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NBA basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1997–98 NBA season was the 52nd season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association .[ 1] In the 1997 NBA draft , the Celtics selected Chauncey Billups from the University of Colorado with the third overall pick, and selected Ron Mercer from the University of Kentucky with the sixth pick.[ 2] [ 3] Despite finishing with the NBA's second worst record in 1996–97, the Celtics were back in the headlines after hiring University of Kentucky head coach Rick Pitino as their new coach.[ 4] [ 5] [ 6] In the off-season, the team signed free agent Chris Mills ,[ 7] but then sent him to the New York Knicks in exchange for second-year forward Walter McCarty in October,[ 8] [ 9] and also signed second-year center Travis Knight ,[ 10] [ 11] Andrew DeClercq ,[ 12] Bruce Bowen and Tyus Edney .
Pitino's Celtics career had an auspicious beginning on opening night when the Celtics upset Michael Jordan , and the 5-time defending NBA Champion Chicago Bulls , 92–85 at the FleetCenter on October 31, 1997.[ 13] [ 14] After a 1–5 start to the season, the Celtics held a 16–14 record as of January 3, but then lost eight of their next nine games. At midseason, the team traded Billups along with Dee Brown to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Kenny Anderson and Popeye Jones ; the Raptors had acquired Anderson from the Portland Trail Blazers .[ 15] [ 16] [ 17] The Celtics held a 22–25 record at the All-Star break,[ 18] and continued to struggle as they later on posted a six-game losing streak in March. Although the team did not make the playoffs , they improved their win total by 21 games from the previous season, finishing sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 36–46 record.[ 19]
Second-year star Antoine Walker averaged 22.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, and was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game ,[ 20] while Mercer averaged 15.3 points and 1.6 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In addition, McCarty provided the team with 9.6 points and 1.3 steals per game, and Dana Barros contributed 9.8 points and 3.6 assists per game off the bench. On the defensive side, Knight averaged 6.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, and DeClercq provided with 5.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.[ 21] Following the season, Knight was traded back to his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers ,[ 22] [ 23] and Edney left to play overseas.
Draft picks
Roster
1997–98 Boston Celtics roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
G
7
Anderson, Kenny
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
168 lb (76 kg)
1970–10–09
Georgia Tech
G
11
Barros, Dana
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
163 lb (74 kg)
1967–04–13
Boston College
F
12
Bowen, Bruce
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1971–06–14
Cal State Fullerton
C
45
DeClercq, Andrew
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1973–02–01
Florida
G
20
Edney, Tyus
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
152 lb (69 kg)
1973–02–14
UCLA
F
29
Ellison, Pervis (C)
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1967–04–03
Louisville
F
34
Hanson, Reggie
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1968–10–06
Kentucky
F
13
Jones, Dontae'
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1975–06–02
Mississippi State
F
4
Jones, Popeye (IN)
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1970–06–17
Murray State
C
40
Knight, Travis
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1974–09–13
Connecticut
F
0
McCarty, Walter
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1974–02–01
Kentucky
G
5
Mercer, Ron
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1976–05–18
Kentucky
G
9
Minor, Greg
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1971–09–18
Louisville
C
55
Tabak, Žan
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
1970–06–15
Croatia
F
8
Walker, Antoine (C)
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
224 lb (102 kg)
1976–08–12
Kentucky
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended(IN) Inactive Injured
Roster Last transaction: April 14, 1998
Roster Notes
Regular season
Season standings
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
—
Game log
Player statistics
Awards and records
Transactions
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(February 2013 )
References
^ 1997-98 Boston Celtics
^ Wise, Mike (June 26, 1997). "After Duncan, Utah Forward Steals Show" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 25, 2021 .
^ Cotton, Anthony (June 26, 1997). "No. 1 Pick Turns Duncan Into Spur of Moment" . The Washington Post . Retrieved September 24, 2022 .
^ "With Pitino in Boston, Bird Goes to Pacers" . The New York Times . May 9, 1997. Retrieved December 30, 2021 .
^ Dohrmann, George (May 7, 1997). "Pitino Is Lured by Celtic Green" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved September 23, 2022 .
^ Greenberg, Alan (May 7, 1997). "Pitino Celtics' 1st Step" . Hartford Courant . Retrieved June 27, 2022 .
^ "Transactions" . Hartford Courant . August 23, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2022 .
^ Roberts, Selena (October 23, 1997). "PRO BASKETBALL; Knicks Send Four Players to the Celtics for Mills" . The New York Times . Retrieved January 22, 2022 .
^ Press, Associated (October 23, 1997). "Knicks Trade Four Players to Get Mills" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved October 3, 2022 .
^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (July 5, 1997). "Knight Agrees to $22-Million Celtic Contract" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November 7, 2022 .
^ Greenberg, Alan (July 8, 1997). "To Sign Knight, Celtics Give Up Rights to Fox" . Hartford Courant . Retrieved July 12, 2022 .
^ Greenberg, Alan (October 26, 1997). "Can Pitino Handle Full Control?" . Hartford Courant . Retrieved October 7, 2022 .
^ Berkow, Ira (November 1, 1997). "PRO BASKETBALL; Pitino Begins Era by Beating Bulls" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 26, 2017 .
^ Armour, Terry (November 1, 1997). "Celtics 92, Bulls 85" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved May 24, 2022 .
^ Wise, Mike (February 19, 1998). "BASKETBALL; Kenny Anderson Is Traded to Celtics in 7-Player Deal" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 21, 2017 .
^ Press, Associated (February 19, 1998). "Celtics Land Anderson in Deal with Raptors" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved September 23, 2022 .
^ Press, Associated (February 14, 1998). "Stoudamire Finally Traded to Portland" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved June 27, 2022 .
^ "NBA Games Played on February 5, 1998" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved July 19, 2022 .
^ "1997–98 Boston Celtics Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021 .
^ "1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved November 27, 2021 .
^ "1997–98 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021 .
^ "Knight's Out" . Hartford Courant . January 20, 1999. Retrieved November 7, 2022 .
^ Wise, Mike (February 4, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title" . The New York Times . Retrieved June 28, 2022 .
^ Szostak, Mike (June 26, 1998). "Celtics Caught in the Middle" . South Coast Today . Retrieved November 7, 2022 .
See also
Franchise Arenas Personnel G League affiliate Retired numbers NBA championships Rivalries Culture and lore
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