1998–99 NBA season

The 1998–99 NBA season was the 53rd season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Due to a lockout, the season did not start until February 5, 1999, after a new six-year Collective Bargaining Agreement was reached between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. All 29 teams played a shortened 50-game regular season schedule and the 16 teams who qualified for the playoffs played a full post-season schedule. That season's All-Star Game was also canceled. The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs winning the franchise's first NBA championship, beating the New York Knicks 4 games to 1 in the 1999 NBA Finals. This was the 50th season since the BAA and NBL had merged into the NBA.

1998–99 NBA season
LeagueNational Basketball Association
SportBasketball
Duration
  • February 5 – May 5, 1999
  • May 8 – June 11, 1999 (Playoffs)
  • June 16 – 25, 1999 (Finals)
Number of games50
Number of teams29
TV partner(s)NBC, TBS, TNT
Draft
Top draft pickMichael Olowokandi
Picked byLos Angeles Clippers
Regular season
Top seedSan Antonio Spurs
Season MVPKarl Malone (Utah)
Top scorerAllen Iverson (Philadelphia)
Playoffs
Eastern championsNew York Knicks
  Eastern runners-upIndiana Pacers
Western championsSan Antonio Spurs
  Western runners-upPortland Trail Blazers
Finals
ChampionsSan Antonio Spurs
  Runners-upNew York Knicks
Finals MVPTim Duncan (San Antonio)

Lockout

The second lockout in the history of the NBA lasted from July 1, 1998, to January 20, 1999. NBA owners were seeking changes to the league's salary cap system and a ceiling on individual player salaries. The National Basketball Players Association opposed the owners' plans and wanted raises for players who earned the league's minimum salary.

As the labor dispute continued into September, the preseason was shortened to just two games instead of the normal eight, and training camps were postponed indefinitely.[1] By October, it became the first time in NBA history that games were canceled due to a labor dispute.[2] Further games were canceled by November and December, including the league's Christmas games (which had been played on an annual basis since 1947)[3] and All-Star Game, which had been scheduled to be played on February 14, 1999. The preseason consisted of 2 exhibition games.

An agreement between the owners and players was eventually reached on January 18, 1999. When play resumed, the regular season was shortened to 50 games per team, as opposed to the normal 82. To preserve games between teams in the same conference, much of the time missed was made up for by skipping well over half of the games played between teams in the opposite conference. As a result, some teams did not meet each other at all during the course of the shortened season.

Notable occurrences

Coaching changes
Offseason
Team 1997–98 coach 1998–99 coach
Chicago Bulls Phil Jackson Tim Floyd
Denver Nuggets Bill Hanzlik Mike D'Antoni
Los Angeles Clippers Bill Fitch Chris Ford
Milwaukee Bucks Chris Ford George Karl
Sacramento Kings Eddie Jordan Rick Adelman
Seattle SuperSonics George Karl Paul Westphal
In-season
Team Outgoing coach Incoming coach
Charlotte Hornets Dave Cowens Paul Silas
Los Angeles Lakers Del Harris Bill Bertka
Bill Bertka Kurt Rambis
New Jersey Nets John Calipari Don Casey
Washington Wizards Bernie Bickerstaff Jim Brovelli

1998–99 NBA changes

Final standings

By division

Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Miami Heat 3317.66018–715–1012–8
x-Orlando Magic 3317.66021–412–1312–6
x-Philadelphia 76ers 2822.560517–811–149–10
x-New York Knicks 2723.540619–68–1712–8
Boston Celtics 1931.3801410–159–1610–9
Washington Wizards 1832.3601513–125–206–13
New Jersey Nets 1634.3201712–134–216–13
Central Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Indiana Pacers 3317.66018–715–1015–7
x-Atlanta Hawks 3119.620216–915–1015–8
x-Detroit Pistons 2921.580417–812–1313–8
x-Milwaukee Bucks 2822.560517–811–1413–11
Charlotte Hornets 2624.520716–910–1512–10
Toronto Raptors 2327.4601014–119–169–14
Cleveland Cavaliers 2228.4401115–107–189–13
Chicago Bulls 1337.260208–175–204–19
Midwest Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-San Antonio Spurs 3713.74021–416–917–4
x-Utah Jazz 3713.74022–315–1015–3
x-Houston Rockets 3119.620619–612–1312–9
x-Minnesota Timberwolves 2525.5001218–77–1811–9
Dallas Mavericks 1931.3801815–104–218–12
Denver Nuggets 1436.2802312–132–235–16
Vancouver Grizzlies 842.160297–181–243–18
Pacific Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Portland Trail Blazers 3515.70022–313–1215–7
x-Los Angeles Lakers 3119.620418–713–1214–8
x-Sacramento Kings 2723.540816–911–1411–9
x-Phoenix Suns 2723.540815–1012–139–10
Seattle SuperSonics 2525.5001017–88–1711–10
Golden State Warriors 2129.4201413–128–178–11
Los Angeles Clippers 941.180266–193–223–16

By conference

# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Miami Heat3317.660
2 y-Indiana Pacers3317.660
3 x-Orlando Magic3317.660
4 x-Atlanta Hawks3119.6202
5 x-Detroit Pistons2921.5804
6 x-Philadelphia 76ers2822.5605
7 x-Milwaukee Bucks2822.5605
8 x-New York Knicks2723.5406
9 Charlotte Hornets2624.5207
10 Toronto Raptors2327.46010
11 Cleveland Cavaliers2228.44011
12 Boston Celtics1931.38014
13 Washington Wizards1832.36015
14 New Jersey Nets1634.32017
15 Chicago Bulls1337.26020
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-San Antonio Spurs3713.740
2 y-Portland Trail Blazers3515.7002
3 x-Utah Jazz3713.740
4 x-Los Angeles Lakers3119.6206
5 x-Houston Rockets3119.6206
6 x-Sacramento Kings2723.54010
7 x-Phoenix Suns2723.54010
8 x-Minnesota Timberwolves2525.50012
9 Seattle SuperSonics2525.50012
10 Golden State Warriors2129.42016
11 Dallas Mavericks1931.38018
12 Denver Nuggets1436.28023
13 Los Angeles Clippers941.18028
14 Vancouver Grizzlies842.16029

Notes

  • z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
  • c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
  • y – Clinched division title
  • x – Clinched playoff spot

Playoffs

Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its conference, and the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions are marked by an asterisk. Home court advantage does not necessarily belong to the higher-seeded team, but instead the team with the better regular season record; teams enjoying the home advantage are shown in italics.

  First Round Conference Semifinals Conference Finals NBA Finals
                                     
E1 Miami* 2  
E8 New York 3  
  E8 New York 4  
  E4 Atlanta 0  
E4 Atlanta 3
E5 Detroit 2  
  E8 New York 4  
Eastern Conference
  E2 Indiana* 2  
E3 Orlando 1  
E6 Philadelphia 3  
  E6 Philadelphia 0
  E2 Indiana* 4  
E2 Indiana* 3
E7 Milwaukee 0  
  E8 New York 1
  W1 San Antonio* 4
W1 San Antonio* 3  
W8 Minnesota 1  
  W1 San Antonio* 4
  W4 LA Lakers 0  
W4 LA Lakers 3
W5 Houston 1  
  W1 San Antonio* 4
Western Conference
  W2 Portland* 0  
W3 Utah 3  
W6 Sacramento 2  
  W3 Utah 2
  W2 Portland* 4  
W2 Portland* 3
W7 Phoenix 0  


* Division winner
Bold Series winner
Italic Team with home-court advantage

Statistics leaders

CategoryPlayerTeamStat
Points per gameAllen IversonPhiladelphia 76ers26.8
Rebounds per gameChris WebberSacramento Kings13.0
Assists per gameJason KiddPhoenix Suns10.8
Steals per gameKendall GillNew Jersey Nets2.68
Blocks per gameAlonzo MourningMiami Heat3.91
FG%Shaquille O'NealLos Angeles Lakers.576
FT%Reggie MillerIndiana Pacers.915
3FG%Dell CurryMilwaukee Bucks.476

NBA awards

Players of the month

The following players were named the Players of the Month.

Month Player
February Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers)
March Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)
April Jason Kidd (Phoenix Suns)

Rookies of the month

The following players were named the Rookies of the Month.

Month Player
February Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics)
March Vince Carter (Toronto Raptors)
April Vince Carter (Toronto Raptors)

Coaches of the month

The following coaches were named Coaches of the Month.

Month Coach
February Jerry Sloan (Utah Jazz)
March Mike Dunleavy, Sr. (Portland Trail Blazers)
April Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs)

Notables

First games

The following is a list of notable players who played their first NBA game during the 1998–99 season, listed with their first team.

* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
PlayerTeamNotability
Michael OlowokandiLos Angeles ClippersFirst overall pick in the 1998 Draft
1998–99 All-Rookie Team
Vince CarterToronto Raptors1998–99 NBA Rookie of the Year winner
Eight-time NBA All-Star
Two-time All-NBA Team
1998–99 All-Rookie Team
Dirk NowitzkiDallas Mavericks14-time NBA All-Star
12-time All-NBA Team
One-time NBA MVP
One-time NBA Finals MVP
One-time NBA champion
Paul PierceBoston Celtics10-time NBA All-Star
Four-time All-NBA Team
One-time NBA Finals MVP
One-time NBA champion
1998–99 All-Rookie Team
Antawn JamisonGolden State WarriorsTwo-time NBA All-Star
One-time Sixth Man of the Year
1998–99 All-Rookie Team
Peja StojakovićSacramento KingsThree-time NBA All-Star
One-time All-NBA Team
One-time NBA champion
Rashard LewisSeattle SuperSonicsTwo-time NBA All-Star
One-time NBA champion
Brad MillerCharlotte HornetsTwo-time NBA All-Star
Larry HughesPhiladelphia 76ersOne-time All-Defensive Team
Michael DoleacOrlando MagicOne-time NBA champion
1998–99 All-Rookie Team
Jason WilliamsSacramento KingsOne-time NBA champion
1998–99 All-Rookie Team
Mike BibbyVancouver Grizzlies1998–99 All-Rookie Team
Michael DickersonHouston Rockets1998–99 All-Rookie Team
Matt HarpringOrlando Magic1998–99 All-Rookie Team
Cuttino MobleyHouston Rockets1998–99 All-Rookie Team

Last games

PlayerTeamNotability
Joe Dumars*Detroit PistonsSix-time NBA All-Star
Three-time All-NBA Team
Five-time All-Defensive Team
One-time NBA Finals MVP
Two-time NBA champion (as player)
1985–86 All-Rookie Team
One-time NBA champion (as executive)
One-time Executive of the Year (as executive)
Derek HarperLos Angeles LakersTwo-time All-Defensive Team
Eddie JohnsonHouston RocketsOne-time Sixth Man of the Year
Rick MahornPhiladelphia 76ersOne-time All-Defensive Team
One-time NBA champion
Danny SchayesOrlando MagicOver 1,100 games played
Rony SeikalyNew Jersey Nets1989–90 Most Improved Player
Dominique Wilkins*Orlando MagicNine-time NBA All-Star
Seven-time All-NBA Team
1982–83 All-Rookie Team
Herb WilliamsNew York KnicksOver 1,100 games played
Jayson WilliamsNew Jersey NetsOne-time NBA All-Star
Micheal WilliamsToronto RaptorsOne-time NBA champion
One-time All-Defensive Team

References

  1. "Lockout cuts into preseason schedule". The San Diego Union-Tribune. September 25, 1998. p. D11.
  2. Wise, Mike (October 15, 1998). "Pro Basketball; N.B.A. Owners Cool To Players' Proposal". The New York Times. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
  3. Reynolds, Tim (December 24, 2018). "NBA's Christmas lineup headlined by LeBron vs. Warriors". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
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