1997–98 Sacramento Kings season explained

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Kings' 49th season in the National Basketball Association, and 13th season in Sacramento.[1] During the off-season, the Kings signed free agent Terry Dehere.[2] [3] [4] The team decided to add youth to their roster with the addition of four rookies; Lawrence Funderburke out of Ohio State University, who was drafted by the Kings in the second round of the 1994 NBA draft,[5] top draft pick Tariq Abdul-Wahad out of San José State University,[6] second-round draft pick Anthony Johnson out of the College of Charleston, and undrafted rookie center Michael Stewart from the University of California.[7]

The Kings got off to a slow start losing their first four games on their way to a 5–14 start, but later on won 8 of their 14 games in January, and held a 20–28 record at the All-Star break.[8] At mid-season, the team traded Michael Smith and Bobby Hurley the Vancouver Grizzlies in exchange for former Kings forward Otis Thorpe.[9] [10] [11] [12] However, with a 26–36 record as of March 6, 1998, the Kings struggled losing 19 of their final 20 games, including a 12-game losing streak and seven straight losses to end the season.[13] They finished fifth in the Pacific Division with a 27–55 record, which was fourteen games behind the 8th-seeded Houston Rockets.[14]

Mitch Richmond averaged 23.2 points per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game, which would be his sixth and final All-Star appearance,[15] [16] [17] [18] while Corliss Williamson showed improvement becoming the team's starting power forward, averaging 17.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, and also finishing in second place in Most Improved Player voting,[19] [20] [21] and Billy Owens provided the team with 10.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

In addition, Funderburke played a sixth man role, averaging 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game off the bench, but only played 52 games due to injury,[22] while Johnson contributed 7.5 points and 4.3 assists per game, Olden Polynice provided with 7.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, and Stewart contributed 6.6 rebounds, and led the team with 2.4 blocks per game.[23] Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf only played just 31 games, missing the final three months of the season with the flu and an corneal ulcer, as he contributed 7.3 points per game off the bench.[24] [25]

Following the season, Richmond was traded along with Thorpe to the Washington Wizards after seven seasons in Sacramento,[26] [27] [28] [29] [30] while Owens and Olden Polynice both signed as free agents with the Seattle SuperSonics, whom Polynice used to play for,[31] [32] [33] Johnson signed with the Atlanta Hawks,[34] Stewart signed with the Toronto Raptors,[35] Abdul-Rauf left to play overseas in Turkey,[24] [25] and head coach Eddie Jordan was fired.[36] [37]

Draft picks

See main article: 1997 NBA draft.

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
1 11 SG/SF San Jose State
2 39 PG College of Charleston

Roster

Roster Notes

Regular season

Season standings

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1997-98 NBA Records
width=100TeamATLBOSCHACHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMIAMILMINNJNNYKORLPHIPHOPORSACSASSEATORUTAVANWAS
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
Boston1–2 – 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
Charlotte0–4 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
Chicago3–1 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
Cleveland0–4 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
Dallas0–2 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
Denver0–2 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
Detroit2–2 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 State0–2 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
Houston1–1 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
Indiana3–1 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. Clippers0–2 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. Lakers2–0 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
Miami3–1 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
Milwaukee1–3 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
Minnesota2–0 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 Jersey2–1 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 York2–2 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
Orlando2–2 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
Philadelphia1–3 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
Phoenix2–0 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
Portland1–1 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
Sacramento0–2 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 Antonio1–1 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
Seattle1–1 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
Toronto0–4 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
Utah2–0 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
Vancouver0–2 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
Washington0–4 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

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
81 37 21.7 .480 .458 6.6 .8 .4 2.4 4.6
79 75 35.7 .495 .000 .630 5.6 2.9 1.0 .6 17.7
78 78 30.1 .464 .371 .589 7.5 2.8 1.2 .5 10.5
77 62 29.4 .371 .328 .727 2.2 4.3 .8 .1 7.5
77 18 18.3 .399 .379 .798 1.4 2.5 .7 .1 6.4
70 70 36.7 .445 .389 .864 3.3 4.0 1.3 .2 23.2
70 25 20.8 .459 .000 .452 6.3 1.5 .5 .6 7.9
59 16 16.3 .403 .211 .672 2.0 .9 .6 .2 6.4
52 1 21.0 .490 .143 .679 4.5 1.2 .4 .3 9.5
48 1 15.4 .389 .000 .825 3.0 .9 .5 .2 3.4
†34 3 12.3 .409 .267 .811 1.1 2.4 .4 .0 3.8
31 0 17.1 .377 .161 1.000 1.2 1.9 .5 .0 7.3
†27 20 23.1 .459 .000 .657 6.1 2.3 .7 .3 8.3
†19 0 14.3 .378 .405 .500 1.7 1.5 .6 .2 5.7
†18 4 19.3 .426 .567 5.6 1.6 .8 .5 3.8
16 0 5.4 .077 .500 1.3 .2 .0 .7 .3
9 0 3.8 .286 .333 1.000 .4 .0 .3 .1 1.6

Awards and records

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SAC/1998.html 1997-98 Sacramento Kings
  2. News: Barkley Is Cleared in Cleveland Brawl . The Washington Post . August 2, 1997 . July 27, 2023.
  3. News: Popper . Steve . Two Guys from Jersey on Same Road Again . The New York Times . August 10, 1997 . October 5, 2022.
  4. News: Atlantic Division . Sun Sentinel . October 31, 1997 . December 24, 2023.
  5. News: Smith . Sam . This King's Concerns Are Divine . Chicago Tribune . November 24, 1997 . June 28, 2022.
  6. News: Heisler . Mark . Draft Over, But Not Finished . Los Angeles Times . June 26, 1997 . December 1, 2022.
  7. Web site: 1997 NBA Draft . Basketball-Reference . December 1, 2022.
  8. Web site: NBA Games Played on February 5, 1998 . Basketball-Reference . January 2, 2023.
  9. News: Wise . Mike . BASKETBALL; Kenny Anderson Is Traded to Celtics in 7-Player Deal . The New York Times . February 19, 1998 . December 5, 2022.
  10. News: Associated Press . Celtics Land Anderson in Deal with Raptors . Los Angeles Times . February 19, 1998 . September 17, 2022.
  11. News: In Seven-Player Swap, Raptors Trade Anderson to the Celtics . The Washington Post . February 19, 1998 . July 27, 2021.
  12. News: Smith . Sam . NBA's Rash of Trades Ends with Another Seikaly Deal . Chicago Tribune . February 20, 1998 . June 22, 2023.
  13. News: Associated Press . Grizzlies Defeat Sacramento in OT . CBS News . April 20, 1998 . July 23, 2017.
  14. Web site: 1997–98 Sacramento Kings Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. June 28, 2021.
  15. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Lakers Get Four-Star Rating as Van Exel, Jones Honored . Los Angeles Times . January 28, 1998 . April 20, 2023.
  16. News: NBA.com Staff . 1998 NBA All-Star Recap . NBA.com . September 13, 2021 . May 16, 2023.
  17. Web site: 1997-98 All-Star Events and Contestants - in New York . Eskimo North . December 27, 2022.
  18. Web site: 1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114 . Basketball-Reference . November 27, 2021.
  19. News: CBS News.com Staff . Henderson Voted Most Improved . CBS News . May 1, 1998 . October 3, 2022.
  20. News: Povtak . Tim . Hawks' Henderson Wins Most Improved . Orlando Sentinel . May 1, 1998 . December 27, 2022.
  21. Web site: 1997–98 NBA Awards Voting . Basketball-Reference . January 2, 2022.
  22. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Just Enough Is Becoming the Laker Way . Los Angeles Times . December 31, 1997 . October 7, 2022.
  23. Web site: 1997–98 Sacramento Kings Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. June 28, 2021.
  24. News: Associated Press . PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL -- SACRAMENTO; Abdul-Rauf Bound for Turkey . The New York Times . June 19, 1998 . November 9, 2022.
  25. News: Shapiro . Mark . Abdul-Rauf Leaves NBA for Turkey . Chicago Tribune . June 19, 1998 . July 4, 2021.
  26. News: Associated Press . N.B.A.; Webber Traded to Sacramento . The New York Times . May 15, 1998 . July 4, 2021.
  27. News: Associated Press . Webber Dealt to Kings for Richmond, Thorpe . Los Angeles Times . May 15, 1998 . June 30, 2022.
  28. News: Bucher . Ric . Webber Traded to Sacramento . The Washington Post . May 15, 1998 . July 10, 2022.
  29. News: Bembry . Jerry . Wizards Trade Webber to Kings; Richmond, Thorpe Add "Stability," "Maturity" . The Baltimore Sun . May 15, 1998 . June 22, 2023.
  30. News: White . Joseph . Wizards Trade Webber to Kings . Associated Press . May 15, 1998 . November 30, 2022.
  31. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; The Business of Basketball Now Begins in Earnest . The New York Times . January 21, 1999 . November 16, 2022.
  32. News: Staff and Wire Reports . Around the NBA . Los Angeles Times . January 23, 1999 . June 25, 2023.
  33. News: Sun News Services . SONICS: Owens Signs Three-Year Deal . Kitsap Sun . January 23, 1999 . June 3, 2022.
  34. News: Johnson . L.C. . Headliners . Orlando Sentinel . February 20, 1999 . January 29, 2023.
  35. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title . The New York Times . February 4, 1999 . June 28, 2022.
  36. News: CBS News.com Staff . Kings Ax Head Coach, Assistant . CBS News . August 18, 1998 . November 9, 2022.
  37. News: Thompson . Jack . Jordan Not Returning--to Kings, Who Fire Coach . Chicago Tribune . August 19, 1998 . March 21, 2023.

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