of last season's first round draft pick Zydrunas Ilgauskas from Lithuania, who missed all of last season with a foot injury, top draft pick Derek Anderson from the University of Kentucky, first round draft pick Brevin Knight out of Stanford University, and second round draft pick Cedric Henderson from the University of Memphis in the 1997 NBA draft.[2][3][4][5] In the off-season, the team acquired All-Star forward Shawn Kemp from the Seattle SuperSonics in a three-team trade,[6][7][8][9][10] acquired Wesley Person from the Phoenix Suns in another three-team trade,[11][12][13][14] and signed free agent Mitchell Butler.

1997–98 Cleveland Cavaliers season
Head coachMike Fratello
General managerWayne Embry
Owners
ArenaGund Arena
Results
Record47–35 (.573)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Central)
Conference: 6th (Eastern)
Playoff finishFirst round
(lost to Pacers 1–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television
RadioWTAM
< 1996–97 1998–99 >

The Cavaliers struggled with a 4–6 start to the season, as Bob Sura went down with an ankle injury and only played just 46 games,[15][16] and Butler was out for the remainder of the season with a neck injury after 18 games.[17][18] However, the team posted a ten-game winning streak between November and December,[19] and later on held a 27–20 record at the All-Star break.[20] The Cavaliers played above .500 for the remainder of the season finishing 5th in the Central Division with a 47–35 record, qualifying for the playoffs after a one-year absence.[21] The Cavaliers had the best team defensive rating in the NBA.[22]

Kemp averaged 18.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, and was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game, which would be his sixth and final All-Star appearance,[23][24][25][26][27] while Person averaged 14.7 points and 1.6 steals per game, and also led the league with 192 three-point field goals. In addition, Ilgauskas averaged 13.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, and won the MVP award in the Rookie Game during the All-Star Weekend in New York City, New York,[28][29][30][31] while Knight provided the team with 9.0 points, 8.2 assists, and led the league with 196 total steals, averaging 2.5 per game. Anderson contributed 11.7 points and 1.3 steals per game off the bench, playing 66 games due to a knee injury,[32][33][34] while Henderson provided with 10.1 points per game, and second-year center Vitaly Potapenko averaged 7.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game off the bench.[35] Both Ilgauskas and Knight were named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, while Anderson and Henderson were both selected the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, and head coach Mike Fratello finished in third place in Coach of the Year voting.[36][37]

However, in the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Cavaliers would lose in four games to the Indiana Pacers,[38][39][40][41] and they would not make it back to the postseason until 2006. For the season, the team slightly redesigned their uniforms, which remained in use until 1999.[42][43]

Until 2023, this was the last time the Cavaliers made the playoffs without future All-Star LeBron James, who was selected by the team as the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft.

Offseason

Free agents

Trades

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalitySchool/Club Team
113Derek AndersonSG  United StatesKentucky
116*Brevin KnightPG  United StatesStanford
245Cedric HendersonSF  United StatesMemphis

*1st round pick acquired from Phoenix in three-way Antonio McDyess deal.[44]

Roster

1997–98 Cleveland Cavaliers roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G/F23Anderson, Derek6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)220 lb (100 kg)1974–07–18Kentucky
G2Brooks, Scott5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)165 lb (75 kg)1965–07–31UC Irvine
G6Butler, Mitchell6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)210 lb (95 kg)1970–12–15UCLA
G27Dumas, Tony6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)190 lb (86 kg)1972–08–25UMKC
F35Ferry, Danny6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)230 lb (104 kg)1966–10–17Duke
F45Henderson, Cedric6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg)1975–03–11Memphis
C11Ilgauskas, Zydrunas7 ft 3 in (2.21 m)238 lb (108 kg)1975–06–05Lithuania
F32James, Henry6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)220 lb (100 kg)1965–07–29St. Mary's (TX)
F4Kemp, Shawn6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)230 lb (104 kg)1969–11–26Trinity Valley CC
G12Knight, Brevin5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)170 lb (77 kg)1975–11–08Stanford
G1Person, Wesley6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)195 lb (88 kg)1971–03–28Auburn
C52Potapenko, Vitaly6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)280 lb (127 kg)1975–03–21Wright State
C44Scott, Shawnelle6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)250 lb (113 kg)1972–06–16St. John's
G3Sura, Bob6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)200 lb (91 kg)1973–03–25Florida State
G30Thomas, Carl6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)175 lb (79 kg)1969–10–03Eastern Michigan
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: February 22, 1998

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Chicago Bulls6220.756–37–425–1621–7
x-Indiana Pacers5824.707432–926–1519–9
x-Charlotte Hornets5131.6221132–919–2216–12
x-Atlanta Hawks5032.6101229–1221–2019–9
x-Cleveland Cavaliers4735.5731527–1420–2114–14
Detroit Pistons3745.4512525–1612–2912–16
Milwaukee Bucks3646.4392621–2015–269–19
Toronto Raptors1666.195469–327–342–26
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1c-Chicago Bulls6220.756–
2y-Miami Heat5527.6717
3x-Indiana Pacers5824.7074
4x-Charlotte Hornets5131.62211
5x-Atlanta Hawks5032.61012
6x-Cleveland Cavaliers4735.57315
7x-New York Knicks4339.52419
8x-New Jersey Nets4339.52419
9Washington Wizards4240.51220
10Orlando Magic4141.50021
11Detroit Pistons3745.45125
12Boston Celtics3646.43926
12Milwaukee Bucks3646.43926
14Philadelphia 76ers3151.37831
15Toronto Raptors1666.19546
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1997-98 NBA Records
TeamATLBOSCHACHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMIAMILMINNJNNYKORLPHIPHOPORSACSASSEATORUTAVANWAS
Atlanta–2–14–01–34–02–02–02–22–01–11–32–00–21–33–10–21–22–22–23–10–21–12–01–11–14–00–22–04–0
Boston1–2–1–21–31–31–11–12–21–11–10–42–01–10–42–21–12–22–22–23–10–21–11–10–21–13–00–22–03–2
Charlotte0–42–1–1–32–22–02–03–11–12–03–12–01–13–13–11–12–21–33–12–11–12–01–11–11–14–01–12–02–2
Chicago3–13–13–1–2–21–12–03–12–02–02–22–01–12–14–01–14–04–03–12–11–11–12–02–01–14–00–22–03–1
Cleveland0–43–12–22–2–1–12–03–12–01–12–22–01–11–32–22–03–11–22–23–12–01–12–00–20–23–11–12–01–2
Dallas0–21–10–21–11–1–3–10–21–30–41–11–30–40–20–22–20–21–10–20–20–40–40–40–42–21–10–44–01–1
Denver0–21–10–20–20–21–3–0–21–30–40–22–20–40–20–21–30–20–20–20–20–42–21–30–40–40–20–41–31–1
Detroit2–22–21–31–31–32–02–0–2–01–11–32–00–21–22–20–22–22–21–23–11–10–21–11–10–24–00–20–22–2
Golden State0–21–11–10–20–23–13–10–2–1–30–21–31–30–20–20–40–21–11–10–20–41–32–21–31–30–20–41–30–2
Houston1–11–10–20–21–14–04–01–13–1–1–14–01–30–21–11–31–11–10–21–11–31–34–02–21–32–00–43–11–1
Indiana3–14–01–32–22–21–12–03–12–01–1–2–00–23–14–02–02–12–13–14–01–11–12–00–20–24–01–12–04–0
L.A. Clippers0–20–20–20–20–23–12–20–23–10–40–2–0–40–20–20–41–10–20–21–10–40–43–11–30–41–11–31–30–2
L.A. Lakers2–01–11–11–11–14–04–02–03–13–12–04–0–1–12–04–01–11–11–10–22–22–24–04–01–32–03–14–01–1
Miami3–14–01–31–23–12–02–02–12–02–01–32–01–1–3–11–13–12–23–14–00–22–02–00–20–24–01–12–02–2
Milwaukee1–32–21–30–42–22–02–02–22–01–10–42–00–21–3–1–10–43–12–12–20–22–02–00–21–13–10–21–11–2
Minnesota2–01–11–11–10–22–23–12–04–03–10–24–00–41–11–1–2–01–10–22–03–11–33–11–31–31–11–34–00–2
New Jersey2–12–22–20–41–32–02–02–22–01–11–21–11–11–34–00–2–2–23–13–11–11–12–01–10–23–10–22–01–3
New York2–22–23–10–42–11–12–02–21–11–11–22–01–12–21–31–12–2–4–02–22–01–11–10–21–13–10–22–01–3
Orlando2–22–21–31–32–22–02–02–11–12–01–32–01–11–31–22–01–30–4–4–00–22–00–20–21–13–10–22–03–1
Philadelphia1–31–31–21–21–32–02–01–32–01–10–41–12–00–42–20–21–32–20–4–1–11–11–10–20–22–20–22–03–1
Phoenix2–02–01–11–10–24–04–01–14–03–11–14–02–22–02–01–31–10–22–01–1–2–23–13–12–22–01–34–01–1
Portland1–11–10–21–11–14–02–22–03–13–11–14–02–20–20–23–11–11–10–21–12–2–3–12–20–42–03–12–21–1
Sacramento0–21–11–10–20–24–03–11–12–20–40–21–30–40–20–21–30–21–12–01–11–31–3–0–41–31–12–22–21–1
San Antonio1–12–01–10–22–04–04–01–13–12–22–03–10–42–02–03–11–12–02–02–01–32–24–0–2–22–01–34–01–1
Seattle1–11–11–11–12–02–24–02–03–13–12–04–03–12–01–13–12–01–11–12–02–24–03–12–2–2–02–24–01–1
Toronto0–40–30–40–41–31–12–00–42–00–20–41–10–20–41–31–11–31–31–32–20–20–21–10–20–2–0–21–10–3
Utah2–02–01–12–01–14–04–02–04–04–01–13–11–31–12–03–12–02–02–02–03–11–32–23–12–22–0–4–00–2
Vancouver0–20–20–20–20–20–43–12–03–11–30–23–10–40–21–10–40–20–20–20–20–42–22–20–40–41–10–4–1–1
Washington0–42–32–21–32–11–11–12–22–01–10–42–01–12–22–12–03–13–11–31–31–11–11–11–11–13–02–01–1—

Game log

1997–98 game log
Total: 47–35 (home: 27–14; road: 20–21)
October: 0-1 (home: 0–0; road: 0–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocation/AttendanceRecord
November: 9-5 (home: 4–3; road: 5–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocation/AttendanceRecord
December: 8-5 (home: 4–3; road: 4–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocation/AttendanceRecord
January: 9-7 (home: 5–3; road: 4–4)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocation/AttendanceRecord
February: 4-9 (home: 2–3; road: 2–6)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocation/AttendanceRecord
March: 11-4 (home: 7–1; road: 4–3)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocation/AttendanceRecord
April: 6-4 (home: 5–1; road: 1–3)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocation/AttendanceRecord

Playoffs

1998 playoff game log
First round: 1–3 (home: 1–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1April 23@ IndianaL 77–106Shawn Kemp (25)Shawn Kemp (13)Brevin Knight (5)Market Square Arena
16,644		0–1
2April 25@ IndianaL 86–92Shawn Kemp (27)Zydrunas Ilgauskas (10)Brevin Knight (7)Market Square Arena
16,617		0–2
3April 27IndianaW 86–77Shawn Kemp (31)Kemp, Knight (7)three players tied (5)Gund Arena
17,495		1–2
4April 30IndianaL 74–80Shawn Kemp (21)Shawn Kemp (12)Brevin Knight (6)Gund Arena
18,188		1–3
1998 schedule

Player stats

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

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Shawn Kemp808034.644.525.072.79.32.51.41.118.0
Wesley Person828239.046.043.077.64.42.31.60.614.7
Zydrunas Ilgauskas828129.051.825.076.28.80.90.61.613.9
Derek Anderson661327.940.820.287.32.83.41.30.211.7
Cedric Henderson827130.848.00.071.64.02.01.20.510.1
Brevin Knight807631.044.10.080.13.28.22.50.29.0
Vitaly Potapenko80017.748.00.070.83.90.70.30.47.1
Bob Sura46420.537.731.756.52.03.71.00.25.8
Danny Ferry69315.039.533.380.01.70.90.40.24.2
Henry James2805.940.744.095.50.50.20.00.02.9
Carl Thomas2909.438.639.561.51.30.30.60.22.7
Greg Graham609.358.30.0100.00.21.00.20.02.7
Mitchell Butler18011.431.916.760.01.21.00.40.02.1
Tony Dumas706.750.050.00.00.70.70.00.02.0
Scott Brooks4307.342.445.590.00.71.10.40.11.8
Shawnelle Scott4104.644.40.066.71.40.20.10.21.1

Playoffs

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Shawn Kemp4438.046.50.084.410.32.01.31.026.0
Zydrunas Ilgauskas4436.857.10.052.07.50.50.51.317.3
Derek Anderson4025.845.50.088.52.32.81.30.310.8
Wesley Person4434.037.936.875.02.32.50.80.08.0
Cedric Henderson4439.339.30.061.54.32.81.50.07.5
Brevin Knight4433.028.60.060.04.05.82.50.34.5
Vitaly Potapenko4017.540.00.050.02.80.80.50.04.3
Carl Thomas1011.00.00.066.71.00.00.00.02.0
Scott Brooks108.00.00.0100.00.02.00.00.02.0
Shawnelle Scott103.050.00.00.00.00.00.01.02.0
Bob Sura3010.320.00.066.71.01.30.30.01.3
Danny Ferry303.30.00.00.00.30.00.00.00.0

Player Statistics Citation:[35]

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Milestones

All-Star

Shawn Kemp – 1998 NBA All-Star Game

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Development League

References

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