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 logo that more closely reflects the state of Utah, featuring purple mountains, and light blue in the script.[2][3] The new colors seemed to agree with the Jazz as they went on a 15-game winning streak after a 2–2 start to the season. The Jazz then posted a 31–4 record after the All-Star break, and finished first place in the Western Conference with a franchise best record of 64–18. Karl Malone averaged 27.4 points and 9.9 rebounds per game as he took home MVP honors.[4] He was also selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game along with John Stockton.

1996–97 Utah Jazz season
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coachJerry Sloan
ArenaDelta Center
Results
Record64–18 (.780)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Midwest)
Conference: 1st (Western)
Playoff finishNBA Finals
(Lost to Bulls 4–2)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKJZZ-TV
Fox Sports Utah
RadioKFNZ

In the playoffs, the Jazz got off to a flying start in the first round sweeping the Los Angeles Clippers in three straight games. In the semifinals, they continued to roll easily knocking the Los Angeles Lakers four games to one. In the Western Conference Finals, they took a 2–0 series lead over the Houston Rockets. However, the Rockets would even the series at two games a piece as Eddie Johnson hit a dramatic buzzer beater to win Game 4. After the Jazz took Game 5 at home, 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.[5] In their first trip to the finals, the Jazz lost in six games to the Chicago Bulls.

The Jazz's new logo and uniforms would both last until 2004.

Draft picks
Main article: 1996 NBA Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
125Martin MüürseppPF/SF Estonia
254Shandon AndersonSF/SG United StatesGeorgia

Roster
Roster listing
Utah Jazz roster
Players Coaches
Also one of the best Utah Jazz draft picks was Edgar Nave (Utah Utes)
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
SG 40 Anderson, Shandon 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 208 lb (94 kg) 1973-12-31 Georgia
PF 55 Carr, Antoine 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1961-07-23 Wichita State University
PG 10 Eisley, Howard 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 177 lb (80 kg) 1972-12-04 Boston College
C 44 Foster, Greg 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1968-10-03 UTEP
SG 14 Hornacek, Jeff 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1963-05-03 Iowa State
SF 43 Howard, Stephen 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1970-05-15 DePaul
PF 31 Keefe, Adam 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1970-02-22 Stanford
PF 32 Malone, Karl (C) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1963-07-24 Louisiana Tech
SF 34 Morris, Chris 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1966-01-20 Auburn
SG 30 Nembhard, Ruben 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 208 lb (94 kg) Weber State
C 00 Ostertag, Greg 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 280 lb (127 kg) 1973-03-06 Kansas
SF 3 Russell, Bryon 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1970-12-31 Long Beach State
PG 12 Stockton, John (C) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1962-03-26 Gonzaga
SF 15 Watson, Jamie  6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) South Carolina
Head coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster

Regular season

Season standings
Midwest Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Utah Jazz 6418.780–38–326–1519–5
x-Houston Rockets 5725.695730–1127–1419–5
x-Minnesota Timberwolves 4042.4882425–1615–2616–8
Dallas Mavericks 2458.2934014–2710–319–15
Denver Nuggets 2161.2564312–299–327–17
San Antonio Spurs 2062.2444412–298–338–16
Vancouver Grizzlies 1468.171508–336–356–18
1996–97 NBA West standings
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Utah Jazz6418.780–
2 y-Seattle SuperSonics5725.6957
3 x-Houston Rockets5725.6957
4 x-Los Angeles Lakers5626.6838
5 x-Portland Trail Blazers4933.59815
6 x-Minnesota Timberwolves4042.48824
7 x-Phoenix Suns4042.48824
8 x-Los Angeles Clippers3646.43928
9 Sacramento Kings3448.41530
10 Golden State Warriors3052.36634
11 Dallas Mavericks2458.29340
12 Denver Nuggets2161.25643
13 San Antonio Spurs2062.24444
14 Vancouver Grizzlies1468.17150
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

[6]

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 PHX POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta —3–11–31–33–12–01–11–32–01–13–12–01–11–24–02–03–11–33–14–01–12–02–02–01–14–01–12–02–1
Boston 1–3—0–40–41–21–11–10–41–10–21–20–21–10–41–30–20–40–40–41–31–11–10–21–10–23–10–20–20–4
Charlotte 3–14–0—0–43–11–12–02–22–02–02–21–11–11–22–22–04–03–11–24–01–10–22–02–02–02–20–22–03–1
Chicago 3–14–04–0—3–12–02–03–12–01–14–02–01–12–24–02–03–12–23–04–02–02–02–02–02–03–11–12–02–1
Cleveland 1–32–11–31–3—2–01–12–21–10–23–12–01–10–42–22–04–01–32–23–01–11–12–00–20–23–11–12–01–3
Dallas 0–21–11–10–20–2—3–10–20–40–41–12–20–40–20–21–31–11–11–12–01–31–32–21–31–30–21–33–10–2
Denver 1–11–10–20–21–11–3—0–21–31–30–21–30–40–21–10–41–10–20–21–12–20–42–22–20–41–10–43–11–1
Detroit 3–14–02–21–32–22–02–0—2–01–13–12–01–10–43–12–04–01–22–22–10–21–11–12–01–13–11–12–04–0
Golden State 0–21–10–20–21–14–03–10–2—0–41–11–30–40–21–11–32–00–21–12–00–42–21–34–00–42–00–43–10–2
Houston 1–12–00–21–12–04–03–11–14–0—1–13–13–10–21–14–02–01–10–22–02–22–24–03–13–11–12–23–12–0
Indiana 1–32–12–20–41–31–12–01–31–11–1—2–01–11–32–22–02–21–31–33–01–11–11–11–11–14–00–22–01–3
L.A. Clippers 0–22–01–10–20–22–23–10–23–11–30–2—2–20–22–01–31–10–21–11–12–20–42–24–01–32–01–34–00–2
L.A. Lakers 1–11–11–11–11–14–04–01–14–01–31–12–2—1–12–03–12–01–11–12–04–01–34–02–23–11–11–34–02–0
Miami 2–14–02–12–24–02–02–04–02–02–03–12–01–1—4–01–13–11–32–23–12–01–12–02–00–23–10–22–03–1
Milwaukee 0–43–12–20–42–22–01–11–31–11–12–20–20–20–4—0–22–11–22–23–11–10–20–21–11–13–11–12–01–3
Minnesota 0–22–00–20–20–23–14–00–23–10–40–23–11–31–12–0—2–01–11–11–13–12–20–44–00–41–11–34–01–1
New Jersey 1–34–00–41–30–41–11–10–40–20–22–21–10–21–31–20–2—2–21–32–21–10–21–12–01–10–30–22–01–3
New York 3–14–01–32–23–11–12–02–12–01–13–12–01–13–12–11–12–2—3–13–21–11–12–02–00–23–01–12–04–0
Orlando 1–34–02–10–32–21–12–02–21–12–03–11–11–12–22–21–13–11–3—2–21–12–01–11–11–14–00–21–11–3
Philadelphia 0–43–10–40–40–30–21–11–20–20–20–31–10–21–31–31–12–22–32–2—1–11–10–21–10–21–30–22–01–3
Phoenix 1–11–11–10–21–13–12–22–04–02–21–12–20–40–21–11–31–11–11–11–1—1–34–03–12–20–21–32–21–1
Portland 0–21–12–00–21–13–14–01–12–22–21–14–03–11–12–02–22–01–10–21–13–1—2–24–01–30–22–24–00–2
Sacramento 0–22–00–20–20–22–22–21–13–10–41–12–20–40–22–04–01–10–21–12–00–42–2—3–11–31–10–44–00–2
San Antonio 0–21–10–20–22–03–12–20–20–41–31–10–42–20–21–10–40–20–21–11–11–30–41–3—0–41–11–31–30–2
Seattle 1–12–00–20–22–03–14–01–14–01–31–13–11–32–01–14–01–12–01–12–02–23–13–14–0—2–01–34–02–0
Toronto 0–41–32–21–31–32–01–11–30–21–10–40–21–11–31–31–13–00–30–43–12–02–01–11–10–2—1–11–12–2
Utah 1–12–02–01–11–13–14–01–14–02–22–03–13–12–01–13–12–01–12–02–03–12–24–03–13–11–1—4–02–0
Vancouver 0–22–00–20–20–21–31–30–21–31–30–20–40–40–20–20–40–20–21–10–22–20–40–43–10–41–10–4—1–1
Washington 1–24–01–31–23–12–01–10–42–00–23–12–00–21–33–11–13–10–43–13–11–12–02–02–00–22–20–21–1—

Game log
1996-97 Game Log
November: 11–2 (Home: 8–1; Road: 3–1)
December: 11-5 (Home: 7-1; Road: 4-4)
January: 9-6 (Home: 5-0; Road: 4-6)
February: 9-3 (Home: 7-1; Road: 2-2)
March
April
1996-97 Schedule

Playoffs

West First Round

(1) Utah Jazz vs. (8) Los Angeles Clippers Last Playoff Meeting: 1992 Western Conference First Round (Utah won 3–0)

Game Date Home Score Visitor Score Record

(UTAH-LAC)

 Venue Recap
1 April 24 Utah 106 L.A. Clippers 86 1-0 Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 1
2 April 26 Utah 105 L.A. Clippers 99 2-0 Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 2
3 April 28 L.A. Clippers 92 Utah 104 3-0 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles 3
Utah wins series 3–0

West Conference Semifinals

(1) Utah Jazz vs. (4) Los Angeles Lakers Last Playoff Meeting: 1988 Western Conference Semifinals (Utah won 4-1)

Game Date Home Score Visitor Score Record

(UTAH-LAL)

 Venue Recap Television
1 May 4 Utah 93 Los Angeles 77 1-0 Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 1 NBC
2 May 6 Utah 103 Los Angeles 101 2-0 Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 2 TNT
3 May 8 Los Angeles 104 Utah 84 2-1 Great Western Forum, Los Angeles 3 TNT
4 May 10 Los Angeles 95 Utah 110 3-1 Great Western Forum, Los Angeles, California 4 NBC
5 May 12 Utah 98 Los Angeles 93 4-1 Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 5 TNT
Utah wins series 4–1

West Conference Finals

(1) Utah Jazz vs. (3) Houston Rockets Last Playoff Meeting: 1995 Western Conference First Round (Utah won 4-2)

Game Date Home Score Visitor Score Record

(UTAH-HOU)

 Venue Recap Television
1 May 19 Utah 101 Houston 86 1-0 Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 1 NBC
2 May 21 Utah 104 Houston 92 2-0 Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 2 NBC
3 May 23 Houston 118 Utah 100 2-1 The Summit, Houston, Texas 3 NBC
4 May 25 Houston 95 Utah 92 2-2 The Summit, Houston, Texas 4 NBC
5 May 27 Utah 96 Houston 91 3-2 Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 5 NBC
6 May 29 Houston 100 Utah 103 4-2 The Summit, Houston, Texas 6 NBC
Utah wins series 4–2

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. 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.[7]

(E1) Chicago Bulls vs. (W1) Utah Jazz

Game Date Home Score Visitor Score Record

(CHI-UTAH)

 Venue Recap Television
1 June 1 Chicago 84 Utah 82 1-0 United Center, Chicago 1 at the Wayback Machine (archived February 24, 1999) NBC
2 June 4 Chicago 97 Utah 85 2-0 United Center, Chicago, Illinois 2 at the Wayback Machine (archived February 24, 1999) NBC
3 June 6 Utah 104 Chicago 93 2-1 Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 3 at the Wayback Machine (archived February 24, 1999) NBC
4 June 8 Utah 78 Chicago 73 2-2 Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 4 at the Wayback Machine (archived February 24, 1999) NBC
5 June 11 Utah 88 Chicago 90 3-2 Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 5 at the Wayback Machine (archived 1999-02-24) NBC
6 June 13 Chicago 90 Utah 86 4-2 United Center, Chicago, Illinois 6 at the Wayback Machine (archived February 24, 1999) NBC
Chicago wins NBA Finals series 4–2

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
Shandon Anderson
Antoine Carr
Howard Eisley
Greg Foster
Jeff Hornacek
Stephen Howard
Adam Keefe
Karl Malone
Chris Morris
Ruben Nembhard
Greg Ostertag
Bryon Russell
John Stockton
Brooks Thompson
Jamie Watson

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Shandon Anderson
Antoine Carr
Howard Eisley
Greg Foster
Jeff Hornacek
Stephen Howard
Adam Keefe
Karl Malone
Chris Morris
Greg Ostertag
Bryon Russell
John Stockton

Awards and records

Awards

Transactions

Free agents

References
  2. Falk, Aaron (August 28, 2019). "The Note: The history of the Utah Jazz's Purple Mountains". UtahJazz.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  3. "HISTORY OF THE JAZZ NAME AND LOGO". UtahJazz.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  4. "Malone Beats Out Jordan for M.V.P". New York Times. May 19, 1997. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  5. "Stockton Sends Jazz to Finals At Last Second". New York Times. May 30, 1997. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  6. 1996–97 NBA season Summary - Basketball-Reference.com
  7. "Utah Jazz (1979-Present)". Sportsecyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
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