The
1997–98 NBA season
The 1997–98 NBA season was the 52nd season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The season ended with the Chicago Bulls winning their third straight championship and sixth in the last eight years, beating the Utah Jazz 4 games to 2 in ...
was the 30th season for the
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball team based in Milwaukee. The Bucks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), East ...
in the
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...
. During the off-season, the Bucks acquired All-Star guard
Terrell Brandon and
Tyrone Hill
Tyrone Hill (born March 19, 1968) is an American former professional basketball player and former assistant coach for the National Basketball Association's Atlanta Hawks. Hill spent four years playing collegiately at Xavier University, in his l ...
from the
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers, often referred to as the Cavs, are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Divis ...
in a three-team trade. The team also received the tenth overall pick in the
1997 NBA draft, and selected power forward
Danny Fortson from the
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati (UC or Cincinnati, informally Cincy) is a public university, public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1819 and had an enrollment of over 53,000 students in 2024, making it the ...
, but soon traded him to the
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are an American professional basketball team based in Denver. The Nuggets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division (NBA), Northwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA), W ...
in exchange for
Ervin Johnson, signed free agent
Michael Curry, and re-signed former Bucks star and sixth man
Ricky Pierce in December.
After an 11–8 start to the regular season, the Bucks slipped under .500, but then posted a six-game winning streak between January and February, and held a 24–23 record at the All-Star break. However, with
Glenn Robinson out for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury after 56 games, while Brandon only played just 50 games due to an ankle injury, and Hill only appeared in 57 games due to a knee injury, and a strained back, the Bucks struggled and posted a nine-game losing streak in March, and finished in seventh place in the
Central Division with a 36–46 record, missing the
NBA playoffs
The NBA playoffs is the annual Playoffs, postseason Tournament#Knockout tournaments, tournament of the National Basketball Association (NBA) held to determine the league champion. Since 1949, the four-round, best-of-seven tournament is held afte ...
for the seventh consecutive year.
Robinson averaged 23.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while second-year star
Ray Allen
Walter Ray Allen Jr. (born July 20, 1975) is an American former professional basketball player. Allen played 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a play ...
had a stellar season, averaging 19.5 points and 1.4 steals per game, and leading the Bucks with 134 three-point field goals, and Brandon provided the team with 16.8 points, 7.7 assists and 2.2 steals per game. In addition, Hill contributed 10.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, while
Armen Gilliam
Armen Louis Gilliam (born Armon Louis Gilliam; May 28, 1964 – July 5, 2011) was an American professional basketball player who played 13 years in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1987 to 2000. He also played one season for the P ...
provided with 11.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, Johnson averaged 8.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game,
Elliot Perry contributed 7.3 points and 2.8 assists per game, and Curry contributed 6.6 points per game,
and finished tied in sixth place in
Sixth Man of the Year voting.
Following the season, Pierce retired after playing in his second stint with the Bucks, while
Andrew Lang
Andrew Lang (31 March 1844 – 20 July 1912) was a Scottish poet, novelist, literary critic, and contributor to the field of anthropology. He is best known as a folkloristics, collector of folklore, folk and fairy tales. The Andrew Lang lectur ...
signed as a free agent with the
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. The team was founded on January 16 ...
, and head coach
Chris Ford was fired after coaching the Bucks for two seasons.
Draft picks
Roster
Regular season
Season standings
:z - clinched division title
:y - clinched division title
:x - clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
Game log
, -style="background:#bbffbb;"
, 1 , , October 31, 1997 , , @
Philadelphia
Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
W 103–88,
Ray Allen
Walter Ray Allen Jr. (born July 20, 1975) is an American former professional basketball player. Allen played 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a play ...
(29)
,
,
,
CoreStates Center
, 1–0
, -style="background:#fcc;"
, 2 , , November 1, 1997 , ,
New Jersey
New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
L 109–113,
,
,
,
Bradley Center18,717
, 1–1
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, 3 , , November 4, 1997 , ,
Orlando
Orlando commonly refers to:
* Orlando, Florida, a city in the United States
Orlando may also refer to:
People
* Orlando (given name), a masculine name, includes a list of people with the name
* Orlando (surname), includes a list of people wit ...
W 110–76,
Ray Allen
Walter Ray Allen Jr. (born July 20, 1975) is an American former professional basketball player. Allen played 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a play ...
(20)
,
,
,
Bradley Center12,764
, 2–1
, -style="background:#bbffbb;"
, 4 , , November 6, 1997 , ,
Philadelphia
Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
W 100–93,
,
,
,
Bradley Center13,851
, 3–1
, -style="background:#bbffbb;"
, 5 , , November 8, 1997 , ,
Boston
Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...
W 105–96,
,
,
,
Bradley Center17,653
, 4–1
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, 6 , , November 12, 1997 , , @
Phoenix
L 95–103,
,
,
,
America West Arena19,023
, 4–2
, -style="background:#bbffbb;"
, 7 , , November 13, 1997 , , @
L. A. Clippers
W 102–94,
,
,
,
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
The Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena was a multi-purpose arena at Exposition Park, in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. It was located next to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and just south of the campus of the University of ...
4,300
, 5–2
, -style="background:#fcc;"
, 8 , , November 15, 1997 , , @
Vancouver
Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...
L 94–109,
,
,
,
General Motors Place
Rogers Arena, (formerly General Motors Place), is a multi-purpose arena at 800 Griffiths Way in the downtown area of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Opened in 1995, the arena was known as General Motors Place (GM Place) from its opening u ...
17,666
, 5–3
, -style="background:#fcc;"
, 9 , , November 16, 1997 , , @
Seattle
Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...
L 99–119,
,
,
,
Key Arena17,072
, 5–4
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, 10 , , November 18, 1997 , ,
Detroit
Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...
W 87–79,
,
,
,
Bradley Center13,065
, 6–4
, -style="background:#fcc;"
, 11 , , November 20, 1997 , ,
Indiana
Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...
L 83–109,
,
,
,
Bradley Center14,106
, 6–5
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, 12 , , November 22, 1997 , , @
Dallas
Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...
W 104–109,
,
,
,
Reunion Arena
Reunion Arena was an indoor arena located in the Reunion, Dallas, Reunion district of downtown Dallas, Texas, United States. The arena served as the primary home of the National Hockey League's (NHL) Dallas Stars and the National Basketball Ass ...
11,425
, 7–5
, -style="background:#bbffbb;"
, 13 , , November 26, 1997 , ,
Vancouver
Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...
W 101–82,
,
,
,
Bradley Center15,126
, 8–5
, -style="background:#fcc;"
, 14 , , November 28, 1997 , , @
Orlando
Orlando commonly refers to:
* Orlando, Florida, a city in the United States
Orlando may also refer to:
People
* Orlando (given name), a masculine name, includes a list of people with the name
* Orlando (surname), includes a list of people wit ...
L 95–103,
,
,
,
Orlando Arena17,070
, 8–6
, -style="background:#bbffbb;"
, 15 , , November 29, 1997 , , @
Miami
Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...
W 93–87,
,
,
,
Miami Arena
Miami Arena was an indoor arena located in Miami, Florida. The venue served as the home of the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). From 1988 until 1999, it also ...
14,897
, 9–6
, -style="background:#fcc;"
, 16 , , December 2, 1997 , ,
Phoenix
L 86–90,
,
,
,
Bradley Center13,131
, 9–7
, -style="background:#bbffbb;"
, 17 , , December 4, 1997 , ,
Charlotte
W 102–92,
,
,
,
Bradley Center13,898
, 10–7
, -style="background:#fcc;"
, 18 , , December 5, 1997 , , @
Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
L 62–84,
,
,
,
United Center
The United Center is an indoor arena on the Near West Side, Chicago, Near West Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is home to the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL) ...
24,041
, 10–8
, -style="background:#bbffbb;"
, 19 , , December 7, 1997 , ,
Seattle
Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...
W 97–91,
,
,
,
Bradley Center15,806
, 11–8
, -style="background:#fcc;"
, 20 , , December 10, 1997 , , @
Boston
Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...
L 91–96,
,
,
,
Fleet Center17,012
, 11–9
, -style="background:#fcc;"
, 21 , , December 11, 1997 , ,
Cleveland
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–U.S. maritime border and approximately west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania st ...
L 77–79,
,
,
,
Bradley Center13,105
, 11–10
, -style="background:#fcc;"
, 22 , , December 13, 1997 , ,
Miami
Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...
L 87–87,
,
,
,
Bradley Center15,803
, 11–11
, -style="background:#fcc;"
, 23 , , December 17, 1997 , , @
Charlotte
L 90–99,
,
,
,
Charlotte Coliseum
Charlotte Coliseum was a multi-purpose sports and entertainment arena located in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was operated by the Charlotte Coliseum Authority, which also oversees the operation of Bojangles Coliseum, which was called Charlotte ...
20,691
, 11–12
, -style="background:#fcc;"
, 24 , , December 19, 1997 , , @
Toronto
Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
L 91–92,
,
,
,
SkyDome
Rogers Centre (originally SkyDome) is a retractable roof stadium in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated at the base of the CN Tower near the northern shore of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989 on the former Railway Lands, it is home to ...
15,076
, 11–13
, -style="background:#bbffbb;"
, 25 , , December 20, 1997 , ,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
New York may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* ...
W 98–78,
,
,
,
Bradley Center15,955
, 12–13
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, 26 , , December 22, 1997 , ,
Washington
L 79–110,
,
,
,
Bradley Center14,442
, 12–14
, -style="background:#bbffbb;"
, 27 , , December 26, 1997 , ,
Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...
W 99–94,
,
,
,
Bradley Center17,038
, 13–14
, -style="background:#fcc;"
, 28 , , December 27, 1997 , , @
New Jersey
New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
L 104–112,
,
,
,
Meadowlands Arena
Meadowlands Arena (formerly Brendan Byrne Arena, Continental Airlines Arena and Izod Center) is a closed indoor sports and concert venue located in the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States. Since closing, ...
16,351
, 13–15
, -style="background:#bbffbb;"
, 29 , , December 30, 1997 , ,
Dallas
Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...
W 105–98,
,
,
,
Bradley Center14,948
, 14–15
, -style="background:#fcc;"
, 30 , , January 2, 1998 , , @
Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
L 100–114,
,
,
,
United Center
The United Center is an indoor arena on the Near West Side, Chicago, Near West Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is home to the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL) ...
23,897
, 14–16
, -style="background:#fcc;"
, 31 , , January 3, 1998 , ,
Boston
Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...
L 99–106,
,
,
,
Bradley Center16,211
, 14–17
, -style="background:#bbffbb;"
, 32 , , January 5, 1998 , , @
Portland
W 98–92,
,
,
,
Rose Garden Arena
Moda Center, formerly known as the Rose Garden, is the primary indoor sports arena in Portland, Oregon, United States. It is used for basketball, rodeos, circuses, conventions, ice shows, concerts, and dramatic productions. The arena has a capac ...
19,215
, 15–17
, -style="background:#fcc;"
, 33 , , January 7, 1998 , , @
L. A. Lakers
L 98–92,
,
,
,
Great Western Forum
The Kia Forum, also known as Los Angeles Forum and formerly Great Western Forum, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Inglewood, California, United States, adjacent to Los Angeles. Located on West Manchester Boulevard, with Laffit Pincay Jr., P ...
15,483
, 15–18
Player statistics
Player Statistics Citation:
Transactions
Trades
Free agents
Player Transactions Citation:
References
See also
*
1997-98 NBA season
{{DEFAULTSORT:1997-98 Milwaukee Bucks Season
Milwaukee Bucks seasons
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball team based in Milwaukee. The Bucks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), East ...
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball team based in Milwaukee. The Bucks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), East ...
Milwaukee
Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...