1997–98 Los Angeles Clippers season

The 1997–98 NBA season was the 28th season for the Los Angeles Clippers in the National Basketball Association, their 14th season in Los Angeles, California, and their fourth season in which they played occasional home games in Anaheim, California.^[1] The Clippers had the fourteenth overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft, and selected power forward Maurice Taylor from the University of Michigan.^[2][3][4] During the off-season, the team signed free agent James Robinson,^[5][6] and acquired Stojko Vrankovic from the Minnesota Timberwolves.^[7][2]

1997–98 Los Angeles Clippers season
Head coach	Bill Fitch
Owners	Donald Sterling
Arena	Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena Arrowhead Pond
Results
Record	17–65 (.207)
Place	Division: 7th (Pacific) Conference: 13th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	KCAL-TV Fox Sports West 2 (Ralph Lawler, Bill Walton)
Radio	KXTA (Rory Markas)
< 1996–97 1998–99 >

With Loy Vaught going down early into the regular season with a back injury after only just ten games, averaging 7.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game,^[8][9][10] the Clippers struggled losing 14 of their first 16 games. After holding a 5–24 start, the team managed to win four of their next five games, but then lost 12 of their next 13 games afterwards, and held an 11–37 record at the All-Star break.^[11] At mid-season, the team traded Brent Barry to the Miami Heat in exchange for last year's Most Improved Player Isaac Austin, and rookie shooting guard Charles Smith.^[12][13][14] The Clippers lost 15 of their final 17 games, including a 10-game losing streak between March and April,^[15] finishing in last place in the Pacific Division with a 17–65 record.^[16]

Lamond Murray showed improvement becoming the team's starting small forward, averaging 15.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, and finishing tied in eighth place in Most Improved Player voting,^[17] while Rodney Rogers averaged 15.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, and Taylor averaged 11.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game off the bench, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. In addition, three-point specialist Eric Piatkowski contributed 11.3 points per game and 106 three-point field goals, while Darrick Martin provided the team with 10.3 points and 4.0 assists per game, and led them with 107 three-point field goals, and second-year center Lorenzen Wright provided with 9.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.^[18]

Following the season, Austin signed as a free agent with the Orlando Magic,^[19][20][21] while Vaught signed with the Detroit Pistons after eight seasons with the Clippers,^[22][23][24] and head coach Bill Fitch was fired.^[25][26] Fitch's most losses record in NBA history with 1,106 losses stood for five years, until Lenny Wilkens broke his mark during the 2002–03 season while coaching for the Toronto Raptors.^[27]

Draft picks

Main article: 1997 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	14	Maurice Taylor	PF	United States	Michigan

Roster

1997–98 Los Angeles Clippers roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From C 8 Isaac Austin 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 270 lb (122 kg) –– Arizona State C 33 Keith Closs 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) 215 lb (98 kg) –– Central Connecticut State G 32 James Collins 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 196 lb (89 kg) –– Florida State G 15 Darrick Martin 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 170 lb (77 kg) –– UCLA F 7 Lamond Murray 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 236 lb (107 kg) –– California G 52 Eric Piatkowski 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) –– Nebraska G 24 Pooh Richardson 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) –– UCLA G 26 James Robinson 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) –– Alabama F 54 Rodney Rogers 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 260 lb (118 kg) –– Wake Forest G 14 Charles Smith 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 194 lb (88 kg) –– New Mexico F 23 Maurice Taylor 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 260 lb (118 kg) –– Michigan F 35 Loy Vaught 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) –– Michigan C 11 Stojko Vrankovic 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 260 lb (118 kg) –– Croatia F/C 55 Lorenzen Wright 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) –– Memphis

Head coach Bill Fitch Assistant(s) Jim Brewer Barry Hecker Rex Kalamian Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: 2009-10-04

Roster Notes

• Rookie center Keith Closs played for the Lakers during the pre-season and had a strong performance. When he was released, the Clippers quickly signed him to their roster.^[28]

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division v t e	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 v t e
	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

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

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%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Lamond Murray	79	65	32.6	48.1	35.3	74.8	6.1	1.8	1.5	0.7	15.4
Isaac Austin	26	25	34.4	45.4	0.0	65.2	8.7	3.4	0.7	0.8	15.2
Rodney Rogers	76	70	32.9	45.6	34.0	68.6	5.6	2.7	1.2	0.5	15.1
Brent Barry	41	36	32.7	42.8	40.0	84.4	3.5	3.2	1.2	0.6	13.7
Maurice Taylor	71	3	21.3	47.6	0.0	70.9	4.2	0.7	0.5	0.6	11.5
Eric Piatkowski	67	35	26.0	45.2	40.9	82.4	3.5	1.3	0.8	0.2	11.3
Darrick Martin	82	63	28.0	37.7	36.5	84.8	2.0	4.0	1.0	0.1	10.3
Lorenzen Wright	69	38	30.0	44.5	0.0	65.9	8.8	0.8	0.8	1.3	9.0
James Robinson	70	13	17.6	38.9	32.9	72.0	1.6	1.9	0.5	0.1	7.7
Loy Vaught	10	6	26.5	42.9	0.0	37.5	6.5	0.7	0.4	0.2	7.5
Charles Smith	23	0	11.3	42.1	31.8	55.6	0.8	0.8	0.4	0.2	4.7
Pooh Richardson	69	17	18.1	37.2	19.3	69.8	1.4	3.3	0.6	0.0	4.2
Keith Closs	58	1	12.8	44.9	0.0	59.7	2.9	0.3	0.2	1.4	4.0
Stojko Vrankovic	65	38	15.3	42.5	0.0	56.9	4.0	0.6	0.2	1.0	3.0
James Collins	23	0	4.5	38.2	45.0	57.1	0.6	0.1	0.3	0.1	2.6

Player Statistics Citation:^[18]

Awards and records

Transactions

The Clippers have been involved in the following transactions during the 1997–98 season.

Trades

June 25, 1997	To Los Angeles Clippers Stojko Vrankovic	To Minnesota Timberwolves Stanley Roberts
June 25, 1997	To Los Angeles Clippers Draft rights to James Collins	To Philadelphia 76ers 1998 2nd round draft pick
February 19, 1998	To Los Angeles Clippers Isaac Austin, Charles C. Smith & 1998 1st round draft pick	To Miami Heat Brent Barry

Free agents

Additions Player Signed Former team Keith Closs August 8 Los Angeles Lakers James Robinson August 16 Minnesota Timberwolves

Subtractions Player Left New team Terry Dehere waived, July 2 Sacramento Kings Dwayne Schintzius released, July 2 Boston Celtics Malik Sealy renounced, August 8 Detroit Pistons Bo Outlaw free agency, September 5 Orlando Magic Rich Manning waived, October 28 Oyak Renault (TBL)

Player Transactions Citation:^[29]

See also

• 1997-98 NBA season