Misplaced Pages

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Wizards' 37th season in the National Basketball Association. There was a new beginning for basketball in Washington, D.C. as the team changed its name to the "Wizards", fearing "Bullets" endorsed gun violence. The team revealed a new primary logo of a wizard conjuring a basketball in front of a quarter moon, and added new uniforms with blue, black and bronze colors. During the off-season, the team signed free agent Terry Davis to join their frontcourt, as the team's starting center, Gheorghe Mureșan missed the entire season with a stretched right ankle tendon and right foot injury. The team also re-signed former Bullets guard Ledell Eackles for the third time after a one-year absence from the NBA.

In their first game as the "Wizards", the team lost to the Detroit Pistons on the road, 92–79 on October 31, 1997. The Wizards got off to a slow 5–11 start to the season, losing their first five home games at US Airways Arena, only winning games on the road such as defeating the Utah Jazz, 90–86 at the Delta Center on November 3, and the 2-time defending champion Chicago Bulls, 90–83 at the United Center on November 12.

The Wizards played their final home game at US Airways Arena on November 29, losing 88–83 to the Bulls, and moved into their new arena, the MCI Center, where they won their first home game of the season, defeating the Seattle SuperSonics, 95–78 on December 2, and posting a 24–12 home record for the remainder of the season. The Wizards held a 25–24 record at the All-Star break, and won their final four games of the season to finish in fourth place in the Atlantic Division with a 42–40 record, but failed to qualify for the playoffs, finishing just one game behind the 8th-seeded New Jersey Nets.

Chris Webber averaged 21.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.7 blocks per game, while Juwan Howard averaged 18.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, and Rod Strickland provided the team with 17.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 10.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team. In addition, sixth man Tracy Murray provided scoring off the bench, averaging 15.1 points per game, and leading the Wizards with 158 three-point field goals, while Calbert Cheaney contributed 12.8 points per game, and Davis provided with 4.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Strickland also finished tied in eighteenth place in Most Valuable Player voting, and tied in thirteenth place in Most Improved Player voting, while Murray finished tied in sixth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.

Following the season, Webber was traded to the Sacramento Kings, while Harvey Grant signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers, and Mureșan and Eackles were both released to free agency. The team's new logo and uniforms both remained in use until 2007, where they switched to a lighter bronze color.

Offseason

Draft picks

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
2	45	God Shammgod	PG	United States	Providence College
2	48	Predrag Drobnjak	C	Montenegro

The Wizards forfeited their 1997 first-round draft pick in connection with the signing of Juwan Howard in 1996; Washington would have had the 17th pick.

Roster

1997–98 Washington Wizards roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From G 40 Cheaney, Calbert 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 209 lb (95 kg) 1971–07–17 Indiana F 52 Davis, Terry 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1967–06–17 Virginia Union G 21 Eackles, Ledell 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1966–11–24 New Orleans F 44 Grant, Harvey 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1965–07–04 Oklahoma F 31 Ham, Darvin 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1973–07–23 Texas Tech F 5 Howard, Juwan 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1973–02–07 Michigan G 23 Legler, Tim  6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1966–12–26 La Salle C 77 Mureșan, Gheorghe  (IN) 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m) 303 lb (137 kg) 1971–02–14 Romania F 35 Murray, Tracy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1971–07–25 UCLA G 2 Shammgod, God 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 169 lb (77 kg) 1976–04–29 Providence G 1 Strickland, Rod  6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1966–07–11 DePaul F/C 30 Wallace, Ben 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1974–09–10 Virginia Union C 4 Webber, Chris 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1973–03–01 Michigan G 12 Whitney, Chris 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1971–10–05 Clemson F 43 Williams, Lorenzo  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1969–07–15 Stetson

Head coach Bernie Bickerstaff Assistant coach(es) Jim Brovelli Mike Brown Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended (IN) Inactive Injured Roster

Roster Notes

• Center Gheorghe Mureșan missed the entire season due to a stretched right ankle tendon and foot injury.

Regular season

Season standings

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

Game log

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2011)

Player statistics

Regular season

Player Statistics Citation:

Awards and records

• Rod Strickland, All-NBA Second Team

Transactions

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2011)

References

1. 1997-98 Washington Wizards
2. Justice, Richard (November 10, 1995). "Bullets Seek New Name". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
3. Denlinger, Ken (February 12, 1996). "In Name Game, Fans Prefer None of Above". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
4. "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Bullets Will Be Wizards". The New York Times. February 23, 1996. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
5. Justice, Richard (February 23, 1996). "For Bullets, "Wizards" Casts Magic Spell". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
6. Adande, J.A. (May 16, 1997). "They're the Wizards of Ahhhhs". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
7. "Washington Wizards Logo". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
8. "Washington Wizards Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
9. "Washington Wizards Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
10. Bowles, Scott (July 13, 1997). "Wizards Take a Fashion Shot in the Dark". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
11. Bucher, Ric (November 6, 1997). "Davis's Play Gives Wizards a Charge". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
12. Bucher, Ric (December 22, 1997). "A Lack of Middle Management". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
13. Bucher, Ric (October 2, 1997). "Wizards' Muresan Has Injured Ankle". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
14. Friend, Tom (October 29, 1997). "N.B.A. PREVIEW '97-'98; For Crystal, a Giant of a Man". The New York Times. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
15. Asher, Mark (February 26, 1998). "Muresan Is a Foot Short". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
16. Bucher, Ric (November 30, 1997). "Wizards' Farewell Is Not Fond". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
17. Bucher, Ric (November 1, 1997). "In 1st Test, Wizards Flunk the Boards, 92-79". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
18. "Washington Wizards at Detroit Pistons Box Score, October 31, 1997". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
19. Jorgensen, Loren (November 4, 1997). "Jazz Rookie Learns Lesson". Deseret News. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
20. "Washington Wizards at Utah Jazz Box Score, November 3, 1997". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
21. "N.B.A.: LAST NIGHT; Chicago Continues to Struggle". The New York Times. Associated Press. November 13, 1997. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
22. Bucher, Ric (November 13, 1997). "Wizards Topple the Beat-a-Bulls, 90-83". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
23. "Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls Box Score, November 12, 1997". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
24. "N.B.A.: LAST NIGHT; Wizards' Farewell Party Is Ruined by the Bulls". The New York Times. Associated Press. November 30, 1997. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
25. Castaneda, Ruben (November 30, 1997). "Wizards Play Final Game on Old Court". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
26. Armour, Terry (November 30, 1997). "Bulls 88, Wizards 83". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
27. Bembry, Jerry (November 30, 1997). "Wizards Leave Landover on Downer, Fall to Bulls; Jordan, Chicago Close Arena with 88-83 Win". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
28. Bucher, Ric (December 2, 1997). "At MCI Center, Wizards Move Into a New Era". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
29. Bucher, Ric (December 3, 1997). "For Wizards, a Grand Opening, Indeed". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
30. Wang, Gene (December 3, 1997). "Sonics at a Loss to Criticize Arena". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
31. Bembry, Jerry (December 3, 1997). "Opening Brings Out Best in Wizards; 95-78 Victory Over Sonics Christens MCI Center". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
32. "NBA Games Played on February 5, 1998". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
33. "1997–98 Washington Wizards Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
34. ^ "1997–98 Washington Wizards Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
35. Bender, Patricia. "1997–98 Regular Season Award Winners". Eskimo.com. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
36. "1997–98 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
37. "N.B.A.; Webber Traded to Sacramento". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 15, 1998. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
38. "Webber Dealt to Kings for Richmond, Thorpe". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 15, 1998. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
39. Bucher, Ric (May 15, 1998). "Webber Traded to Sacramento". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
40. Bembry, Jerry (May 15, 1998). "Wizards Trade Webber to Kings; Richmond, Thorpe Add "Stability," "Maturity"". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
41. White, Joseph (May 15, 1998). "Wizards Trade Webber to Kings". Associated Press. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
42. Wise, Mike (February 4, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
43. Heisler, Mark (February 4, 1999). "Eastern Conference". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
44. Wyche, Steve (January 28, 1999). "For Muresan, Hornets No, Wizards Maybe". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
45. Brown, Clifton (August 6, 1996). "Howard: 2 Deals, 2 Teams, $200 Million". The New York Times. Retrieved May 12, 2022.

See also

• 1997–98 NBA season

• Washington Wizards seasons
• 1997–98 NBA season by team
• 1997 in sports in Washington, D.C.
• 1998 in sports in Washington, D.C.