1997–98 Los Angeles Clippers season

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Clippers' 28th season in the National Basketball Association, and their 4th season in Anaheim.^[1] During the off-season, the Clippers signed free agent James Robinson,^[2][3][4] and acquired Stojko Vrankovic from the Minnesota Timberwolves.^[5][6][7] With Loy Vaught going down early into the season with a back injury after only just ten games, averaging 7.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game,^{[8][9][10][11]} the Clippers struggled losing 14 of their first 16 games. After holding a 5–24 start, the team managed to win four of their next five games, but then lost 12 of their next 13 games afterwards, and held an 11–37 record at the All-Star break.^[12]

1997–98 Los Angeles Clippers season
Head coach	Bill Fitch
Owners	Donald Sterling
Arena	Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena Arrowhead Pond
Results
Record	17–65 (.207)
Place	Division: 7th (Pacific) Conference: 13th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	KCAL-TV Fox Sports West 2 (Ralph Lawler, Bill Walton)
Radio	KXTA (Rory Markas)
< 1996–97 1998–99 >

At mid-season, the team traded Brent Barry to the Miami Heat in exchange for last year's Most Improved Player Isaac Austin, and rookie guard Charles Smith.^{[13][14][15][16]} The Clippers lost 15 of their final 17 games, including a 10-game losing streak between March and April,^[17] finishing last place in the Pacific Division with a 17–65 record.^[18]

Lamond Murray showed improvement becoming the team's starting small forward, averaging 15.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, and finishing tied in eighth place in Most Improved Player voting,^[19] while Rodney Rogers averaged 15.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, and top draft pick Maurice Taylor averaged 11.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game off the bench, and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. In addition, three-point specialist Eric Piatkowski contributed 11.3 points per game, while Darrick Martin provided the team with 10.3 points and 4.0 assists per game, and second-year center Lorenzen Wright provided with 9.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.^[20]

Following the season, Austin signed as a free agent with the Orlando Magic,^[21][22][23] while Vaught signed with the Detroit Pistons after eight seasons with the Clippers,^{[24][25][26][27]} and head coach Bill Fitch was fired.^[28][29] Fitch's most losses record in NBA history with 1,106 losses stood for five years, until Lenny Wilkens broke his mark during the 2002–03 season while coaching for the Toronto Raptors.^[30]

Draft picks

Main article: 1997 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	14	Maurice Taylor	PF	United States	Michigan

Roster

1997–98 Los Angeles Clippers roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From C 8 Austin, Isaac 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 270 lb (122 kg) –– Arizona State C 33 Closs, Keith 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) 215 lb (98 kg) –– Central Connecticut State G 32 Collins, James 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 196 lb (89 kg) –– Florida State G 15 Martin, Darrick 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 170 lb (77 kg) –– UCLA F 7 Murray, Lamond 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 236 lb (107 kg) –– California G 52 Piatkowski, Eric 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) –– Nebraska G 24 Richardson, Pooh 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) –– UCLA G 26 Robinson, James 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) –– Alabama F 54 Rogers, Rodney 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 260 lb (118 kg) –– Wake Forest G 14 Smith, Charles 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 194 lb (88 kg) –– New Mexico F 23 Taylor, Maurice 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 260 lb (118 kg) –– Michigan F 35 Vaught, Loy 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) –– Michigan C 11 Vrankovic, Stojko 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 260 lb (118 kg) –– Croatia F/C 55 Wright, Lorenzen 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) –– Memphis

Head coach Bill Fitch Assistant coach(es) Jim Brewer Barry Hecker Rex Kalamian Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Last transaction: 2009-10-04

Roster Notes

• Rookie center Keith Closs played for the Lakers during the pre-season and had a strong performance. When he was released, the Clippers quickly signed him to their roster.^[31]

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Seattle SuperSonics	61	21	.744	–	35–6	26–15	19–5
x-Los Angeles Lakers	61	21	.744	–	33–8	28–13	16–8
x-Phoenix Suns	56	26	.683	5	30–11	26–15	17–7
x-Portland Trail Blazers	46	36	.561	15	26–15	20–21	14–10
Sacramento Kings	27	55	.329	34	21–20	6–35	6–18
Golden State Warriors	19	63	.232	42	12–29	7–34	6–18
Los Angeles Clippers	17	65	.207	44	11–30	6–35	6–18

#	Western Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Utah Jazz	62	20	.756	–
2	y-Seattle SuperSonics	61	21	.744	1
3	x-Los Angeles Lakers	61	21	.744	1
4	x-Phoenix Suns	56	26	.683	6
5	x-San Antonio Spurs	56	26	.683	6
6	x-Portland Trail Blazers	46	36	.561	16
7	x-Minnesota Timberwolves	45	37	.549	17
8	x-Houston Rockets	41	41	.500	21
9	Sacramento Kings	27	55	.329	35
10	Dallas Mavericks	20	62	.244	42
11	Vancouver Grizzlies	19	63	.232	43
11	Golden State Warriors	19	63	.232	43
13	Los Angeles Clippers	17	65	.207	45
14	Denver Nuggets	11	71	.134	51

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

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	–	2–1	4–0	1–3	4–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	1–3	3–1	0–2	1–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	4–0
Boston	1–2	–	1–2	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–2	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–0	0–2	2–0	3–2
Charlotte	0–4	2–1	–	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–2
Chicago	3–1	3–1	3–1	–	2–2	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–1	4–0	1–1	4–0	4–0	3–1	2–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	3–1
Cleveland	0–4	3–1	2–2	2–2	–	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–0	3–1	1–2	2–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	1–2
Dallas	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	–	3–1	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–3	0–4	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–4	0–4	0–4	2–2	1–1	0–4	4–0	1–1
Denver	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	–	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	2–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	2–2	1–3	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–1
Detroit	2–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	2–0	2–0	–	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	1–2	2–2	0–2	2–2	2–2	1–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–0	0–2	0–2	2–2
Golden State	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	3–1	3–1	0–2	–	1–3	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2
Houston	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	3–1	–	1–1	4–0	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–3	4–0	2–2	1–3	2–0	0–4	3–1	1–1
Indiana	3–1	4–0	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	–	2–0	0–2	3–1	4–0	2–0	2–1	2–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	4–0	1–1	2–0	4–0
L.A. Clippers	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–1	2–2	0–2	3–1	0–4	0–2	–	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–4	3–1	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–3	1–3	0–2
L.A. Lakers	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	4–0	–	1–1	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–2	4–0	4–0	1–3	2–0	3–1	4–0	1–1
Miami	3–1	4–0	1–3	1–2	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–1	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	–	3–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	0–2	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–2
Milwaukee	1–3	2–2	1–3	0–4	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–0	0–2	1–3	–	1–1	0–4	3–1	2–1	2–2	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–2
Minnesota	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–2	3–1	2–0	4–0	3–1	0–2	4–0	0–4	1–1	1–1	–	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–1	1–3	3–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–3	4–0	0–2
New Jersey	2–1	2–2	2–2	0–4	1–3	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	4–0	0–2	–	2–2	3–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–1	0–2	2–0	1–3
New York	2–2	2–2	3–1	0–4	2–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–1	2–2	–	4–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–2	2–0	1–3
Orlando	2–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–1	1–1	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–2	2–0	1–3	0–4	–	4–0	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–2	2–0	3–1
Philadelphia	1–3	1–3	1–2	1–2	1–3	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	0–4	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	–	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–2	2–0	3–1
Phoenix	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–0	4–0	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	2–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	–	2–2	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	1–3	4–0	1–1
Portland	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–2	–	3–1	2–2	0–4	2–0	3–1	2–2	1–1
Sacramento	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–3	–	0–4	1–3	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1
San Antonio	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	4–0	4–0	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	3–1	0–4	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–2	4–0	–	2–2	2–0	1–3	4–0	1–1
Seattle	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	4–0	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	4–0	3–1	2–2	–	2–0	2–2	4–0	1–1
Toronto	0–4	0–3	0–4	0–4	1–3	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–0	0–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	1–3	1–3	1–3	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	–	0–2	1–1	0–3
Utah	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	4–0	4–0	2–0	4–0	4–0	1–1	3–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	2–2	2–0	–	4–0	0–2
Vancouver	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	3–1	2–0	3–1	1–3	0–2	3–1	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	2–2	2–2	0–4	0–4	1–1	0–4	–	1–1
Washington	0–4	2–3	2–2	1–3	2–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–1	2–0	3–1	3–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–0	2–0	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

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Lamond Murray	79	65	32.6	48.1	35.3	74.8	6.1	1.8	1.5	0.7	15.4
Isaac Austin	26	25	34.4	45.4	0.0	65.2	8.7	3.4	0.7	0.8	15.2
Rodney Rogers	76	70	32.9	45.6	34.0	68.6	5.6	2.7	1.2	0.5	15.1
Brent Barry	41	36	32.7	42.8	40.0	84.4	3.5	3.2	1.2	0.6	13.7
Maurice Taylor	71	3	21.3	47.6	0.0	70.9	4.2	0.7	0.5	0.6	11.5
Eric Piatkowski	67	35	26.0	45.2	40.9	82.4	3.5	1.3	0.8	0.2	11.3
Darrick Martin	82	63	28.0	37.7	36.5	84.8	2.0	4.0	1.0	0.1	10.3
Lorenzen Wright	69	38	30.0	44.5	0.0	65.9	8.8	0.8	0.8	1.3	9.0
James Robinson	70	13	17.6	38.9	32.9	72.0	1.6	1.9	0.5	0.1	7.7
Loy Vaught	10	6	26.5	42.9	0.0	37.5	6.5	0.7	0.4	0.2	7.5
Charles Smith	23	0	11.3	42.1	31.8	55.6	0.8	0.8	0.4	0.2	4.7
Pooh Richardson	69	17	18.1	37.2	19.3	69.8	1.4	3.3	0.6	0.0	4.2
Keith Closs	58	1	12.8	44.9	0.0	59.7	2.9	0.3	0.2	1.4	4.0
Stojko Vrankovic	65	38	15.3	42.5	0.0	56.9	4.0	0.6	0.2	1.0	3.0
James Collins	23	0	4.5	38.2	45.0	57.1	0.6	0.1	0.3	0.1	2.6

Player Statistics Citation:^[20]

Awards and records

Transactions

The Clippers have been involved in the following transactions during the 1997–98 season.

Trades

June 25, 1997	To Los Angeles Clippers Stojko Vrankovic	To Minnesota Timberwolves Stanley Roberts
June 25, 1997	To Los Angeles Clippers Draft rights to James Collins	To Philadelphia 76ers 1998 2nd round draft pick
February 19, 1998	To Los Angeles Clippers Isaac Austin, Charles C. Smith & 1998 1st round draft pick	To Miami Heat Brent Barry

Free agents

Additions Player Signed Former team Keith Closs August 8 Los Angeles Lakers James Robinson August 16 Minnesota Timberwolves

Subtractions Player Left New team Terry Dehere waived, July 2 Sacramento Kings Dwayne Schintzius released, July 2 Boston Celtics Malik Sealy renounced, August 8 Detroit Pistons Bo Outlaw free agency, September 5 Orlando Magic Rich Manning waived, October 28 Oyak Renault (TBL)

Player Transactions Citation:^[32]

See also

• 1997-98 NBA season

References

1. 1997-98 Los Angeles Clippers
2. "Clippers Sign James Robinson for $10.5 Million". Los Angeles Times. August 17, 1997. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
3. "Basketball Briefs". Deseret News. August 17, 1997. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
4. Baker, Chris (December 28, 1997). "Robinson Resuscitates Clippers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
5. Gardner, Kris (June 25, 1997). "ARCHIVE: Houston Roundball Review NBA Trade Analyses -- 1997 NBA Draft Day Deals". The Houston Roundball Review. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
6. Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 26, 1997). "Draft Over, But Not Finished". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
7. Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 27, 1997). "Goodbye, Stanley, We Barely Knew You". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
8. Baker, Chris (November 22, 1997). "Back Spasms Sideline Vaught". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
9. Baker, Chris (December 4, 1997). "Vaught Expected Out for Season". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
10. "Vaught Placed on Injured List; May Need Surgery". Associated Press. December 4, 1997. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
11. "NBA Notes; Cleamons Fired as Mavs Coach; G.M. Nelson Takes Over Job". Star-News. Associated Press. December 5, 1997. p. 2C. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
12. "NBA Games Played on February 5, 1998". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
13. "N.B.A.: TRADES; Miami Acquires Brent Barry". The New York Times. Associated Press. February 20, 1998. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
14. Heisler, Mark (February 20, 1998). "It's a Big Deal for Clippers: There Are No Slam Dunks in the Flurry of NBA Deals". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
15. Smith, Sam (February 20, 1998). "NBA's Rash of Trades Ends with Another Seikaly Deal". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
16. Winderman, Ira (February 20, 1998). "Austin Heads West - to L.A." Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
17. "Clippers Show Some Spark, But Still Lose". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 17, 1998. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
18. "1997–98 Los Angeles Clippers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
19. "1997–98 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
20. "1997–98 Los Angeles Clippers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
21. Povtak, Tim (January 15, 1999). "Austin Remains Center of Attention". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
22. "Austin Says He Will Sign with Magic". Tampa Bay Times. January 16, 1999. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
23. Goodall, Fred (January 21, 1999). "Austin Gives Magic Contender Hopes Again". The Ledger. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
24. "Pistons Sign Vaught, Laettner". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. January 20, 1999. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
25. "Vaught to Sign Five-Year Piston Deal". Los Angeles Times. Bloomberg News. January 21, 1999. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
26. "NBA DEALINGS: McDyess, Divac and Smith Sign". Kitsap Sun. Associated Press. January 23, 1999. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
27. Wise, Mike (February 4, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
28. Springer, Steve (April 21, 1998). "Clippers Scratch Fitch". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
29. Peters, Ken (April 21, 1998). "Clippers Fire Coach Bill Fitch". Associated Press. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
30. "Raptors End 7-Game Road Losing Streak". Midland Daily News. April 1, 2003. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
31. Baker, Chris (October 23, 1997). "Tall Tale". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
32. "1997–98 Los Angeles Clippers Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2021.