1997–98 Washington Wizards season

1997–98 Washington Wizards season
Head coach	Bernie Bickerstaff
Arena	MCI Center
Results
Record	42–40 (.512)
Place	Division: 4th (Atlantic) Conference: 9th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	DNQ
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	Home Team Sports, UPN Washington
Radio	WTEM

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Wizards' 37th season in the National Basketball Association.^[1] There was a new beginning for basketball in Washington D.C. as the team changed its name to the "Wizards", fearing "Bullets" endorsed gun violence. The team also got a new logo, and new uniforms with blue, black and bronze colors. The Wizards got off to a slow 5–11 start to the season, losing their first five home games at US Airways Arena. In December, they moved into their new arena, the MCI Center, posting a 24–12 home record for the remainder of the season. The Wizards won their final four games of the season to finish fourth in the Atlantic Division with a 42–40 record, falling just one game short of making the playoffs. Rod Strickland led the league with 10.5 assists per game and made the All-NBA Second Team. Following the season, Chris Webber was traded to the Sacramento Kings,^[2] and Gheorghe Mureșan, who missed the entire season with a foot injury was released.

Offseason

Draft picks

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
2	45	God Shammgod	PG	United States	Providence College
2	48	Predrag Drobnjak	C	Montenegro

The Wizards forfeited their 1997 first round pick in connection with the signing of Juwan Howard in 1996. Washington would have had the 17th pick.

Roster

Washington Wizards roster

Players

Coaches

Pos.	No.	Name	Height	Weight	DOB (YYYY-MM-DD)
2.0 !SG	40	USA !	Cheaney, Calbert	7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	209 lb (95 kg)	Indiana
6.0 !C	52	USA !	Davis, Terry	7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	Virginia Union
2.0 !SG	21	USA !	Eackles, Ledell	7000195580000000000♠6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	New Orleans
4.5 !PF	44	USA !	Grant, Harvey	7000203200000000000♠6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	Oklahoma
3.0 !SF	31	USA !	Ham, Darvin	7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	Texas Tech
3.0 !SF	5	USA !	Howard, Juwan	7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	240 lb (109 kg)	Michigan
2.0 !SG	23	USA !	Legler, Tim	7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	La Salle
6.0 !C	77	ROM !	Mureșan, Gheorghe (IN)	7000231140000000000♠7 ft 7 in (2.31 m)	303 lb (137 kg)	Romania
3.0 !SF	35	USA !	Murray, Tracy	7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	UCLA
1.0 !PG	2	USA !	Shammgod, God	7000182880000000000♠6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	169 lb (77 kg)	Providence
1.0 !PG	1	USA !	Strickland, Rod	7000190500000000000♠6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	DePaul
6.0 !C	30	USA !	Wallace, Ben	7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	240 lb (109 kg)	Virginia Union
4.5 !PF	4	USA !	Webber, Chris	7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	245 lb (111 kg)	Michigan
1.0 !PG	12	USA !	Whitney, Chris	7000182880000000000♠6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	168 lb (76 kg)	Clemson
6.0 !C	43	USA !	Williams, Lorenzo	7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	Stetson

Head coach

Bernie Bickerstaff (San Diego)

Legend

(C) Team captain
(DP) Unsigned draft pick
(FA) Free agent
(S) Suspended
Injured

Roster • Transactions

Roster Notes

Center Gheorghe Mureșan missed the entire season due to a foot injury.

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Miami Heat	55	27	.671	–	30-11	25–16	18–6
x-New York Knicks	43	39	.524	12	28–13	15–26	13–11
x-New Jersey Nets	43	39	.524	12	26–15	17–24	12–12
Washington Wizards	42	40	.512	13	24–17	18–23	12–13
Orlando Magic	41	41	.500	14	24–17	17–24	11–13
Boston Celtics	36	46	.439	19	24–17	12–29	12–23
Philadelphia 76ers	31	51	.378	24	19–22	12–29	7–17

#	Eastern Conference
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Chicago Bulls	62	20	.756	–
2	y-Miami Heat	55	27	.671	7
3	x-Indiana Pacers	58	24	.707	4
4	x-Charlotte Hornets	51	31	.622	11
5	x-Atlanta Hawks	50	32	.610	12
6	x-Cleveland Cavaliers	47	35	.573	15
7	x-New York Knicks	43	39	.524	19
8	x-New Jersey Nets	43	39	.524	19

9	Washington Wizards	42	40	.512	20
10	Orlando Magic	41	41	.500	21
11	Detroit Pistons	37	45	.451	25
12	Boston Celtics	36	46	.439	26
12	Milwaukee Bucks	36	46	.439	26
14	Philadelphia 76ers	31	51	.378	31
15	Toronto Raptors	16	66	.195	46

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

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	—

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

Awards and records

Rod Strickland, All-NBA Second Team

References

↑ 1997-98 Washington Wizards
↑ "N.B.A.; Webber Traded to Sacramento". New York Times. May 15, 1998. Retrieved July 28, 2017.

Washington Wizards
Founded in 1961 Formerly the Chicago Packers (1961–1962), the Chicago Zephyrs (1962–1963), the Baltimore Bullets (1963–1973), the Capital Bullets (1973–1974), and the Washington Bullets (1974–1997) Based in Washington, D.C.
Franchise	Franchise Expansion Draft All-time roster Draft history Head coaches Seasons Current season
Arenas	International Amphitheatre Chicago Coliseum Baltimore Civic Center Cole Field House Capital Centre/US Airways Arena Capital One Arena
General Managers	Ferry Nash Unseld Grunfeld
G-League affiliate	Washington in 2018
Administration	Ted Leonsis (Owner) Ernie Grunfeld (President & GM of Basketball Ops.) Scott Brooks (Head Coach)
Retired Numbers	10 11 25 41
NBA Championships (1)	1978
Eastern Conference Championships (4)	1971 1975 1978 1979
Culture and lore	Wes Unseld 1975 championship upset It ain't over till the fat lady sings The Big E Abe Pollin Earl the Pearl Agent Zero Robin Ficker
Media	TV WDCW Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic The Comcast Network Radio WJFK-FM Announcers Steve Buckhantz Phil Chenier Dave Johnson Glenn Consor

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