1996–97 Denver Nuggets season

The 1996–97 NBA season was the Nuggets' 21st season in the National Basketball Association, and 30th season as a franchise.^[1] In the off-season, the Nuggets acquired Mark Jackson and Ricky Pierce from the Indiana Pacers,^[2][3][4][5] acquired Šarūnas Marčiulionis from the Sacramento Kings,^[6][3][4] and signed free agents Ervin Johnson and Eric Murdock,^[7][8][9] although Murdock was released to free agency in November after just 12 games.^[10] However, after a 4–9 start to the season, Bernie Bickerstaff resigned as head coach and was replaced with Dick Motta,^[11][12] where the Nuggets then lost ten straight games, and held a 16–32 record at the All-Star break.^[13]

1996–97 Denver Nuggets season
Head coach	Bernie Bickerstaff (resigned) Dick Motta
General manager	Bernie Bickerstaff Allan Bristow
President	Bernie Bickerstaff
Arena	McNichols Sports Arena
Results
Record	21–61 (.256)
Place	Division: 5th (Midwest) Conference: 12th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	KWGN-TV Fox Sports Rocky Mountain
Radio	KKFN
< 1995–96 1997–98 >

At midseason, Jackson was traded back to his former team, the Indiana Pacers, while Pierce was dealt to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for second-year guard Anthony Goldwire.^{[14][15][16][17]} The team also signed free agent and three-point specialist Kenny Smith, who won two championships with the Houston Rockets.^[18][19][20] As the season drew, the Nuggets still struggled losing 26 of their final 30 games, finishing fifth in the Midwest Division with a 21–61 record.^[21]

LaPhonso Ellis had a stellar season, averaging 21.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, but only played 55 games due to knee injuries and a ruptured Achilles tendon,^[22][23][24] while second-year star Antonio McDyess averaged 18.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, and Dale Ellis provided the team with 16.6 points per game. In addition, Bryant Stith contributed 14.9 points per game, but only played 52 games due to a foot injury,^[25] while Johnson provided with 7.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game, and Tom Hammonds averaged 6.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game off the bench.^[26]

Following the season, McDyess was traded to the Phoenix Suns in a three-team trade,^{[27][28][29][30]} while Dale Ellis was traded back to his former team, the Seattle SuperSonics,^[31][32][33] Johnson was dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks,^[34][35][36] Hammonds signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves during the next season,^[37][38] Smith and Marčiulionis both retired, and Motta was fired as head coach.^[39][40]

Draft picks

Main article: 1996 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	23	Efthimios Rentzias	C	Greece	PAOK
2	37	Jeff McInnis	PG/SG	United States	North Carolina

Roster

1996–97 Denver Nuggets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From G 53 Allen, Jerome 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 1973–01–28 Penn G 17 Askew, Vincent 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1966–02–28 Memphis F 3 Ellis, Dale 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1960–08–06 Tennessee F 20 Ellis, LaPhonso  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1970–05–05 Notre Dame G 5 Goldwire, Anthony 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 182 lb (83 kg) 1971–09–06 Houston F 21 Hammonds, Tom 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1967–03–27 Georgia Tech C 50 Johnson, Ervin 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1967–12–21 New Orleans G 13 King, Jimmy 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1973–08–09 Michigan G 8 Marčiulionis, Šarūnas  6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1964–06–13 Lithuania F 24 McDyess, Antonio 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1974–09–07 Alabama G 30 Smith, Kenny 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1965–03–08 North Carolina G 23 Stith, Bryant 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 208 lb (94 kg) 1970–12–10 Virginia G 6 Thompson, Brooks 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 1970–07–19 Oklahoma State C 25 Zidek, George 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1973–08–02 UCLA

Head coach Bernie Bickerstaff (resigned) Dick Motta Assistant coach(es) Jim Brovelli Gene Littles Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Last transaction: April 6, 1997

Roster Notes

• Point guard Eric Murdock was waived on November 26, 1996.

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Utah Jazz	64	18	.780	–	38–3	26–15	19–5
x-Houston Rockets	57	25	.695	7	30–11	27–14	19–5
x-Minnesota Timberwolves	40	42	.488	24	25–16	15–26	16–8
Dallas Mavericks	24	58	.293	40	14–27	10–31	9–15
Denver Nuggets	21	61	.256	43	12–29	9–32	7–17
San Antonio Spurs	20	62	.244	44	12–29	8–33	8–16
Vancouver Grizzlies	14	68	.171	50	8–33	6–35	6–18

1996–97 NBA West standings

#	Western Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Utah Jazz	64	18	.780	–
2	y-Seattle SuperSonics	57	25	.695	7
3	x-Houston Rockets	57	25	.695	7
4	x-Los Angeles Lakers	56	26	.683	8
5	x-Portland Trail Blazers	49	33	.598	15
6	x-Minnesota Timberwolves	40	42	.488	24
7	x-Phoenix Suns	40	42	.488	24
8	x-Los Angeles Clippers	36	46	.439	28
9	Sacramento Kings	34	48	.415	30
10	Golden State Warriors	30	52	.366	34
11	Dallas Mavericks	24	58	.293	40
12	Denver Nuggets	21	61	.256	43
13	San Antonio Spurs	20	62	.244	44
14	Vancouver Grizzlies	14	68	.171	50

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

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%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
LaPhonso Ellis	55	49	36.4	.439	.367	.773	7.0	2.4	0.8	0.7	21.9
Antonio McDyess	74	73	34.7	.463	.171	.708	7.3	1.4	0.8	1.7	18.3
Dale Ellis	82	51	35.9	.414	.364	.817	3.6	2.0	0.7	0.1	16.6
Bryant Stith	52	52	34.4	.416	.385	.863	4.2	2.6	1.2	0.4	14.9
Mark Jackson	52	52	38.5	.425	.397	.801	5.2	12.3	1.0	0.2	10.4
Ricky Pierce	33	10	18.2	.462	.308	.902	1.6	0.9	0.4	0.2	10.2
Kenny Smith	33	3	19.8	.422	.425	.854	1.1	3.1	0.5	0.0	7.9
Anthony Goldwire	27	21	22.7	.392	.394	.816	1.7	4.6	0.5	0.0	7.3
Ervin Johnson	82	82	31.7	.520	.000	.615	11.1	0.9	0.8	2.8	7.1
Brooks Thompson	65	6	16.1	.400	.398	.632	1.5	2.8	0.8	0.0	6.8
Sarunas Marciulionis	17	0	15.0	.376	.367	.806	1.8	1.5	0.7	0.1	6.8
Tom Hammonds	81	8	21.7	.480	.000	.721	5.0	0.8	0.2	0.3	6.2
Aaron Williams	1	0	10.0	.600			5.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	6.0
Vincent Askew	1	0	9.0	.667		1.000	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	6.0
Jeff McInnis	13	0	9.0	.469	.462	.700	0.5	1.4	0.2	0.1	5.0
Eric Murdock	12	0	9.5	.455	.400	.917	0.9	2.0	0.8	0.2	3.8
George Zidek	16	0	5.5	.485		.800	1.4	0.3	0.1	0.0	3.3
Jimmy King	2	0	11.0	.333		.500	1.0	1.0	1.5	0.0	3.0
Jerome Allen	25	0	10.0	.284	.206	.600	1.3	1.7	0.2	0.2	2.6
Elmer Bennett	5	0	11.8	.308	.333	.500	0.6	1.4	0.4	0.0	2.4
Darvin Ham	35	3	8.9	.525		.485	1.6	0.4	0.2	0.2	2.3
Melvin Booker	5	0	4.2	.500	.500		0.2	0.6	0.0	0.0	1.0
LaSalle Thompson	17	0	6.2	.188		.500	1.5	0.0	0.2	0.4	0.4

Player Statistics Citation:^[26]

Awards and records

Transactions

References

1. 1996-97 Denver Nuggets
2. "Pacers Trade Jackson, Pierce to Denver". United Press International. June 13, 1996. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
3. "PRO BASKETBALL; Nuggets Trade Abdul-Rauf, Acquire Pacers' Jackson". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 14, 1996. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
4. "In One of Two Deals, Abdul-Rauf Is Traded". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 14, 1996. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
5. "Rose, Abdul-Rauf Traded". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Reports. June 14, 1996. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
6. "Nuggets Trade Abdul-Rauf to Sacramento". United Press International. June 13, 1996. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
7. "Grant Signs with Magic for $50 Million". Los Angeles Times. Times News Services. July 18, 1996. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
8. "C Ervin Johnson Signs with Nuggets". United Press International. July 23, 1996. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
9. Heisler, Mark (October 31, 1996). "NBA Preview". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
10. "Jackson Can Shop Himself at a Whim". Deseret News. Associated Press. November 30, 1996. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
11. "Motta Is a Winner in Debut with Nuggets". The New York Times. November 27, 1996. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
12. "Motta Steps In for Bickerstaff". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 27, 1996. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
13. "NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
14. Sheridan, Chris (February 20, 1997). "Nuggets Made Three Trades, Hornets and Pacers Two Each". Associated Press. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
15. Brown, Clifton (February 21, 1997). "Jackson Is Back with Pacers". The New York Times. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
16. "Trading Deadline Becomes Much Ado About a Little". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 21, 1997. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
17. "Pacers Make Point in Reacquiring Jackson". The Washington Post. February 21, 1997. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
18. "Basketball Briefs". Deseret News. January 25, 1997. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
19. "Griz End Winters of Their Discontent". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Reports. January 25, 1997. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
20. "Nuggets Put Guard Smith on Injured List". Los Angeles Times. Times Wire Services. February 22, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
21. "1996–97 Denver Nuggets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
22. "Nuggets' Ellis Will Have Knee Surgery". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 8, 1996. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
23. "Suns Surging; LaPhonso Ellis Hurt Again". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 5, 1997. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
24. "Nuggets Look Overseas for Team Additions". Deseret News. Associated Press. April 7, 1997. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
25. "Injured Stith Unsure of Future". Associated Press. March 17, 2000. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
26. "1996–97 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
27. Berger, Ken (October 1, 1997). "Nuggets Send McDyess to Phoenix". Associated Press. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
28. "PLUS: IN THE NEWS -- PRO BASKETBALL; McDyess to Suns in Three-Team Deal". The New York Times. Associated Press. October 2, 1997. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
29. "Suns Make Trade for McDyess". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. October 2, 1997. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
30. "Nuggets Deal McDs to Phoenix". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. October 2, 1997. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
31. "Dale Ellis Joins SuperSonics, Again". Associated Press. October 2, 1997. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
32. "Sonics Trade for Ellis". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Reports. October 3, 1997. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
33. Wallingford, John (October 3, 1997). "SONICS: Long-Range Bomber Ellis Returns a 'Changed Man'". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
34. Wise, Mike (June 26, 1997). "After Duncan, Utah Forward Steals Show". The New York Times. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
35. Heisler, Mark (June 26, 1997). "Draft Over, But Not Finished". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
36. Cotton, Anthony (June 26, 1997). "No. 1 Pick Turns Duncan into Spur of Moment". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
37. "The Houston Rockets, Who Will Be Without..." Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 26, 1997. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
38. Facer, Dick (November 30, 1997). "24-Second Clock". Deseret News. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
39. Mossman, John (April 21, 1997). "Nuggets Clean House Following Disastrous Season". Associated Press. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
40. "Nuggets Fire Motta and His Staff". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 22, 1997. Retrieved November 9, 2022.

See also

• 1996-97 NBA season