The Chicago Bulls narrowly missed back–to–back 70 win seasons, going 69–13, tying the second best all–time record (with the 1971–72Los Angeles Lakers season). In the final game of the regular season, the Bulls lost to the Knicks 103-101 as Scottie Pippen missed a three–pointer that would have given the Bulls back-to-back 70 win seasons. This loss also prevented the Bulls from tying the best home record of 40–1, set by the 1985–86Boston Celtics, finishing 39-2 at the United Center.
Dennis Rodman was suspended for 11 games after kicking a cameraman in a road game against the Minnesota Timberwolves after tripping over him.
Following a last-second three–point shot by John Stockton in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, the Utah Jazz made their first ever NBA Finals appearance.
In Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Lakers, Karl Malone hit all 18 of his free-throw attempts, setting a playoff record for most attempts without a miss, since broken by Paul Pierce.
After seven seasons of futility, the Minnesota Timberwolves finally made a postseason appearance, becoming the last of the late-1980s expansion teams to do so. In addition, their expansion counterparts (Miami, Orlando, and Charlotte) also made the playoffs.
The Atlanta Hawks played their final season at The Omni Coliseum.
The season marked the 50th anniversary of the NBA. To commemorate the occasion, some NBA teams wore throwback uniforms, the NBA logo was decorated in gold for all uniforms, and the 50th anniversary logo patch was featured in the warmups. In addition, the NBA also unveiled the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History during halftime of the 1997 NBA All-Star Game.
Final standings[]
Eastern Conference[]
Atlantic Division
Team
W
L
PCT.
GB
Miami Heat
61
21
.744
-
New York Knicks
57
25
.695
4
Orlando Magic
45
37
.549
16
Washington Bullets
44
38
.537
17
New Jersey Nets
26
56
.317
35
Philadelphia 76ers
22
60
.268
39
Boston Celtics
15
67
.183
46
Central Division
Team
W
L
PCT.
GB
Chicago Bulls C
69
13
.841
-
Atlanta Hawks
56
26
.683
13
Detroit Pistons
54
28
.659
15
Charlotte Hornets
54
28
.659
15
Cleveland Cavaliers
42
40
.512
27
Indiana Pacers
39
43
.476
30
Milwaukee Bucks
33
49
.402
36
Toronto Raptors
30
52
.366
39
Western Conference[]
Midwest Division
Team
W
L
PCT.
GB
Utah Jazz
64
18
.780
-
Houston Rockets
57
25
.695
7
Minnesota Timberwolves
40
42
.488
24
Dallas Mavericks
24
58
.293
40
Denver Nuggets
21
61
.256
43
San Antonio Spurs
20
62
.244
44
Vancouver Grizzlies
14
68
.171
50
Pacific Division
Team
W
L
PCT.
GB
Seattle SuperSonics
57
25
.695
-
Los Angeles Lakers
56
26
.683
1
Portland Trail Blazers
49
33
.598
8
Phoenix Suns
40
42
.488
17
Los Angeles Clippers
36
46
.439
21
Sacramento Kings
34
48
.415
23
Golden State Warriors
30
52
.366
27
C - NBA Champions
Statistics leaders[]
Category
Player
Team
Stat
Points per game
Michael Jordan
Chicago Bulls
29.6
Rebounds per game
Dennis Rodman
Chicago Bulls
16.1
Assists per game
Mark Jackson
Indiana Pacers
11.4
Steals per game
Mookie Blaylock
Atlanta Hawks
2.7
Blocks per game
Shawn Bradley
New Jersey Nets
3.4
FG%
Gheorghe Muresan
Washington Bullets
60.4
FT%
Mark Price
Golden State Warriors
90.6
3FG%
Glen Rice
Charlotte Hornets
47.0
NBA awards[]
Yearly awards[]
Most Valuable Player: Karl Malone, Utah Jazz
Rookie of the Year: Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers
Defensive Player of the Year: Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks
Sixth Man of the Year: John Starks, New York Knicks
Most Improved Player: Isaac Austin, Miami Heat
Coach of the Year: Pat Riley, Miami Heat
All-NBA First Team:
F - Karl Malone, Utah Jazz
F - Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons
C - Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
G - Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
G - Tim Hardaway, Miami Heat
All-NBA Second Team:
F Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls
F Glen Rice, Charlotte Hornets
C Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks
G Gary Payton, Seattle SuperSonics
G Mitch Richmond, Sacramento Kings
All-NBA Third Team:
F Anthony Mason, Charlotte Hornets
F Vin Baker, Milwaukee Bucks
C Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
G John Stockton, Utah Jazz
G Anfernee Hardaway, Orlando Magic
NBA All-Defensive First Team:
F Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls
F Karl Malone, Utah Jazz
C Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks
G Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
G Gary Payton, Seattle SuperSonics
NBA All-Defensive Second Team:
F Anthony Mason, Charlotte Hornets
F P.J. Brown, Miami Heat
C Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
G Mookie Blaylock, Atlanta Hawks
G John Stockton, Utah Jazz
All-NBA Rookie First Team:
Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Vancouver Grizzlies
Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers
Stephon Marbury, Minnesota Timberwolves
Marcus Camby, Toronto Raptors
Antoine Walker, Boston Celtics
All-NBA Rookie Second Team:
Kerry Kittles, New Jersey Nets
Ray Allen, Milwaukee Bucks
Travis Knight, Los Angeles Lakers
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Matt Maloney, Houston Rockets
Player of the week[]
The following players were named NBA Player of the Week.
Week
Player
Nov. 1 – Nov. 10
Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets)
Nov. 11 – Nov. 17
Dale Ellis (Denver Nuggets)
Nov. 18 – Nov. 24 (tie)
Charles Barkley (Houston Rockets)
Nov. 18 – Nov. 24 (tie)
Karl Malone (Utah Jazz)
Nov. 25 – Dec. 1
Dikembe Mutombo (Atlanta Hawks)
Dec. 2 – Dec. 8
Terry Mills (Detroit Pistons)
Dec. 9 – Dec. 15
Shaquille O'Neal (Los Angeles Lakers)
Dec. 16 – Dec. 22
Terrell Brandon (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Dec. 23 – Dec. 29
Tim Hardaway (Miami Heat)
Dec. 30 – Jan. 5
Glen Rice (Charlotte Hornets)
Jan. 6 – Jan. 12
Glenn Robinson (Milwaukee Bucks)
Jan. 13 – Jan. 19
Grant Hill (Detroit Pistons)
Jan. 20 – Jan. 26
Mitch Richmond (Sacramento Kings)
Jan. 27 – Feb. 2
Glen Rice (Charlotte Hornets)
Feb. 11 – Feb. 16
Alonzo Mourning (Miami Heat)
Feb. 17 – Feb. 23
Scottie Pippen (Chicago Bulls)
Feb. 24 – Mar. 2
Loy Vaught (Los Angeles Clippers)
Mar. 3 – Mar. 9
Patrick Ewing (New York Knicks)
Mar. 10 – Mar. 16
Karl Malone (Utah Jazz)
Mar. 17 – Mar. 23
Karl Malone (Utah Jazz)
Mar. 24 – Mar. 30
Kevin Johnson (Phoenix Suns)
Apr. 1 – Apr. 6
Grant Hill (Detroit Pistons)
Apr. 7 – Apr. 13
Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers)
Apr. 14 – Apr. 20
Chris Webber (Washington Bullets)
Player of the month[]
The following players were named NBA Player of the Month.
Month
Player
November
Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
December
Shaquille O'Neal (Los Angeles Lakers)
January
Grant Hill (Detroit Pistons)
February
Glen Rice (Charlotte Hornets)
March
Karl Malone (Utah Jazz)
April
Kevin Johnson (Phoenix Suns)
Rookie of the month[]
The following players were named NBA Rookie of the Month.
Month
Rookie
November
Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers)
December (tie)
Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Vancouver Grizzlies)
December (tie)
Kerry Kittles (New Jersey Nets)
January
Stephon Marbury (Minnesota Timberwolves)
February
Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Vancouver Grizzlies)
March
Marcus Camby (Toronto Raptors)
April
Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers)
Coach of the month[]
The following coaches were named NBA Coach of the Month.
