1997–98 Orlando Magic season

1997–98 Orlando Magic season
Head coach	Chuck Daly
Arena	Orlando Arena
Results
Record	41–41 (.500)
Place	Division: 5th (Atlantic) Conference: 10th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	DNQ
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	Sunshine Network, WKCF

The 1997–98 season was the ninth season of the Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Magic hired former Detroit Pistons head coach Chuck Daly, and acquired former All-Star point guard Mark Price from the Golden State Warriors. Scoring leader Anfernee Hardaway struggled with injuries and only played nineteen games. Midway through the season, Rony Seikaly was traded to the New Jersey Nets. The Magic finished fifth in the Atlantic Division with a record of 41-41, missing the playoffs for the first time since Shaquille O'Neal's rookie season (1992–93). Following the season, Price retired after playing 12 years in the NBA.

Draft picks

Main article: 1997 NBA Draft

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

Orlando Magic roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From SF 25 Anderson, Nick 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Illinois PG 10 Armstrong, Darrell  6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fayetteville State SF 2 Benoit, David 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Alabama SG 20 Edwards, Kevin 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) DePaul C 54 Grant, Horace 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Clemson SG 1 Hardaway, Anfernee  6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Memphis SG 12 Harper, Derek 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Illinois C 8 Lawson, Jason 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Villanova PG 3 Ollie, Kevin 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Connecticut PF 45 Outlaw, Bo 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Houston PG 5 Price, Mark 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Georgia Tech C 24 Schayes, Danny 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Syracuse PF 33 Strong, Derek 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Xavier SF 17 Taylor, Johnny 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Chattanooga SG 9 Wilkins, Gerald 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Chattanooga	Head coach Chuck Daly (Bloomsburg) Assistant coach(es) Tree Rollins (Clemson) Tom Sterner (Millersville State) Brendan Suhr (Montclair State) Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster • Transactions

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Miami Heat	55	27	.671	–	30-11	25–16	18–6
x-New York Knicks	43	39	.524	12	28–13	15–26	13–11
x-New Jersey Nets	43	39	.524	12	26–15	17–24	12–12
Washington Wizards	42	40	.512	13	24–17	18–23	12–13
Orlando Magic	41	41	.500	14	24–17	17–24	11–13
Boston Celtics	36	46	.439	19	24–17	12–29	12–23
Philadelphia 76ers	31	51	.378	24	19–22	12–29	7–17

#	Eastern Conference
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Chicago Bulls	62	20	.756	–
2	y-Miami Heat	55	27	.671	7
3	x-Indiana Pacers	58	24	.707	4
4	x-Charlotte Hornets	51	31	.622	11
5	x-Atlanta Hawks	50	32	.610	12
6	x-Cleveland Cavaliers	47	35	.573	15
7	x-New York Knicks	43	39	.524	19
8	x-New Jersey Nets	43	39	.524	19
9	Washington Wizards	42	40	.512	20
10	Orlando Magic	41	41	.500	21
11	Detroit Pistons	37	45	.451	25
12	Boston Celtics	36	46	.439	26
12	Milwaukee Bucks	36	46	.439	26
14	Philadelphia 76ers	31	51	.378	31
15	Toronto Raptors	16	66	.195	46

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

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