The 1996–97 NBA season was the Magic's which ordinal number season, in the National Basketball Association, after losing Shaquille O'Neal via free agency to the Los Angeles Lakers in the offseason, the Magic signed free agent Gerald Bernard Wilkins, a retired American professional basketball player?
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1996–97 Orlando Magic season The 1996–97 NBA season was the Magic's eighth season in the National Basketball Association. After losing Shaquille O'Neal via free agency to the Los Angeles Lakers in the offseason, the Magic acquired Rony Seikaly from the Golden State Warriors, and signed free agents Gerald Wilkins and Derek Strong. Early into the season, the Magic played two games against the New Jersey Nets in Tokyo, Japan. Head coach Brian Hill was fired 49 games into the season after a 24–25 start, and Anfernee Hardaway was generally blamed for leading a player revolt that resulted in his dismissal. Hill was replaced with Richie Adubato for the remainder of the season as the Magic finished third in the Atlantic Division with a 45–37 record. Hardaway was selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, despite playing just 59 games due to a knee injury.
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Gerald Wilkins Gerald Bernard Wilkins (born September 11, 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player. A 6'6" (1.98 m) shooting guard/small forward, who played collegiately at Moberly Area Community College and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga before a career in the NBA.
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Bernard King Bernard King (born December 4, 1956) is an American retired professional basketball player at the small forward position in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played 14 seasons with the New Jersey Nets, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and the Washington Bullets. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on September 8, 2013. His younger brother, Albert, has also played in the NBA during his career.
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1997–98 Milwaukee Bucks season 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. Brandon played just 50 games due to an ankle injury, and Hill played 57 games due to a strained back.
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1999–2000 Washington Wizards season The 1999–2000 NBA season was the Wizards' 39th season in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Wizards acquired Isaac Austin from the Orlando Magic, and signed free agents Aaron Williams and Michael Smith. The Wizards continued to under achieve with a 14–30 start as head coach Gar Heard was fired and replaced with Darrell Walker. Despite posting a solid 10–7 record in March, the Wizards finished last place in the Atlantic Division with a 29–53 record. Top draft pick Richard Hamilton averaged 9.0 points per game off the Wizards bench. However, the biggest news would involve the front office as retired Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan joined the team as Vice President. Following the season, Austin was traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies, Tracy Murray signed as a free agent with the Denver Nuggets, and Williams signed with the New Jersey Nets.
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1992–93 Milwaukee Bucks season The 1992–93 NBA season was the Bucks' 25th season in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Bucks acquired Blue Edwards and second-year guard Eric Murdock from the Utah Jazz. They hired Mike Dunleavy as head coach to lead a young team. The Bucks got off to a strong start winning 10 of their first 13 games. However, things would get worse as they went on an 11-game losing streak in December. At midseason, they traded Alvin Robertson to the Detroit Pistons for Orlando Woolridge. The Bucks lost their final eight games of the season finishing last place in the Central Division with a 28–54 record. Moses Malone only played just eleven games this season due to a back injury. Edwards and Frank Brickowski both led the Bucks in scoring with 16.9 points per game. Following the season, Woolridge and Malone both left for free agency and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.
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2000–01 Phoenix Suns season The 2000–01 NBA season was the 33rd season for the Phoenix Suns, members of the Pacific Division in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Suns signed free agents Mario Elie and Tony Delk. The Suns were coached by Scott Skiles, who enjoyed his first full season as head coach as the Suns finished the regular season with a 51–31 record. For a franchise-record 13th season in a row, the Suns earned a trip to the playoffs, but would later lose in the first round. America West Arena was the home court venue for the Suns.
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1996–97 Chicago Bulls season The 1996–97 NBA season was the Bulls' 31st season in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Bulls signed free agent Robert Parish, who won championships with the Boston Celtics in the 1980s. The Bulls, on the backs of recording another first-place finish in their division and conference, repeated as NBA champions. The Bulls were led by Michael Jordan, rebound ace Dennis Rodman and perennial All-Star small forward Scottie Pippen, with the latter two (Jordan and Pippen) both being selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game. Other notable players on the club's roster that year were clutch-specialist Croatian Toni Kukoč, and sharp-shooting point guard Steve Kerr.
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1960 NBA draft The 1960 NBA draft was the 14th annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on April 11, 1960, before the 1960–61 season. In this draft, eight NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year college eligibility was eligible for selection. If a player left college early, he would not be eligible for selection until his college class graduated. In each round, the teams select in reverse order of their win–loss record in the previous season. Before the draft, a team could forfeit its first-round draft pick and then select any player from within a 50-mile radius of its home arena as their territorial pick. The Minneapolis Lakers participated in the draft, but relocated to Los Angeles and became the Los Angeles Lakers prior to the start of the season. The draft consisted of 21 rounds comprising 100 players selected.
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1990–91 New Jersey Nets season The 1990–91 NBA season was the Nets' 24th season in the National Basketball Association, and 15th season in East Rutherford, New Jersey. After finishing with the worst record last season, the Nets won the draft lottery and selected Derrick Coleman out of Syracuse with the first pick in the 1990 NBA draft. In the offseason, the team acquired Reggie Theus from the Orlando Magic. However, the Nets continued to struggle losing eleven consecutive games between December and January. Their movement would continue at midseason as they acquired Dražen Petrović from the Portland Trail Blazers, and rookie Terry Mills from the Denver Nuggets. The Nets finished fifth in the Atlantic Division with a 26–56 record. Coleman had a stellar rookie season averaging 18.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, as he was named Rookie of The Year. Following the season, Theus retired.
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1994–95 Philadelphia 76ers season The 1994–95 NBA season was the 76ers 46th season in the National Basketball Association, and 32nd season in Philadelphia. During the offseason, the Sixers signed unrestricted free agent Scott Williams, then signed free agent Willie Burton early into the season. Under new head coach John Lucas, and despite second-year star Shawn Bradley playing a full season, the Sixers struggled after a 10–16 start losing nine consecutive games, as Jeff Malone played just 19 games due to a foot injury. The Sixers finished sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 24–58 record. Top draft pick Sharone Wright out of Clemson was selected to the All-Rookie Second Team. Guard Dana Barros was named Most Improved Player of The Year, averaging 20.6 points per game while shooting .464 from three point range, and .899 from the free throw line. He was also selected for the 1995 NBA All-Star Game. Following the season, Barros departed and signed as a free agent with the Boston Celtics.
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1996–97 Houston Rockets season The 1996–97 NBA season was the Rockets' 30th season in the National Basketball Association, and 26th season in Houston. During the offseason, the Rockets acquired All-Star forward Charles Barkley from the Phoenix Suns, and signed free agents Kevin Willis and Brent Price. The Rockets blasted off to a 21–2 start, but later on struggled posting a six-game losing streak between January and February. Barkley averaged 19.2 points per game, but appeared in just 53 games due to ankle and hip injuries. At midseason, the Rockets signed free agents Eddie Johnson and Sedale Threatt as they finished second in the Midwest Division with a 57–25 record. Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and head coach Rudy Tomjanovich represented the Western Conference during the 1997 NBA All-Star Game. However, Barkley and Drexler did not play due to injuries.
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1999–2000 Sacramento Kings season The 1999–2000 NBA season was the Kings' 51st season in the National Basketball Association, and 15th season in Sacramento. During the offseason, the Kings acquired Nick Anderson from the Orlando Magic, and signed free agent Tony Delk. For the season opener, the Kings traveled to Tokyo, Japan to play their first two games against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Coming off a winning record in a strike shortened season was much expected of the Kings, who got off to a fast start winning nine of their first ten games. However, they lost seven of their final eight games, finishing fifth in the Pacific Division with a 44–38 record. Superstar forward Chris Webber led the way with 24.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, and was selected for the 2000 NBA All-Star Game. In the Western Conference Quarterfinals, they would lose in five games to the Los Angeles Lakers. Following the season, Corliss Williamson was traded to the Toronto Raptors, and Delk signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns.
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2000–01 Seattle SuperSonics season The 2000–01 NBA season was the 33rd season for the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association. With the hopes of improving the team in the middle, the Sonics acquired All-Star center Patrick Ewing from the New York Knicks during the offseason. However, the Sonics would get off to a slow start losing seven of their first ten games. Head coach Paul Westphal was fired after a 6–9 start, and was replaced with former Sonics guard Nate McMillan. The Sonics played above .500 for the remainder of the season finishing fifth in the Pacific Division with a 44–38 record, but missed the playoffs by finishing tenth place in the Western Conference. During the All-Star Weekend in Washington, D.C., Gary Payton was selected for the All-Star Game and rookie Desmond Mason won the Slam Dunk Contest. It was Ewing's only season in a Sonics uniform as he left for the Orlando Magic the next season. Also following the season, Ruben Patterson signed as a free agent with the Portland Trail Blazers.
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1995–96 Detroit Pistons season The 1995–96 NBA season was the Pistons' 48th season in the National Basketball Association, and 39th season in the city of Detroit. During the offseason, the Pistons hired Doug Collins as head coach while acquiring Otis Thorpe from the Portland Trail Blazers, who won a championship as a member of the Houston Rockets in the 1994 NBA Finals. Under Collins, the Pistons who were now led by second-year star Grant Hill and Allan Houston, played .500 basketball in the first half of the season, as the team signed free agent Michael Curry along the way. However, Joe Dumars' production would slip as he averaged just 11.8 points per game. The Pistons reemerged as a playoff contender finishing fifth in the Central Division with a 46–36 record, and returned to the playoffs after a three-year absence thanks to the stellar play of Hill, who was selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game.
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1996–97 Los Angeles Lakers season The 1996–97 NBA season was the Los Angeles Lakers' 49th season in the National Basketball Association, and 37th in the city of Los Angeles. During the offseason, the Lakers signed free agent All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal to a seven-year, $120 million deal, and acquired high school star Kobe Bryant from the Charlotte Hornets, who selected him with the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA draft. Other offseason acquisitions included signing former Lakers guard Byron Scott, and free agents Jerome Kersey and Sean Rooks. In January, they traded Cedric Ceballos back to the Phoenix Suns for Robert Horry, who won championships with the Houston Rockets. O'Neal finished fourth in the league in scoring averaging 26.2 points per game, but only played just 51 games due to a knee injury.
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1996–97 NBA season The 1996–97 NBA season was the 51st season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The league used this season to mark its 50th anniversary, which included the unveiling of the league's list of its 50 greatest players. This particular season featured what has since been acknowledged as one of the most talented rookie-classes, featuring the debuts of Allen Iverson, Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Jermaine O'Neal, Ben Wallace and Stephon Marbury. The season ended with the Chicago Bulls defeating the Utah Jazz 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals to win the franchise's 5th championship.
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Kevin Garnett Kevin Maurice Garnett (born May 19, 1976) is an American former professional basketball player who played for 21 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played the power forward and center positions. In high school, Garnett was a 1995 McDonald's All-American at Farragut Career Academy and won a national player of the year award. He entered the 1995 NBA draft, where he was selected with the fifth overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves and became the first NBA player drafted directly out of high school in 20 years.
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1998–99 Miami Heat season The 1998–99 NBA season was the 11th season for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Heat signed free agents Terry Porter and Clarence Weatherspoon. In the shortened NBA season, the Heat won 18 of their first 23 games, despite Jamal Mashburn playing just 24 games due to a knee injury, and Voshon Lenard missing 38 games with a broken leg. Miami finished with a 33–17 win-loss record, which earned them the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Alonzo Mourning was named Defensive Player of the Year, and finished second in MVP voting behind Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz.
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Jim McIlvaine James Michael McIlvaine (born July 30, 1972) is a retired American professional basketball player who spent seven seasons in the National Basketball Association with the Washington Bullets, Seattle SuperSonics and New Jersey Nets. The 7-foot-1 shot-blocking specialist never made a major impact in the NBA, and is perhaps best remembered for the fall-out that occurred after he signed with the Seattle SuperSonics in 1996.
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2000–01 Denver Nuggets season The 2000–01 NBA season was the Nuggets' 25th season in the National Basketball Association, and 34th season as a franchise. During the offseason, the Nuggets acquired Calbert Cheaney and former Nuggets guard Robert Pack from the Boston Celtics, who acquired Pack from the Dallas Mavericks, while acquiring Voshon Lenard from the Miami Heat. However, Cheaney only played just nine games due to a strained left hamstring. At midseason, the Nuggets traded Keon Clark to the Toronto Raptors for Kevin Willis. Antonio McDyess finally realized his potential averaging 20.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, while being selected for the 2001 NBA All-Star Game. The Nuggets were a playoff contender posting a record of 26–18 as of January 27. However, they faded in February and March winning just nine of 28 games as they missed the playoffs with a 40–42 record, sixth in the Midwest Division. Following the season, Willis was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, who then sent him back to the Houston Rockets, and Pack was released.
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Magic Johnson (disambiguation) Magic Johnson is an American basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers for 13 seasons. Magic Johnson may also refer to: