1997–98 Sacramento Kings season

1997–98 Sacramento Kings season
Head coachEddie Jordan
PresidentGeoff Petrie
General managerGeoff Petrie
Owner(s)Jim Thomas
ArenaARCO Arena
Results
Record27–55 (.329)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Pacific)
Conference: 9th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionKPWB-TV
SportsChannel Pacific/Fox Sports Bay Area
RadioKHTK

The 1997–98 NBA season was the 49th season for the Sacramento Kings in the National Basketball Association, and their 13th season in Sacramento, California.[1] The Kings received the eleventh overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft, and selected shooting guard, and French basketball star Olivier Saint Jean out of San Jose State University, and also selected point guard Anthony Johnson out of the College of Charleston with the 39th overall pick;[2][3][4] Saint Jean would later on change his name to Tariq Abdul-Wahad after converting to Islam the previous year.[5]

During the off-season, the team signed free agent Terry Dehere,[6][7] and undrafted rookie center Michael Stewart from the University of California. Rookie power forward Lawrence Funderburke out of Ohio State University, who was drafted by the Kings in the second round of the 1994 NBA draft, made his debut in the NBA this season.[8]

The Kings got off to a slow start losing their first four games of the regular season, 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.[9] At mid-season, the team traded Michael Smith, and Bobby Hurley to the Vancouver Grizzlies in exchange for former Kings forward Otis Thorpe, and second-year guard Chris Robinson.[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 regular season;[13] they finished in fifth place 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, led the Kings with 130 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game in New York City, New York, which would be his sixth and final All-Star appearance.[15][16][17] In addition, Corliss Williamson showed improvement becoming the team's starting power forward, averaging 17.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, while Billy Owens provided the team with 10.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Funderburke played a sixth man role off the bench, averaging 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, but only played 52 games due to injury,[18] 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.[19] Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf only played just 31 games, missing the final three months of the regular season with the flu and an corneal ulcer, as he contributed 7.3 points per game off the bench.[20][21]

Richmond finished in fifteenth place in Most Valuable Player voting,[22] and Williamson finished in second place in Most Improved Player voting.[23][22] For the first time since moving to Sacramento, the Kings failed to sell out a home game at the ARCO Arena II on November 6, 1997, ending their 497-game sellout streak.[24]

Following the season, Richmond was traded along with Thorpe to the Washington Wizards after seven seasons in Sacramento,[25][26][27] while Owens and Polynice both signed as free agents with the Seattle SuperSonics, whom Polynice used to play for,[28][29][30] Johnson signed with the Atlanta Hawks,[31] Stewart signed with the Toronto Raptors,[32] Abdul-Rauf left to play overseas in Turkey,[20][21] and head coach Eddie Jordan was fired.[33][34]

Draft picks

Main article: 1997 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 11 Tariq Abdul-Wahad SG/SF  France San Jose State
2 39 Anthony Johnson PG  United States College of Charleston

Roster

1997–98 Sacramento Kings roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
G 3 Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 162 lb (73 kg) 1969–03–09 LSU
G/F 9 Tariq Abdul-Wahad 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1974–11–03 San José State
G 24 Terry Dehere 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1971–09–12 Seton Hall
F 51 Lawrence Funderburke 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1970–12–15 Ohio State
F 42 Mark Hendrickson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1974–06–23 Washington State
G 10 Anthony Johnson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1974–10–02 College of Charleston
F 30 Billy Owens 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1969–05–01 Syracuse
C 0 Olden Polynice 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1964–11–21 Virginia
G 2 Mitch Richmond 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1965–06–30 Kansas State
G 5 Chris Robinson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1974–04–02 Western Kentucky
C 13 Michael Stewart 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1975–04–25 California
C 33 Otis Thorpe 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1962–08–05 Providence
F 4 Corliss Williamson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1973–12–04 Arkansas
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Updated: February 20, 1998

Roster Notes

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division
 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
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
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 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

Regular season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Michael Stewart 81 37 21.7 .480 .458 6.6 .8 .4 2.4 4.6
Corliss Williamson 79 75 35.7 .495 .000 .630 5.6 2.9 1.0 .6 17.7
Billy Owens 78 78 30.1 .464 .371 .589 7.5 2.8 1.2 .5 10.5
Anthony Johnson 77 62 29.4 .371 .328 .727 2.2 4.3 .8 .1 7.5
Terry Dehere 77 18 18.3 .399 .379 .798 1.4 2.5 .7 .1 6.4
Mitch Richmond 70 70 36.7 .445 .389 .864 3.3 4.0 1.3 .2 23.2
Olden Polynice 70 25 20.8 .459 .000 .452 6.3 1.5 .5 .6 7.9
Tariq Abdul-Wahad 59 16 16.3 .403 .211 .672 2.0 .9 .6 .2 6.4
Lawrence Funderburke 52 1 21.0 .490 .143 .679 4.5 1.2 .4 .3 9.5
Mark Hendrickson 48 1 15.4 .389 .000 .825 3.0 .9 .5 .2 3.4
Bobby Hurley† 34 3 12.3 .409 .267 .811 1.1 2.4 .4 .0 3.8
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf 31 0 17.1 .377 .161 1.000 1.2 1.9 .5 .0 7.3
Otis Thorpe† 27 20 23.1 .459 .000 .657 6.1 2.3 .7 .3 8.3
Chris Robinson† 19 0 14.3 .378 .405 .500 1.7 1.5 .6 .2 5.7
Michael Smith† 18 4 19.3 .426 .567 5.6 1.6 .8 .5 3.8
Kevin Salvadori 16 0 5.4 .077 .500 1.3 .2 .0 .7 .3
Derek Grimm 9 0 3.8 .286 .333 1.000 .4 .0 .3 .1 1.6
  • † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Kings only.

Player Statistics Citation:[19]

Awards and records

Transactions

References

  1. ^ 1997-98 Sacramento Kings
  2. ^ Heisler, Mark (June 26, 1997). "Draft Over, But Not Finished". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
  3. ^ Cotton, Anthony (June 26, 1997). "No. 1 Pick Turns Duncan Into Spur of Moment". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
  4. ^ "1997 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
  5. ^ "Parlez Vous Tariq Abdul-Wahad?". The Washington Post. News Services. November 10, 1997. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
  6. ^ "Barkley Is Cleared in Cleveland Brawl". The Washington Post. August 2, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  7. ^ Popper, Steve (August 10, 1997). "Two Guys from Jersey on Same Road Again". The New York Times. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  8. ^ Smith, Sam (November 24, 1997). "This King's Concerns Are Divine". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  9. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 5, 1998". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  10. ^ Wise, Mike (February 19, 1998). "BASKETBALL; Kenny Anderson Is Traded to Celtics in 7-Player Deal". The New York Times. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  11. ^ "Celtics Land Anderson in Deal with Raptors". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 19, 1998. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  12. ^ "In Seven-Player Swap, Raptors Trade Anderson to the Celtics". The Washington Post. February 19, 1998. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  13. ^ "Grizzlies Defeat Sacramento in OT". CBS News. Associated Press. April 20, 1998. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  14. ^ "1997–98 Sacramento Kings Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  15. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (January 28, 1998). "Lakers Get Four-Star Rating as Van Exel, Jones Honored". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  16. ^ "1998 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  17. ^ "1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  18. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (December 31, 1997). "Just Enough Is Becoming the Laker Way". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  19. ^ a b "1997–98 Sacramento Kings Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  20. ^ a b "PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL -- SACRAMENTO; Abdul-Rauf Bound for Turkey". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 19, 1998. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  21. ^ a b Shapiro, Mark (June 19, 1998). "Abdul-Rauf Leaves NBA for Turkey". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  22. ^ a b "1997–98 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  23. ^ "Henderson Voted Most Improved". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. May 1, 1998. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  24. ^ "Warriors Conclude 2023-24 Regular Season With 518 Consecutive Sellouts". www.nba.com. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  25. ^ "N.B.A.; Webber Traded to Sacramento". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 15, 1998. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  26. ^ "Webber Dealt to Kings for Richmond, Thorpe". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 15, 1998. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  27. ^ Bucher, Ric (May 15, 1998). "Webber Traded to Sacramento". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  28. ^ Wise, Mike (January 21, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; The Business of Basketball Now Begins in Earnest". The New York Times. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  29. ^ "Around the NBA". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. January 23, 1999. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  30. ^ "SONICS: Owens Signs Three-Year Deal". Kitsap Sun. Sun News Services. January 23, 1999. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  31. ^ Johnson, L.C. (February 20, 1999). "Headliners". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  32. ^ Wise, Mike (February 4, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  33. ^ "Kings Ax Head Coach, Assistant". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. August 18, 1998. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  34. ^ Thompson, Jack (August 19, 1998). "Jordan Not Returning--to Kings, Who Fire Coach". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 21, 2023.

See also

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.