1997–98 Milwaukee Bucks season

The 1997–98 NBA season was the 30th season for the Milwaukee Bucks in the National Basketball Association.^[1] During the off-season, the Bucks acquired All-Star guard Terrell Brandon and Tyrone Hill from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team trade.^[2][3][4] The team also received the tenth overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft, and selected power forward Danny Fortson from the University of Cincinnati, but soon traded him to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Ervin Johnson,^[5][6][7] signed free agent Michael Curry,^[8][9] and re-signed former Bucks star and sixth man Ricky Pierce in December.^[10][11][12]

1997–98 Milwaukee Bucks season
Head coach	Chris Ford
General manager	Bob Weinhauer
Owner(s)	Herb Kohl
Arena	Bradley Center
Results
Record	36–46 (.439)
Place	Division: 7th (Central) Conference: 13th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WVTV Wisconsin Sports Network (Jim Paschke, Jon McGlocklin)
Radio	WTMJ
< 1996–97 1998–99 >

After an 11–8 start to the regular season, the Bucks slipped under .500, but then posted a six-game winning streak between January and February, and held a 24–23 record at the All-Star break.^[13] However, with Glenn Robinson out for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury after 56 games,^[14][15][16] while Brandon only played just 50 games due to an ankle injury,^[17][18][19] and Hill only appeared in 57 games due to a knee injury, and a strained back,^[20][21][22] the Bucks struggled and posted a nine-game losing streak in March, and finished in seventh place in the Central Division with a 36–46 record, missing the NBA playoffs for the seventh consecutive year.^[23]

Robinson averaged 23.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while second-year star Ray Allen had a stellar season, averaging 19.5 points and 1.4 steals per game, and leading the Bucks with 134 three-point field goals, and Brandon provided the team with 16.8 points, 7.7 assists and 2.2 steals per game. In addition, Hill contributed 10.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, while Armen Gilliam provided with 11.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, Johnson averaged 8.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game, Elliot Perry contributed 7.3 points and 2.8 assists per game, and Curry contributed 6.6 points per game,^[24] and finished tied in sixth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.^[25]

Following the season, Pierce retired after playing in his second stint with the Bucks,^[26] while Andrew Lang signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls,^[27][28] and head coach Chris Ford was fired after coaching the Bucks for two seasons.^[29][30][31]

Draft picks

Main article: 1997 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	10	Danny Fortson	PF	United States	Cincinnati
2	38	Jerald Honeycutt	SF	United States	Tulane

Roster

1997–98 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 G 7 Terrell Brandon 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1970–05–20 Oregon G/F 12 Michael Curry 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1968–08–22 Georgia Southern C 11 Jamie Feick 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1974–07–03 Michigan State F 10 Armen Gilliam 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1964–05–28 UNLV G 9 Litterial Green 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1970–03–07 Georgia F 42 Tyrone Hill 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1968–03–19 Xavier F 25 Jerald Honeycutt 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1974–10–20 Tulane C 40 Ervin Johnson 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1967–12–21 New Orleans C 28 Andrew Lang 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1966–06–28 Arkansas G 5 Elliot Perry 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 150 lb (68 kg) 1969–03–28 Memphis G 22 Ricky Pierce 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1959–08–19 Rice F 13 Glenn Robinson  6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1973–01–10 Purdue

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	62	20	.756	–	37–4	25–16	21–7
x-Indiana Pacers	58	24	.707	4	32–9	26–15	19–9
x-Charlotte Hornets	51	31	.622	11	32–9	19–22	16–12
x-Atlanta Hawks	50	32	.610	12	29–12	21–20	19–9
x-Cleveland Cavaliers	47	35	.573	15	27–14	20–21	14–14
Detroit Pistons	37	45	.451	25	25–16	12–29	12–16
Milwaukee Bucks	36	46	.439	26	21–20	15–26	9–19
Toronto Raptors	16	66	.195	46	9–32	7–34	2–26

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	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
13	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	—

Game log

1997–98 game log Total: 36–46 (Home: 3–1; Road: 2–1)
October: 1–0 (home: 0–0; road: 1–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 31, 1997 @ Philadelphia W 103–88 Ray Allen (29) CoreStates Center 1–0
November: 8–6 (home: 5–2; road: 3–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 2 November 1, 1997 New Jersey L 109–113 Bradley Center 18,717 1–1 3 November 4, 1997 Orlando W 110–76 Ray Allen (20) Bradley Center 12,764 2–1 4 November 6, 1997 Philadelphia W 100–93 Bradley Center 13,851 3–1 5 November 8, 1997 Boston W 105–96 Bradley Center 17,653 4–1 6 November 12, 1997 @ Phoenix L 95–103 America West Arena 19,023 4–2 7 November 13, 1997 @ L. A. Clippers W 102–94 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 4,300 5–2 8 November 15, 1997 @ Vancouver L 94–109 General Motors Place 17,666 5–3 9 November 16, 1997 @ Seattle L 99–119 Key Arena 17,072 5–4 10 November 18, 1997 Detroit W 87–79 Bradley Center 13,065 6–4 11 November 20, 1997 Indiana L 83–109 Bradley Center 14,106 6–5 12 November 22, 1997 @ Dallas W 104–109 Reunion Arena 11,425 7–5 13 November 26, 1997 Vancouver W 101–82 Bradley Center 15,126 8–5 14 November 28, 1997 @ Orlando L 95–103 Orlando Arena 17,070 8–6 15 November 29, 1997 @ Miami W 93–87 Miami Arena 14,897 9–6
December: 5–9 (home: 5–4; road: 0–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 16 December 2, 1997 Phoenix L 86–90 Bradley Center 13,131 9–7 17 December 4, 1997 Charlotte W 102–92 Bradley Center 13,898 10–7 18 December 5, 1997 @ Chicago L 62–84 United Center 24,041 10–8 19 December 7, 1997 Seattle W 97–91 Bradley Center 15,806 11–8 20 December 10, 1997 @ Boston L 91–96 Fleet Center 17,012 11–9 21 December 11, 1997 Cleveland L 77–79 Bradley Center 13,105 11–10 22 December 13, 1997 Miami L 87–87 Bradley Center 15,803 11–11 23 December 17, 1997 @ Charlotte L 90–99 Charlotte Coliseum 20,691 11–12 24 December 19, 1997 @ Toronto L 91–92 SkyDome 15,076 11–13 25 December 20, 1997 New York W 98–78 Bradley Center 15,955 12–13 26 December 22, 1997 Washington L 79–110 Bradley Center 14,442 12–14 27 December 26, 1997 Atlanta W 99–94 Bradley Center 17,038 13–14 28 December 27, 1997 @ New Jersey L 104–112 Meadowlands Arena 16,351 13–15 29 December 30, 1997 Dallas W 105–98 Bradley Center 14,948 14–15
January: 1–3 (home: 0–1; road: 1–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 30 January 2, 1998 @ Chicago L 100–114 United Center 23,897 14–16 31 January 3, 1998 Boston L 99–106 Bradley Center 16,211 14–17 32 January 5, 1998 @ Portland W 98–92 Rose Garden Arena 19,215 15–17 33 January 7, 1998 @ L. A. Lakers L 98–92 Great Western Forum 15,483 15–18
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
1997–98 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
Glenn Robinson	56	56	41.0	47.0	38.5	80.8	5.5	2.8	1.2	0.6	23.4
Ray Allen	82	82	40.1	42.8	36.4	87.5	4.9	4.3	1.4	0.1	19.5
Terrell Brandon	50	48	35.7	46.4	33.3	84.6	3.5	7.7	2.2	0.3	16.8
Armen Gilliam	82	25	25.8	48.4	0.0	80.2	5.4	1.3	0.8	0.5	11.2
Tyrone Hill	57	56	36.2	49.8	0.0	60.8	10.7	1.5	1.2	0.5	10.0
Ervin Johnson	81	81	27.9	53.7	0.0	60.1	8.5	0.7	1.0	2.0	8.0
Elliot Perry	81	33	21.6	43.0	34.0	84.4	1.3	2.8	1.1	0.0	7.3
Michael Curry	82	27	24.1	46.9	44.4	83.5	1.2	1.7	0.7	0.2	6.6
Jerald Honeycutt	38	0	13.9	40.7	37.7	62.1	2.4	0.9	0.5	0.2	6.4
Ricky Pierce	39	0	11.3	36.4	30.8	82.7	1.2	0.9	0.2	0.0	3.9
Andrew Lang	57	0	12.1	37.8	0.0	77.2	2.7	0.3	0.3	0.5	2.7
Tony Smith	7	0	11.4	33.3	0.0	75.0	1.0	1.4	0.7	0.3	2.7
Jamie Feick	45	2	10.0	43.3	30.8	48.8	2.8	0.4	0.6	0.4	2.3
Tim Breaux	6	0	5.0	36.4	33.3	50.0	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.2	1.7
Jeff Nordgaard	13	0	3.7	27.8	0.0	88.9	1.1	0.2	0.2	0.0	1.4
Litterial Green	21	0	5.9	21.7	0.0	75.0	0.3	0.8	0.2	0.0	1.2

Player Statistics Citation:^[24]

Transactions

Trades

June 25, 1997	To Milwaukee Bucks---- Ervin Johnson	To Denver Nuggets---- Danny Fortson Johnny Newman Joe Wolf
September 25, 1997	To Milwaukee Bucks Terrell Brandon Tyrone Hill	To Cleveland Cavaliers Sherman Douglas Shawn Kemp To Seattle SuperSonics Vin Baker

Free agents

Player	Signed	Former team
Michael Curry	July 30, 1997	Detroit Pistons
Tim Breaux	August 6, 1997	Rockford Lightning
Jamie Feick	October 2, 1997	San Antonio Spurs
Ricky Pierce	December 4, 1997	Charlotte Hornets

Player Transactions Citation:^[32]