1997–98 Orlando Magic season

1997–98 Orlando Magic season
Head coachChuck Daly
PresidentBob Vander Weide
General managerJohn Gabriel
OwnerRichard DeVos
ArenaOrlando Arena
Results
Record41–41 (.500)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Atlantic)
Conference: 10th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionSunshine Network, WKCF

The 1997–98 Orlando Magic season was the ninth season for the Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the off-season, the Magic hired Chuck Daly as their new head coach; Daly led the Detroit Pistons to two consecutive NBA championships between 1989 and 1990.[2][3][4] The team also acquired former All-Star guard Mark Price from the Golden State Warriors,[5][6][7] acquired Derek Harper and Ed O'Bannon from the Dallas Mavericks,[8][9][10] and signed free agent Bo Outlaw.[11][12][13] However, O'Bannon was released to free agency shortly before the regular season began.[14]

Under Daly and with the addition of Price, Harper and Outlaw, the Magic got off to a solid 16–7 start to the regular season, which included a six-game winning streak in November. However, the team struggled losing nine of their next ten games, as Penny Hardaway only played just 19 games due to a left knee injury.[15][16][17] The team posted a seven-game losing streak in January, as Darrell Armstrong was out for the remainder of the season after 48 games, due to a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder.[18][19] The Magic signed free agent Vernon Maxwell in January, but released him to free agency after eleven games, as he later on signed with the Charlotte Hornets.[20][21] The Magic fell below .500 in winning percentage, and held a 23–25 record at the All-Star break.[22]

At mid-season, the team traded Rony Seikaly to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Greg Foster and Chris Morris;[23][24][25] however, the trade was voided due to Seikaly failing to report to the Jazz within the 48-hour deadline, because of a foot injury.[26][27][28] Instead, he was then traded along with second-year forward Brian Evans to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for David Benoit, Kevin Edwards and Yinka Dare; Dare never played for the Magic and was soon released to free agency.[29][30][31] Before the trade, Seikaly averaged 15.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in 47 games.[32] After the trade, the Magic signed free agent and former Slam Dunk champion Spud Webb to a 10-day contract, as he appeared in four games for the team before being waived.[33][34] The Magic played above .500 for the remainder of the season, and finished in fifth place in the Atlantic Division with a 41–41 record;[35] the team failed to qualify for the NBA playoffs for the first time since the 1992–93 season.[1]

Hardaway averaged 16.4 points, 3.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game, but struggled shooting .377 in field-goal percentage. In Hardaway's absence, Nick Anderson stepped up averaging 15.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in 58 games, while Derek Strong played a sixth man role off the bench, averaging 12.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game also in 58 games, and Horace Grant provided the team with 12.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. In addition, Outlaw had a stellar season averaging 9.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 2.2 blocks per game, and shooting .554 in field-goal percentage, while Price contributed 9.5 points and 4.7 assists per game, Armstrong provided with 9.2 points and 4.9 assists per game, and Harper contributed 8.6 points and 3.5 assists per game. Meanwhile, Danny Schayes became the team's starting center after Seikaly was traded, averaging 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, Benoit contributed 5.8 points per game in 24 games after the trade, and Wilkins contributed 5.3 points per game, but struggled as he shot just .325 in field-goal percentage.[32]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, Hardaway was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; it was his fourth and final All-Star appearance.[36][37][38] Hardaway was voted by the fans as the starting point guard for the Eastern Conference despite his knee injury, which drew controversy.[39][40] Anderson finished tied in fourth place in Most Improved Player voting, while Outlaw finished tied in eighth place;[41][42] Outlaw also finished tied in fifth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, while Grant finished tied in eleventh place, and Daly finished tied in ninth place in Coach of the Year voting.[42]

The Magic finished 18th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 667,322 at the Orlando Arena during the regular season.[32][43] Following the season, Price retired after twelve seasons in the NBA,[44] while Harper signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers,[45][46] and Benoit and Edwards were both released to free agency.[47]

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team
1 17 Johnny Taylor SF  United States Chattanooga
2 47 Eric Washington SG  United States Alabama

Roster

1997–98 Orlando Magic roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
G/F 25 Nick Anderson 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1968–01–20 Illinois
G 10 Darrell Armstrong 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1968–06–22 Fayetteville State
F 2 David Benoit 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1968–05–09 Alabama
G 20 Kevin Edwards 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1965–10–30 DePaul
F/C 54 Horace Grant 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1965–07–04 Clemson
G 1 Penny Hardaway 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1971–07–18 Memphis
G 12 Derek Harper 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1961–10–13 Illinois
C 8 Jason Lawson 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1974–09–02 Villanova
G 3 Kevin Ollie 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1972–12–27 Connecticut
F 45 Bo Outlaw 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1971–04–13 Houston
G 5 Mark Price 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1964–02–15 Georgia Tech
C 24 Danny Schayes 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1959–05–10 Syracuse
F 33 Derek Strong 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1968–02–09 Xavier
F 17 Johnny Taylor 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1974–06–04 Chattanooga
G 21 Gerald Wilkins 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1963–09–11 Chattanooga
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Updated: March 22, 1998

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Miami Heat 5527.671–30-1125–1618–6
x-New York Knicks 4339.5241228–1315–2613–11
x-New Jersey Nets 4339.5241226–1517–2412–12
Washington Wizards 4240.5121324–1718–2312–13
Orlando Magic 4141.5001424–1717–2411–13
Boston Celtics 3646.4391924–1712–2912–12
Philadelphia 76ers 3151.3782419–2212–297–17
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Chicago Bulls6220.756–
2 y-Miami Heat5527.6717
3 x-Indiana Pacers5824.7074
4 x-Charlotte Hornets5131.62211
5 x-Atlanta Hawks5032.61012
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers4735.57315
7 x-New York Knicks4339.52419
8 x-New Jersey Nets4339.52419
9 Washington Wizards4240.51220
10 Orlando Magic4141.50021
11 Detroit Pistons3745.45125
12 Boston Celtics3646.43926
13 Milwaukee Bucks3646.43926
14 Philadelphia 76ers3151.37831
15 Toronto Raptors1666.19546
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Player statistics

Regular season

Player POS GP GS MP REB AST STL BLK PTS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Bo OutlawPF 82762,95363721610718178336.07.82.61.32.29.5
Horace GrantC 76762,803618172817992136.98.12.31.11.012.1
Danny SchayesC 74331,27224244343340617.23.3.6.5.45.5
Gerald WilkinsSG 72161,252907834638017.41.31.1.5.15.3
Derek HarperSG 66451,761103233721056626.71.63.51.1.28.6
Mark PricePG 63331,43012929753559722.72.04.7.8.19.5
Nick AndersonSF 58441,701297119722389029.35.12.11.2.415.3
Derek StrongPF 5881,63842751312473628.27.4.9.5.412.7
Darrell ArmstrongPG 48171,23615923658544225.83.34.91.2.19.2
Rony Seikaly†C 47471,48435769253970431.67.61.5.5.815.0
Brian Evans†SF 440561853122820612.81.9.7.5.24.7
David Benoit†SF 2403246289413813.52.6.3.4.25.8
Penny HardawaySG 19156257668281531132.94.03.61.5.816.4
Kevin Ollie†PG 1902161833707711.4.91.7.4.04.1
Jason LawsonC 1708027544264.71.6.3.2.21.5
Kevin Edwards†SG 1201352013515911.31.71.1.4.14.9
Johnny TaylorSF 12010813132389.01.1.1.3.23.2
Vernon Maxwell†SG 1101691312218115.41.21.1.2.17.4
Spud WebbPG 40343510128.5.81.3.3.03.0
Carl Thomas†SG 4015010193.8.0.3.0.32.3
Tim Kempton†PF 3015110005.0.3.3.0.0.0
Donald Royal†SF 2018411059.02.0.5.5.02.5
  • † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Magic only.

Awards and honors

References

  1. 1 2 "Orlando Magic". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 8, 2026.
  2. ↑ Johnson, L.C. (June 4, 1997). "It's Official: Magic Land Chuck Daly as Coach". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Magic Names Chuck Daly Coach". The Washington Post. June 4, 1997. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  4. ↑ Diamos, Jason (October 24, 1997). "PRO BASKETBALL; Daly Trying Again to Remold a Franchise". The New York Times. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  5. ↑ "PRO BASKETBALL; Warriors Send Price to Magic". The New York Times. Associated Press. October 28, 1997. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  6. ↑ Johnson, L.C. (October 28, 1997). "Magic Pay Price for Scoring". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  7. ↑ Steele, David (October 28, 1997). "Warriors Ship Out Price; Point-Guard Glut Gone; Magic Deal Shaw, Vaughn". SFGate. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  8. ↑ "PLUS: BASKETBALL; Dallas-Orlando Trade". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 25, 1997. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Nelson Still Dealing, Gets Scott from Magic". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. September 25, 1997. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  10. ↑ Johnson, L.C. (September 25, 1997). "Trade Lets Magic Get Rid of Scott". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  11. ↑ Baker, Chris (September 6, 1997). "Just Like Magic, Versatile Outlaw Leaves Clippers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Magic Corrals Outlaw". Tampa Bay Times. September 6, 1997. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Outlaw Breaks Free to Spark Magic". Orlando Sentinel. November 9, 1997. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Rodman Opts Not to Start". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. October 31, 1997. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Magic's Hardaway to Have Arthroscopic Surgery". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. December 10, 1997. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  16. ↑ Johnson, L.C. (December 11, 1997). "Hardaway to Be Gone 8-10 Weeks". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Hardaway Calls Timeout". Orlando Sentinel. February 16, 1998. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  18. ↑ "N.B.A.: LAST NIGHT; Malone Helps Utah Pull Away". The New York Times. Associated Press. February 13, 1998. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  19. ↑ Povtak, Tim (February 13, 1998). "Injury Ends Armstrong's Best Season". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  20. ↑ Johnson, L.C. (January 15, 1998). "Maxwell Gets Set for 10 More Days". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  21. ↑ "N.B.A.: LAST NIGHT; Newly Signed Maxwell Delivers When It Counts". The New York Times. Associated Press. February 4, 1998. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  22. ↑ "NBA Games Played on February 5, 1998". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  23. ↑ "N.B.A.: LAST NIGHT; Jazz Obtains Seikaly for Morris and Foster". The New York Times. Associated Press. February 17, 1998. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Seikaly Traded to Jazz for Reserves". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 17, 1998. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  25. ↑ Jorgensen, Loren (February 17, 1998). "Jazz Pull Off Steal of a Deal, Acquire Seikaly". Deseret News. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Jazz Earns a Big Victory, But Seikaly Trade Voided". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 19, 1998. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  27. ↑ Johnson, L.C. (February 19, 1998). "Seikaly Refuses to Play for Jazz". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  28. ↑ Jorgensen, Loren (March 7, 1998). "Rony Seikaly Insists Jazz Nixed the Trade". Deseret News. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  29. ↑ Popper, Steve (February 20, 1998). "PRO BASKETBALL; Seikaly Traded to Nets in a Last-Minute Deal". The New York Times. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  30. ↑ 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.
  31. ↑ Povtak, Tim (February 20, 1998). "Seikaly Bounces to Nets, and It Looks as If He'll Go". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  32. 1 2 3 "1997–98 Orlando Magic Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  33. ↑ Johnson, L.C. (February 20, 1998). "Magic Weigh Options". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Webb Heads to Magic". United Press International. February 22, 1998. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  35. ↑ "1997–98 Orlando Magic Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  36. ↑ Howard-Cooper, Scott (January 28, 1998). "Lakers Get Four-Star Rating as Van Exel, Jones Honored". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  37. ↑ "1998 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  38. ↑ "1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  39. ↑ "All-Star Flip Side: Who Got Snubbed?". Deseret News. Associated Press. January 31, 1998. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  40. ↑ "Popularity, Not Merit, Again Wins More Votes". The Baltimore Sun. February 1, 1998. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  41. ↑ Povtak, Tim (May 1, 1998). "Hawks' Henderson Wins Most Improved". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  42. 1 2 "1997–98 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  43. ↑ "1997–98 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  44. ↑ "All-Star Mark Price Retires". CBS News. Associated Press. February 11, 1999. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  45. ↑ Kawakami, Tim (January 20, 1999). "Good Signs for Lakers?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  46. ↑ "NBA Transactions". The New York Times. January 22, 1999. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  47. ↑ Wise, Mike (February 4, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.