1996–97 New Jersey Nets season

1996–97 New Jersey Nets season
Head coachJohn Calipari
ArenaContinental Airlines Arena
Results
Record26–56 (.317)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Atlantic)
Conference: 13th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionWBIS-TV
SportsChannel New York
RadioWOR

The 1996–97 New Jersey Nets season was the Nets' 30th season in the National Basketball Association, and 21st season in East Rutherford, New Jersey.[1] The Nets received the eighth overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft, and selected shooting guard Kerry Kittles out of Villanova University.[2][3][4][5] During the off-season, the team signed free agents Robert Pack,[6][7][8] Tony Massenburg,[9] Xavier McDaniel, who played overseas in Greece during the previous season,[10][11] and David Benoit, who missed the entire regular season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.[12][13]

Under new head coach John Calipari,[14][15][16] the Nets continued to struggle losing their first five games of the regular season, which included two games played overseas against the Orlando Magic in Tokyo, Japan.[17][18][19] The team held a 13–33 record at the All-Star break.[20] At mid-season, the Nets traded Pack along with Shawn Bradley, Khalid Reeves and second-year forward Ed O'Bannon to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Sam Cassell, Jim Jackson, Chris Gatling, Eric Montross and George McCloud, who never played with the Nets and was dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Joe Kleine.[21][22][23] Gatling only played just three games after the trade due to an ear infection, and was out for the remainder of the season.[24][25][26] The Nets finished in fifth place in the Atlantic Division with a 26–56 record.[27]

Kendall Gill averaged 21.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game, while Kittles averaged 16.4 points and 1.9 steals per game, led the Nets with 158 three-point field goals, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. In addition, Jayson Williams continued to show improvement, becoming the team's starting power forward averaging 13.4 points, and leading the team with 13.5 rebounds per game, before sitting out the remainder of the regular season with a thumb injury after 41 games,[28][29][30] while Massenburg contributed 7.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, and McDaniel averaged 5.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game off the bench.[31]

Gill finished tied in fifth place in Most Improved Player voting,[32][33] while Kittles finished in fifth place in Rookie of the Year voting,[34][35][33] and Gatling finished in third place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.[36][37][33]

Following the season, Jackson and Montross were both traded to the Philadelphia 76ers,[38][39][40] while Massenburg signed as a free agent with the Boston Celtics, but was then traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies,[41][42] and Kleine signed with the Chicago Bulls.[43]

Draft picks

Main article: 1996 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 8 Kerry Kittles SG  United States Villanova

Roster

1996–97 New Jersey Nets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
F 2 David Benoit  (IN) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1968-05-09 Alabama
G 10 Sam Cassell  6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1969-11-18 Florida State
C 33 Yinka Dare 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 265 lb (120 kg) 1972-10-10 George Washington
G 21 Kevin Edwards 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1965-10-30 DePaul
F 15 Chris Gatling  6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1967-09-03 Old Dominion
G/F 13 Kendall Gill 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1968-05-25 Illinois
F 54 Jack Haley 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1964-01-27 UCLA
F 22 Jim Jackson 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1970-10-14 Ohio State
G 30 Kerry Kittles 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 179 lb (81 kg) 1974-06-12 Villanova
C 35 Joe Kleine 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1962-01-04 Arkansas
F 44 Tony Massenburg 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1967-07-31 Maryland
F 34 Xavier McDaniel 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1963-06-04 Wichita State
C 00 Eric Montross 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 270 lb (122 kg) 1971-09-23 North Carolina
F 55 Jayson Williams  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1968-02-22 St. John's
F 7 Reggie Williams  6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1964-03-05 Georgetown
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (IN) Inactive
  • Injured

Roster

Roster notes

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Miami Heat 61 21 .744 – 29–12 32–9 16–8
x-New York Knicks 57 25 .695 4 31–10 26–15 19–6
x-Orlando Magic 45 37 .549 16 26–15 19–22 13–11
x-Washington Bullets 44 38 .537 17 25–16 19–22 14–10
26 56 .317 35 16–25 10–31 11–13
Philadelphia 76ers 22 60 .268 39 11–30 11–30 11–14
Boston Celtics 15 67 .183 46 11–30 4–37 1–23
1996–97 NBA East standings
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Chicago Bulls 69 13 .841 –
2 y-Miami Heat 61 21 .744 8
3 x-New York Knicks 57 25 .695 12
4 x-Atlanta Hawks 56 26 .683 13
5 x-Detroit Pistons 54 28 .659 15
6 x-Charlotte Hornets 54 28 .659 15
7 x-Orlando Magic 45 37 .549 24
8 x-Washington Bullets 44 38 .537 25
9 Cleveland Cavaliers 42 40 .512 27
10 Indiana Pacers 39 43 .476 30
11 Milwaukee Bucks 33 49 .402 36
12 Toronto Raptors 30 52 .366 39
13 26 56 .317 43
14 Philadelphia 76ers 22 60 .268 47
15 Boston Celtics 15 67 .183 54
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1996-97 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta – 3–1 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–2 4–0 2–0 3–1 1–3 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–1
Boston 1–3 – 0–4 0–4 1–2 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 1–2 0–2 1–1 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–1 0–2 0–2 0–4
Charlotte 3–1 4–0 – 0–4 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–2 2–2 2–0 4–0 3–1 1–2 4–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 0–2 2–0 3–1
Chicago 3–1 4–0 4–0 – 3–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 2–2 4–0 2–0 3–1 2–2 3–0 4–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–1
Cleveland 1–3 2–1 1–3 1–3 – 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 0–4 2–2 2–0 4–0 1–3 2–2 3–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 1–3
Dallas 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 – 3–1 0–2 0–4 0–4 1–1 2–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 1–3 3–1 0–2
Denver 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 – 0–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–1 0–4 3–1 1–1
Detroit 3–1 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–0 – 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 0–4 3–1 2–0 4–0 1–2 2–2 2–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 4–0
Golden State 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 4–0 3–1 0–2 – 0–4 1–1 1–3 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–4 2–2 1–3 4–0 0–4 2–0 0–4 3–1 0–2
Houston 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 1–1 4–0 – 1–1 3–1 3–1 0–2 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 2–2 4–0 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–0
Indiana 1–3 2–1 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 1–1 – 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 1–3
L.A. Clippers 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 3–1 0–2 3–1 1–3 0–2 – 2–2 0–2 2–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–4 2–2 4–0 1–3 2–0 1–3 4–0 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 4–0 1–1 4–0 1–3 1–1 2–2 – 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–0 1–3 4–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 1–3 4–0 2–0
Miami 2–1 4–0 2–1 2–2 4–0 2–0 2–0 4–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 – 4–0 1–1 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–1 0–2 2–0 3–1
Milwaukee 0–4 3–1 2–2 0–4 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 – 0–2 2–1 1–2 2–2 3–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 1–3
Minnesota 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 3–1 4–0 0–2 3–1 0–4 0–2 3–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 – 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 0–4 4–0 0–4 1–1 1–3 4–0 1–1
New Jersey 1–3 4–0 0–4 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–1 0–4 0–2 0–2 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–2 0–2 – 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–3 0–2 2–0 1–3
New York 3–1 4–0 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–1 1–1 2–2 – 3–1 3–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–0 1–1 2–0 4–0
Orlando 1–3 4–0 2–1 0–3 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 3–1 1–3 – 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 0–2 1–1 1–3
Philadelphia 0–4 3–1 0–4 0–4 0–3 0–2 1–1 1–2 0–2 0–2 0–3 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–3 1–1 2–2 2–3 2–2 – 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–2 2–0 1–3
Phoenix 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 4–0 2–2 1–1 2–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 – 1–3 4–0 3–1 2–2 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1
Portland 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 4–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 – 2–2 4–0 1–3 0–2 2–2 4–0 0–2
Sacramento 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 3–1 0–4 1–1 2–2 0–4 0–2 2–0 4–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–4 2–2 – 3–1 1–3 1–1 0–4 4–0 0–2
San Antonio 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 0–4 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 0–4 1–3 – 0–4 1–1 1–3 1–3 0–2
Seattle 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 4–0 1–1 4–0 1–3 1–1 3–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 – 2–0 1–3 4–0 2–0
Toronto 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–1 1–3 0–2 1–1 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 3–0 0–3 0–4 3–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 – 1–1 1–1 2–2
Utah 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 4–0 2–2 2–0 3–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–2 4–0 3–1 3–1 1–1 – 4–0 2–0
Vancouver 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–2 0–4 0–4 3–1 0–4 1–1 0–4 – 1–1
Washington 1–2 4–0 1–3 1–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 0–4 2–0 0–2 3–1 2–0 0–2 1–3 3–1 1–1 3–1 0–4 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 —

Game log

Player statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Regular season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Kendall Gill 82 81 39.0 .443 .336 .797 6.1 4.0 1.9 0.6 21.8
Sam Cassell 23 22 33.8 .443 .392 .831 3.6 6.5 1.6 0.3 19.3
Chris Gatling 3 0 30.7 .419 .938 7.3 1.0 1.3 0.0 17.0
Jim Jackson 31 31 37.3 .417 .370 .852 5.9 5.2 0.9 0.5 16.5
Kerry Kittles 82 57 36.7 .426 .377 .771 3.9 3.0 1.9 0.4 16.4
Robert Pack 34 31 34.9 .407 .297 .788 2.5 9.6 1.7 0.1 15.9
Jayson Williams 41 40 34.9 .409 .000 .590 13.5 1.2 0.6 0.9 13.4
Shawn Bradley 40 38 30.7 .436 .000 .664 8.1 0.5 0.6 4.0 12.0
Khalid Reeves 50 18 21.0 .393 .396 .747 1.8 3.4 0.5 0.1 8.3
Tony Massenburg 79 49 24.7 .485 .000 .631 6.5 0.3 0.5 0.6 7.2
Reggie Williams 11 0 15.2 .403 .273 .800 2.2 0.7 0.7 0.4 6.5
Kevin Edwards 32 0 14.9 .377 .349 .860 1.3 1.8 0.5 0.1 5.9
Xavier McDaniel 62 5 18.9 .389 .200 .730 5.1 1.0 0.6 0.3 5.6
Lloyd Daniels 17 0 16.6 .330 .322 .833 2.3 1.5 0.5 0.2 5.4
Eric Montross 31 31 27.2 .451 .393 9.1 0.9 0.4 1.3 5.1
Ed O'Bannon 45 5 14.1 .367 .283 .870 2.5 0.6 0.5 0.2 4.2
Joe Kleine 28 0 16.2 .427 .500 .722 4.1 0.8 0.3 0.4 3.0
Evric Gray 5 0 8.4 .267 .250 1.000 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 2.6
Jack Haley 20 0 3.7 .351 .737 1.6 0.3 0.1 0.1 2.0
Adrian Caldwell 18 0 11.3 .286 .000 .529 3.1 0.3 0.4 0.1 1.6
Robert Werdann 6 0 5.2 .429 1.000 1.0 0.0 0.3 0.2 1.5
Yinka Dare 41 2 7.6 .352 .514 2.0 0.1 0.1 0.7 1.4
Vincent Askew 1 0 7.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Player Statistics Citation:[31]

Awards and records

Transactions

References

  1. ^ 1996–97 New Jersey Nets
  2. ^ Brown, Clifton (June 27, 1996). "PRO BASKETBALL; Big Trade and Some Twists in N.B.A. Youth Parade". The New York Times. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  3. ^ Heisler, Mark (June 27, 1996). "The Surprises Are Few". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  4. ^ Cotton, Anthony (June 27, 1996). "For 76ers, Iverson Is No. 1 Choice". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  5. ^ "1996 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  6. ^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Nets and Pack Agree on Deal". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 25, 1996. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  7. ^ "Nets, Pack Agree on 3-Year Deal". United Press International. July 25, 1996. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  8. ^ Asher, Mark (July 25, 1996). "Strickland Risk for Bullets". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  9. ^ "Hungary Faked Qualifying Meet for Olympic Swimming". Los Angeles Times. September 11, 1996. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  10. ^ Roberts, Selena (October 19, 1996). "Nets Become Tougher as McDaniel Signs On". The New York Times. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  11. ^ "Nets Add the X Factor--McDaniel". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. October 19, 1996. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  12. ^ Roberts, Selena (August 8, 1996). "Nets Pick Up a Bargain as Benoit Signs Up". The New York Times. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  13. ^ "Bad News for Benoit..." The New York Times. October 10, 1996. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  14. ^ Roberts, Selena (June 6, 1996). "BASKETBALL; Nets Make an Offer to Calipari". The New York Times. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  15. ^ Roberts, Selena (June 7, 1996). "PRO BASKETBALL; Calipari Leaving Scrutiny Behind to Take Nets Job". The New York Times. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  16. ^ Everson, Darren (June 7, 1996). "Calipari Leaves U-Mass for Nets". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  17. ^ Pollack, Andrew (November 8, 1996). "Before 38,600 Fans in Tokyo, Nets Run Out of Luck". The New York Times. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  18. ^ Johnson, L.C. (November 8, 1996). "Magic Beat the Clock, the Nets". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  19. ^ "Hardaway Leads Magic to Sweep of the Nets". The New York Times. Associated Press. November 9, 1996. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  20. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  21. ^ Roberts, Selena (February 18, 1997). "Nets and Mavericks Clean House and Start Over". The New York Times. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  22. ^ "Overhaul Ends for Mavericks". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 18, 1997. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  23. ^ Canavan, Tom (February 18, 1997). "Mavericks, Nets Swap 9 Players". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  24. ^ Roberts, Selena (February 28, 1997). "Gatling Doubtful as Nets Shoot for 3d Victory in Row". The New York Times. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  25. ^ Steele, David (February 28, 1997). "Nets Feel Fulfilled After Mavs Trade". SFGate. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  26. ^ Roberts, Selena (March 28, 1997). "As Scary Ailment Heals, Gatling Finds a Smile". The New York Times. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  27. ^ "1996–97 New Jersey Nets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  28. ^ Roberts, Selena (February 5, 1997). "In Williams's Absence, Nets Pull Together". The New York Times. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  29. ^ "Nets' Williams Under Pain's Thumb". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 5, 1997. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  30. ^ Roberts, Selena (March 1, 1997). "Trying Loss as the Nets Lack Effort". The New York Times. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  31. ^ a b "1996–97 New Jersey Nets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  32. ^ "1996–97 Regular Season Award Winners". Eskimo.com. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  33. ^ a b c "1996–97 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  34. ^ "Iverson Is Voted Top Rookie". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 2, 1997. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  35. ^ "Iverson Calls Rookie Award a Triumph Over His Critics". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 2, 1997. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  36. ^ "Sixth Man Award for Starks". The New York Times. April 24, 1997. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  37. ^ "Knicks' Starks Turns Demotion Into Honor". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. April 24, 1997. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  38. ^ Roberts, Selena (June 28, 1997). "The Nets Decide the Future Can't Wait". The New York Times. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  39. ^ "Van Horn Finally on His Way to New Jersey in 76er Trade". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. June 28, 1997. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  40. ^ Kepner, Tyler (June 28, 1997). "Nets Get Van Horn from 76ers". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  41. ^ "Grizzlies Acquire Massenburg, Mack". Associated Press. October 28, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  42. ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. October 29, 1997. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  43. ^ "Bulls Sign Wennington for 1 Year". Chicago Tribune. September 9, 1997. Retrieved December 27, 2022.

See also

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