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1996–97 Atlanta Hawks season

The 1996–97 Atlanta Hawks season was the 48th season for the Atlanta Hawks in the National Basketball Association, and their 29th season in Atlanta, Georgia. During this season, Hawks owner Ted Turner was the then-vice chairman of Time Warner after acquiring Turner Broadcasting System. In an effort to improve their team, the Hawks strengthened their defense by signing free agent All-Star center Dikembe Mutombo. During the off-season, the team signed free agents Tyrone Corbin and Willie Burton; Corbin previously played for the Hawks during the 1994–95 season. The team also signed Eldridge Recasner, and former Georgia Tech University guard Jon Barry.

With the addition of Mutombo and Corbin, the Hawks struggled with a 5–6 start to the regular season, but soon recovered and played above .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season. In December, the team signed free agent, and three-point specialist Henry James, and later on released Burton to free agency in January after 24 games. The Hawks posted a 14–2 record in January, which included a 10-game winning streak, and later on held a 31–15 record at the All-Star break. The Hawks posted a seven-game winning streak in March, and finished in second place in the Central Division with a 56–26 record, earning the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, and qualifying for the NBA playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. The team also posted a successful 36–5 home record at the Omni Coliseum, which was the third-best in the league, and also won 20 consecutive home games from November 12, 1996 to February 12, 1997. The Hawks had the third best team defensive rating in the NBA.

Mutombo averaged 13.3 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game, and was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the second time, and was also named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. In addition, Steve Smith averaged 20.1 points and 4.2 assists per game, and contributed 130 three-point field goals, while Christian Laettner provided the team with 18.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, Mookie Blaylock provided with 17.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.7 steals per game, led the Hawks with 221 three-point field goals, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and Corbin contributed 9.5 points and 1.3 steals per game. Off the bench, James contributed 6.7 points per game in 53 games, while second-year forward Alan Henderson averaged 6.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, but only played just 30 games due to a mysterious illness known as "acute viral pancreatitis", Recasner provided with 5.7 points per game, and Barry contributed 4.9 points per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, Mutombo and Laettner were both selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; it was Laettner's first and only All-Star appearance. Mutombo also finished tied in 13th place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Smith finished tied in 17th place; Blaylock finished in third place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and head coach Lenny Wilkens finished tied in sixth place in Coach of the Year voting.

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1997 NBA playoffs, the Hawks faced off against the 5th–seeded Detroit Pistons, who were led by All-Star forward Grant Hill, All-Star guard Joe Dumars, and Lindsey Hunter. The Hawks won Game 1 over the Pistons at home, 89–75 at the Omni Coliseum, but then lost the next two games, which included a Game 3 loss to the Pistons on the road, 99–91 at The Palace of Auburn Hills, as the Pistons took a 2–1 series lead. However, the Hawks managed to win the next two games, including a Game 5 win over the Pistons at the Omni Coliseum, 84–79 to win in a hard-fought five-game series.

In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the top–seeded, and defending NBA champion Chicago Bulls, who won the Central Division title, and were led by the trio of All-Star guard Michael Jordan, All-Star forward Scottie Pippen, and rebound-specialist Dennis Rodman. The Hawks lost Game 1 to the Bulls on the road, 100–97 at the United Center, but managed to win Game 2 on the road, 103–95 to even the series; in Game 2, Blaylock scored 26 points, and made 8 out of 9 three-point field-goal attempts. However, the Hawks lost their next two home games at the Omni Coliseum, before losing Game 5 to the Bulls at the United Center, 107–92, thus losing the series in five games. The Bulls would go on to defeat the Utah Jazz in six games in the 1997 NBA Finals, winning their second consecutive NBA championship, and their fifth championship in seven years.

The Hawks finished 27th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 549,414 at the Omni Coliseum during the regular season, which was the third-lowest in the league. This was also the team's final season in which they played their home games at "The Omni", which was scheduled for demolition after the season, and hosted its final game in a Game 4 loss to the Bulls during the second round of the NBA playoffs, 89–80 on May 11, 1997.

Following the season, Barry signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers, while James re-signed with his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Ken Norman, who only played just 17 games this season due to a back injury, retired.

Offseason

Draft picks

Roster

Roster Notes

  • Shooting guard Donnie Boyce was waived on March 4, 1997.
  • Small forward Willie Burton was waived on January 7, 1997.
  • Small forward Darrin Hancock played in two separate stints with the Hawks during the regular season; he was signed by the team after being waived by the Phoenix Suns, who acquired him from the Milwaukee Bucks. After the Hawks waived him, he signed with the San Antonio Spurs, where he would only play just one game for them before being released, and re-signed by the Hawks for the remainder of the season.
  • Rookie center Priest Lauderdale holds both American and Bulgarian dual citizenship.

Regular season

Season standings

z = clinched division title
y = clinched division title
x = clinched playoff spot

Game log

|- | 1 || November 1 || @ Miami Heat ||L 81-94 || || Miami Arena<br>15,133 || 0–1 |- |- | 2 || November 2 || Detroit Pistons ||L 78-90 || || Omni Coliseum<br>16,378 || 0–2 |- |- | 3 || November 4 || @ Portland Trail Blazers ||W 94-76 || || Rose Garden Arena<br>21,567 || 1–2 |- |- | 4 || November 5 || @ Seattle SuperSonics ||W 117-95 || || KeyArena at Seattle Center<br>17,072 || 2-2 |- |- | 5 || November 7 || @ Sacramento Kings ||W 91-87 || || ARCO Arena<br>17,317 || 3–2 |- |- | 6 || November 10 || @ Los Angeles Lakers ||L 85-92 || || Great Western Forum<br>16,097 || 3-3 |- |- | 7 || November 12 || Cleveland Cavaliers ||W 87-83 || || Omni Coliseum || 4–3 |- |- | 8 || November 13 || @ Boston Celtics ||L 85-103 || || FleetCenter<br>13,184 || 4-4 |- |- | 9 || November 15 || Miami Heat ||W 85-77 || || Omni Coliseum<br>16,378 || 5–4 |- |- | 10 || November 16 || @ Chicago Bulls ||L 69-97 || || United Center<br>23,939 || 5-5 |- |- | 11 || November 19 || @ Cleveland Cavaliers ||L 63-73 || || Gund Arena<br>14,182 || 5–6 |- |- | 12 || November 21 || @ Milwaukee Bucks ||W 73-65 || || Bradley Center<br>14,698 || 6-6 |- |- | 13 || November 23 || @ Toronto Raptors ||W 91-88 || || SkyDome<br>16,838 || 7–6 |- |- | 14 || November 26 || Vancouver Grizzlies ||W 101-80 || || Omni Coliseum || 8–6 |- |- | 15 || November 27 || @ Orlando Magic ||L 75-79 || || Orlando Arena<br>17,248 || 8–7 |- |- | 16 || November 29 || Washington Bullets ||W 110-81 || || Omni Coliseum<br>12,457 || 9–7 |-

|- | 17 || December 3 || Boston Celtics ||W 105-95 || || Omni Coliseum || 10–7 |- |- | 18 || December 4 || @ Detroit Pistons ||L 90-100 || || The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>14,574 || 10–8 |- |- | 19 || December 7 || Toronto Raptors ||W 101-75 || || Omni Coliseum<br>11,422 || 11–8 |- |- | 20 || December 10 || Denver Nuggets ||W 89-88 || || Omni Coliseum || 12–8 |- |- | 21 || December 14 || Philadelphia 76ers ||W 106-81 || || Omni Coliseum<br>12,473 || 13–8 |- |- | 22 || December 17 || @ Dallas Mavericks ||W 109-73 || || Reunion Arena<br>14,805 || 14–8 |- |- | 23 || December 20 || New Jersey Nets ||W 109-95 || || Omni Coliseum<br>12,884 || 15–8 |- |- | 24 || December 21 || @ Charlotte Hornets ||L 93-98 || || Charlotte Coliseum<br>24,042 || 15–9 |- |- | 25 || December 23 || @ New York Knicks ||L 76-82 || || Madison Square Garden<br>19,763 || 15–10 |- |- | 26 || December 26 || Chicago Bulls ||W 108-103 || || Omni Coliseum<br>16,378 || 16–10 |- |- | 27 || December 28 || @ Washington Bullets ||L 86-97 || || US Airways Arena<br>11,797 || 16–11 |-

|- | 28 || January 3 || @ New Jersey Nets ||W 95-85 || || Continental Airlines Arena<br>14,310 || 17–11 |- |- | 29 || January 4 || New York Knicks ||W 88-71 || || Omni Coliseum<br>16,378 || 18–11 |- |- | 30 || January 7 || Phoenix Suns ||W 105-103 (OT) || || Omni Coliseum || 19–11 |- |- | 31 || January 9 || @ Orlando Magic ||W 97-92 (OT) || || Orlando Arena<br>17,248 || 20–11 |- |- | 32 || January 11 || San Antonio Spurs ||W 87-82 (OT) || || Omni Coliseum<br>15,877 || 21–11 |- |- | 33 || January 13 || @ Cleveland Cavaliers ||W 93-79 || || Gund Arena<br>14,565 || 22–11 |- |- | 34 || January 14 || Minnesota Timberwolves ||W 95-93 || || Omni Coliseum<br>14,032 || 23–11 |- |- | 35 || January 16 || Orlando Magic ||W 78-67 || || Omni Coliseum<br>16,378 || 24–11 |- |- | 36 || January 18 || Milwaukee Bucks ||W 94-71 || || Omni Coliseum<br>16,378 || 25–11 |- |- | 37 || January 20 || Charlotte Hornets ||W 106-97 || || Omni Coliseum<br>16,378 || 26–11 |- |- | 38 || January 21 || @ Miami Heat ||L 91-94 || || Miami Arena<br>14,853 || 26–12 |- |- | 39 || January 24 || Washington Bullets ||W 117-105 (OT) || || Omni Coliseum<br>15,325 || 27–12 |- |- | 40 || January 25 || Boston Celtics ||W 95-90 || || Omni Coliseum<br>16,378 || 28–12 |- |- | 41 || January 28 || @ Los Angeles Clippers ||W 112-96 || || Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena || 29–12 |- |- | 42 || January 30 || @ Utah Jazz ||L 96-102 || || Delta Center<br>19,911 || 29–13 |- |- | 43 || January 31 || @ Vancouver Grizzlies ||W 87-76 || || General Motors Place<br>15,205 || 30–13 |-

|- | 44 || February 2 || @ Denver Nuggets ||L 104-115 || || McNichols Sports Arena<br>13,122 || 30–14 |- |- | 45 || February 4 || @ Golden State Warriors ||W 107-85 || || San Jose Arena<br>13,111 || 31–14 |- |- | 46 || February 5 || @ Phoenix Suns ||L 81-99 || || America West Arena<br>19,023 || 31–15 |- |- | 47 || February 12 || Toronto Raptors ||W 106-84 || || Omni Coliseum<br>13,846 || 32–15 |- |- | 48 || February 14 || Chicago Bulls ||L 88-89 || || Omni Coliseum<br>16,378 || 32–16 |- |- | 49 || February 15 || @ San Antonio Spurs ||W 109-89 || || Alamodome<br>26,809 || 33–16 |- |- | 50 || February 17 || @ Houston Rockets ||L 98-127 || || The Summit<br>16,285 || 33–17 |- |- | 51 || February 19 || Indiana Pacers ||W 100-87 || || Omni Coliseum<br>16,378 || 34–17 |- |- | 52 || February 21 || Houston Rockets ||W 76-74 || || Omni Coliseum<br>16,378 || 35–17 |- |- | 53 || February 22 || Charlotte Hornets ||L 92-93 || || Omni Coliseum<br>16,378 || 35–18 |- |- | 54 || February 24 || Golden State Warriors ||W 106-100 || || Omni Coliseum<br>15,660 || 36–18 |- |- | 55 || February 26 || @ Milwaukee Bucks ||W 79-72 || || Bradley Center<br>13,285 || 37–18 |- |- | 56 || February 28 || Los Angeles Lakers ||W 86-75 || || Omni Coliseum<br>16,378 || 38–18 |-

|- | 57 || March 2 || @ Detroit Pistons ||L 75-82 || || The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>21,454 || 38–19 |- |- | 58 || March 4 || Cleveland Cavaliers ||W 93-88 || || Omni Coliseum<br>15,404 || 39–19 |- |- | 59 || March 6 || @ Philadelphia 76ers ||W 117-104 || || CoreStates Center<br>13,802 || 40–19 |- |- | 60 || March 7 || Milwaukee Bucks ||W 90-80 || || Omni Coliseum<br>14,906 || 41–19 |- |- | 61 || March 9 || @ Boston Celtics ||W 114-90 || || FleetCenter<br>16,931 || 42–19 |- |- | 62 || March 11 || Utah Jazz ||W 106-99 || || Omni Coliseum<br>14,475 || 43–19 |- |- | 63 || March 12 || @ Indiana Pacers ||L 82-92 || || Market Square Arena<br>14,824 || 43–20 |- |- | 64 || March 14 || Seattle SuperSonics ||L 91-97 || || Omni Coliseum<br>16,378 || 43–21 |- |- | 65 || March 15 || @ Chicago Bulls ||L 79-99 || || United Center<br>23,984 || 43–22 |- |- | 66 || March 17 || Orlando Magic ||W 112-107 (OT) || || Omni Coliseum<br>15,708 || 44–22 |- |- | 67 || March 19 || Indiana Pacers ||W 107-95 || || Omni Coliseum<br>14,099 || 45–22 |- |- | 68 || March 21 || Dallas Mavericks ||W 93-72 || || Omni Coliseum<br>13,809 || 46–22 |- |- | 69 || March 23 || @ Toronto Raptors ||W 90-79 || || SkyDome<br>18,533 || 47–22 |- |- | 70 || March 25 || Portland Trail Blazers ||W 96-89 || || Omni Coliseum<br>15,256 || 48–22 |- |- | 71 || March 27 || Los Angeles Clippers ||W 103-88 || || Omni Coliseum<br>13,876 || 49–22 |- |- | 72 || March 29 || Sacramento Kings ||W 88-74 || || Omni Coliseum<br>14,942 || 50–22 |-

|- | 73 || April 2 || @ Charlotte Hornets ||L 84-95 || || Charlotte Coliseum<br>24,042 || 50–23 |- |- | 74 || April 4 || Detroit Pistons ||W 103-89 || || Omni Coliseum<br>16,378 || 51–23 |- |- | 75 || April 5 || New York Knicks ||L 97-102 || || Omni Coliseum<br>16,378 || 51–24 |- |- | 76 || April 9 || @ Philadelphia 76ers ||W 116-101 || || CoreStates Center<br>16,549 || 52–24 |- |- | 77 || April 11 || @ Indiana Pacers ||W 104-92 || || Market Square Arena<br>16,403 || 53–24 |- |- | 78 || April 12 || @ Minnesota Timberwolves ||W 80-66 || || Target Center<br>18,874 || 54–24 |- |- | 79 || April 15 || New Jersey Nets ||W 109-101 || || Omni Coliseum<br>14,458 || 55–24 |- |- | 80 || April 16 || @ New York Knicks ||L 92-96 || || Madison Square Garden<br>19,763 || 55–25 |- |- | 81 || April 19 || Philadelphia 76ers ||W 136-104 || || Omni Coliseum<br>16,457 || 56–25 |- |- | 82 || April 20 || @ New Jersey Nets ||L 92-108 || || Continental Airlines Arena<br>18,702 || 56–26 |-

Playoffs

|- | 1 | April 25 | Detroit | W 89–75 | Dikembe Mutombo (26) | Dikembe Mutombo (15) | Christian Laettner (4) | Omni Coliseum<br>15,795 | 1–0 |- | 2 | April 27 | Detroit | L 80–93 | Steve Smith (22) | Mookie Blaylock (9) | Mookie Blaylock (7) | Omni Coliseum<br>16,378 | 1–1 |- | 3 | April 29 | @ Detroit | L 91–99 | Christian Laettner (25) | Dikembe Mutombo (21) | Mookie Blaylock (10) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>20,059 | 1–2 |- | 4 | May 2 | @ Detroit | W 94–82 | Steve Smith (28) | Mutombo, Laettner (12) | Mookie Blaylock (9) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br>21,454 | 2–2 |- | 5 | May 4 | Detroit | W 84–79 | Christian Laettner (23) | Mutombo, Blaylock (9) | Blaylock, Corbin (5) | Omni Coliseum<br>16,378 | 3–2 |-

|- | 1 | May 6 | @ Chicago | L 97–100 | Mookie Blaylock (31) | Mookie Blaylock (12) | Christian Laettner (6) | United Center<br>24,397 | 0–1 |- | 2 | May 8 | @ Chicago | W 103–95 | Steve Smith (27) | Dikembe Mutombo (15) | Mookie Blaylock (9) | United Center<br>24,544 | 1–1 |- | 3 | May 10 | Chicago | L 80–100 | Dikembe Mutombo (16) | Dikembe Mutombo (13) | Mookie Blaylock (6) | Omni Coliseum<br>16,378 | 1–2 |- | 4 | May 11 | Chicago | L 80–89 | Christian Laettner (21) | Christian Laettner (12) | Mookie Blaylock (4) | Omni Coliseum<br>16,378 | 1–3 |- | 5 | May 13 | @ Chicago | L 92–107 | Christian Laettner (23) | Dikembe Mutombo (12) | Mookie Blaylock (8) | United Center<br>24,544 | 1–4 |-

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Player statistics citation:

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Transactions

Trades

July 15, 1996

Free agents

July 15, 1996

August 13, 1996

September 12, 1996

September 27, 1996

October 2, 1996

October 28, 1996

November 13, 1996

November 14, 1996

  • Signed Willie Burton as a free agent.
  • Signed Anthony Miller as a free agent.

November 26, 1996

  • Waived Derrick Alston.

December 20, 1996

January 2, 1997

January 7, 1997

  • Waived Darrin Hancock.
  • Waived Willie Burton.

March 4, 1997

March 5, 1997

  • Signed Darrin Hancock to the first of two 10-day contracts.

March 25, 1997

  • Signed Darrin Hancock to a contract for the rest of the season.

Additions

Subtractions

Player Transactions Citation:

See also

References