1996–97 NBA season

Infobox sports season
title =1996–97 NBA season
league =National Basketball Association
sport =Basketball
TV =NBC, TBS
season =Regular season
season_champ =Chicago Bulls
MVP =flagicon|USA Karl Malone (Utah)
MVP_link =NBA MVP
top_scorer =flagicon|USA Michael Jordan (Chicago)
playoffs =Playoffs
playoffs_link =1997 NBA Playoffs
conf1 =Eastern
conf1_link =Eastern Conference (NBA)
conf1_champ =Chicago Bulls
conf1_runner-up =Miami Heat
conf2 =Western
conf2_link =Western Conference (NBA)
conf2_champ =Utah Jazz
conf2_runner-up =Houston Rockets
finals =Finals
finals_link =1997 NBA Finals
finals_champ =Chicago Bulls
finals_runner-up =Utah Jazz
finals_MVP =flagicon|USA Michael Jordan (Chicago)
finals_MVP_link =NBA Finals MVP
seasonslist =List of NBA seasons
seasonslistnames =NBA
prevseason_link =1995–96 NBA season
prevseason_year =1995–96
nextseason_link =1997–98 NBA season
nextseason_year =1997–98The 1996–97 NBA season was the 51st season of the National Basketball Association. The league used this season to mark its 50th anniversary, which included the unveiling of the league's list of its 50 greatest players. This particular year marked the debut of Allen Iverson, Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, and Jermaine O'Neal. The season ended with the Chicago Bulls defeating the Utah Jazz 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals to win the franchise's 5th championship.

= Notable occurrences =

* The Chicago Bulls narrowly miss back-to-back 70 win seasons, going 69-13, and settle for tying the second best record all time (with the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers), behind their previous season's performance. In the final game of the regular season, the Bulls lost to the Knicks 103-101 as Scottie Pippen missed a three-pointer that would have given the Bulls back-to-back 70 win seasons.
* The 1997 NBA All-Star Game was played at Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, with the East defeating the West 132-120. Glen Rice of the Charlotte Hornets was named the game's MVP.
* The Philadelphia 76ers play their first game at the Core States Center' (later First Union Center, now Wachovia Center).
* Allen Iverson held the rookie record scoring with 40 points or more in 5 straight games.
* Due to extensive renovations at Oakland Arena, the Golden State Warriors play their home games at the San Jose Arena (now known as the HP Pavilion at San Jose, home of the NHL's San Jose Sharks).
* Dennis Rodman was suspended for 11 games after kicking a cameraman in an away game against the Minnesota Timberwolves after tripping over him.
*Following a last-second three-point shot by John Stockton in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, the Utah Jazz make their first ever NBA Finals appearance.
*In Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Lakers, Karl Malone hit all 18 of his free-throw attempts, setting a playoff record for most attempts without a miss, since broken by Paul Pierce.
*After seven seasons of futility, the Minnesota Timberwolves finally make a postseason appearance, becoming the last of the 1988 and 1989 expansion teams to do so. In addition, their expansion-franchise counterparts (Miami, Orlando, and Charlotte) also make the playoffs.

Final standings

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

C - NBA Champions

1996-97 NBA statistics leaders

NBA awards

*Most Valuable Player: Karl Malone, Utah Jazz
*Rookie of the Year: Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers
*Defensive Player of the Year: Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks
*Sixth Man of the Year: John Starks, New York Knicks
*Most Improved Player: Isaac Austin, Miami Heat
*Coach of the Year: Pat Riley, Miami Heat
*All-NBA First Team:
**F - Karl Malone, Utah Jazz
**F - Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons
**C - Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
**G - Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
**G - Tim Hardaway, Miami Heat
*All-NBA Second Team:
**F Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls
**F Glen Rice, Charlotte Hornets
**C Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks
**G Gary Payton, Seattle SuperSonics
**G Mitch Richmond, Sacramento Kings
*All-NBA Third Team:
**F Anthony Mason, Charlotte Hornets
**F Vin Baker, Milwaukee Bucks
**C Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
**G John Stockton, Utah Jazz
**G Anfernee Hardaway, Orlando Magic
*NBA All-Defensive First Team:
**F Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls
**F Karl Malone, Utah Jazz
**C Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks
**G Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
**G Gary Payton, Seattle SuperSonics
*NBA All-Defensive Second Team:
**F Anthony Mason, Charlotte Hornets
**F P.J. Brown, Miami Heat
**C Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
**G Mookie Blaylock, Atlanta Hawks
**G John Stockton, Utah Jazz
*All-NBA Rookie First Team:
**Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Vancouver Grizzlies
**Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers
**Stephon Marbury, Minnesota Timberwolves
**Marcus Camby, Toronto Raptors
**Antoine Walker, Boston Celtics
*All-NBA Rookie Second Team:
**Kerry Kittles, New Jersey Nets
**Ray Allen, Milwaukee Bucks
**Travis Knight, Los Angeles Lakers
**Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
**Matt Maloney, Houston Rockets

"Note: All information on this page was obtained from the History section of [http://www.nba.com NBA.com] "

ee also