1997–98 New York Knicks season

The 1997–98 New York Knicks season was the 52nd season for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). During the offseason, the Knicks acquired Chris Mills from the Boston Celtics and Chris Dudley from the Portland Trail Blazers.[1][2] At midseason, they traded Herb Williams to the Philadelphia 76ers for Terry Cummings.[3] In the regular season, the Knicks had a 43–39 record, which placed them in a tie for second place in the Atlantic Division.[4] Despite their lowest winning percentage since the 1990–91 season,[5] the team qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the #7 seed.[6] They also hosted the 1998 NBA All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden.[7]

1997–98 New York Knicks season
Head coachJeff Van Gundy
General managerErnie Grunfeld
OwnersCablevision
ArenaMadison Square Garden
Results
Record43–39 (.524)
PlaceDivision: 2nd
Conference: 7th
Playoff finishSemifinals
(Lost to Pacers 1–4)
Local media
TelevisionMSG Network
RadioWFAN

The season saw All-Star center Patrick Ewing break his wrist trying to catch an alley-oop during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on December 20.[8] The injury kept Ewing out for the rest of the regular season, and the entire first-round series against the Miami Heat. However, Ewing did return for Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals.[9][10]

The 1998 NBA Playoffs matched the Knicks against the #2 seed Heat, who had eliminated the Knicks in the 1997 playoffs in a series that featured a brawl during Game 5.[11][12] The altercation led to the suspension of six players, including five Knicks.[13] In the 1998 series, another brawl occurred in the closing seconds of Game 4, which the Knicks won to even the series at two games each. Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning exchanged punches, and New York coach Jeff Van Gundy clung to one of Mourning's legs at one point in an attempt to separate the two.[14] Three players were suspended for Game 5: Johnson, Mourning, and Mills, who left the bench during the fight.[15] The Knicks won Game 5 to advance to the second round, where they lost to the Pacers in five games.[4]

Following the season, Charles Oakley was traded to the Toronto Raptors, John Starks was dealt along with Mills and Cummings back to the Golden State Warriors,[16][17] and Buck Williams retired.[18]

NBA Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 25 John Thomas PF  United States Minnesota

Roster
Roster listing
New York Knicks roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
SG 13 Bowie, Anthony 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Oklahoma
PG 1 Childs, Chris 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Boise State
PF 35 Cummings, Terry 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) DePaul
PF 4 Davis, Ben  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Arizona
C 14 Dudley, Chris 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Yale
C 33 Ewing, Patrick 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Georgetown
SG 20 Houston, Allan 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Tennessee
SF 2 Johnson, Larry 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 250 lb (113 kg) UNLV
SF 42 Mills, Chris 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Arizona
PF 34 Oakley, Charles 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Virginia Union
SG 3 Starks, John 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Oklahoma State
PG 7 Thompson, Brooks 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 193 lb (88 kg) Oklahoma State
PG 21 Ward, Charlie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Florida State
PF 52 Williams, Buck 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Maryland
C 32 Williams, Herb 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 242 lb (110 kg) Ohio State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster

Regular season

Season standings
Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Miami Heat 5527.671–30-1125–1618–6
x-New York Knicks 4339.5241228–1315–2613–11
x-New Jersey Nets 4339.5241226–1517–2412–12
Washington Wizards 4240.5121324–1718–2312–13
Orlando Magic 4141.5001424–1717–2411–13
Boston Celtics 3646.4391924–1712–2912–23
Philadelphia 76ers 3151.3782419–2212–297–17
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Chicago Bulls6220.756–
2 y-Miami Heat5527.6717
3 x-Indiana Pacers5824.7074
4 x-Charlotte Hornets5131.62211
5 x-Atlanta Hawks5032.61012
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers4735.57315
7 x-New York Knicks4339.52419
8 x-New Jersey Nets4339.52419
9 Washington Wizards4240.51220
10 Orlando Magic4141.50021
11 Detroit Pistons3745.45125
12 Boston Celtics3646.43926
12 Milwaukee Bucks3646.43926
14 Philadelphia 76ers3151.37831
15 Toronto Raptors1666.19546

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 —2–14–01–34–02–02–02–22–01–11–32–00–21–33–10–21–22–22–23–10–21–12–01–11–14–00–22–04–0
Boston 1–2—1–21–31–31–11–12–21–11–10–42–01–10–42–21–12–22–22–23–10–21–11–10–21–13–00–22–03–2
Charlotte 0–42–1—1–32–22–02–03–11–12–03–12–01–13–13–11–12–21–33–12–11–12–01–11–11–14–01–12–02–2
Chicago 3–13–13–1—2–21–12–03–12–02–02–22–01–12–14–01–14–04–03–12–11–11–12–02–01–14–00–22–03–1
Cleveland 0–43–12–22–2—1–12–03–12–01–12–22–01–11–32–22–03–11–22–23–12–01–12–00–20–23–11–12–01–2
Dallas 0–21–10–21–11–1—3–10–21–30–41–11–30–40–20–22–20–21–10–20–20–40–40–40–42–21–10–44–01–1
Denver 0–21–10–20–20–21–3—0–21–30–40–22–20–40–20–21–30–20–20–20–20–42–21–30–40–40–20–41–31–1
Detroit 2–22–21–31–31–32–02–0—2–01–11–32–00–21–22–20–22–22–21–23–11–10–21–11–10–24–00–20–22–2
Golden State 0–21–11–10–20–23–13–10–2—1–30–21–31–30–20–20–40–21–11–10–20–41–32–21–31–30–20–41–30–2
Houston 1–11–10–20–21–14–04–01–13–1—1–14–01–30–21–11–31–11–10–21–11–31–34–02–21–32–00–43–11–1
Indiana 3–14–01–32–22–21–12–03–12–01–1—2–00–23–14–02–02–12–13–14–01–11–12–00–20–24–01–12–04–0
L.A. Clippers 0–20–20–20–20–23–12–20–23–10–40–2—0–40–20–20–41–10–20–21–10–40–43–11–30–41–11–31–30–2
L.A. Lakers 2–01–11–11–11–14–04–02–03–13–12–04–0—1–12–04–01–11–11–10–22–22–24–04–01–32–03–14–01–1
Miami 3–14–01–31–23–12–02–02–12–02–01–32–01–1—3–11–13–12–23–14–00–22–02–00–20–24–01–12–02–2
Milwaukee 1–32–21–30–42–22–02–02–22–01–10–42–00–21–3—1–10–43–12–12–20–22–02–00–21–13–10–21–11–2
Minnesota 2–01–11–11–10–22–23–12–04–03–10–24–00–41–11–1—2–01–10–22–03–11–33–11–31–31–11–34–00–2
New Jersey 2–12–22–20–41–32–02–02–22–01–11–21–11–11–34–00–2—2–23–13–11–11–12–01–10–23–10–22–01–3
New York 2–22–23–10–42–11–12–02–21–11–11–22–01–12–21–31–12–2—4–02–22–01–11–10–21–13–10–22–01–3
Orlando 2–22–21–31–32–22–02–02–11–12–01–32–01–11–31–22–01–30–4—4–00–22–00–20–21–13–10–22–03–1
Philadelphia 1–31–31–21–21–32–02–01–32–01–10–41–12–00–42–20–21–32–20–4—1–11–11–10–20–22–20–22–03–1
Phoenix 2–02–01–11–10–24–04–01–14–03–11–14–02–22–02–01–31–10–22–01–1—2–23–13–12–22–01–34–01–1
Portland 1–11–10–21–11–14–02–22–03–13–11–14–02–20–20–23–11–11–10–21–12–2—3–12–20–42–03–12–21–1
Sacramento 0–21–11–10–20–24–03–11–12–20–40–21–30–40–20–21–30–21–12–01–11–31–3—0–41–31–12–22–21–1
San Antonio 1–12–01–10–22–04–04–01–13–12–22–03–10–42–02–03–11–12–02–02–01–32–24–0—2–22–01–34–01–1
Seattle 1–11–11–11–12–02–24–02–03–13–12–04–03–12–01–13–12–01–11–12–02–24–03–12–2—2–02–24–01–1
Toronto 0–40–30–40–41–31–12–00–42–00–20–41–10–20–41–31–11–31–31–32–20–20–21–10–20–2—0–21–10–3
Utah 2–02–01–12–01–14–04–02–04–04–01–13–11–31–12–03–12–02–02–02–03–11–32–23–12–22–0—4–00–2
Vancouver 0–20–20–20–20–20–43–12–03–11–30–23–10–40–21–10–40–20–20–20–20–42–22–20–40–41–10–4—1–1
Washington 0–42–32–21–32–11–11–12–22–01–10–42–01–12–22–12–03–13–11–31–31–11–11–11–11–13–02–01–1—

Playoffs

East First Round

(2) Miami Heat vs. (7) New York Knicks Last Playoff Meeting: 1997 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Miami won 4–3)

Game Date Home Score Visitor Score Record

(MIA-NYK)

 Venue Box score Television
1 April 24 Miami 94 New York 79 1–0 Miami Arena, Miami, Florida 1 TBS 7:00et
2 April 26 Miami 86 New York 96 1–1 Miami Arena, Miami, Florida 2 NBC 12:30et
3 April 28 New York 85 Miami 91 2–1 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York 3 TBS 7:00et
4 April 30 New York 90 Miami 85 2–2 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York 4 TNT 8:00et
5 May 3 Miami 81 New York 98 2–3 Miami Arena, Miami, Florida 5 NBC 12:30et
New York wins series 3–2

East Conference Semifinals

(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (7) New York Knicks Last Playoff Meeting: 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Indiana won 4–3)

Game Date Home Score Visitor Score Record

(IND-NYK)

 Venue Box score Television
1 May 5 Indiana 93 New York 83 1–0 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana 1 TNT 8:00et
2 May 7 Indiana 85 New York 77 2–0 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana 2 TNT 8:00et
3 May 9 New York 83 Indiana 76 2–1 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York 3 NBC 1:00et
4 May 10 New York 107 Indiana 118 3–1 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York 4 NBC 12:30et
5 May 13 Indiana 99 New York 88 4–1 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana 5 TNT 7:00et
Indiana wins series 4–1

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Transactions
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References
  1. "Knicks trade four players for Mills". The Register-Guard. October 23, 1997. p. 4C. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  2. Shapiro, Mark (September 8, 1997). "Dudley's Trade To Knicks Approved". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  3. Smith, Stephen A. (February 20, 1998). "Cummings Dealt By The 76ers For A Pair Of Knicks: The Forward, Swapped For Herb Williams And Ronnie Grandison, Landed With A Winner". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on August 25, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  4. "1997–98 New York Knickerbockers Roster and Statistics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  5. "New York Knickerbockers Franchise Index". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  6. "1997–98 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on July 4, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  7. Iannazzone, Al (September 24, 2013). "League source: Knicks, Nets to co-host NBA All-Star Weekend in 2015". Newsday. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  8. Roberts, Selena (December 22, 1997). "Pro Basketball; Wrist Surgery Sidelines Ewing For the Season". The New York Times. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  9. Roberts, Selena (May 7, 1998). "The N.B.A. Playoffs; Ewing Works Out As the Knicks Wait and Wait". The New York Times. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  10. Roberts, Selena (May 8, 1998). "The N.B.A. Playoffs; Ewing Starts, but Pacers Have the Endgame". The New York Times. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  11. "1997 NBA Playoffs Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  12. Wise, Mike (May 15, 1997). "Not for the Faint-Hearted: Knicks–Heat Turns Nasty". The New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  13. Wise, Mike (May 16, 1997). "5 Knicks Barred for Melee; 3 to Miss Game 6". The New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  14. Sutton, Larry; Standora, Leo (May 1, 1998). "Knicks & Heat Slug It Out: Johnson–Mourning Fight Clears The Benches". New York Daily News. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  15. "Tough play big part of Rileyball". The Augusta Chronicle. Associated Press. May 3, 1998. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  16. Zwerling, Jared (February 25, 2011). "Top 10 trades in Knicks history". ESPN New York. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  17. "Knicks Get Spree, Lose Starks". CBS News. January 18, 1999. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  18. "Pro Basketball; Buck Williams Ends Career". The New York Times. January 28, 1999. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
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