1996–97 Utah Jazz season

1996–97 Utah Jazz season
Midwest Division Champions Western Conference Champions
Head coach	Jerry Sloan
Arena	Delta Center
Results
Record	64–18 (.780)
Place	Division: 1st (Midwest) Conference: 1st (Western)
Playoff finish	NBA Finals (eliminated 2–4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	Fox Sports Rocky Mountain, KJZZ
Radio	KSOP-AM and FM

The 1996–97 Utah Jazz season was the team's 23rd season in the NBA. For the season, the Jazz changed their logo that more closely reflects the state of Utah featuring purple mountains, and sky blue in the script. The new colors seemed to agree with the Jazz as they finished first place in the Western Conference with a franchise best record of 64-18, as Karl Malone took home MVP honors.

In the playoffs, the Jazz got off to a flying start in the first round sweeping the Los Angeles Clippers in the three straight games. In the semifinals, they continued to roll easily knocking the Los Angeles Lakers four games to one. In the Western Conference Finals, they took a 2-0 lead over the Houston Rockets. However, the Rockets would even the series at two games a piece as Eddie Johnson hit a dramatic buzzer beater to win Game 4. After taking Game 5 at home, Game 6 would be another battle and appeared to be heading for overtime as John Stockton nailed a three point buzzer beater that launched the Jazz to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. In their first trip to the finals, the Jazz lost 4-2 to the Chicago Bulls.

Draft picks

Main article: 1996 NBA Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	25	Martin Muursepp	PF/SF	Estonia
2	54	Shandon Anderson	SF/SG	United States	Georgia

Roster

Utah Jazz roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From SG 40 Anderson, Shandon 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 208 lb (94 kg) Georgia PF 55 Carr, Antoine 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Wichita State University PG 10 Eisley, Howard 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 177 lb (80 kg) Boston College C 44 Foster, Greg 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Texas–El Paso SG 14 Hornacek, Jeff 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Iowa State SF 43 Howard, Stephen 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) DePaul PF 31 Keefe, Adam 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Stanford PF 32 Malone, Karl 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Louisiana Tech SF 34 Morris, Chris 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Auburn C 00 Ostertag, Greg 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 280 lb (127 kg) Kansas SF 3 Russell, Bryon 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Long Beach State PG 12 Stockton, John 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Gonzaga	Head coach Jerry Sloan (Evansville) Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster • Transactions

Regular season

Season standings

#	Western Conference
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Utah Jazz	64	18	.780	–
2	y-Seattle SuperSonics	57	25	.695	7
3	x-Houston Rockets	57	25	.695	7
4	x-Los Angeles Lakers	56	26	.683	8
5	x-Portland Trail Blazers	49	33	.598	15
6	x-Minnesota Timberwolves	40	42	.488	24
7	x-Phoenix Suns	40	42	.488	24
8	x-Los Angeles Clippers	36	46	.439	28
9	Sacramento Kings	34	48	.415	30
10	Golden State Warriors	30	52	.366	34
11	Dallas Mavericks	24	58	.293	40
12	Denver Nuggets	21	61	.256	43
13	San Antonio Spurs	20	62	.244	44
14	Vancouver Grizzlies	14	68	.171	50

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Game log

1996-97 Game Log
November: 11-2 (Home: 8-1; Road: 3-1) Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 1 Nov 1 vs Seattle SuperSonics 99-91 W Delta Center/19,911 1-0 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 2 Nov 2 at Los Angeles Clippers 95-90 W Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena/13,041 2-0 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 3 Nov 4 vs Houston Rockets 72-75 L Delta Center/19,911 2-1 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 4 Nov 9 at Houston Rockets 85-91 L The Summit/16,285 2-2 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 5 Nov 13 vs Sacramento Kings 105-74 W Delta Center/19,283 3-2 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 6 Nov 15 vs Vancouver Grizzlies 104-96 W Delta Center/19,046 4-2 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 7 Nov 16 at Dallas Mavericks 88-87 W Reunion Arena/15,947 5-2 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 8 Nov 20 at Los Angeles Lakers 113-97 W Great Western Fourm/16,122 6-2 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 9 Nov 21 vs Golden State Warriors 109-104 W OT Delta Center/18,889 7-2 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 10 Nov 23 vs Chicago Bulls 105-100 W Delta Center/19,911 8-2 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 11 Nov 25 vs New Jersey Nets 108-92 W Delta Center/19,132 9-2 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 12 Nov 27 vs Denver Nuggets 107-103 W Delta Center/19,324 10-2 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 13 Nov 29 vs Los Angeles Clippers 111-94 W Delta Center/19,381 11-2
December: 11-5 (Home: 7-1; Road: 4-4) Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 14 Dec 1 at Seattle SuperSonics 96-90 W KeyArena at Seattle Center/17,072 12-2 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 15 Dec 2 vs Charlotte Hornets 107-97 W Delta Center/19,410 13-2 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 16 Dec 4 vs Los Angeles Lakers 101-75 W Delta Center/19,911 14-2 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 17 Dec 6 vs Minnesota Timberwolves 106-95 W Delta Center/19,911 15-2 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 18 Dec 7 at Denver Nuggets 104-91 W McNichols Sports Arena/12,837 16-2 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 19 Dec 10 vs Indiana Pacers 110-86 W Delta Center/19,911 17-2 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 20 Dec 12 vs Phoenix Suns 87-95 L Delta Center/19,911 17-3 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 21 Dec 14 vs Orlando Magic 101-68 W Delta Center/19,911 18-3 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 22 Dec 17 at New York Knicks 94-99 L Madison Square Garden/19,763 18-4 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 23 Dec 19 at Miami Heat 94-87 W OT Miami Arena/14,919 19-4 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 24 Dec 20 at Orlando Magic 98-93 W Orlando Arena/17,248 20-4 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 25 Dec 22 at Cleveland Cavaliers 94-100 L Gund Arena/17,205 20-5 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 26 Dec 23 at Minnesota Timberwolves 98-107 L Target Center/14,434 20-6 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 27 Dec 26 vs Portland Trail Blazers 99-94 W Delta Center/19,911 21-6 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 28 Dec 28 vs Philadelphia 76ers 110-84 W Delta Center/19,911 22-6 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 29 Dec 30 at Los Angeles Clippers 101-115 L Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 22-7
January: 9-6 (Home: 5-0; Road: 4-6) Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 30 Jan 2 at San Antonio Spurs 80-83 L Alamodome/15,220 22-8 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 31 Jan 4 vs Miami Heat 83-80 W Delta Center 23-8 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 32 Jan 6 at Chicago Bulls 89-102 L United Center 23-9 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 33 Jan 8 at Milwaukee Bucks 112-119 L OT Bradley Center 23-10 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 34 Jan 9 at Toronto Raptors 96-110 L SkyDome 23-11 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 35 Jan 11 at Detroit Pistons 77-87 L The Palace of Auburn Hills 23-12 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 36 Jan 13 at Philadelphia 76ers 97-96 W OT CoreStates Center 24-12 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 37 Jan 16 vs Phoenix Suns 95-91 W Delta Center 25-12 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 38 Jan 17 at Vancouver Grizzlies 106-68 W General Motors Place 26-12 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 39 Jan 19 at Portland Trail Blazers 96-102 L Rose Garden Arena 26-13 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 40 Jan 20 vs Cleveland Cavaliers 94-74 W Delta Center 27-13 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 41 Jan 22 at Phoenix Suns 111-99 W America West Arena 28-13 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 42 Jan 25 at Houston Rockets 105-100 W OT The Summit 29-13 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 43 Jan 28 vs Denver Nuggets 114-99 W Delta Center 30-13 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 44 Jan 30 vs Atlanta Hawks 102-96 W Delta Center 31-13
February: 9-3 (Home: 7-1; Road: 2-2) Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 45 Feb 1 at Dallas Mavericks 97-100 L Reunion Arena 31-14 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 46 Feb 3 vs Washington Bullets 111-89 W Delta Center 32-14 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 47 Feb 5 at Seattle SuperSonics 99-95 W KeyArena at Seattle Center 33-14 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 48 Feb 11 at Sacramento Kings 120-98 W ARCO Arena 34-14 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 49 Feb 13 vs Portland Trail Blazers 110-86 W Delta Center 35-14 Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record 50 Feb 15 vs Dallas Mavericks 99-84 W Delta Center 36-14
March Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record
April Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record
1996-97 Schedule

Playoffs

West First Round

(1) Utah Jazz vs. (8) Los Angeles Clippers Last Playoff Meeting: 1992 Western Conference First Round (Utah won 3–2)

Game	Date	Home	Score	Visitor	Score	Record (UTAH-LAC)	Venue	Recap
1	April 24	Utah	106	L.A. Clippers	86	1-0	Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah	1
2	April 26	Utah	105	L.A. Clippers	99	2-0	Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah	2
3	April 28	L.A. Clippers	92	Utah	104	3-0	Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California	3
Utah wins series 3–0

West Conference Semifinals

(1) Utah Jazz vs. (4) Los Angeles Lakers Last Playoff Meeting: 1988 Western Conference Semifinals (Los Angeles won 4-3)

Game	Date	Home	Score	Visitor	Score	Record (UTAH-LAL)	Venue	Recap	Television
1	May 4	Utah	93	Los Angeles	77	1-0	Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah	1	NBC
2	May 6	Utah	103	Los Angeles	101	2-0	Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah	2
3	May 8	Los Angeles	104	Utah	84	2-1	Great Western Forum, Los Angeles, California	3
4	May 10	Los Angeles	95	Utah	110	3-1	Great Western Forum, Los Angeles, California	4	NBC
5	May 12	Utah	98	Los Angeles	93	4-1	Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah	5	TNT
Utah wins series 4–1

West Conference Finals

(1) Utah Jazz vs. (3) Houston Rockets Last Playoff Meeting: 1995 Western Conference First Round (Houston won 3-2)

Game	Date	Home	Score	Visitor	Score	Record (UTAH-HOU)	Venue	Recap	Television
1	May 19	Utah	101	Houston	86	1-0	Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah	1	NBC
2	May 21	Utah	104	Houston	92	2-0	Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah	2	NBC
3	May 23	Houston	118	Utah	100	2-1	The Summit, Houston, Texas	3	NBC
4	May 25	Houston	95	Utah	92	2-2	The Summit, Houston, Texas	4	NBC
5	May 27	Utah	96	Houston	91	3-2	Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah	5	NBC
6	May 29	Houston	100	Utah	103	4-2	The Summit, Houston, Texas	6	NBC
Utah wins series 4–2

NBA Finals

In the finals, the Jazz faced the Chicago Bulls losing the first two games on the road. However, the Jazz upon arriving at the Delta Center continued their home court advantage by taking Game 3, and Game 4 to even the series. With a chance to take a series lead in Game 5, the Jazz were beaten by a heroic performance by Michael Jordan playing with the flu like ailment 90-88. Back in Chicago for Game 6, the Jazz battled the Bulls tightly before falling by four points as the Bulls won their fifth title in seven years.

(E1) Chicago Bulls vs. (W1) Utah Jazz

Game	Date	Home	Score	Visitor	Score	Record (CHI-UTAH)	Venue	Recap	Television
1	June 1	Chicago	84	Utah	82	1-0	United Center, Chicago, Illinois	1 at the Wayback Machine (archived February 24, 1999)	NBC
2	June 4	Chicago	97	Utah	85	2-0	United Center, Chicago, Illinois	2 at the Wayback Machine (archived February 24, 1999)	NBC
3	June 6	Utah	104	Chicago	93	2-1	Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah	3 at the Wayback Machine (archived February 24, 1999)	NBC
4	June 8	Utah	78	Chicago	73	2-2	Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah	4 at the Wayback Machine (archived February 24, 1999)	NBC
5	June 11	Utah	88	Chicago	90	3-2	Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah	Archived February 24, 1999 at the Wayback Machine	NBC
6	June 13	Chicago	90	Utah	86	4-2	United Center, Chicago, Illinois	6 at the Wayback Machine (archived February 24, 1999)	NBC
Chicago wins NBA Finals series 4–2

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

Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Shandon Anderson
Antoine Carr
Howard Eisley
Greg Foster
Jeff Hornacek
Stephen Howard
Adam Keefe
Karl Malone
Chris Morris
Ruben Nembhard
Greg Ostertag
Byron Russell
John Stockton
Brooks Thompson
Jamie Watson

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Shandon Anderson
Antoine Carr
Howard Eisley
Greg Foster
Jeff Hornacek
Stephen Howard
Adam Keefe
Karl Malone
Chris Morris
Greg Ostertag
Byron Russell
John Stockton

Awards and records

Awards

• Karl Malone, NBA Most Valuable Player Award
• Karl Malone, All-NBA First Team
• John Stockton, All-NBA Third Team
• Karl Malone, NBA All-Defensive First Team
• John Stockton, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

Transactions

Free Agents

Additions

Player	Signed	Former team

Subtractions

Player	Left	New team