1997–98 Toronto Raptors season
The 1997–98 NBA season was Toronto's third season of the team's franchise.[1] The Raptors selected high school star Tracy McGrady with their ninth overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft. Due to player injuries, the Raptors struggled losing seventeen consecutive games early in the season. Scoring leader Damon Stoudamire was later traded to the Portland Trail Blazers at midseason. Head coach Darrell Walker was fired and replaced with Butch Carter. The Raptors finished the season with the worst record in the Eastern Conference, 16–66.
Draft picks
Roster
Toronto Raptors roster |
Players | Coaches |
Pos. | No. | Name | Height | Weight | DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) | From |
1.0 !PG |
3 |
USA ! |
Billups, Chauncey |
7000190500000000000♠6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
202 lb (92 kg) |
|
Colorado |
2.0 !SG |
7 |
USA ! |
Brown, Dee |
7000185420000000000♠6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
160 lb (73 kg) |
|
Jacksonville |
4.5 !PF |
21 |
USA ! |
Camby, Marcus |
7000210820000000000♠6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
220 lb (100 kg) |
|
Massachusetts |
2.0 !SG |
13 |
USA ! |
Christie, Doug |
7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
200 lb (91 kg) |
|
Pepperdine |
1.0 !PG |
00 |
USA ! |
Garner, Chris |
7000177800000000000♠5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
156 lb (71 kg) |
|
Memphis |
3.0 !SF |
1 |
USA ! |
McGrady, Tracy |
7000203200000000000♠6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
210 lb (95 kg) |
|
Mt. Zion Christian Academy (HS) |
6.0 !C |
2 |
USA ! |
Miller, Oliver |
7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
280 lb (127 kg) |
|
Arkansas |
4.5 !PF |
9 |
USA ! |
Rogers, Roy |
7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
235 lb (107 kg) |
|
Alabama |
4.5 !PF |
35 |
USA ! |
Slater, Reggie |
7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
215 lb (98 kg) |
|
Wyoming |
4.5 !PF |
12 |
USA ! |
Thomas, John |
7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
265 lb (120 kg) |
|
Minnesota |
4.5 !PF |
33 |
USA ! |
Trent, Gary |
7000203200000000000♠6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
250 lb (113 kg) |
|
Ohio |
3.0 !SF |
44 |
USA ! |
Wallace, John |
7000203200000000000♠6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
225 lb (102 kg) |
|
Syracuse |
2.0 !SG |
22 |
USA ! |
Williams, Alvin |
7000195580000000000♠6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
185 lb (84 kg) |
|
Villanova |
6.0 !C |
4 |
USA ! |
Wright, Sharone |
7000210820000000000♠6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
260 lb (118 kg) |
|
Clemson |
|
- Head coach
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (S) Suspended
- Injured
Roster |
Regular season
In February 1998, Damon Stoudamire was traded by the Raptors along with Walt Williams and Carlos Rogers to the Portland Trail Blazers, for Kenny Anderson, Alvin Williams, Gary Trent, two first-round draft choices, a second-round draft choice and an amount of money. Anderson refused to report to the team, because he did not want to play in Canada. He was then sent along with Popeye Jones and Zan Tabak to the Boston Celtics for Chauncey Billups, Dee Brown, John Thomas and Roy Rogers.
Lows
A seventeen-game losing streak at the start of the season.
Season standings
Game log
1997–98 game log
|
October: 0–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–1)
|
November: 1–14 (Home: 1–7; Road: 0–7)
Game |
Date Time |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location Attendance |
Record |
2 |
November 1 |
@ Atlanta |
L 85–90 |
Damon Stoudamire (21) |
Popeye Jones (7) |
Damon Stoudamire (6) |
Alexander Memorial Coliseum 8,539 |
0-2 |
3 |
November 4 |
Golden State |
W 104–86 |
John Wallace (17) |
Doug Christie (8) |
Damon Stoudamire (13) |
SkyDome 16,624 |
1-2 |
4 |
November 6 |
Seattle |
L 92–109 |
Damon Stoudamire (22) |
Marcus Camby (9) |
Damon Stoudamire (7) |
SkyDome 15,459 |
1-3 |
5 |
November 8 |
@ Orlando |
L 87–96 |
Marcus Camby (17) |
Doug Christie (7) |
Damon Stoudamire (9) |
Orlando Arena 17,248 |
1-4 |
6 |
November 10 |
San Antonio |
L 98–100 |
Doug Christie (26) |
Popeye Jones (12) |
Damon Stoudamire (13) |
SkyDome 18,174 |
1-5 |
7 |
November 12 |
New York |
L 70–93 |
John Wallace (13) |
Popeye Jones (7) |
Damon Stoudamire (7) |
SkyDome 18,143 |
1-6 |
8 |
November 14 |
@ Boston |
L 99–103 |
Walt Williams (25) |
Walt Williams (12) |
Damon Stoudamire (9) |
FleetCenter 17,224 |
1-7 |
9 |
November 15 |
Indiana |
L 77–105 |
John Wallace (17) |
Tracy McGrady (11) |
Damon Stoudamire (14) |
SkyDome 17,188 |
1-8 |
10 |
November 18 |
Boston |
L 109–122 |
John Wallace (30) |
John Wallace (12) |
Shawn Respert, Damon Stoudamire (6) |
SkyDome 16,343 |
1-9 |
11 |
November 20 |
@ Houston |
L 97–127 |
Damon Stoudamire (25) |
Damon Stoudamire (11) |
Damon Stoudamire (4) |
Compaq Center 16,285 |
1-10 |
12 |
November 22 |
@ Miami |
L 104–108 |
John Wallace (28) |
Žan Tabak (9) |
Damon Stoudamire (11) |
Miami Arena 14,381 |
1-11 |
13 |
November 24 |
Portland |
L 90–91 |
Damon Stoudamire (29) |
Popeye Jones, Reggie Slater (7) |
Damon Stoudamire (11) |
SkyDome 15,051 |
1-12 |
14 |
November 26 |
Atlanta |
L 104–109 (2OT) |
John Wallace (30) |
Popeye Jones (16) |
Damon Stoudamire (13) |
SkyDome 15,639 |
1-13 |
15 |
November 28 |
@ Dallas |
L 91–93 |
Doug Christie (27) |
John Wallace (10) |
Damon Stoudamire (6) |
Reunion Arena 13,327 |
1-14 |
16 |
November 30 |
@ L.A. Lakers |
L 99–105 |
John Wallace (25) |
Popeye Jones (9) |
Damon Stoudamire (11) |
Great Western Forum 14,940 |
1-15 |
|
December: 3–11 (Home: 1–5; Road: 2–6)
Game |
Date Time |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location Attendance |
Record |
17 |
December 3 |
@ Utah |
L 98–115 |
Damon Stoudamire (25) |
Oliver Miller (8) |
Oliver Miller (4) |
Delta Center 19,590 |
1-16 |
18 |
December 5 |
@ Phoenix |
L 91–110 |
John Wallace (20) |
Oliver Miller (9) |
Damon Stoudamire (4) |
America West Arena 19,023 |
1-17 |
19 |
December 7 |
Detroit |
L 83–93 |
John Wallace (23) |
Oliver Miller (9) |
Damon Stoudamire (9) |
SkyDome 16,289 |
1-18 |
20 |
December 9 |
Charlotte |
L 82–95 |
Damon Stoudamire (20) |
Oliver Miller (12) |
Damon Stoudamire (7) |
SkyDome 16,325 |
1-19 |
21 |
December 10 |
@ Philadelphia |
W 104–97 |
Walt Williams (39) |
Oliver Miller (11) |
Damon Stoudamire (14) |
CoreStates Center 11,833 |
2-19 |
22 |
December 13 |
@ Chicago |
L 70–97 |
John Wallace (14) |
John Wallace (7) |
Chris Garner, Damon Stoudamire (3) |
United Center 23,867 |
2-20 |
23 |
December 15 |
Indiana |
L 101–108 |
Marcus Camby (28) |
Oliver Miller (8) |
Damon Stoudamire (15) |
SkyDome 14,562 |
2-21 |
24 |
December 17 |
Boston |
L 83–88 |
Tracy McGrady (17) |
Oliver Miller (8) |
Damon Stoudamire (5) |
SkyDome 14,771 |
2-22 |
25 |
December 19 |
Milwaukee |
W 92–91 |
Damon Stoudamire (36) |
Marcus Camby (14) |
Damon Stoudamire (8) |
SkyDome 15,076 |
3-22 |
26 |
December 20 |
Washington |
L 92–94 |
Marcus Camby, Damon Stoudamire (18) |
Damon Stoudamire (7) |
Damon Stoudamire (8) |
SkyDome 15,434 |
3-23 |
27 |
December 22 |
@ Charlotte |
L 79–81 |
Damon Stoudamire (21) |
Doug Christie, Damon Stoudamire (7) |
Doug Christie (6) |
Charlotte Coliseum 23,449 |
3-24 |
28 |
December 27 |
@ New York |
W 97–94 |
Damon Stoudamire (30) |
Reggie Slater (11) |
Damon Stoudamire (5) |
Madison Square Garden 19,763 |
4-24 |
29 |
December 30 |
@ Detroit |
L 95–100 |
Damon Stoudamire (36) |
Oliver Miller (11) |
Damon Stoudamire (8) |
The Palace of Auburn Hills 19,087 |
4-25 |
30 |
December 31 |
@ Washington |
L 91–118 |
Damon Stoudamire (19) |
Tracy McGrady, Damon Stoudamire (5) |
Damon Stoudamire (7) |
MCI Center 19,651 |
4-26 |
|
January: 6–8 (Home: 4–5; Road: 2–3)
Game |
Date Time |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location Attendance |
Record |
31 |
January 2 |
Detroit |
L 88–91 |
Doug Christie (23) |
Doug Christie (8) |
Damon Stoudamire (16) |
SkyDome 17,292 |
4-27 |
32 |
January 3 |
@ Indiana |
L 77–89 |
John Wallace (18) |
Oliver Miller (12) |
Damon Stoudamire (6) |
Market Square Arena 16,259 |
4-28 |
33 |
January 5 |
Houston |
L 96–120 |
Oliver Miller (22) |
Doug Christie, Žan Tabak (7) |
Damon Stoudamire (12) |
SkyDome 16,375 |
4-29 |
34 |
January 7 |
Orlando |
L 81–83 |
Damon Stoudamire (26) |
Doug Christie (12) |
Damon Stoudamire (7) |
SkyDome 15,168 |
4-30 |
35 |
January 10 |
@ Cleveland |
W 102–93 |
Damon Stoudamire (34) |
Oliver Miller (11) |
Damon Stoudamire (7) |
Gund Arena 17,864 |
5-30 |
36 |
January 12 |
New Jersey |
L 100–108 |
Damon Stoudamire (19) |
Marcus Camby (13) |
Damon Stoudamire (6) |
SkyDome 14,376 |
5-31 |
37 |
January 14 |
L.A. Clippers |
W 109–101 |
Damon Stoudamire (36) |
Marcus Camby, Oliver Miller (6) |
Damon Stoudamire (11) |
SkyDome 15,073 |
6-31 |
38 |
January 17 |
New York |
L 82–93 |
Marcus Camby (22) |
Carlos Rogers (11) |
Damon Stoudamire (10) |
SkyDome 18,898 |
6-32 |
39 |
January 19 |
@ Charlotte |
L 88–109 |
Žan Tabak (23) |
Žan Tabak (7) |
Damon Stoudamire (12) |
Charlotte Coliseum 21,934 |
6-33 |
40 |
January 21 |
Sacramento |
W 99–98 |
Damon Stoudamire (36) |
Marcus Camby (18) |
Damon Stoudamire (11) |
SkyDome 14,212 |
7-33 |
41 |
January 24 |
Minnesota |
W 113–107 (OT) |
Doug Christie (31) |
Marcus Camby, Oliver Miller (12) |
Damon Stoudamire (10) |
SkyDome 15,778 |
8-33 |
42 |
January 26 |
Philadelphia |
W 91–87 |
Doug Christie (26) |
Marcus Camby (10) |
Damon Stoudamire (8) |
SkyDome 14,458 |
9-33 |
43 |
January 29 |
@ Denver |
W 84–80 |
Damon Stoudamire (22) |
Oliver Miller (8) |
Damon Stoudamire (5) |
McNichols Sports Arena 9,629 |
10-33 |
44 |
January 30 |
@ Sacramento |
L 97–123 |
John Wallace (18) |
Marcus Camby, Carlos Rogers (6) |
Doug Christie, John Wallace (3) |
ARCO Arena 14,170 |
10-34 |
|
February: 3–9 (Home: 2–4; Road: 1–5)
Game |
Date Time |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location Attendance |
Record |
45 |
February 1 |
@ Portland |
L 90–97 |
Damon Stoudamire (21) |
John Wallace (9) |
Damon Stoudamire (9) |
Rose Garden 20,792 |
10-35 |
46 |
February 3 |
Phoenix |
L 105–110 |
Doug Christie, Walt Williams (24) |
Marcus Camby (10) |
Damon Stoudamire (8) |
SkyDome 14,344 |
10-36 |
47 |
February 5 |
Dallas |
W 101–93 |
Damon Stoudamire (21) |
Marcus Camby (16) |
Damon Stoudamire (8) |
SkyDome 14,292 |
11-36 |
48 |
February 10 |
@ Chicago |
L 86–93 |
Damon Stoudamire (19) |
Marcus Camby (11) |
Damon Stoudamire, Walt Williams (4) |
United Center 23,881 |
11-37 |
49 |
February 12 |
Cleveland |
L 94–103 |
Doug Christie (26) |
Oliver Miller (8) |
Oliver Miller (10) |
SkyDome 14,348 |
11-38 |
50 |
February 13 |
@ New Jersey |
L 115–130 |
John Wallace (29) |
John Wallace (12) |
John Wallace (6) |
Continental Airlines Arena 14,263 |
11-39 |
51 |
February 15 |
Miami |
L 95–116 |
John Wallace (27) |
Tracy McGrady (8) |
Chris Garner (7) |
SkyDome 16,888 |
11-40 |
52 |
February 19 |
Chicago |
L 86–123 |
John Wallace (19) |
Oliver Miller (7) |
Doug Christie (5) |
SkyDome 30,172 |
11-41 |
53 |
February 20 |
@ Milwaukee |
L 89–94 |
Doug Christie (23) |
Marcus Camby (10) |
Oliver Miller (4) |
Bradley Center 17,856 |
11-42 |
54 |
February 22 |
Vancouver |
W 113–105 (OT) |
Chauncey Billups (27) |
Gary Trent (15) |
Doug Christie (7) |
SkyDome 16,932 |
12-42 |
55 |
February 26 |
@ San Antonio |
L 86–97 |
Doug Christie (17) |
Gary Trent (10) |
Oliver Miller (6) |
Alamodome 13,978 |
12-43 |
56 |
February 27 |
@ Orlando |
W 115–107 (3OT) |
Doug Christie (35) |
Marcus Camby (13) |
Dee Brown (9) |
Orlando Arena 16,947 |
13-43 |
|
March: 2–13 (Home: 1–7; Road: 1–6)
Game |
Date Time |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location Attendance |
Record |
57 |
March 3 |
Utah |
L 93–108 |
Chauncey Billups (26) |
Gary Trent (7) |
Oliver Miller (8) |
SkyDome 16,448 |
13-44 |
58 |
March 4 |
@ Cleveland |
L 88–122 |
Doug Christie (16) |
Marcus Camby, Oliver Miller (5) |
Dee Brown, John Wallace (4) |
Gund Arena 15,017 |
13-45 |
59 |
March 6 |
@ Minnesota |
L 91–113 |
Chauncey Billups (20) |
Marcus Camby (9) |
Oliver Miller (4) |
Target Center 18,156 |
13-46 |
60 |
March 8 |
@ Vancouver |
L 106–113 |
Dee Brown (21) |
Doug Christie (8) |
Oliver Miller (8) |
General Motors Place 16,098 |
13-47 |
61 |
March 10 |
@ Seattle |
L 93–111 |
John Wallace (25) |
John Wallace (9) |
Doug Christie, John Wallace (5) |
KeyArena 17,072 |
13-48 |
62 |
March 13 |
@ L.A. Clippers |
L 120–152 |
Reggie Slater (20) |
Oliver Miller (7) |
Oliver Miller (4) |
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 6,152 |
13-49 |
63 |
March 15 |
@ Golden State |
W 100–98 (OT) |
Doug Christie (24) |
Marcus Camby (16) |
Oliver Miller (4) |
The New Arena in Oakland 13,063 |
14-49 |
64 |
March 17 |
Atlanta |
L 105–117 |
Doug Christie (30) |
Oliver Miller (9) |
Doug Christie (8) |
SkyDome 16,546 |
14-50 |
65 |
March 19 |
Denver |
W 104–103 (OT) |
Dee Brown (24) |
Doug Christie (9) |
Dee Brown, Doug Christie, Oliver Miller (5) |
SkyDome 14,274 |
15-50 |
66 |
March 20 |
@ Detroit |
L 99–105 |
Chauncey Billups (22) |
Marcus Camby (8) |
Doug Christie (7) |
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 |
15-51 |
67 |
March 22 |
Chicago |
L 100–102 |
John Wallace (26) |
Doug Christie, Tracy McGrady (9) |
Tracy McGrady (8) |
SkyDome 33,216 |
15-52 |
68 |
March 24 |
Charlotte |
L 89–106 |
Marcus Camby (20) |
John Wallace (10) |
Chauncey Billups (6) |
SkyDome 14,490 |
15-53 |
69 |
March 26 |
Cleveland |
L 96–97 |
Doug Christie (26) |
Marcus Camby (13) |
Doug Christie (8) |
SkyDome 14,120 |
15-54 |
70 |
March 29 |
Orlando |
L 68–95 |
Doug Christie (20) |
Oliver Miller (11) |
Chauncey Billups (4) |
SkyDome 16,876 |
15-55 |
71 |
March 31 |
L.A. Lakers |
L 105–114 |
Chauncey Billups (21) |
Marcus Camby, Gary Trent (7) |
Chauncey Billups, Oliver Miller (6) |
Maple Leaf Gardens 16,086 |
15-56 |
|
April: 1–10 (Home: 0–4; Road: 1–6)
Game |
Date Time |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location Attendance |
Record |
72 |
April 1 |
@ Atlanta |
L 91–105 |
Doug Christie, Gary Trent (14) |
Marcus Camby, Tracy McGrady (9) |
Doug Christie (3) |
Georgia Dome 10,441 |
15-57 |
73 |
April 3 |
@ Washington |
L 112–120 |
Dee Brown (30) |
Gary Trent (10) |
Dee Brown (6) |
MCI Center 18,324 |
15-58 |
74 |
April 5 |
@ Philadelphia |
L 104–116 |
Gary Trent (25) |
Tracy McGrady (13) |
Dee Brown (6) |
CoreStates Center 15,808 |
15-59 |
75 |
April 7 |
@ Milwaukee |
L 105–114 |
Doug Christie (20) |
Reggie Slater (8) |
Doug Christie (5) |
Bradley Center 13,288 |
15-60 |
76 |
April 8 |
Milwaukee |
L 100–107 |
Gary Trent (24) |
Chauncey Billups, Tracy McGrady (9) |
Doug Christie (8) |
SkyDome 14,168 |
15-61 |
77 |
April 10 |
Miami |
L 105–111 (OT) |
Doug Christie (26) |
Tracy McGrady (15) |
Doug Christie (7) |
SkyDome 16,111 |
15-62 |
78 |
April 12 |
New Jersey |
L 109–116 |
Dee Brown (30) |
Marcus Camby (11) |
Tracy McGrady (6) |
SkyDome 14,088 |
15-63 |
79 |
April 14 |
@ New Jersey |
W 96–92 |
Doug Christie (23) |
Marcus Camby (12) |
Chauncey Billups, Doug Christie (4) |
Continental Airlines Arena 17,521 |
16-63 |
80 |
April 16 |
@ New York |
L 79–108 |
Doug Christie (14) |
Doug Christie, Tracy McGrady (7) |
Dee Brown (4) |
Madison Square Garden 19,763 |
16-64 |
81 |
April 17 |
@ Indiana |
L 98–107 |
Doug Christie (24) |
Gary Trent (12) |
Chauncey Billups (5) |
Market Square Arena 16,059 |
16-65 |
82 |
April 19 |
Philadelphia |
L 78–107 |
Doug Christie (16) |
Marcus Camby (11) |
Doug Christie (4) |
Maple Leaf Gardens 14,578 |
16-66 |
|
1997–98 season schedule |
Player statistics
Regular season
Player |
GP |
GS |
MPG |
FG% |
3P% |
FT% |
RPG |
APG |
SPG |
BPG |
PPG |
Billups, Chauncey !Chauncey Billups* |
29 | 26 | 31.7 | .349 | .316 | .919 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 1.03 | .07 | 11.3 |
Brown, Dee !Dee Brown* |
31 | 2 | 29.3 | .446 | .411 | .907 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 1.23 | .55 | 12.2 |
Camby, Marcus !Marcus Camby |
63 | 58 | 31.8 | .412 | .000 | .611 | 7.4 | 1.8 | 1.08 | 3.65 | 12.1 |
Christie, Doug !Doug Christie |
78 | 78 | 37.7 | .428 | .326 | .829 | 5.2 | 3.6 | 2.44 | .73 | 16.5 |
Garner, Chris !Chris Garner |
38 | 0 | 7.7 | .329 | .286 | .429 | .6 | 1.2 | .55 | .11 | 1.4 |
Kempton, Tim !Tim Kempton* |
5 | 0 | 6.4 | .286 | .000 | .000 | 1.0 | .4 | .20 | .40 | .8 |
McCann, Bob !Bob McCann |
1 | 0 | 5.0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 1.0 | .0 | .00 | .00 | .0 |
McGrady, Tracy !Tracy McGrady |
64 | 17 | 18.4 | .450 | .341 | .712 | 4.2 | 1.5 | .77 | .95 | 7.0 |
Miller, Oliver !Oliver Miller |
64 | 53 | 25.4 | .461 | .000 | .604 | 6.3 | 3.1 | .91 | 1.13 | 6.3 |
Rogers, Roy !Roy Rogers* |
6 | 0 | 11.5 | .353 | .000 | .250 | 2.0 | .2 | .17 | .67 | 2.2 |
Slater, Reggie !Reggie Slater |
78 | 28 | 21.3 | .460 | .000 | .630 | 3.9 | .9 | .58 | .38 | 8.0 |
Stokes, Ed !Ed Stokes |
4 | 0 | 4.3 | .333 | .000 | .500 | 1.0 | .3 | .25 | .50 | .8 |
Thomas, John !John Thomas* |
21 | 0 | 8.0 | .424 | .000 | .714 | 1.7 | .2 | .14 | .14 | 2.0 |
Trent, Gary !Gary Trent* |
13 | 7 | 27.3 | .438 | .000 | .633 | 8.0 | 1.1 | .62 | .62 | 12.2 |
Wallace, John !John Wallace |
82 | 36 | 28.8 | .478 | .500 | .717 | 4.5 | 1.3 | .76 | 1.23 | 14.0 |
Williams, Alvin !Alvin Williams* |
13 | 3 | 15.9 | .364 | .500 | .636 | 1.6 | 1.5 | .62 | .08 | 3.2 |
Wright, Sharone !Sharone Wright |
7 | 0 | 6.3 | .500 | .000 | .500 | 1.3 | .6 | .00 | .00 | 2.3 |
* Statistics include only games with the Raptors
References
External links