Head coach Chris Ford Arena Bradley Center Playoff finish DNQ | Owner(s) Herb Kohl Record 36–46 (.439) | |
Place Division: 7th (Central)
Conference: 13th (Eastern) | ||
The 1997–98 NBA season was the Bucks' 30th season in the National Basketball Association. In the offseason, the Bucks acquired All-Star guard Terrell Brandon and Tyrone Hill from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three team trade. Other offseason acquisitions included acquiring Ervin Johnson from the Denver Nuggets, signing free agent Michael Curry, and re-signing former Bucks star Ricky Pierce. The Bucks hovered around .500 for the first half of the season as Glenn Robinson averaged a career high of 23.4 points per game. However, with Robinson out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury after 56 games, the Bucks struggled and went on a nine-game losing streak in March. Injuries also limited Brandon to 50 games, and Hill to 57 games.
Despite a solid season from second-year star Ray Allen, who averaged 19.5 points per game, the Bucks finished seventh in the Central Division with a 36–46 record, missing the playoffs in seven straight seasons. Following the season, Pierce retired after making his second stint with the Bucks, Andrew Lang was released and head coach Chris Ford was fired.