1996–97 Portland Trail Blazers season
NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1996–97 Portland Trail Blazers season was the 27th season for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association .[ 1] During the off-season, the Trail Blazers signed free agent Kenny Anderson , acquired Isaiah Rider from the Minnesota Timberwolves ,[ 2] [ 3] [ 4] [ 5] and acquired second-year forward Rasheed Wallace and Mitchell Butler from the Washington Bullets .[ 6] [ 7] [ 8] [ 9] This season is also notable for the team drafting high school basketball star Jermaine O'Neal with the 17th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft .[ 10] [ 11] [ 12] [ 13] [ 14]
The Blazers would hover around .500 for most of the first half of the season, holding a 25–23 record at the All-Star break.[ 15] At mid-season, the team traded Aaron McKie to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Stacey Augmon .[ 16] [ 17] [ 18] [ 19] The Blazers then posted a 13–2 record in March, which included an 11-game winning streak,[ 20] then won their final four games of the season. The Blazers finished third in the Pacific Division, and fifth in the Western Conference with a 49–33 record.[ 21] Making their 15th straight trip to the postseason and 20th in 21 years.[ 22]
Anderson led the team with 17.5 points, 7.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game, while Rider finished second on the team in scoring with 16.1 points per game, and Clifford Robinson contributed 15.1 points per game. In addition, Wallace averaged 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, but only played 62 games due to a broken thumb,[ 23] [ 24] [ 25] while second-year center Arvydas Sabonis provided the team with 13.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Off the bench, second-year forward Gary Trent provided with 10.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, and Chris Dudley contributed 7.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.[ 26] Wallace also finished in third place in Most Improved Player voting.[ 27] [ 28] [ 29] The Trail Blazers had the seventh best team defensive rating in the NBA.[ 30]
The Blazers faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference First Round of the NBA Playoffs , and were defeated 1–3, marking the fifth straight year they were eliminated in the first round.[ 31] [ 32] [ 33] [ 34]
Following the season, head coach P. J. Carlesimo was fired after three seasons with the Blazers,[ 35] [ 36] [ 37] while Robinson signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns after eight seasons in Portland,[ 38] [ 39] [ 40] [ 41] Dudley was traded to the New York Knicks in a three-team trade,[ 42] [ 43] [ 44] and Butler signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers .
Draft picks
Roster
1996–97 Portland Trail Blazers roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
G
7
Anderson, Kenny
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
168 lb (76 kg)
1970–10–09
Georgia Tech
G/F
2
Augmon, Stacey
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1968–08–01
UNLV
G
4
Brown, Marcus
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1974–04–03
Murray State
G
6
Butler, Mitchell
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1970–12–15
UCLA
C
20
Dudley, Chris
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1965–02–22
Yale
F/C
5
O'Neal, Jermaine
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
226 lb (103 kg)
1978–10–13
Eau Claire HS (SC)
G
34
Rider, Isaiah
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1971–03–12
UNLV
F
3
Robinson, Clifford
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1966–12–16
Connecticut
G
21
Robinson, Rumeal
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1966–11–13
Michigan
C
11
Sabonis, Arvydas
7 ft 3 in (2.21 m)
279 lb (127 kg)
1964–12–19
Lithuania
F
33
Trent, Gary
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1974–09–22
Ohio
F
30
Wallace, Rasheed
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1974–09–17
North Carolina
G
8
Whatley, Ennis
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
177 lb (80 kg)
1962–08–11
Alabama
F
10
Wingfield, Dontonio
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
256 lb (116 kg)
1974–06–23
Cincinnati
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster
Regular season
Season standings
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
1996-97 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
–
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
Playoffs
1997 playoff game log
First round: 1–3 (home: 1–1; road: 0–2)
1997 schedule
Player statistics
Regular season
Playoffs
† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Trail Blazers only.
Awards and records
This section is empty. You can help by
adding to it .
(July 2021 )
Transactions
Trades
Free agents
Player Transactions Citation:[ 45]
References
^ 1996-97 Portland Trail Blazers
^ "Anderson Near Deal with Trail Blazers" . The Washington Post . July 18, 1996. Retrieved December 3, 2022 .
^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Rider, Then Anderson, Join the Trail Blazers" . The New York Times . July 24, 1996. Retrieved January 1, 2022 .
^ "Portland Gets Rider, Signs Anderson" . Los Angeles Times . Staff and Wire Reports. July 24, 1996. Retrieved September 24, 2022 .
^ "Rider, Anderson to Blazers" . Tampa Bay Times . July 24, 1996. Retrieved June 23, 2023 .
^ Bembry, Jerry (July 16, 1996). "Bullets Get Strickland, Grant from Trail Blazers; Washington Deals Wallace and Butler, Signs Murray; Rockets Get Brent Price" . The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved December 3, 2022 .
^ Hall, Landon (July 16, 1996). "Blazers Send Strickland, Grant to Bullets for Wallace, Butler" . Associated Press . Retrieved July 18, 2021 .
^ "Blazers Trade Strickland to Bullets" . Tampa Bay Times . July 16, 1996. Retrieved June 20, 2023 .
^ Asher, Mark (July 22, 1996). "Strickland Decision Has Bullets on Hold" . The Washington Post . Retrieved July 24, 2022 .
^ Brown, Clifton (June 27, 1996). "PRO BASKETBALL; Big Trade and Some Twists in N.B.A. Youth Parade" . The New York Times . Retrieved December 1, 2022 .
^ Heisler, Mark (June 27, 1996). "The Surprises Are Few" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 1, 2022 .
^ Cotton, Anthony (June 27, 1996). "For 76ers, Iverson Is No. 1 Choice" . The Washington Post . Retrieved December 1, 2022 .
^ Bembry, Jerry (June 27, 1996). "76ers Make Iverson the 1, Philadelphia Takes Georgetown Guard; Camby Goes Second" . The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved June 2, 2023 .
^ "1996 NBA Draft" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved October 7, 2022 .
^ "NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved July 19, 2022 .
^ "Blazers Obtain Augmon" . The New York Times . Associated Press. January 25, 1997. Retrieved September 17, 2022 .
^ "Winters Out in Vancouver; Augmon Traded to Portland" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. January 25, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2021 .
^ "Griz End Winters of Their Discontent" . The Spokesman-Review . Wire Reports. January 25, 1997. Retrieved February 21, 2024 .
^ "Basketball Briefs" . Deseret News . January 25, 1997. Retrieved December 12, 2022 .
^ "Trail Blazers 97, Bucks 78" . United Press International . March 20, 1997. Retrieved June 28, 2022 .
^ "1996–97 Portland Trail Blazers Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ "Portland Trail Blazers" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved January 19, 2022 .
^ "Wallace Breaks Thumb" . The New York Times . December 25, 1996. Retrieved October 22, 2022 .
^ "Trail Blazers Lose Wallace as Forward Breaks Thumb" . Los Angeles Times . Staff and Wire Reports. December 25, 1996. Retrieved February 1, 2023 .
^ Baker, Chris (January 21, 1997). "Clippers Tonight" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved October 10, 2022 .
^ "1996–97 Portland Trail Blazers Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ "Austin 'Most Improved' " . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. May 4, 1997. Retrieved October 3, 2022 .
^ "Sports Briefly" . Deseret News . May 4, 1997. Retrieved February 2, 2023 .
^ "1996–97 NBA Awards Voting" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved January 2, 2022 .
^ "Teams Defense" . NBA.com . Retrieved April 17, 2021 .
^ "Lakers Bury Blazers with Free Throws" . The New York Times . Associated Press. May 3, 1997. Retrieved June 3, 2022 .
^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (May 3, 1997). "Lakers Go Fourth" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved May 13, 2022 .
^ "Lakers 95, Trail Blazers 91" . The Washington Post . May 3, 1997. Retrieved November 25, 2022 .
^ "1997 NBA Western Conference First Round: Trail Blazers vs. Lakers" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved February 4, 2023 .
^ "Blazers Fire Carlesimo, Newspaper, Radio Station Report" . Associated Press . May 8, 1997. Retrieved June 6, 2023 .
^ "Trail Blazers Fire Too-Slow Carlesimo" . Chicago Tribune . Tribune News Services. May 9, 1997. Retrieved January 2, 2023 .
^ "Dunleavy Named Blazers' Coach" . The New York Times . Associated Press. May 14, 1997. Retrieved May 12, 2022 .
^ "Robinson Joins Suns" . The New York Times . Associated Press. August 26, 1997. Retrieved June 24, 2023 .
^ "Robinson Takes Pay Cut to Sign with Suns" . Los Angeles Times . Staff and Wire Reports. August 26, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2022 .
^ Thompson, Jack (August 26, 1997). "Suns Sign Clifford Robinson" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved October 12, 2021 .
^ "Parish Ends NBA Career After 21 Seasons and 1,611 Games" . The Spokesman-Review . Wire Services. August 26, 1997. Retrieved December 3, 2022 .
^ Shapiro, Mark (September 8, 1997). "Dudley's Trade to Knicks Approved" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved July 2, 2023 .
^ Sheridan, Chris (October 9, 1997). "Appeals Panel Clears Dudley Trade" . Associated Press . Retrieved July 2, 2023 .
^ Roberts, Selena (October 10, 1997). "PRO BASKETBALL; Knicks Finally Get Wish: Dudley" . The New York Times . Retrieved October 7, 2022 .
^ "1996–97 Portland Trail Blazers Transactions" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 3, 2021 .
1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s