1996–97 Milwaukee Bucks season

The 1996–97 NBA season was the 29th season for the Milwaukee Bucks in the National Basketball Association.^[1] The Bucks received the fourth overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft, and selected point guard Stephon Marbury out of Georgia Tech University, but soon traded him to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for shooting guard, and top draft pick Ray Allen from the University of Connecticut.^[2][3][4] During the off-season, the team signed free agent Armen Gilliam,^[5][6][7] acquired Andrew Lang from the Timberwolves,^[8] and acquired Elliot Perry from the Phoenix Suns.^[9][10]

1996–97 Milwaukee Bucks season
Head coach	Chris Ford
General manager	Mike Dunleavy
Owner(s)	Herb Kohl
Arena	Bradley Center
Results
Record	33–49 (.402)
Place	Division: 7th (Central) Conference: 11th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WVTV Wisconsin Sports Network (Jim Paschke, Jon McGlocklin)
Radio	WTMJ
< 1995–96 1997–98 >

Under new head coach Chris Ford,^[11][12] along with the new trio of Allen, Vin Baker and Glenn Robinson, the Bucks appeared to be on their way breaking out of the gate with a 15–11 start to the regular season. However, they could not maintain that momentum as they slipped under .500, holding a 21–26 record at the All-Star break.^[13] At mid-season, the team traded second-year guard Shawn Respert to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Acie Earl.^[14][15][16] The Bucks lost eight straight games between February and March, missing the NBA playoffs for the sixth consecutive year, by finishing in seventh place in the Central Division with a 33–49 record.^[17]

Baker averaged 21.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland, Ohio,^[18][19][20] while Robinson averaged 21.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, and Allen provided the team with 13.4 points per game, led them with 117 three-point field goals, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. In addition, Sherman Douglas contributed 9.7 points and 5.4 assists per game, while Johnny Newman provided with 8.7 points per game off the bench, Gilliam averaged 8.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, Perry contributed 6.9 points, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game off the bench, and Lang averaged 5.3 points and rebounds per game each,^[21] but only played 52 games due to an Achilles injury.^[22][23]

Following the season, Baker was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics in an off-season three-team trade,^[24][25][26] while Newman was dealt to the Denver Nuggets,^[27][28][29] Douglas, who was involved in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers, signed as a free agent with the New Jersey Nets,^[30][31][32] and Earl was released to free agency.

Draft picks

Main article: 1996 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	4	Stephon Marbury	PG	United States	Georgia Tech
2	33	Moochie Norris	PG	United States	West Florida
2	53	Jeff Nordgaard	SF	United States	Wisconsin-Green Bay

Roster

1996–97 Milwaukee Bucks roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From G 34 Ray Allen 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1975–07–20 Connecticut F 42 Vin Baker 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 232 lb (105 kg) 1971–11–23 Hartford F 52 Chucky Brown 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 214 lb (97 kg) 1968–02–29 NC State G 20 Sherman Douglas 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1966–09–15 Syracuse C 55 Acie Earl 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1970–06–23 Iowa F 10 Armen Gilliam 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1964–05–28 UNLV C 28 Andrew Lang 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1966–06–28 Arkansas G 21 Cuonzo Martin 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 213 lb (97 kg) 1971–09–23 Purdue G 22 Johnny Newman 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1963–11–28 Richmond G 5 Elliot Perry 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 150 lb (68 kg) 1969–03–28 Memphis F 13 Glenn Robinson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1973–01–10 Purdue C 51 Keith Tower 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1970–05–15 Notre Dame C 23 Joe Wolf 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1964–12–17 North Carolina F 7 David Wood 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 227 lb (103 kg) 1964–11–30 Nevada

Head coach Chris Ford Assistant(s) Jim Todd Dick Versace Mike Woodson Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Chicago Bulls	69	13	.841	–	39–2	30–11	24–4
x-Atlanta Hawks	56	26	.683	13	36–5	20–21	17–11
x-Detroit Pistons	54	28	.659	15	30–11	24–17	17–11
x-Charlotte Hornets	54	28	.659	15	30–11	24–17	14–14
Cleveland Cavaliers	42	40	.512	27	25–16	17–24	13–15
Indiana Pacers	39	43	.476	30	21–20	18–23	11–17
Milwaukee Bucks	33	49	.402	36	20–21	13–28	10–18
Toronto Raptors	30	52	.366	39	18–23	12–29	6–22

1996–97 NBA East standings

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Chicago Bulls	69	13	.841	–
2	y-Miami Heat	61	21	.744	8
3	x-New York Knicks	57	25	.695	12
4	x-Atlanta Hawks	56	26	.683	13
5	x-Detroit Pistons	54	28	.659	15
6	x-Charlotte Hornets	54	28	.659	15
7	x-Orlando Magic	45	37	.549	24
8	x-Washington Bullets	44	38	.537	25
9	Cleveland Cavaliers	42	40	.512	27
10	Indiana Pacers	39	43	.476	30
11	Milwaukee Bucks	33	49	.402	36
12	Toronto Raptors	30	52	.366	39
13	New Jersey Nets	26	56	.317	43
14	Philadelphia 76ers	22	60	.268	47
15	Boston Celtics	15	67	.183	54

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1996-97 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	–	3–1	1–3	1–3	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–2	4–0	2–0	3–1	1–3	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–1
Boston	1–3	–	0–4	0–4	1–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	1–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–4	0–4	0–4	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	3–1	0–2	0–2	0–4
Charlotte	3–1	4–0	–	0–4	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–2	2–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	1–2	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	0–2	2–0	3–1
Chicago	3–1	4–0	4–0	–	3–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	4–0	2–0	3–1	2–2	3–0	4–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–1
Cleveland	1–3	2–1	1–3	1–3	–	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–2	2–0	4–0	1–3	2–2	3–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	1–3
Dallas	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	–	3–1	0–2	0–4	0–4	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	3–1	0–2
Denver	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–3	–	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	0–4	2–2	2–2	0–4	1–1	0–4	3–1	1–1
Detroit	3–1	4–0	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–0	–	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	0–4	3–1	2–0	4–0	1–2	2–2	2–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	4–0
Golden State	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	4–0	3–1	0–2	–	0–4	1–1	1–3	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–2	1–3	4–0	0–4	2–0	0–4	3–1	0–2
Houston	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	4–0	3–1	1–1	4–0	–	1–1	3–1	3–1	0–2	1–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–2	2–2	4–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–0
Indiana	1–3	2–1	2–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	–	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–2	1–3	1–3	3–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	1–3
L.A. Clippers	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	3–1	0–2	3–1	1–3	0–2	–	2–2	0–2	2–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–4	2–2	4–0	1–3	2–0	1–3	4–0	0–2
L.A. Lakers	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	4–0	1–3	1–1	2–2	–	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	4–0	1–3	4–0	2–2	3–1	1–1	1–3	4–0	2–0
Miami	2–1	4–0	2–1	2–2	4–0	2–0	2–0	4–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	–	4–0	1–1	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–1	0–2	2–0	3–1
Milwaukee	0–4	3–1	2–2	0–4	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	–	0–2	2–1	1–2	2–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	1–3
Minnesota	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–1	4–0	0–2	3–1	0–4	0–2	3–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	–	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	0–4	4–0	0–4	1–1	1–3	4–0	1–1
New Jersey	1–3	4–0	0–4	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–2	0–2	–	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–3	0–2	2–0	1–3
New York	3–1	4–0	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–1	1–1	2–2	–	3–1	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–0	1–1	2–0	4–0
Orlando	1–3	4–0	2–1	0–3	2–2	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	3–1	1–3	–	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	0–2	1–1	1–3
Philadelphia	0–4	3–1	0–4	0–4	0–3	0–2	1–1	1–2	0–2	0–2	0–3	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–3	1–1	2–2	2–3	2–2	–	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	2–0	1–3
Phoenix	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	–	1–3	4–0	3–1	2–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	1–1
Portland	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	–	2–2	4–0	1–3	0–2	2–2	4–0	0–2
Sacramento	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	3–1	0–4	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	2–0	4–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–2	–	3–1	1–3	1–1	0–4	4–0	0–2
San Antonio	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–1	2–2	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	0–4	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–3	–	0–4	1–1	1–3	1–3	0–2
Seattle	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–1	4–0	1–1	4–0	1–3	1–1	3–1	1–3	2–0	1–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	3–1	4–0	–	2–0	1–3	4–0	2–0
Toronto	0–4	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–0	1–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	3–0	0–3	0–4	3–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	–	1–1	1–1	2–2
Utah	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–2	4–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	–	4–0	2–0
Vancouver	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	0–4	0–4	3–1	0–4	1–1	0–4	–	1–1
Washington	1–2	4–0	1–3	1–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–0	0–2	3–1	2–0	0–2	1–3	3–1	1–1	3–1	0–4	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	—

Game log

1996–97 game log Total: 33–49 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0)
November: 8–7 (home: 5–3; road: 3–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 November 1, 1996 @ Philadelphia W 111–103 Vin Baker (25) CoreStates Center 20,444 1–0 2 November 2, 1996 Boston W 124–102 Johnny Newman, Glenn Robinson (21) Bradley Center 17,275 2–0 3 November 6, 1996 Vancouver W 105–89 Ray Allen, Vin Baker (20) Vin Baker (11) Sherman Douglas (8) Bradley Center 13,689 3–0 4 November 8, 1996 @ Miami L 89—101 Vin Baker (27) Miami Arena 15,200 3–1 5 November 9, 1996 @ Charlotte W 100—98 Vin Baker (28) Charlotte Coliseum 24,042 4–1 6 November 12, 1996 Phoenix W 99–89 Vin Baker (32) Bradley Center 13,565 5–1 7 November 14, 1996 @ Golden State L 86—95 Vin Baker (32) San Jose Arena 14,414 5–2 8 November 15, 1996 @ Sacramento L 99—103 Glenn Robinson (29) ARCO Arena 17,317 5–3 9 November 17, 1996 @ L. A. Clippers L 94—102 Glenn Robinson (31) Armen Gilliam (13) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 7,311 5–4 10 November 19, 1996 Dallas W 100–97 Armen Gilliam (27) Bradley Center 13,225 6–4 11 November 21, 1996 Atlanta L 65–73 Bradley Center 14,698 6–5 12 November 23, 1996 Washington L 90–95 Bradley Center 16,508 6–6 13 November 25, 1996 @ Orlando W 100–88 Orlando Arena 16,808 7–6 14 November 27, 1996 Cleveland W 92–75 Bradley Center 14,189 8–6 15 November 30, 1996 Charlotte L 87–94 Bradley Center 16,327 8–7
December: 4–2 (home: 3–2; road: 1–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 16 December 3, 1996 Chicago L 104–107 Bradley Center 18,717 8–8 17 December 7, 1996 @ Washington W 126–118 Glenn Robinson (44) Vin Baker (13) US Airways Arena 18,756 9–8 18 December 8, 1996 Boston W 100–87 Bradley Center 13,350 10–8 19 December 10, 1996 Detroit L 85–93 Bradley Center 13,202 10–9 20 December 12, 1996 Seattle W 100–97 Glenn Robinson (32) Bradley Center 16,355 11–9 21 December 14, 1996 New Jersey W 101–91 Vin Baker, Glenn Robinson (27) Bradley Center 16,689 12–9 22 December 16, 1996 @ Boston W 107–91 Fleet Center 15,030 13–9 23 December 18, 1996 L. A. Lakers W 107–91 Bradley Center 16,829 13–10
January: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
February: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
March: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
April: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
1996–97 schedule

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

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Ray Allen	82	81	30.9	.430	.393	.823	4.0	2.6	0.9	0.1	13.4
Vin Baker	78	78	40.5	.505	.278	.687	10.3	2.7	1.0	1.4	21.0
Chucky Brown	60	1	11.2	.508	.167	.661	2.2	0.4	0.2	0.3	2.8
Jimmy Carruth	4	0	5.3	.667	.000	1.000	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.5	1.3
Sherman Douglas	79	79	29.3	.502	.333	.667	2.4	5.4	1.0	0.1	9.7
Acie Earl	9	0	4.8	.348	.000	.714	1.2	0.2	0.3	0.1	2.9
Armen Gilliam	80	25	25.6	.471	.000	.768	6.2	0.7	0.8	0.5	8.6
Darrin Hancock	9	0	4.3	.333	.000	.000	0.6	0.4	0.2	0.0	0.4
Andrew Lang	52	52	23.0	.464	.000	.721	5.3	0.5	0.5	0.9	5.3
Cuonzo Martin	3	0	4.3	.000	.000	.000	0.3	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0
Johnny Newman	82	4	25.1	.450	.347	.765	2.3	1.4	0.9	0.2	8.7
Elliot Perry	82	3	19.5	.474	.358	.745	1.5	3.0	1.2	0.0	6.9
Shawn Respert	14	0	5.9	.316	.111	1.000	0.5	0.6	0.0	0.0	1.4
Glenn Robinson	80	79	38.9	.465	.350	.791	6.3	3.1	1.3	0.9	21.1
Keith Tower	5	1	14.4	.375	.000	.125	1.8	0.2	0.4	0.2	1.4
Joe Wolf	56	7	9.4	.449	.143	.737	2.0	0.4	0.3	0.2	1.7
David Wood	46	0	5.2	.526	.333	.667	0.6	0.3	0.2	0.1	1.2

^[21]

Awards and records

• Vin Baker, All-NBA Third Team
• Ray Allen, NBA All-Rookie Team 2nd Team

Transactions

Trades

June 26, 1996	To Milwaukee Bucks---- Ray Allen	To Minnesota Timberwolves---- Stephon Marbury
September 25, 1996	To Milwaukee Bucks---- Elliot Perry	To Phoenix Suns---- Marty Conlon
December 4, 1996	To Milwaukee Bucks---- Chucky Brown	To Phoenix Suns---- Darrin Hancock
February 20, 1997	To Milwaukee Bucks---- Acie Earl	To Toronto Raptors---- Shawn Respert

Free agents

Player	Signed	Former team
Armen Gilliam	August 6, 1996	New Jersey Nets
Joe Wolf	September 3, 1996	Orlando Magic
Darrin Hancock	October 3, 1996	Charlotte Hornets
Keith Tower	October 3, 1996	Los Angeles Clippers
David Wood	October 3, 1996	Dallas Mavericks

Player Transactions Citation:^[33]