1996–97 Denver Nuggets season explained

The 1996–97 NBA season was the Nuggets' 21st season in the National Basketball Association, and 30th season as a franchise.^[1] In the off-season, the Nuggets acquired Mark Jackson and Ricky Pierce from the Indiana Pacers,^{[2] [3] [4] [5]} acquired Šarūnas Marčiulionis from the Sacramento Kings,^{[6] [3] [4]} and signed free agents Ervin Johnson and Eric Murdock,^{[7] [8] [9]} although Murdock was released to free agency in November after just 12 games.^[10] However, after a 4–9 start to the season, Bernie Bickerstaff resigned as head coach and was replaced with Dick Motta,^{[11] [12]} where the Nuggets then lost ten straight games, and held a 16–32 record at the All-Star break.^[13]

At midseason, Jackson was traded back to his former team, the Indiana Pacers, while Pierce was dealt to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for second-year guard Anthony Goldwire.^{[14] [15] [16] [17]} The team also signed free agent and three-point specialist Kenny Smith, who won two championships with the Houston Rockets.^{[18] [19] [20]} As the season drew, the Nuggets still struggled losing 26 of their final 30 games, finishing fifth in the Midwest Division with a 21–61 record.^[21]

LaPhonso Ellis had a stellar season, averaging 21.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, but only played 55 games due to knee injuries and a ruptured Achilles tendon,^{[22] [23] [24]} while second-year star Antonio McDyess averaged 18.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, and Dale Ellis provided the team with 16.6 points per game. In addition, Bryant Stith contributed 14.9 points per game, but only played 52 games due to a foot injury,^[25] while Johnson provided with 7.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game, and Tom Hammonds averaged 6.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game off the bench.^[26]

Following the season, McDyess was traded to the Phoenix Suns in a three-team trade,^{[27] [28] [29] [30]} while Dale Ellis was traded back to his former team, the Seattle SuperSonics,^{[31] [32] [33]} Johnson was dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks,^{[34] [35] [36]} Hammonds signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves during the next season,^{[37] [38]} Smith and Marčiulionis both retired, and Motta was fired as head coach.^{[39] [40]}

Draft picks

See main article: 1996 NBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	23		C		PAOK
2	37		PG/SG		North Carolina

Roster

Roster Notes

• Point guard Eric Murdock was waived on November 26, 1996.

Regular season

Season standings

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1996-97 NBA Records
width=100	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

Player statistics

Regular season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
LaPhonso Ellis	55	49	36.4	.439	.367	.773	7.0	2.4	0.8	0.7	21.9
Antonio McDyess	74	73	34.7	.463	.171	.708	7.3	1.4	0.8	1.7	18.3
Dale Ellis	82	51	35.9	.414	.364	.817	3.6	2.0	0.7	0.1	16.6
Bryant Stith	52	52	34.4	.416	.385	.863	4.2	2.6	1.2	0.4	14.9
Mark Jackson	52	52	38.5	.425	.397	.801	5.2	12.3	1.0	0.2	10.4
Ricky Pierce	33	10	18.2	.462	.308	.902	1.6	0.9	0.4	0.2	10.2
Kenny Smith	33	3	19.8	.422	.425	.854	1.1	3.1	0.5	0.0	7.9
Anthony Goldwire	27	21	22.7	.392	.394	.816	1.7	4.6	0.5	0.0	7.3
Ervin Johnson	82	82	31.7	.520	.000	.615	11.1	0.9	0.8	2.8	7.1
Brooks Thompson	65	6	16.1	.400	.398	.632	1.5	2.8	0.8	0.0	6.8
Sarunas Marciulionis	17	0	15.0	.376	.367	.806	1.8	1.5	0.7	0.1	6.8
Tom Hammonds	81	8	21.7	.480	.000	.721	5.0	0.8	0.2	0.3	6.2
Aaron Williams	1	0	10.0	.600			5.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	6.0
Vincent Askew	1	0	9.0	.667		1.000	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	6.0
Jeff McInnis	13	0	9.0	.469	.462	.700	0.5	1.4	0.2	0.1	5.0
Eric Murdock	12	0	9.5	.455	.400	.917	0.9	2.0	0.8	0.2	3.8
George Zidek	16	0	5.5	.485		.800	1.4	0.3	0.1	0.0	3.3
Jimmy King	2	0	11.0	.333		.500	1.0	1.0	1.5	0.0	3.0
Jerome Allen	25	0	10.0	.284	.206	.600	1.3	1.7	0.2	0.2	2.6
Elmer Bennett	5	0	11.8	.308	.333	.500	0.6	1.4	0.4	0.0	2.4
Darvin Ham	35	3	8.9	.525		.485	1.6	0.4	0.2	0.2	2.3
Melvin Booker	5	0	4.2	.500	.500		0.2	0.6	0.0	0.0	1.0
LaSalle Thompson	17	0	6.2	.188		.500	1.5	0.0	0.2	0.4	0.4

Player Statistics Citation:

See also

• 1996-97 NBA season

Notes and References

1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/1997.html 1996-97 Denver Nuggets
2. News: Pacers Trade Jackson, Pierce to Denver . United Press International . June 13, 1996 . July 28, 2021.
3. News: Associated Press . PRO BASKETBALL; Nuggets Trade Abdul-Rauf, Acquire Pacers' Jackson . The New York Times . June 14, 1996 . July 17, 2022.
4. News: Associated Press . In One of Two Deals, Abdul-Rauf Is Traded . Los Angeles Times . June 14, 1996 . July 17, 2022.
5. News: Wire Reports . Rose, Abdul-Rauf Traded . The Spokesman-Review . June 14, 1996 . June 20, 2023.
6. News: Nuggets Trade Abdul-Rauf to Sacramento . United Press International . June 13, 1996 . December 1, 2022.
7. News: Times News Services . Grant Signs with Magic for $50 Million . Los Angeles Times . July 18, 1996 . November 9, 2022.
8. News: C Ervin Johnson Signs with Nuggets . United Press International . July 23, 1996 . January 18, 2022.
9. News: Heisler . Mark . NBA Preview . Los Angeles Times . October 31, 1996 . January 30, 2023.
10. News: Associated Press . Jackson Can Shop Himself at a Whim . Deseret News . November 30, 1996 . April 6, 2023.
11. News: Motta Is a Winner in Debut with Nuggets . The New York Times . November 27, 1996 . November 9, 2022.
12. News: Associated Press . Motta Steps In for Bickerstaff . Los Angeles Times . November 27, 1996 . April 4, 2023.
13. News: NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997 . Basketball-Reference . January 2, 2023.
14. News: Sheridan . Chris . Nuggets Made Three Trades, Hornets and Pacers Two Each . Associated Press . February 20, 1997 . July 31, 2021.
15. News: Brown . Clifton . Jackson Is Back with Pacers . The New York Times . February 21, 1997 . January 4, 2023.
16. News: Associated Press . Trading Deadline Becomes Much Ado About a Little . Los Angeles Times . February 21, 1997 . September 17, 2022.
17. News: Pacers Make Point in Reacquiring Jackson . The Washington Post . February 21, 1997 . June 21, 2023.
18. News: Basketball Briefs . Deseret News . January 25, 1997 . December 12, 2022.
19. News: Wire Reports . Griz End Winters of Their Discontent . The Spokesman-Review . January 25, 1997 . May 1, 2023.
20. News: Times Wire Services . Nuggets Put Guard Smith on Injured List . Los Angeles Times . February 22, 1997 . June 30, 2022.
21. Web site: 1996–97 Denver Nuggets Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. June 28, 2021.
22. News: Associated Press . Nuggets' Ellis Will Have Knee Surgery . Los Angeles Times . November 8, 1996 . October 4, 2022.
23. News: Associated Press . Suns Surging; LaPhonso Ellis Hurt Again . Los Angeles Times . April 5, 1997 . June 27, 2022.
24. News: Associated Press . Nuggets Look Overseas for Team Additions . Deseret News . April 7, 1997 . February 4, 2023.
25. News: Injured Stith Unsure of Future . Associated Press . March 17, 2000 . October 4, 2022.
26. Web site: 1996–97 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. June 28, 2021.
27. News: Berger . Ken . Nuggets Send McDyess to Phoenix . Associated Press . October 1, 1997 . September 17, 2022.
28. News: Associated Press . PLUS: IN THE NEWS -- PRO BASKETBALL; McDyess to Suns in Three-Team Deal . The New York Times . October 2, 1997 . December 4, 2022.
29. News: Staff and Wire Reports . Suns Make Trade for McDyess . Los Angeles Times . October 2, 1997 . December 4, 2022.
30. News: Associated Press . Nuggets Deal McDs to Phoenix . The Spokesman-Review . October 2, 1997 . June 24, 2023.
31. News: Dale Ellis Joins SuperSonics, Again . Associated Press . October 2, 1997 . December 27, 2022.
32. News: Wire Reports . Sonics Trade for Ellis . The Spokesman-Review . October 3, 1997 . October 7, 2022.
33. News: Wallingford . John . SONICS: Long-Range Bomber Ellis Returns a 'Changed Man' . Kitsap Sun . October 3, 1997 . December 30, 2021.
34. News: Wise . Mike . After Duncan, Utah Forward Steals Show . The New York Times . June 26, 1997 . June 27, 2022.
35. News: Heisler . Mark . Draft Over, But Not Finished . Los Angeles Times . June 26, 1997 . October 22, 2022.
36. News: Cotton . Anthony . No. 1 Pick Turns Duncan into Spur of Moment . The Washington Post . June 26, 1997 . January 8, 2023.
37. News: Associated Press . The Houston Rockets, Who Will Be Without... . Los Angeles Times . November 26, 1997 . July 12, 2022.
38. News: Facer . Dick . 24-Second Clock . Deseret News . November 30, 1997 . February 4, 2023.
39. News: Mossman . John . Nuggets Clean House Following Disastrous Season . Associated Press . April 21, 1997 . February 4, 2023.
40. News: Associated Press . Nuggets Fire Motta and His Staff . The New York Times . April 22, 1997 . November 9, 2022.