1996–97 New York Knicks season
| 1996–97 New York Knicks season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Jeff Van Gundy |
| Owners | ITT Cablevision |
| Arena | Madison Square Garden |
| Results | |
| Record | 57–25 (.695) |
| Place | Division: 2nd (Atlantic) Conference: 3rd (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | East Conference Semifinals (eliminated 3-4) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | MSG Network, WBIS, EMI |
| Radio | WFAN |
The 1996–97 New York Knicks season was the 51st season for the team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the regular season, the Knicks finished in second place in the Atlantic Division with a 57–25 record,[1] and made the NBA Playoffs for the 10th consecutive year.[2]
The Knicks entered the summer of 1996 looking to revamp their line-up. Larry Johnson, a two-time NBA All-Star and the 1992 NBA Rookie of the Year, came from the Hornets in exchange for Anthony Mason and Brad Lohaus. Allan Houston and Chris Childs were signed to start in the backcourt.[3]
The Knicks enjoyed a successful season, with their 57 wins tied for the third-most in franchise history;[2] they finished second in the Atlantic Division and third in the Eastern Conference. John Starks was named the Sixth Man of the Year, and Patrick Ewing was selected to the 1997 NBA All-Star Game (he did not play, because he was injured), earned All-NBA Second Team honors,[4] and was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.[5] In the last game of the season, at the United Center, the Knicks defeated the then-69–12 Chicago Bulls, preventing them from posting two consecutive 70-win seasons in a row and tying the best home record (40–1 set by the 1985–86 Boston Celtics).[6]
During the playoffs, New York defeated the Charlotte Hornets in a three-game sweep in the first round and advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals,[1] where they faced the Miami Heat in what would eventually become the first chapter of one of the fiercest NBA rivalries of the period.[7] After jumping to a 3-1 lead in the series, the Knicks were eliminated by the Heat in seven games,[4] after a brawl erupted at the end of Game 5 that led to the suspensions of five key Knicks players: Ewing, Houston, Johnson, Starks and Charlie Ward.[8]
NBA Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | John Wallace | F |  United States
|
Syracuse |
| 1 | 19 | Walter McCarty | F | United States
|
Kentucky |
| 1 | 21 | Dontae Jones | F | United States
|
Mississippi State |
Roster
Starter
- G Chris Childs 1
- G Allan Houston 20
- F Larry Johnson 2
- F Charles Oakley 34
- C Patrick Ewing 33
Backup
- G Charlie Ward 21
- G John Starks 3
- F John Wallace 44
- F Buck Williams 52
- C Herb Williams 32
Reverse
- F Walter McCarty 40
- G Scott Brooks 4
Regular Season
Season Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Miami Heat | 61 | 21 | .744 | – | 29–12 | 32–9 | 16–8 |
| x-New York Knicks | 57 | 25 | .695 | 4 | 31–10 | 26–15 | 19–6 |
| x-Orlando Magic | 45 | 37 | .549 | 16 | 26–15 | 19–22 | 13–11 |
| x-Washington Bullets | 44 | 38 | .537 | 17 | 25–16 | 19–22 | 14–10 |
| New Jersey Nets | 26 | 56 | .317 | 35 | 16–25 | 10–31 | 11–13 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 22 | 60 | .268 | 39 | 11–30 | 11–30 | 11–14 |
| Boston Celtics | 15 | 67 | .183 | 46 | 11–30 | 4–37 | 1–23 |
| # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
| 1 | z-Chicago Bulls | 69 | 13 | .841 | – |
| 2 | y-Miami Heat | 61 | 21 | .744 | 8 |
| 3 | x-New York Knicks | 57 | 25 | .695 | 12 |
| 4 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 56 | 26 | .683 | 13 |
| 5 | x-Detroit Pistons | 54 | 28 | .659 | 15 |
| 6 | x-Charlotte Hornets | 54 | 28 | .659 | 15 |
| 7 | x-Orlando Magic | 45 | 37 | .549 | 24 |
| 8 | x-Washington Bullets | 44 | 38 | .537 | 25 |
| 9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 27 |
| 10 | Indiana Pacers | 39 | 43 | .476 | 30 |
| 11 | Milwaukee Bucks | 33 | 49 | .402 | 36 |
| 12 | Toronto Raptors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 39 |
| 13 | New Jersey Nets | 26 | 56 | .317 | 43 |
| 14 | Philadelphia 76ers | 22 | 60 | .268 | 47 |
| 15 | Boston Celtics | 15 | 67 | .183 | 54 |
- z - clinched division title
- y - clinched division title
- x - clinched playoff spot
Playoffs
East First Round
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Charlotte Hornets Last Playoff Meeting: 1993 Eastern Conference Semifinals (New York won 4-1)
| Game | Date | Home | Score | Visitor | Score | Record
(NYK-CHA) |
Venue | Recap | Television |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 24 | New York | 109 | Charlotte | 99 | 1-0 | Madison Square Garden, New York, New York | 1 | MSG |
| 2 | April 26 | New York | 100 | Charlotte | 93 | 2-0 | Madison Square Garden, New York, New York | 2 | NBC |
| 3 | April 28 | Charlotte | 95 | New York | 104 | 3-0 | Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina | 3 | TNT |
| New York wins series 3–0 | |||||||||
East Conference Semifinals
(2) Miami Heat vs. (3) New York Knicks Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)
| Game | Date | Home | Score | Visitor | Score | Record
(MIA-NYK) |
Venue | Recap | Television |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 7 | Miami | 79 | New York | 88 | 0-1 | Miami Arena, Miami, Florida | 1 | TNT |
| 2 | May 9 | Miami | 88 | New York | 84 | 1-1 | Miami Arena, Miami, Florida | 2 | TNT |
| 3 | May 11 | New York | 77 | Miami | 73 | 1-2 | Madison Square Garden, New York, New York | 3 | NBC |
| 4 | May 12 | New York | 89 | Miami | 76 | 1-3 | Madison Square Garden, New York, New York | 4 | TNT |
| 5 | May 14 | Miami | 96 | New York | 81 | 2-3 | Miami Arena, Miami, Florida | 5 | TNT |
| 6 | May 16 | New York | 90 | Miami | 95 | 3-3 | Madison Square Garden, New York, New York | 6 | TNT |
| 7 | May 18 | Miami | 101 | New York | 90 | 4-3 | Miami Arena, Miami, Florida | 7 | NBC |
| Miami wins series 4–3 | |||||||||
Player Statistics
Season
Playoffs
Awards and records
Transactions
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See also
References
- ^ a b "1996–97 New York Knickerbockers Roster and Statistics". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on 25 April 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "New York Knickerbockers Franchise Index". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Wise, Mike (July 15, 1996). "Pro Basketball;It's a Blockbuster Day for Knicks". The New York Times. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
- ^ a b "1996–97 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on 12 April 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "NBA History: The NBA's 50 Greatest Players". National Basketball Association. Archived from the original on 5 April 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Brown, Clifton (April 20, 1997). "When a Knick Victory Is Not Just a Victory". The New York Times. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
- ^ Sheridan, Chris (May 7, 2000). "Knicks, Heat continue their simmering rivalry". The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
- ^ Isola, Frank (May 16, 1997). "NBA – No Brawls Allowed Ewing Among Five Suspended Knicks". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 13, 2010.