Neha Patil (Editor)

1996–97 Los Angeles Clippers season

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Head coach
  
Bill Fitch

Record
  
36–46 (.439)

Owner(s)
  
Donald Sterling

Arena
  
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena Arrowhead Pond

Place
  
Division: 5th (Pacific) Conference: 8th (Western)

Playoff finish
  
West First Round (eliminated 0-3)

The 1996–97 NBA season was the Clippers' 27th season in the National Basketball Association, 13th in Los Angeles and 3rd in which they played occasional home games in Anaheim. During the offseason, the Clippers signed free agents Darrick Martin and former All-Star center Kevin Duckworth. With the loss of Brian Williams to free agency, the Clippers were expected to sink in the bottom of the NBA again. However, with the continued solid play of Loy Vaught, who once again led the team in scoring and rebounding, the Clippers managed to slip into the playoffs as the #8 seed in the West with a below .500 record of 36–46, fifth in the Pacific Division. However, in the first round of the playoffs, the Clippers were swept by the top-seeded Utah Jazz in three straight games. This would be their final playoff appearance until 2006.

Contents

Following the season, Malik Sealy signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons, Bo Outlaw signed with the Orlando Magic, Stanley Roberts was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Terry Dehere signed with the Sacramento Kings and Duckworth retired.

Roster Notes

  • A number of players from the 1996-97 roster have either died prematurely or ended up in tragic circumstances. They are center Stanley Roberts (banned from NBA for drug use in 1999), guard Malik Sealy (died in an automobile accident in 2000 at age 30), center Kevin Duckworth (died of heart failure in 2008 at age 44), forward Rodney Rogers (became paralyzed after dirt bike accident in 2008 at age 37), forward/center Lorenzen Wright (murdered in 2010 at age 34), and center Dwayne Schintzius (died from cancer complications in 2012 at age 43).

    • Season standings

    z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot

    West First Round

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

    Transactions

    The Clippers have been involved in the following transactions during the 1996-97 season.

    Trades

    No trades occurred for this team this season.

    References

    1996–97 Los Angeles Clippers season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA