1997–98 Seattle SuperSonics season

1997–98 Seattle SuperSonics season
Division Champions
Head coach	George Karl
General manager	Wally Walker
Arena	KeyArena at Seattle Center
Results
Record	61–21 (.744)
Place	Division: 1st (Pacific) Conference: 2nd (Western)
Playoff finish	West Semifinals (eliminated 1-4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	Fox Sports Northwest, KOMO-TV
Radio	KOMO-AM and FM

The 1997–98 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 30th season of the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association (NBA).^[1] In the offseason, the Sonics acquired Vin Baker from the Milwaukee Bucks in a three team trade, while re-acquiring Dale Ellis from the Denver Nuggets and signing free agents Jerome Kersey and Greg Anthony. In his first year with the Sonics, Baker averaged 19.2 points per game and was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game along with Gary Payton. The Sonics finished first place in the Pacific Division with a 61–21. In the first round of the playoffs, the Sonics struggled as they trailed 2–1 to the 7th-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves, but managed to win the series in five games. However, they would lose in five games to the Los Angeles Lakers in the semifinals after taking Game 1.

Following the season, George Karl left to coach the Milwaukee Bucks as his "favorite player" Nate McMillan retired. Also following the season, Sam Perkins signed as a free agent with the Indiana Pacers, Kersey signed with the San Antonio Spurs, Anthony signed with the Portland Trail Blazers, and Jim McIlvaine was traded to the New Jersey Nets.

Draft picks

Main article: 1997 NBA Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	23	Bobby Jackson	PG/SG	United States	Minnesota
2	41	Ed Elisma	F	United States	Georgia Tech
2	55	Mark Blount	C	United States	Pittsburgh

Roster

Seattle SuperSonics roster

Players

Coaches

Pos.	No.	Name	Height	Weight	DOB (YYYY–MM–DD)
1.0 !PG	2	USA !	Anthony, Greg	7000182880000000000♠6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	176 lb (80 kg)	UNLV
4.5 !PF	42	USA !	Baker, Vin	7000210820000000000♠6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)	232 lb (105 kg)	Hartford
2.0 !SG	4	USA !	Cotton, James	7000195580000000000♠6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	Long Beach State
2.0 !SG	3	USA !	Ellis, Dale	7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	Tennessee
2.0 !SG	33	USA !	Hawkins, Hersey	7000190500000000000♠6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	Bradley
4.5 !PF	44	USA !	Howard, Stephen	7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	DePaul
3.0 !SF	7	USA !	Kersey, Jerome	7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Longwood
6.0 !C	22	USA !	McIlvaine, Jim	7000215899999999999♠7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)	240 lb (109 kg)	Marquette
2.0 !SG	10	USA !	McMillan, Nate	7000195580000000000♠6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	North Carolina State
1.0 !PG	20	USA !	Payton, Gary	7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	Oregon State
6.0 !C	14	USA !	Perkins, Sam	7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	North Carolina
3.0 !SF	11	Germany !	Schrempf, Detlef	7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	214 lb (97 kg)	Washington
4.5 !PF	15	USA !	Williams, Aaron	7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	Xavier
3.0 !SF	25	USA !	Wingate, David	7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	Georgetown

Head coach

George Karl (North Carolina)

Legend

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

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Seattle SuperSonics	61	21	.744	–	35–6	26–15	19–5
x-Los Angeles Lakers	61	21	.744	–	33–8	28–13	16–8
x-Phoenix Suns	56	26	.683	5	30–11	26–15	17–7
x-Portland Trail Blazers	46	36	.561	15	26–15	20–21	14–10
Sacramento Kings	27	55	.329	34	21–20	6–35	6–18
Golden State Warriors	19	63	.232	42	12–29	7–34	6–18
Los Angeles Clippers	17	65	.207	44	11–30	6–35	6–18

#	Western Conference
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Utah Jazz	62	20	.756	–
2	y-Seattle SuperSonics	61	21	.744	1
3	x-Los Angeles Lakers	61	21	.744	1
4	x-Phoenix Suns	56	26	.683	6
5	x-San Antonio Spurs	56	26	.683	6
6	x-Portland Trail Blazers	46	36	.561	16
7	x-Minnesota Timberwolves	45	37	.549	17
8	x-Houston Rockets	41	41	.500	21

9	Sacramento Kings	27	55	.329	35
10	Dallas Mavericks	20	62	.244	42
11	Vancouver Grizzlies	19	63	.232	43
11	Golden State Warriors	19	63	.232	43
13	Los Angeles Clippers	17	65	.207	45
14	Denver Nuggets	11	71	.134	51

Record vs. opponents

1997-98 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	TOR	UTA	VAN	WAS
Atlanta	—	2–1	4–0	1–3	4–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	1–3	3–1	0–2	1–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	4–0
Boston	1–2	—	1–2	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–2	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–0	0–2	2–0	3–2
Charlotte	0–4	2–1	—	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–2
Chicago	3–1	3–1	3–1	—	2–2	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–1	4–0	1–1	4–0	4–0	3–1	2–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	3–1
Cleveland	0–4	3–1	2–2	2–2	—	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–0	3–1	1–2	2–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	1–2
Dallas	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	—	3–1	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–3	0–4	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–4	0–4	0–4	2–2	1–1	0–4	4–0	1–1
Denver	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	—	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	2–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	2–2	1–3	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–1
Detroit	2–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	2–0	2–0	—	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	1–2	2–2	0–2	2–2	2–2	1–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–0	0–2	0–2	2–2
Golden State	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	3–1	3–1	0–2	—	1–3	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2
Houston	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	3–1	—	1–1	4–0	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–3	4–0	2–2	1–3	2–0	0–4	3–1	1–1
Indiana	3–1	4–0	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	—	2–0	0–2	3–1	4–0	2–0	2–1	2–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	4–0	1–1	2–0	4–0
L.A. Clippers	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–1	2–2	0–2	3–1	0–4	0–2	—	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–4	3–1	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–3	1–3	0–2
L.A. Lakers	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	4–0	—	1–1	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–2	4–0	4–0	1–3	2–0	3–1	4–0	1–1
Miami	3–1	4–0	1–3	1–2	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–1	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	—	3–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	0–2	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–2
Milwaukee	1–3	2–2	1–3	0–4	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–0	0–2	1–3	—	1–1	0–4	3–1	2–1	2–2	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–2
Minnesota	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–2	3–1	2–0	4–0	3–1	0–2	4–0	0–4	1–1	1–1	—	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–1	1–3	3–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–3	4–0	0–2
New Jersey	2–1	2–2	2–2	0–4	1–3	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	4–0	0–2	—	2–2	3–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–1	0–2	2–0	1–3
New York	2–2	2–2	3–1	0–4	2–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–1	2–2	—	4–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–2	2–0	1–3
Orlando	2–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–1	1–1	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–2	2–0	1–3	0–4	—	4–0	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–2	2–0	3–1
Philadelphia	1–3	1–3	1–2	1–2	1–3	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	0–4	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	—	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–2	2–0	3–1
Phoenix	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–0	4–0	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	2–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	—	2–2	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	1–3	4–0	1–1
Portland	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–2	—	3–1	2–2	0–4	2–0	3–1	2–2	1–1
Sacramento	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–3	—	0–4	1–3	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1
San Antonio	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	4–0	4–0	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	3–1	0–4	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–2	4–0	—	2–2	2–0	1–3	4–0	1–1
Seattle	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	4–0	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	4–0	3–1	2–2	—	2–0	2–2	4–0	1–1
Toronto	0–4	0–3	0–4	0–4	1–3	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–0	0–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	1–3	1–3	1–3	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	—	0–2	1–1	0–3
Utah	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	4–0	4–0	2–0	4–0	4–0	1–1	3–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	2–2	2–0	—	4–0	0–2
Vancouver	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	3–1	2–0	3–1	1–3	0–2	3–1	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	2–2	2–2	0–4	0–4	1–1	0–4	—	1–1
Washington	0–4	2–3	2–2	1–3	2–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–1	2–0	3–1	3–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–0	2–0	1–1	—

Playoffs

West First Round

(2) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (7) Minnesota Timberwolves Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the SuperSonics and Timberwolves.

Game	Date	Home	Score	Visitor	Score	Record (SEA-MIN)	Venue	Box score	Television
1	April 24	Seattle	108	Minnesota	83	1-0	KeyArena, Seattle	1	TBS 9:30et
2	April 26	Seattle	93	Minnesota	98	1-1	KeyArena, Seattle, Washington	2	TNT 9:00et
3	April 28	Minnesota	98	Seattle	90	1-2	Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota	3	TBS 9:30et
4	April 30	Minnesota	88	Seattle	92	2-2	Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota	4	TBS 9:30et
5	May 2	Seattle	97	Minnesota	84	3-2	KeyArena, Seattle, Washington	5	NBC 3:30et
Seattle wins series 3–2

West Conference Semifinals

(2) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (3) Los Angeles Lakers Last Playoff Meeting: 1995 Western Conference First Round (Los Angeles won 3-1)

Game	Date	Home	Score	Visitor	Score	Record (SEA-LAL)	Venue	Box score	Television
1	May 4	Seattle	106	Los Angeles	92	1-0	KeyArena, Seattle	1	TNT 9:00et
2	May 6	Seattle	68	Los Angeles	92	1-1	KeyArena, Seattle, Washington	2	TNT 10:30et
3	May 8	Los Angeles	119	Seattle	103	1-2	Great Western Forum, Los Angeles	3	TNT 10:30et
4	May 10	Los Angeles	112	Seattle	100	1-3	Great Western Forum, Los Angeles, California	4	NBC 3:00et
5	May 12	Seattle	95	Los Angeles	110	1-4	KeyArena, Seattle, Washington	5	TNT 10:30et
Los Angeles wins series 4–1

Player statistics

Legend
GP	Games 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

Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Anthony, Greg !Greg Anthony
Baker, Vin !Vin Baker
Cotton, James !James Cotton
Ellis, Dale !Dale Ellis
Hawkins, Hersey !Hersey Hawkins
Howard, Stephen !Stephen Howard
Kersey, Jerome !Jerome Kersey
McIlvaine, Jim !Jim McIlvaine
McMillan, Nate !Nate McMillan
Payton, Gary !Gary Payton
Perkins, Sam !Sam Perkins
Schrempf, Detlef !Detlef Schrempf
Snow, Eric !Eric Snow
Williams, Aaron !Aaron Williams
Wingate, David !David Wingate
Zidek, George !George Zidek

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Anthony, Greg !Greg Anthony
Baker, Vin !Vin Baker
Ellis, Dale !Dale Ellis
Hawkins, Hersey !Hersey Hawkins
Kersey, Jerome !Jerome Kersey
McIlvaine, Jim !Jim McIlvaine
McMillan, Nate !Nate McMillan
Payton, Gary !Gary Payton
Perkins, Sam !Sam Perkins
Schrempf, Detlef !Detlef Schrempf
Snow, Eric !Eric Snow
Williams, Aaron !Aaron Williams
Wingate, David !David Wingate

Awards and records

Awards

Transactions

Free agents

Additions

Player	Signed	Former team

Subtractions

Player	Left	New team

References

↑ 1997–98 Seattle SuperSonics

1997–98 NBA season by team

Eastern

Atlantic	Boston Miami New Jersey New York Orlando Philadelphia Washington

Central	Atlanta Charlotte Chicago Cleveland Detroit Indiana Milwaukee Toronto

Western

Midwest	Dallas Denver Houston Minnesota San Antonio Utah Vancouver

Pacific	Golden State L.A. Clippers L.A. Lakers Phoenix Portland Sacramento Seattle

Seattle SuperSonics seasons

1960s

1970s

1978–79

1980s

1990s

2000s

Bold indicates NBA Finals victory

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/25/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.

1997–98 Seattle SuperSonics season

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Playoffs

West First Round

West Conference Semifinals

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Awards

Transactions

Free agents

Additions

Subtractions

See also

References