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1997–98 Sacramento Kings season

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1997–98 Sacramento Kings season
Head coachEddie Jordan
General managerGeoff Petrie
PresidentGeoff Petrie
Owner(s)Jim Thomas
ArenaARCO Arena
Results
Record27–55 (.329)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Pacific)
Conference: 9th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKPWB-TV
SportsChannel Pacific/Fox Sports Bay Area
RadioKHTK
< 1996–97 1998–99 >

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Kings' 49th season in the National Basketball Association, and 13th season in Sacramento.[1] During the off-season, the Kings signed free agent Terry Dehere.[2][3][4] The team decided to add youth to their roster with the addition of four rookies; Lawrence Funderburke out of Ohio State University, who was drafted by the Kings in the second round of the 1994 NBA draft,[5] top draft pick Tariq Abdul-Wahad out of San José State University,[6] second-round draft pick Anthony Johnson out of the College of Charleston, and undrafted rookie center Michael Stewart from the University of California.[7]

The Kings got off to a slow start losing their first four games on their way to a 5–14 start, but later on won 8 of their 14 games in January, and held a 20–28 record at the All-Star break.[8] At mid-season, the team traded Michael Smith and Bobby Hurley the Vancouver Grizzlies in exchange for former Kings forward Otis Thorpe.[9][10][11][12] However, with a 26–36 record as of March 6, 1998, the Kings struggled losing 19 of their final 20 games, including a 12-game losing streak and seven straight losses to end the season.[13] They finished fifth in the Pacific Division with a 27–55 record, which was fourteen games behind the 8th-seeded Houston Rockets.[14]

Mitch Richmond averaged 23.2 points per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game, which would be his sixth and final All-Star appearance,[15][16][17][18] while Corliss Williamson showed improvement becoming the team's starting power forward, averaging 17.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, and also finishing in second place in Most Improved Player voting,[19][20][21] and Billy Owens provided the team with 10.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

In addition, Funderburke played a sixth man role, averaging 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game off the bench, but only played 52 games due to injury,[22] while Johnson contributed 7.5 points and 4.3 assists per game, Olden Polynice provided with 7.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, and Stewart contributed 6.6 rebounds, and led the team with 2.4 blocks per game.[23] Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf only played just 31 games, missing the final three months of the season with the flu and an corneal ulcer, as he contributed 7.3 points per game off the bench.[24][25]

Following the season, Richmond was traded along with Thorpe to the Washington Wizards after seven seasons in Sacramento,[26][27][28][29][30] while Owens and Olden Polynice both signed as free agents with the Seattle SuperSonics, whom Polynice used to play for,[31][32][33] Johnson signed with the Atlanta Hawks,[34] Stewart signed with the Toronto Raptors,[35] Abdul-Rauf left to play overseas in Turkey,[24][25] and head coach Eddie Jordan was fired.[36][37]

Draft picks

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Main article: 1997 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 11 Tariq Abdul-Wahad SG/SF  France San Jose State
2 39 Anthony Johnson PG  United States College of Charleston

Roster

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1997–98 Sacramento Kings roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
G 3 Abdul-Rauf, Mahmoud 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 162 lb (73 kg) 1969–03–09 LSU
G/F 9 Abdul-Wahad, Tariq 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1974–11–03 San José State
G 24 Dehere, Terry 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1971–09–12 Seton Hall
F 51 Funderburke, Lawrence 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1970–12–15 Ohio State
F 42 Hendrickson, Mark 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1974–06–23 Washington State
G 10 Johnson, Anthony 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1974–10–02 College of Charleston
F 30 Owens, Billy 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1969–05–01 Syracuse
C 0 Polynice, Olden 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1964–11–21 Virginia
G 2 Richmond, Mitch 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1965–06–30 Kansas State
G 5 Robinson, Chris 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1974–04–02 Western Kentucky
C 13 Stewart, Michael 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1975–04–25 California
C 33 Thorpe, Otis 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1962–08–05 Providence
F 4 Williamson, Corliss 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1973–12–04 Arkansas
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: February 20, 1998

Roster Notes

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Regular season

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Season standings

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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
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

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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 —

Game log

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Player statistics

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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

Regular season

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Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Michael Stewart 81 37 21.7 .480 .458 6.6 .8 .4 2.4 4.6
Corliss Williamson 79 75 35.7 .495 .000 .630 5.6 2.9 1.0 .6 17.7
Billy Owens 78 78 30.1 .464 .371 .589 7.5 2.8 1.2 .5 10.5
Anthony Johnson 77 62 29.4 .371 .328 .727 2.2 4.3 .8 .1 7.5
Terry Dehere 77 18 18.3 .399 .379 .798 1.4 2.5 .7 .1 6.4
Mitch Richmond 70 70 36.7 .445 .389 .864 3.3 4.0 1.3 .2 23.2
Olden Polynice 70 25 20.8 .459 .000 .452 6.3 1.5 .5 .6 7.9
Tariq Abdul-Wahad 59 16 16.3 .403 .211 .672 2.0 .9 .6 .2 6.4
Lawrence Funderburke 52 1 21.0 .490 .143 .679 4.5 1.2 .4 .3 9.5
Mark Hendrickson 48 1 15.4 .389 .000 .825 3.0 .9 .5 .2 3.4
Bobby Hurley† 34 3 12.3 .409 .267 .811 1.1 2.4 .4 .0 3.8
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf 31 0 17.1 .377 .161 1.000 1.2 1.9 .5 .0 7.3
Otis Thorpe† 27 20 23.1 .459 .000 .657 6.1 2.3 .7 .3 8.3
Chris Robinson† 19 0 14.3 .378 .405 .500 1.7 1.5 .6 .2 5.7
Michael Smith† 18 4 19.3 .426 .567 5.6 1.6 .8 .5 3.8
Kevin Salvadori 16 0 5.4 .077 .500 1.3 .2 .0 .7 .3
Derek Grimm 9 0 3.8 .286 .333 1.000 .4 .0 .3 .1 1.6
  • † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Kings only.

Awards and records

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Transactions

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ 1997-98 Sacramento Kings
  2. ^ "Barkley Is Cleared in Cleveland Brawl". The Washington Post. August 2, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  3. ^ Popper, Steve (August 10, 1997). "Two Guys from Jersey on Same Road Again". The New York Times. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  4. ^ "Atlantic Division". Sun Sentinel. October 31, 1997. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  5. ^ Smith, Sam (November 24, 1997). "This King's Concerns Are Divine". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  6. ^ Heisler, Mark (June 26, 1997). "Draft Over, But Not Finished". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  7. ^ "1997 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  8. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 5, 1998". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  9. ^ Wise, Mike (February 19, 1998). "BASKETBALL; Kenny Anderson Is Traded to Celtics in 7-Player Deal". The New York Times. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  10. ^ "Celtics Land Anderson in Deal with Raptors". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 19, 1998. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  11. ^ "In Seven-Player Swap, Raptors Trade Anderson to the Celtics". The Washington Post. February 19, 1998. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  12. ^ Smith, Sam (February 20, 1998). "NBA's Rash of Trades Ends with Another Seikaly Deal". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  13. ^ "Grizzlies Defeat Sacramento in OT". CBS News. Associated Press. April 20, 1998. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  14. ^ "1997–98 Sacramento Kings Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  15. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (January 28, 1998). "Lakers Get Four-Star Rating as Van Exel, Jones Honored". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  16. ^ "1998 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  17. ^ "1997-98 All-Star Events and Contestants - in New York". Eskimo North. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  18. ^ "1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  19. ^ "Henderson Voted Most Improved". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. May 1, 1998. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  20. ^ Povtak, Tim (May 1, 1998). "Hawks' Henderson Wins Most Improved". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  21. ^ "1997–98 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  22. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (December 31, 1997). "Just Enough Is Becoming the Laker Way". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  23. ^ "1997–98 Sacramento Kings Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  24. ^ a b "PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL -- SACRAMENTO; Abdul-Rauf Bound for Turkey". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 19, 1998. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  25. ^ a b Shapiro, Mark (June 19, 1998). "Abdul-Rauf Leaves NBA for Turkey". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  26. ^ "N.B.A.; Webber Traded to Sacramento". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 15, 1998. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  27. ^ "Webber Dealt to Kings for Richmond, Thorpe". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 15, 1998. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  28. ^ Bucher, Ric (May 15, 1998). "Webber Traded to Sacramento". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  29. ^ Bembry, Jerry (May 15, 1998). "Wizards Trade Webber to Kings; Richmond, Thorpe Add "Stability," "Maturity"". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  30. ^ White, Joseph (May 15, 1998). "Wizards Trade Webber to Kings". Associated Press. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  31. ^ Wise, Mike (January 21, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; The Business of Basketball Now Begins in Earnest". The New York Times. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  32. ^ "Around the NBA". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. January 23, 1999. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  33. ^ "SONICS: Owens Signs Three-Year Deal". Kitsap Sun. Sun News Services. January 23, 1999. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  34. ^ Johnson, L.C. (February 20, 1999). "Headliners". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  35. ^ Wise, Mike (February 4, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  36. ^ "Kings Ax Head Coach, Assistant". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. August 18, 1998. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  37. ^ Thompson, Jack (August 19, 1998). "Jordan Not Returning--to Kings, Who Fire Coach". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 21, 2023.

See also

[edit]
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