1997–98 NBA season
The NBA season 1997/98 was the 52nd season of the National Basketball Association.
At the regular season total of 29 teams took part. Each team completed 82 games. The eight best each conference qualified for the NBA playoffs.
The Chicago Bulls defeated in the NBA Finals, the Utah Jazz 4-2 and thus became the third consecutive year and the sixth time in eight years NBA champion. With this season and the retirement of Michael Jordan and the departure of Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, the dominance of the Bulls and in the eyes of many observers, ended a golden era of basketball.
Season notes
- The NBA All- Star Game was held at Madison Square Garden, home of the New York Knicks. The Eastern Conference won with 135:114. Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls was elected MVP. Kobe Bryant at age 19 the youngest All-Star NBA history.
- The Washington Bullets renamed themselves into Washington Wizards.
- To make the game more spectacular was introduced under the basket the "restricted area " in which an offensive foul is punishable only under special circumstances.
End figures
W = Wins, L = Losses, PCT = percentage share of victory, P = behind Division leaders
In parentheses are the rankings in the seedings of the respective Conference playoffs are listed.
Honors
- Most Valuable Player: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
- Rookie of the Year: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
- Defensive Player of the Year: Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks
- Sixth Man of the Year: Danny Manning, Phoenix Suns
- Most Improved Player: Alan Henderson, Atlanta Hawks
- Coach of the Year: Larry Bird, Indiana Pacers
- All- NBA First Team: F - Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
- F - Karl Malone, Utah Jazz
- C - Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
- G - Gary Payton, Seattle Supersonics
- G - Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
- F - Vin Baker, Seattle Supersonics
- F - Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons
- C - David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
- G - Tim Hardaway Miami Heat
- G - Rod Strickland, Washington Wizards
- F - Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls
- F - Glen Rice Charlotte Hornets
- C - Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks
- G - Mitch Richmond, Sacramento Kings
- G - Reggie Miller, Indiana Pacers
- F - Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls
- F - Karl Malone, Utah Jazz
- C - Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks
- G - Gary Payton, Seattle Supersonics
- G - Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
- F - Charles Oakley, New York Knicks
- F - Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
- C - David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
- G - Eddie Jones, Los Angeles Lakers
- G - Mookie Blaylock, Atlanta Hawks
- Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
- Keith Van Horn, New Jersey Nets
- Žydrūnas Ilgauskas, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Ron Mercer, Boston Celtics
- Brevin Knight Cleveland Cavaliers
- Maurice Taylor, Los Angeles Clippers
- Cedric Henderson, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Tim Thomas, Philadelphia 76ers
- Bobby Jackson, Denver Nuggets
- Derek Anderson, Cleveland Cavaliers
Play-offs 1998
The first play-off round was played in best- of-five format. All other rounds were best- of-seven series.
NBA Finals 1998
- Michael Jordan was elected Finals MVP.