1997–98 Denver Nuggets season

1997–98 Denver Nuggets season
Head coach	Bill Hanzlik
Arena	McNichols Sports Arena
Results
Record	11–71 (.134)
Place	Division: 7th (Midwest) Conference: 14th (Western)
Playoff finish	DNQ
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	Fox Sports Rocky Mountain, KWGN

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Nuggets’ 22nd season in the NBA and 31st season as a franchise.^[1]

The Nuggets set numerous unwanted records during this season. They won only eleven games, the equal second-fewest in an 82-game NBA season with the 1992–93 Dallas Mavericks, and just like the Mavericks were for a long time viewed as likely to beat the 1972–73 76ers record of winning only nine games in a full season.^[2][3] After forty games the Nuggets had a 2–38 record (winning percentage .050),^[4] a mark equalled only by the 1993–94 Mavericks and they later lost sixteen consecutive games^[4] before finally avoiding a possibility of the worst-ever NBA record against the Golden State Warriors on 27 March.

The unfortunate season meant head coach Bill Hanzlik was fired after a single season in charge of the team.

In his 2007 study The NBA from Top to Bottom, basketball enthusiast Kyle Wright argued that in fact the 1997–98 Nuggets were a worse team than the 1972–73 76ers, saying that they played a worse schedule in the Midwest Division than the 1972–73 76ers did in their Atlantic Division where a dominant Boston Celtics team was played seven times by the 76ers.^[5] In contrast, Wright says, “the Nuggets got to play the 62–20 Utah Jazz only four times”.

Draft picks

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	5	Tony Battie	PF/C	United States	Texas Tech
2	33	James Cotton	SG	United States	Long Beach State
2	42	Jason Lawson	C	United States	Villanova

Roster

Denver Nuggets roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From PG 7 Alexander, Cory 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Virginia PF 4 Battie, Tony 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Texas Tech SF 3 Ellis, Harold 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Morehouse SF 20 Ellis, LaPhonso 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Notre Dame PF 15 Fortson, Danny 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 260 lb (118 kg) Cincinnati C 21 Garrett, Dean 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Indiana PG 5 Goldwire, Anthony 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 182 lb (83 kg) Houston PG 13 Jackson, Bobby 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Minnesota C 30 Lauderdale, Priest 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) 325 lb (147 kg) Central State SF 22 Newman, Johnny 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Richmond SG 23 Stith, Bryant 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 208 lb (94 kg) Virginia SG 14 Washington, Eric 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Alabama SF 32 Williams, Eric  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Providence C 17 Wolf, Joe 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) North Carolina	Head coach Bill Hanzlik (Notre Dame) Assistant coach(es) Mike D'Antoni (Marshall) T. R. Dunn (Alabama) Brian Winters (South Carolina) Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster • Transactions

Roster Notes

• Assistant coach Mike D'Antoni holds American and Italian dual citizenship. He played for the Italian national team although he was born in the United States.
• Center Priest Lauderdale holds American and Bulgarian dual citizenship.

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
z-Utah Jazz	62	20	.756	–	36–5	26–15	22–2
x-San Antonio Spurs	56	26	.683	6	31–10	25–16	18–6
x-Minnesota Timberwolves	45	37	.549	17	26–15	19–22	14–10
x-Houston Rockets	41	41	.500	21	24–17	17–24	14–10
Dallas Mavericks	20	62	.244	42	13–28	7–34	9–15
Vancouver Grizzlies	19	63	.232	43	14–27	5–36	4–20
Denver Nuggets	11	71	.134	51	9–32	2–39	3–21

#	Western Conference
	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

Game Log

1997–98 Game Log Total: 11–71 (Home: 9–32 ; Road: 2–39)
October: 0–1 (Home: 0–1 ; Road: 0–0) Game Date Opponent Score Location Record 1 October 31 San Antonio Spurs 96–107 McNichols Sports Arena 0–1
November: 1–11 (Home: 1–4 ; Road: 0–7) Game Date Opponent Score Location Record 2 November 1 @ Utah Jazz 84–102 Delta Center 0–2 3 November 4 Washington Wizards 96–120 McNichols Sports Arena 0–3 4 November 7 Utah Jazz 89–91 McNichols Sports Arena 0–4 5 November 11 @ New York Knicks 90–93 Madison Square Garden 0–5 6 November 12 @ Boston Celtics 86–96 Fleet Center 0–6 7 November 14 @ Orlando Magic 85–103 Orlando Arena 0–7 8 November 15 @ Miami Heat 93–96 Miami Arena 0–8 9 November 18 Vancouver Grizzlies 87–100 McNichols Sports Arena 0–9 10 November 21 @ Vancouver Grizzlies 96–99 General Motors Place 0–10 11 November 22 Seattle SuperSonics 93–97 McNichols Sports Arena 0–11 12 November 25 @ Sacramento Kings 120–128 ARCO Arena 0–12 13 November 28 Minnesota Timberwolves 95–84 McNichols Sports Arena 1–12
December: 1–14 (Home: 1–7 ; Road: 0–7) Game Date Opponent Score Location Record 14 December 2 @ Houston Rockets 101–112 The Summit 1–13 15 December 3 Los Angeles Lakers 89–107 McNichols Sports Arena 1–14 16 December 5 Indiana Pacers 85–96 McNichols Sports Arena 1–15 17 December 7 Los Angeles Clippers 100–92 McNichols Sports Arena 2–15 18 December 9 @ Detroit Pistons 83–92 The Palace of Auburn Hills 2–16 19 December 10 @ Cleveland Cavaliers 106–119 Gund Arena 2–17 20 December 12 @ Phoenix Suns 81–102 America West Arena 2–18 21 December 13 @ New Jersey 95–133 Continental Airlines Arena 2–19 22 December 16 San Antonio Spurs 85–99 McNichols Sports Arena 2–20 23 December 18 @ Seattle SuperSonics 106–119 KeyArena 2–21 24 December 20 Phoenix Suns 81–102 McNichols Sports Arena 2–22 25 December 23 @ Golden State Warriors 75–87 The Arena in Oakland 2–23 26 December 26 Golden State Warriors 120–131 McNichols Sports Arena 2–24 27 December 27 @ Los Angeles Clippers 103–105 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 2–25 28 December 30 Utah Jazz 99–132 McNichols Sports Arena 2–26
January: 2–14 (Home: 1–7 ; Road: 1–7) Game Date Opponent Score Location Record 29 January 2 Houston Rockets 115–116 OT McNichols Sports Arena 2–27 30 January 3 @ Minnesota Timberwolves 87–109 Target Center 2–28 31 January 6 @ Dallas Mavericks 90–108 Reunion Arena 2–29 32 January 7 @ San Antonio Spurs 89–96 Alamodome 2–30 33 January 9 Miami Heat 79–98 McNichols Sports Arena 2–31 34 January 13 Orlando Magic 84–98 McNichols Sports Arena 2–32 35 January 14 @ Los Angeles Lakers 114–132 Great Western Forum 2–33 36 January 16 Cleveland Cavaliers 74–99 McNichols Sports Arena 2–34 37 January 18 @ Portland Trail Blazers 82–94 Rose Garden Arena 2–35 38 January 20 @ Vancouver Grizzlies 77–88 General Motors Place 2–36 39 January 21 Detroit Pistons 67–87 McNichols Sports Arena 2–37 40 January 23 @ Phoenix Suns 77–93 America West Arena 2–38 41 January 24 @ Los Angeles Clippers 99–81 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 3–38 42 January 27 New Jersey Nets 87–120 McNichols Sports Arena 3–39 43 January 29 Toronto Raptors 80–84 McNichols Sports Arena 3–40 44 January 31 Dallas Mavericks 110–98 McNichols Sports Arena 4–40
February: 1–12 (Home: 1–6 ; Road: 0–5) Game Date Opponent Score Location Record 45 February 2 Chicago Bulls 72–111 McNichols Sports Arena 4–41 46 February 4 Sacramento Kings 99–101 McNichols Sports Arena 4–42 47 February 10 Boston Celtics 112–99 McNichols Sports Arena 5–42 48 February 12 @ Sacramento Kings 84–87 ARCO Arena 5–43 49 February 13 Minnesota Timberwolves 80–107 McNichols Sports Arena 5–44 50 February 15 @ Portland Trail Blazers 82–117 Rose Garden Arena 5–45 51 February 17 New York Knicks 77–91 McNichols Sports Arena 5–46 52 February 19 @ Los Angeles Lakers 114–132 Great Western Forum 5–47 53 February 20 @ Golden State Warriors 88–95 The Arena in Oakland 5–48 54 February 22 @ Seattle SuperSonics 68–88 KeyArena 5–49 55 February 23 Charlotte Hornets 98–118 McNichols Sports Arena 5–50 56 February 25 Atlanta Hawks 88–112 McNichols Sports Arena 5–51 57 February 27 Philadelphia 76ers 78–79 McNichols Sports Arena 5–52
March: 4–11 (Home: 3–4 ; Road: 1–7) Game Date Opponent Score Location Record 58 March 1 @ Indiana Pacers 63–90 Market Square Arena 5–53 59 March 3 @ Chicago Bulls 90–118 United Center 5–54 60 March 5 @ Milwaukee Bucks 87–104 Bradley Center 5–55 61 March 6 @ Atlanta Hawks 94–115 Georgia Dome 5–56 62 March 8 Los Angeles Clippers 89–100 McNichols Sports Arena 5–57 63 March 10 Phoenix Suns 106–104 McNichols Sports Arena 5–58 64 March 12 Vancouver Grizzlies 98–93 McNichols Sports Arena 6–58 65 March 14 Portland Trail Blazers 92–82 McNichols Sports Arena 7–58 66 March 16 Charlotte Hornets 87–109 Charlotte Coliseum 7–59 67 March 17 @ Washington Wizards 90–89 MCI Center 8–59 68 March 19 @ Toronto Raptors 103–104 OT SkyDome 8–60 69 March 20 @ Minnesota Timberwolves 88–104 Target Center 8–61 70 March 23 Los Angeles Lakers 86–107 McNichols Sports Arena 8–62 71 March 25 Dallas Mavericks 94–105 McNichols Sports Arena 8–63 72 March 27 Golden State Warriors 97–89 McNichols Sports Arena 9–63
April: 2–8 (Home: 2–3 ; Road: 0–5) Game Date Opponent Score Location Record 73 April 1 Milwaukee Bucks 100–106 McNichols Sports Arena 9–64 74 April 3 @ Utah Jazz 75–97 Delta Center 9–65 75 April 5 Seattle SuperSonics 83–87 McNichols Sports Arena 9–66 76 April 7 Houston Rockets 87–104 McNichols Sports Arena 9–67 77 April 9 Sacramento Kings 128–103 McNichols Sports Arena 10–67 78 April 11 @ Dallas Mavericks 81–99 Reunion Arena 10–68 79 April 14 @ Houston Rockets 88–94 The Summit 10–69 80 April 15 @ Phoenix Suns 89–96 America West Arena 10–70 81 April 17 Portland Trail Blazers 109–101 McNichols Sports Arena 11–70 82 April 19 @ San Antonio Spurs 82–96 Alamodome 11–71
1997–98 Schedule

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%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Dean Garrett	82	82	32.1	.428	N/A	.648	7.9	1.1	0.7	1.6	7.3
Anthony Goldwire	82	32	27.0	.423	.384	.806	1.8	3.4	1.0	0.1	9.2
Danny Fortson	80	23	22.6	.452	.333	.776	5.6	1.0	0.6	0.4	10.2
LaPhonso Ellis	76	71	33.9	.407	.284	.805	7.2	2.8	0.9	0.6	14.3
Johnny Newman	74	15	29.4	.431	.343	.820	1.9	1.9	1.0	0.3	14.7
Bobby Jackson	68	53	30.0	.392	.259	.814	4.4	4.7	1.5	0.2	11.6
Eric Washington	66	36	23.3	.404	.321	.783	1.9	1.2	0.8	0.4	7.7
Tony Battie	65	49	23.2	.446	.214	.702	5.4	0.9	0.8	1.1	8.4
Joe Wolf	57	8	10.9	.331	.200	.500	2.6	0.5	0.4	0.1	1.5
Priest Lauderdale	39	0	8.8	.417	N/A	.551	2.2	0.5	0.2	0.4	3.7
Bryant Stith	31	15	23.2	.333	.208	.872	2.1	1.6	0.7	0.3	7.6
Kiwane Garris	28	0	8.0	.338	.357	.760	0.7	1.0	0.3	0.0	2.4
Harold Ellis	27	3	12.7	.559	.000	.635	1.9	0.7	0.7	0.1	6.1
Cory Alexander	23	19	34.7	.435	.411	.846	4.3	6.0	2.0	0.3	14.0
George Zidek	6	0	7.0	.267	N/A	.833	2.2	0.2	0.0	0.3	3.0
Eric Williams	4	4	36.3	.393	N/A	.689	5.3	3.0	1.0	0.0	19.8

Awards and records

• Bobby Jackson, NBA All-Rookie Team 2nd Team

References

1. 1997–98 Denver Nuggets
2. “Nuggets Falter Again: Lose 87–75”; in Rocky Mountain News; December 24, 1997
3. “Warriors Pound Nuggets 81–69; Wizards Win 97–95“; in Point Pleasant Register; December 27, 1997; p. 5
4. 1997–98 Denver Nuggets Schedule and Results
5. Wright, Kyle; The NBA from Top to Bottom: A History of the NBA from the No. 1 Team to the No. 1,153; pp. 80-87. ISBN 9780595697960

See also

• 1997-98 NBA season