Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

1997–98 Phoenix Suns season

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Head coach
  
Danny Ainge

Owner(s)
  
Jerry Colangelo

Record
  
56–26 (.683)

General manager
  
Bryan Colangelo

Arena
  
America West Arena

Place
  
Division: 3rd (Pacific) Conference: 4th (Western)

The 1997–98 Phoenix Suns season was the 30th for the National Basketball Association's Phoenix Suns. In the offseason, the Suns acquired Antonio McDyess from the Denver Nuggets while signing free agents Clifford Robinson and George McCloud. Danny Ainge returned for his first full season as the Suns head coach. At midseason, they traded Cedric Ceballos to the Dallas Mavericks for Dennis Scott. The Suns posted a 56–26 record as members of the Pacific division. They would make their 10th straight playoff appearance before losing in the first round, three games to one, to the San Antonio Spurs. All home games were played in America West Arena.

Contents

The team's top scorer, Rex Chapman at 15.9 points per game, was part of a Suns offense that included four other players averaging double-digits in points in McDyess, Robinson, Sixth Man of The Year Danny Manning and Jason Kidd. Kidd was the team's sole member to be selected as a member of the All-Star Game and finished second in the league in assists per game.

Following the season, McDyess re-signed as a free agent with the Denver Nuggets, Kevin Johnson retired (but would make a comeback late in the 1999–2000 season), Steve Nash was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, Hot Rod Williams signed as a free agent with the Mavericks, and Scott signed with the New York Knicks.

NBA Draft

The Suns used their only draft pick to select future star Stephen Jackson, who was waived before the start of the season. The Suns traded their first-round pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1995 when they dealt Dan Majerle and Antonio Lang for John "Hot Rod" Williams.

Roster Notes

  • Center Loren Meyer missed the entire season due to an injury.
  • Center Mike Brown did not play any regular season games with the Suns this season, but did play in one playoff game.

    • Playoffs

    Even with a 56–26 record, the Suns were the fourth seed in the West heading into the Playoffs. They would face the fifth-seeded San Antonio Spurs, headlined by star center David Robinson and Rookie of the Year forward Tim Duncan. Duncan led the Spurs to a game one upset in Phoenix, scoring 28 second-half points in a 102–96 victory. The Suns recovered to win game two 108–101. Antonio McDyess led the Suns with 21 points and 11 rebounds, while holding Duncan to 16 points with six turnovers. On the night he received the Rookie of the Year Award, Duncan again led the Spurs with 22 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks. Despite 26 points and 17 rebounds from McDyess, the Suns fell 88–100 and into a 1–2 series hole. The Spurs would clinch the series 3–1 in San Antonio, behind 30 points from Avery Johnson, 21 rebounds from Robinson, and 6 blocks from Duncan. McDyess pulled down 19 rebounds for the Suns, but shot only 5 of 14 from the field, while Kevin Johnson led the team with 18 points.

    Week/Month

  • Jason Kidd was named Player of the Week for games played March 8 through March 14.
  • Jason Kidd was named Player of the Week for games played April 12 through April 18.

    • All-Star

  • Jason Kidd was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his second All-Star selection. Kidd finished fifth in voting among Western Conference guards with 305,834 votes.

    • Season

  • Danny Manning was awarded the Sixth Man of the Year Award.
  • Jason Kidd finished 13th in MVP voting.

    • Injuries/Missed games

  • 10/28/97: George McCloud: Deep knee bruise; did not play
  • 10/30/97: Loren Meyer: Lumbar spine surgery; placed on injured reserve for season
  • 10/30/97: Tom Chambers; Strained lower back; placed on injured list until November 21
  • 10/31/97: George McCloud: Concussion; did not play
  • 11/20/97: Horacio Llamas: Strained lower back; placed on injured list until January 30
  • 12/02/97: Kevin Johnson: Right knee tendinitis; out until December 11
  • 12/09/97: George McCloud: Flu; did not play
  • 12/09/97: Rex Chapman: Strained left hamstring; out until December 16
  • 12/11/97: Kevin Johnson: Right knee tendinitis; placed on injured list until January 31
  • 12/26/97: George McCloud: Thigh bruise; did not play
  • 12/26/97: Brooks Thompson: Ill; did not play
  • 12/29/97: Danny Manning: Abdominal strain; out until January 12
  • 01/04/98: Jason Kidd: Sprained right ankle; left game
  • 01/18/98: Hot Rod Williams; Flu, did not play
  • 01/30/98: Cedric Ceballos: Strained right calf; placed on injured list until February 12
  • 02/12/98: Horacio Llamas: Bruised left heel; placed on injured list until April 9
  • 02/17/98: Rex Chapman: Sprained left ankle; did not play
  • 02/22/98: Steve Nash: Did not play
  • 03/05/98: Rex Chapman: Sore right foot; out until March 13
  • 03/09/98: Antonio McDyess: Suspended one game for fighting Hakeem Olajuwon on March 7; did not play
  • 03/13/98: Mark Bryant: Flu; out until March 17
  • 03/25/98: Rex Chapman: Pulled right groin; out until April 4
  • 04/06/98: Steve Nash: Did not play
  • 04/09/98: Danny Manning: Injured right ACL; placed on injured list, out for season
  • 04/18/98: Rex Chapman: Aggravated left hamstring; placed on injured reserve until April 23
  • 04/23/98: Rex Chapman: Aggravated left hamstring; did not play
  • 04/29/98: Rex Chapman: Aggravated left hamstring; did not play

    • Season

    * – Stats with the Suns.
    † – Minimum 300 field goals made.
    ^ – Minimum 55 three-pointers made.

    Playoffs

    † – Minimum 20 field goals made.
    ^ – Minimum 10 free throws made.

    Free agents

    References

    1997–98 Phoenix Suns season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA