1996–97 New York Knicks season
1996–97 New York Knicks season | |
---|---|
Larry Johnson's first season with the Knicks Allan Houston's first season with the Knicks | |
Head coach | Jeff Van Gundy |
General manager | Ernie Grunfeld |
Owner(s) |
ITT Cablevision |
Arena | Madison Square Garden |
Results | |
Record | 57–25 (.695) |
Place |
Division: 2nd (Atlantic) Conference: 3rd (Eastern) |
Playoff finish |
East Conference Semifinals (eliminated 3–4) |
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | MSG Network, WBIS, EMI |
Radio | WFAN |
The 1996–97 New York Knicks season was the 51st season for the team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the regular season, the Knicks finished in second place in the Atlantic Division with a 57–25 record,[1] and made the NBA Playoffs for the 10th consecutive year.[2]
During the offseason, the Knicks acquired All-Star forward Larry Johnson from the Charlotte Hornets,[3] while signing free agents Allan Houston, Chris Childs[4] and Buck Williams.[5] The Knicks enjoyed a successful season, with their 57 wins tied for the third-most in franchise history;[2] they finished second in the Atlantic Division and third in the Eastern Conference. John Starks was named the Sixth Man of the Year, and Patrick Ewing was selected to the 1997 NBA All-Star Game (he did not play due to an injury), earned All-NBA Second Team honors,[6] and was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.[7] In the last game of the season, at the United Center, the Knicks defeated the then-69–12 Chicago Bulls, preventing them from posting two consecutive 70-win seasons in a row and tying the best home record (40–1 set by the 1985–86 Boston Celtics).[8]
In the playoffs, New York defeated the Charlotte Hornets in a three-game sweep in the first round and advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals,[1] where they faced the Miami Heat in what would eventually become the first chapter of one of the fiercest NBA rivalries of the period.[9] After jumping to a 3–1 lead in the series, the Knicks were eliminated by the Heat in seven games,[6] after a brawl erupted at the end of Game 5 that led to the suspensions of five key Knicks players: Ewing, Houston, Johnson, Starks and Charlie Ward.[10] Following the season, John Wallace was traded to the Toronto Raptors.[11]
NBA Draft
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 18 | John Wallace | SF | ![]() |
Syracuse |
1 | 19 | Walter McCarty | SF | ![]() |
Kentucky |
1 | 21 | Dontae' Jones | SF | ![]() |
Mississippi State |
Roster
New York Knicks roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roster notes
- Forward Dontae' Jones was on the injured reserve list and missed the entire season.[12]
Regular season
Season standings
Atlantic Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y-Miami Heat | 61 | 21 | .744 | – | 29–12 | 32–9 | 16–8 |
x-New York Knicks | 57 | 25 | .695 | 4 | 31–10 | 26–15 | 19–6 |
x-Orlando Magic | 45 | 37 | .549 | 16 | 26–15 | 19–22 | 13–11 |
x-Washington Bullets | 44 | 38 | .537 | 17 | 25–16 | 19–22 | 14–10 |
New Jersey Nets | 26 | 56 | .317 | 35 | 16–25 | 10–31 | 11–13 |
Philadelphia 76ers | 22 | 60 | .268 | 39 | 11–30 | 11–30 | 11–14 |
Boston Celtics | 15 | 67 | .183 | 46 | 11–30 | 4–37 | 1–23 |
# | Eastern Conference | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | z-Chicago Bulls | 69 | 13 | .841 | – |
2 | y-Miami Heat | 61 | 21 | .744 | 8 |
3 | x-New York Knicks | 57 | 25 | .695 | 12 |
4 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 56 | 26 | .683 | 13 |
5 | x-Detroit Pistons | 54 | 28 | .659 | 15 |
6 | x-Charlotte Hornets | 54 | 28 | .659 | 15 |
7 | x-Orlando Magic | 45 | 37 | .549 | 24 |
8 | x-Washington Bullets | 44 | 38 | .537 | 25 |
9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 27 |
10 | Indiana Pacers | 39 | 43 | .476 | 30 |
11 | Milwaukee Bucks | 33 | 49 | .402 | 36 |
12 | Toronto Raptors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 39 |
13 | New Jersey Nets | 26 | 56 | .317 | 43 |
14 | Philadelphia 76ers | 22 | 60 | .268 | 47 |
15 | Boston Celtics | 15 | 67 | .183 | 54 |
- z – clinched division title
- y – clinched division title
- x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
1996-97 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 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
Boston | 1–3 | — | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 |
Charlotte | 3–1 | 4–0 | — | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
Chicago | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | — | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
Cleveland | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
Dallas | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 |
Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | — | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
Detroit | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | — | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–2 |
Houston | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | — | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
Indiana | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | — | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
Miami | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
Milwaukee | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | — | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
Minnesota | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
New Jersey | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–2 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
New York | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
Orlando | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
Philadelphia | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
Portland | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
Sacramento | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
San Antonio | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | — | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
Seattle | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
Toronto | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
Utah | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | — | 4–0 | 2–0 |
Vancouver | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | — | 1–1 |
Washington | 1–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — |
Playoffs
East First Round
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Charlotte Hornets Last Playoff Meeting: 1993 Eastern Conference Semifinals (New York won 4–1)
Game | Date | Home | Score | Visitor | Score | Record
(NYK-CHA) |
Venue | Recap | Television |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | April 24 | New York | 109 | Charlotte | 99 | 1–0 | Madison Square Garden, New York City | 1 | MSG |
2 | April 26 | New York | 100 | Charlotte | 93 | 2–0 | Madison Square Garden, New York City | 2 | NBC |
3 | April 28 | Charlotte | 95 | New York | 104 | 3–0 | Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina | 3 | TNT |
New York wins series 3–0 |
East Conference Semifinals
(2) Miami Heat vs. (3) New York Knicks Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)
Game | Date | Home | Score | Visitor | Score | Record
(MIA-NYK) |
Venue | Recap | Television |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | May 7 | Miami | 79 | New York | 88 | 0–1 | Miami Arena, Miami, Florida | 1 | TNT |
2 | May 9 | Miami | 88 | New York | 84 | 1–1 | Miami Arena, Miami, Florida | 2 | TNT |
3 | May 11 | New York | 77 | Miami | 73 | 1–2 | Madison Square Garden, New York City | 3 | NBC |
4 | May 12 | New York | 89 | Miami | 76 | 1–3 | Madison Square Garden, New York City | 4 | TNT |
5 | May 14 | Miami | 96 | New York | 81 | 2–3 | Miami Arena, Miami, Florida | 5 | TNT |
6 | May 16 | New York | 90 | Miami | 95 | 3–3 | Madison Square Garden, New York City | 6 | TNT |
7 | May 18 | Miami | 101 | New York | 90 | 4–3 | Miami Arena, Miami, Florida | 7 | NBC |
Miami wins series 4–3 |
Awards and records
See also
References
- 1 2 "1996–97 New York Knickerbockers Roster and Statistics". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on 25 April 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
- 1 2 "New York Knickerbockers Franchise Index". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
- ↑ Isola, Frank (July 13, 1996). "Larry Loves N.Y. Knicks, Hornets Work Out Bugs". New York Daily News. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
- ↑ Wise, Mike (July 15, 1996). "Pro Basketball; It's a Blockbuster Day for Knicks". The New York Times. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
- ↑ "Knicks Ink Veteran Forward Buck Williams". Philadelphia Daily News. July 27, 1996. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
- 1 2 "1996–97 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on 12 April 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
- ↑ "NBA History: The NBA's 50 Greatest Players". National Basketball Association. Archived from the original on 5 April 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
- ↑ Brown, Clifton (April 20, 1997). "When a Knick Victory Is Not Just a Victory". The New York Times. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
- ↑ Sheridan, Chris (May 7, 2000). "Knicks, Heat continue their simmering rivalry". The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
- ↑ Isola, Frank (May 16, 1997). "NBA – No Brawls Allowed Ewing Among Five Suspended Knicks". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
- ↑ Whitehorn, Dave (February 22, 2011). "The 13 biggest Knicks trades in history". Newsday. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
- ↑ May, Peter (October 24, 1997). "Jones envisions much better time". The Boston Globe. p. D3.