1996–97 Sacramento Kings season

The 1996–97 NBA season was the Kings' 48th season in the National Basketball Association, and 12th season in Sacramento.^[1] During the off-season, the Kings acquired Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf from the Denver Nuggets,^[2][3][4][5] and signed free agent Jeff Grayer in January.^[6][7] Coming off their first playoff appearance in ten years, expectations in Sacramento were high. However, the Kings struggled with an 8–17 start to the regular season, as Brian Grant only played just 24 games due to a shoulder injury,^[8][9][10] and Billy Owens missed 16 games early into the season with a groin injury.^[11][12][13] The Kings would rebound to get back into playoff contention, holding a 21–28 record at the All-Star break.^[14]

1996–97 Sacramento Kings season
Head coach	Garry St. Jean (fired) Eddie Jordan
General manager	Geoff Petrie
President	Geoff Petrie
Owner(s)	Jim Thomas
Arena	ARCO Arena
Results
Record	34–48 (.415)
Place	Division: 6th (Pacific) Conference: 9th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	KPWB-TV SportsChannel Pacific
Radio	KHTK
< 1995–96 1997–98 >

However, after holding a 28–32 record as of March 5, 1997,^[15] the team went on a 7-game losing streak as head coach Garry St. Jean was fired, and replaced with assistant Eddie Jordan for the remainder of the season.^[16][17][18] The Kings finished in sixth place in the Pacific Division with a 34–48 record, missing the playoffs by finishing just two games behind the 8th-seeded Los Angeles Clippers.^[19]

Mitch Richmond averaged 25.9 points and 1.5 steals per game, led the Kings with 204 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, finished tied in thirteenth place in Most Valuable Player voting,^[20][21] and was also selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland, Ohio.^{[22][23][24][25]} In addition, Abdul-Rauf finished second on the team in scoring with 13.7 points per game, while Olden Polynice provided the team with 12.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, second-year forward Corliss Williamson showed improvement averaging 11.6 points per game, Owens provided with 11.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, and Grant contributed 10.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Michael Smith was the team's starting power forward in Grant's absence, averaging 6.6 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, and second-year guard Tyus Edney contributed 6.9 points and 3.2 assists per game off the bench.^[26]

Following the season, Grant signed as a free agent with the Portland Trail Blazers,^{[27][28][29][30]} while Edney signed with the Boston Celtics,^[31][32][33] Duane Causwell was traded to the Miami Heat,^[34][35][36] Grayer was released to free agency, and Lionel Simmons retired due to knee surgery, after playing seven seasons in the NBA with the Kings.^[37][38][39]

Draft picks

Main article: 1996 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	14	Peja Stojaković	SF	Yugoslavia
2	41	Jason Sasser	SF	United States	Texas Tech

Roster

1996–97 Sacramento Kings roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From G 3 Abdul-Rauf, Mahmoud 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 162 lb (73 kg) 1969–03–09 LSU C 31 Causwell, Duane 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1968–05–31 Temple G 5 Edney, Tyus 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 152 lb (69 kg) 1973–02–14 UCLA G/F 40 Gamble, Kevin 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1965–11–13 Iowa F 33 Grant, Brian 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 254 lb (115 kg) 1972–03–05 Xavier G 20 Grayer, Jeff 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1965–12–17 Iowa State G 7 Hurley, Bobby 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1971–06–28 Duke F 30 Owens, Billy 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1969–05–01 Syracuse C 0 Polynice, Olden 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1964–11–21 Virginia G 2 Richmond, Mitch 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1965–06–30 Kansas State C 32 Salvadori, Kevin 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 231 lb (105 kg) 1970–12–30 North Carolina F 22 Simmons, Lionel 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1968–11–14 La Salle F 34 Smith, Michael 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1972–03–28 Providence F 4 Williamson, Corliss 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1973–12–04 Arkansas

Head coach Eddie Jordan Assistant coach(es) Mike Bratz Pete Carril Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Last transaction: March 21, 1997

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Seattle SuperSonics	57	25	.695	–	31–10	26–15	16–8
x-Los Angeles Lakers	56	26	.683	1	31–10	25–16	18–6
x-Portland Trail Blazers	49	33	.598	8	29–12	20–21	15–9
x-Phoenix Suns	40	42	.488	17	25–16	15–26	13–11
x-Los Angeles Clippers	36	46	.439	21	21–20	15–26	10–14
Sacramento Kings	34	48	.415	23	22–19	12–29	8–16
Golden State Warriors	30	52	.366	27	18–23	12–29	4–20

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%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Olden Polynice	82	82	35.3	.457	.000	.562	9.4	2.2	.6	1.0	12.5
Mitch Richmond	81	81	38.6	.454	.428	.861	3.9	4.2	1.5	.3	25.9
Michael Smith	81	52	31.2	.539		.496	9.5	2.4	1.0	.7	6.6
Corliss Williamson	79	31	25.2	.498	.000	.689	4.1	1.6	.8	.6	11.6
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf	75	51	28.4	.445	.382	.846	1.6	2.5	.7	.1	13.7
Tyus Edney	70	20	19.7	.384	.190	.823	1.6	3.2	.9	.0	6.9
Billy Owens	66	56	30.2	.467	.347	.697	5.9	2.8	.9	.4	11.0
Kevin Gamble	62	2	15.4	.430	.482	.700	1.7	1.2	.3	.3	5.0
Bobby Hurley	49	12	12.9	.368	.311	.698	.8	3.0	.6	.1	2.9
Duane Causwell	46	8	12.6	.511	.667	.541	2.8	.4	.3	.8	2.6
Lionel Simmons	41	0	12.7	.331	.233	.875	2.5	1.4	.2	.3	3.4
Jeff Grayer	25	0	12.6	.458	.364	.550	1.5	1.0	.3	.3	3.6
Brian Grant	24	15	25.3	.440		.778	5.9	1.2	.8	1.0	10.5
Kevin Salvadori	23	0	6.7	.364		.722	1.1	.4	.1	.6	1.6
Lloyd Daniels†	5	0	5.6	.125	.182		.8	.2	.2	.0	1.2
Devin Gray†	3	0	8.3	.273		.500	3.0	.7	1.0	.0	2.7

• ^† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Kings only.

Player Statistics Citation:^[26]

Awards and records

• Mitch Richmond, All-NBA Second Team

Transactions

References

1. 1996-97 Sacramento Kings
2. "Nuggets Trade Abdul-Rauf to Sacramento". United Press International. June 13, 1996. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
3. "PRO BASKETBALL; Nuggets Trade Abdul-Rauf, Acquire Pacers' Jackson". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 14, 1996. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
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. "Results Plus". The New York Times. February 4, 1997. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
7. "Kings 85, Spurs 79". The Oklahoman. February 4, 1997. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
8. Massel, Craig (November 11, 1996). "Kemp Is Too Much for Kings: Injured Grant Watches as He Goes Wild in First". Recordnet.com. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
9. "Kings' Grant to Have Shoulder Surgery". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 15, 1996. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
10. Baker, Chris (December 14, 1996). "Clippers Tonight". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
11. Massel, Craig (October 8, 1996). "Owner Likes Having Camp in Stockton". Recordnet.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
12. Massel, Craig (October 11, 1996). "Owens, Grant Are Out: Ailing Forwards Will Rest Tonight". Recordnet.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
13. Steele, David (October 12, 1996). "Fresh Warriors Overthrow Kings". SFGate. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
14. "NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
15. "Denver Nuggets at Sacramento Kings Box Score, March 5, 1997". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
16. "Kings Fire St. Jean". The New York Times. Associated Press. March 21, 1997. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
17. "St. Jean Fired as Coach of Fading Kings". Los Angeles Times. Times Wire Services. March 21, 1997. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
18. Harris, Rich (March 21, 1997). "Kings Fire Garry St. Jean". Associated Press. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
19. "1996–97 Sacramento Kings Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
20. "1996–97 Regular Season Award Winners". Eskimo.com. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
21. "1996–97 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
22. Jorgensen, Loren (February 8, 1997). "No Offense, But Malone Would Rather Be Home". Deseret News. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
23. Fry, Darrell (February 8, 1997). "On to the Next Stage". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
24. "1997 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
25. "1997 NBA All-Star Game: East 132, West 120". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
26. "1996–97 Sacramento Kings Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
27. "Trail Blazers Sign Grant to 7-Year, $63-Million Deal". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. August 24, 1997. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
28. "NBA -- Blazers Sign Brian Grant; Clifford Robinson Is Out". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. August 24, 1997. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
29. "Blazers Sign Brian Grant". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Services. August 24, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
30. "Blazers Get Grant for $63-Million". Tampa Bay Times. August 24, 1997. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
31. "Celtics Sign Chris Mills and Tyus Edney". Associated Press. August 22, 1997. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
32. "Celtics Sign 2 Free Agents". The New York Times. Bloomberg News. August 23, 1997. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
33. "Transactions". Hartford Courant. August 23, 1997. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
34. "Heat Acquires Causwell". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 13, 1997. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
35. "Mullin to Join Bird in Indiana". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Reports. August 13, 1997. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
36. Russo, Michael (August 14, 1997). "Heat Deals 2 Reserves to Kings for 7-Foot Causwell". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
37. "Transactions". The New York Times. October 31, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
38. "Hill, Payton Head Team". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Reports. October 31, 1997. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
39. "N.B.A.: LAST NIGHT; Barkley's Back for the Rockets". The New York Times. Associated Press. November 1, 1997. Retrieved December 1, 2022.

See also

• 1996-97 NBA season