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The 1996–97 NBA season was the Clippers' 27th season in the National Basketball Association, 13th in Los Angeles and 3rd in which they played occasional home games in Anaheim.[1] The Clippers had the seventh overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft, and selected Lorenzen Wright from the University of Memphis.[2][3][4][5][6] During the off-season, the team signed free agents Darrick Martin,[7][8] and former All-Star center Kevin Duckworth.[9][10]

Quick Facts Los Angeles Clippers season, Head coach ...
1996–97 Los Angeles Clippers season
Head coachBill Fitch
OwnersDonald Sterling
ArenaLos Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Arrowhead Pond
Results
Record36–46 (.439)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Pacific)
Conference: 8th (Western)
Playoff finishWest First Round
(lost to Jazz 0–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKCAL-TV
(Ralph Lawler, Bill Walton)
RadioKNNS
(Rory Markas)
< 1995–96 1997–98 >
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With the loss of Brian Williams to free agency, the Clippers were expected to sink in the bottom of the NBA again. After a 6–4 start to the regular season, the team lost ten of their next eleven games, as Duckworth only played just 26 games due to a sore heel injury, while Stanley Roberts only played just 18 games due to a back injury,[11][12][13] and second-year guard Brent Barry only played 59 games due to thumb and ankle injuries.[14][15][16] However, despite the injuries, the Clippers held a 19–25 record at the All-Star break,[17] and finished in fifth place in the Pacific Division with a 36–46 record, which was below .500 in winning percentage, but still good enough to qualify for the playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.[18]

Loy Vaught led the team with 14.9 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, while Malik Sealy averaged 13.5 points and 1.6 steals per game, and Rodney Rogers provided the team with 13.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. In addition, Martin contributed 10.9 points and 4.1 assists per game, and Wright provided with 7.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Off the bench, Roberts averaged 9.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, while Bo Outlaw provided with 7.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, Barry contributed 7.5 points per game, and Lamond Murray contributed 7.4 points per game.[19] Outlaw also finished tied in seventh place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, and head coach Bill Fitch finished tied in sixth place in Coach of the Year voting.[20][21]

However, in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Clippers were swept by the top-seeded Utah Jazz in three straight games.[22][23][24][25] The Jazz would reach the NBA Finals for the first time, but would lose to the defending champion Chicago Bulls in six games.[26][27][28][29][30] This would also be the Clippers' final playoff appearance until 2006.

Following the season, Sealy signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons,[31][32][33] while Roberts was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves,[34][35][36] Outlaw signed with the Orlando Magic,[37][38][39] Terry Dehere signed with the Sacramento Kings,[40][41][42] and Duckworth retired.

Draft picks

Main article: 1996 NBA draft
More information Round, Pick ...
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
17Lorenzen WrightC/PF United StatesMemphis
236Doron ShefferF IsraelUConn
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Roster

Summarize
Perspective
More information Players, Coaches ...
1996–97 Los Angeles Clippers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
G 31 Barry, Brent 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1971–12–31 Oregon State
G 24 Dehere, Terry 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1971–09–12 Seton Hall
C 00 Duckworth, Kevin 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 300 lb (136 kg) 1964–04–01 Eastern Illinois
C 50 Manning, Rich 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1970–06–23 Washington
G 15 Martin, Darrick 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1971–03–06 UCLA
F 7 Murray, Lamond 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 236 lb (107 kg) 1973–04–20 California
F 45 Outlaw, Bo 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1971–04–13 Houston
G/F 52 Piatkowski, Eric 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1970–09–30 Nebraska
G 2 Richardson, Pooh 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1966–05–14 UCLA
C 53 Roberts, Stanley 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 285 lb (129 kg) 1970–02–07 LSU
F 54 Rogers, Rodney 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1971–06–20 Wake Forest
C 33 Schintzius, Dwayne 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1968–10–14 Florida
G 21 Sealy, Malik 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1970–02–01 St. John's
F 35 Vaught, Loy 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1968–02–27 Michigan
C 55 Wright, Lorenzen 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1975–11–04 Memphis
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: 2009-10-04

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Roster Notes

A number of players from the 1996–97 roster have either died prematurely, or ended up in unfortunate circumstances; these players are:

  • Center Stanley Roberts (banned from the NBA for drug use in 1999).
  • Guard Malik Sealy (died in an automobile accident in 2000 at age 30).
  • Center Kevin Duckworth (died of heart failure in 2008 at age 44).
  • Forward Rodney Rogers (became paralyzed after a dirt bike accident in 2008 at age 37).
  • Center Lorenzen Wright (murdered by his ex-wife in 2010 at age 34).
  • Center Dwayne Schintzius (died from cancer complications in 2012 at age 43).

[43][better source needed]

Interestingly enough, one player, Brent Barry, would enjoy a long and productive career in the NBA, winning two titles (2005 and 2007) with the San Antonio Spurs, as well as being a consistent starter for the Seattle SuperSonics in the 2000s, but was divorced from his wife Erin in 2011, allegedly due to an extra-marital affair with his Spurs teammate Tony Parker.

Regular season

Season standings

More information W, L ...
Pacific Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Seattle SuperSonics 5725.695–31–1026–1516–8
x-Los Angeles Lakers 5626.683131–1025–1618–6
x-Portland Trail Blazers 4933.598829–1220–2115–9
x-Phoenix Suns 4042.4881725–1615–2613–11
x-Los Angeles Clippers 3646.4392121–2015–2610–14
Sacramento Kings 3448.4152322–1912–298–16
Golden State Warriors 3052.3662718–2312–294–20
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More information #, Team ...
1996–97 NBA West standings
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Utah Jazz6418.780–
2 y-Seattle SuperSonics5725.6957
3 x-Houston Rockets5725.6957
4 x-Los Angeles Lakers5626.6838
5 x-Portland Trail Blazers4933.59815
6 x-Minnesota Timberwolves4042.48824
7 x-Phoenix Suns4042.48824
8 x-Los Angeles Clippers3646.43928
9 Sacramento Kings3448.41530
10 Golden State Warriors3052.36634
11 Dallas Mavericks2458.29340
12 Denver Nuggets2161.25643
13 San Antonio Spurs2062.24444
14 Vancouver Grizzlies1468.17150
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z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

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

Playoffs

More information 1997 playoff game log, Game ...
1997 playoff game log
First round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 24 @ Utah L 86–106 Loy Vaught (20) Loy Vaught (11) three players tied (3) Delta Center
19,911		 0–1
2 April 26 @ Utah L 99–105 Lorenzen Wright (17) Loy Vaught (9) Darrick Martin (6) Delta Center
19,911		 0–2
3 April 28 Utah L 92–104 Loy Vaught (20) Vaught, Wright (9) Darrick Martin (5) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
11,747		 0–3
1997 schedule
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Player statistics

Summarize
Perspective
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

Season

More information Player, GP ...
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Brent Barry59018.5.409.324.8171.92.6.9.37.5
Terry Dehere73314.4.386.325.8241.32.2.4.06.4
Kevin Duckworth262214.8.437.750.6882.3.6.3.44.0
Rich Manning1017.3.412.000.5001.6.1.1.13.1
Darrick Martin 826422.2.407.389.8721.44.1.7.010.9
Lamond Murray74117.5.416.341.7393.1.8.7.47.4
Bo Outlaw822526.8.609.000.5045.51.91.11.77.6
Eric Piatkowski65011.5.450.425.8211.6.8.5.26.0
Pooh Richardson591818.1.381.328.6051.72.9.9.15.6
Stanley Roberts18221.0.426..7035.1.5.41.39.5
Rodney Rogers 816230.6.462.361.6635.12.71.1.813.2
Dwayne Schintzius1507.7.361.500.8751.5.3.1.62.3
Malik Sealy 807930.7.396.356.8763.02.11.6.613.5
Loy Vaught 828234.6.500.167.70210.01.31.0.314.9
Lorenzen Wright 775125.1.481.250.5876.1.6.6.87.3
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Playoffs

More information Player, GP ...
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Brent Barry3028.0.407.455.8892.33.31.3.011.7
Terry Dehere202.5.000.000..5.0.0.0.0
Rich Manning307.0.222..8331.3.3.0.33.0
Darrick Martin3325.7.440.556.667.74.3.0.011.0
Lamond Murray3021.7.300.2501.0003.71.0.71.07.0
Bo Outlaw3022.0.545.000.3004.71.3.3.75.0
Eric Piatkowski3012.7.364.400.857.7.0.3.05.3
Pooh Richardson209.0.500.000.000.01.5.5.02.0
Rodney Rogers3328.3.414.200.7502.32.01.31.010.7
Malik Sealy3326.3.480.200.7331.01.7.0.012.0
Loy Vaught3330.0.613.333.6679.0.71.0.715.0
Lorenzen Wright3330.7.406.1.0007.3.71.0.710.3
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Player Statistics Citation:[19]

Awards and records

Transactions

The Clippers have been involved in the following transactions during the 1996–97 season.

Trades

No trades occurred for this team this season.

Free agents

Player Transactions Citation:[44]

See also

References

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