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1996–97 Atlanta Hawks season

The 1996–97 NBA season was the Hawks' 48th season in the National Basketball Association, and 29th season in Atlanta.[1] During this season, Hawks owner Ted Turner was the then-vice chairman of Time Warner after acquiring Turner Broadcasting System.[2][3][4] In an effort to improve their team, the Hawks strengthened their defense by signing free agent All-Star center Dikembe Mutombo.[5][6][7][8][9] 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.[10][11][12] The team also signed Eldridge Recasner and former Georgia Tech guard Jon Barry.[13][14]

The Hawks struggled with a 5–6 start to the season, but soon played above .500 as the team signed three-point specialist Henry James in December,[14] and later on released Burton to free agency in January after playing 24 games. The Hawks posted a 14–2 record in January, which included a ten-game winning streak,[15] then later on held a 31–15 record at the All-Star break,[16] and posted a 7-game winning streak in March. The team also won 20 consecutive home games from November 12 to February 12.[17][18] The Hawks finished second in the Central Division with a 56–26 record, while posting the third best home record in the league at 36–5.[19] The Hawks had the third best team defensive rating in the NBA.[20]

Mutombo averaged 13.3 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game, and would capture the Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second time, as he was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, finishing second in the NBA in rebounding and blocked shots,[21][22][23] while Christian Laettner had a stellar season, averaging 18.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Mutombo and Laettner were both selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game.[24][25][26][27] In addition, Steve Smith continued to lead the Hawks in scoring with 20.1 points per game, while Mookie Blaylock provided the team with 17.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.9 assists, led the league with 2.7 steals per game, finished second in the league 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, and second-year forward Alan Henderson averaged 6.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game,[28] but only played just 30 games due to a mysterious illness known as "acute viral pancreatitis".[29][30][31] Blaylock also finished in third place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.[32]

In the playoffs, the Hawks would be put to the test as they faced the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference First Round. The Pistons took a 2–1 series lead,[33][34][35] but the Hawks managed to win the next two games, thus winning the series in five games.[36][37][38][39] However, the Hawks would provide little challenge to Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, as they fell in five games to the defending and eventual NBA champions,[40][41][42][43] despite winning Game 2 at the United Center, 103–95.[44][45][46][47] The Bulls would go on to defeat the Utah Jazz in six games in the NBA Finals, winning their fifth championship in seven years.[48][49][50][51][52]

It was also the Hawks' final season playing at The Omni, which was scheduled to demolition after the season,[53][54][55][56] and hosted its final game in a Game 4 loss to the Bulls during the second round of the playoffs, 89–80 on May 11, 1997.[57][58][59][60] Following the season, Barry signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers,[61] while James re-signed with his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers,[62] and Ken Norman, who only played just 17 games this season due to a back injury, retired.[63]

Offseason

Draft picks

Roster

Roster Notes

Regular season

Season standings

[66]

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

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Playoffs

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

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

November 26, 1996

December 20, 1996

January 2, 1997

January 7, 1997

March 4, 1997

March 5, 1997

March 25, 1997

Player Transactions Citation:[67]

See also

References

  1. ^ 1996-97 Atlanta Hawks
  2. ^ "Time Warner-Turner Pact Okayed". Tampa Bay Times. July 18, 1996. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  3. ^ "TBS Holders Approve Time Warner Deal". United Press International. October 10, 1996. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  4. ^ Mulligan, Thomas S. (October 11, 1996). "Turner-Time Warner Merger Approved by Shareholders". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  5. ^ "Shot-Blocking Star Mutombo Goes to Hawks". Chicago Tribune. Tribune News Services. July 15, 1996. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  6. ^ "Hawks Sign Mutombo; Deal Augmon, Long". United Press International. July 15, 1996. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  7. ^ "Hawks Get Big with Mutombo". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. July 16, 1996. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  8. ^ Asher, Mark (July 16, 1996). "Mutombo Heading to Hawks". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  9. ^ "Hawks Sign Mutombo, Trade Augmon, Long". Tampa Bay Times. July 16, 1996. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  10. ^ "Hawks Sign Corbin and Burton". The New York Times. September 13, 1996. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  11. ^ "Iverson Set to Sign Three-Year Contract with Philadelphia". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Services. September 13, 1996. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  12. ^ Winderman, Ira (October 26, 1996). "Corbin Starting for Hawks". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  13. ^ "Sports Briefs". Deseret News. August 14, 1996. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  14. ^ a b Johnson, K.C. (May 6, 1997). "Team of Cohesive Elements Pours from Hawks' Beaker". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  15. ^ "Hawks Win Their 10th Straight". The New York Times. Associated Press. January 21, 1997. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  16. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  17. ^ "Bulls Halt the Hawks' Home Streak at 20". The New York Times. Associated Press. February 15, 1997. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  18. ^ Armour, Terry (February 15, 1997). "Bulls 89, Hawks 88". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  19. ^ "1996–97 Atlanta Hawks Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  20. ^ "Teams Defense". NBA.com. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  21. ^ Saladino, Tom (April 25, 1997). "Mutombo Tops on Defense". South Coast Today. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  22. ^ "Mutombo Is the Difference for Hawks". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 5, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  23. ^ "NBA & ABA Defensive Player of the Year Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  24. ^ Jorgensen, Loren (February 8, 1997). "No Offense, But Malone Would Rather Be Home". Deseret News. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  25. ^ Fry, Darrell (February 8, 1997). "On to the Next Stage". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  26. ^ "1997 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  27. ^ "1997 NBA All-Star Game: East 132, West 120". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  28. ^ "1996–97 Atlanta Hawks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  29. ^ "Alan Henderson's Condition Improves". Associated Press. November 21, 1996. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  30. ^ Shapiro, Mark (November 22, 1996). "Heartbeat Back to Normal, Olajuwon Released from Hospital". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  31. ^ Glier, Ray (April 22, 1998). "Hawks' Henderson Is a Bird in Hand". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  32. ^ "1996–97 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  33. ^ Atkins, Harry (April 29, 1997). "Pistons Soar Past Hawks, 99-91". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  34. ^ "Hunter, Pistons Defeat Atlanta". The Oklahoman. April 30, 1997. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  35. ^ "Houston Moves On; Orlando Stays Alive". Deseret News. Associated Press. April 30, 1997. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  36. ^ "Hawks 84, Pistons 79". The Washington Post. Associated Press. May 4, 1997. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  37. ^ "Hawks Earn Date with Bulls". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 5, 1997. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  38. ^ Smith, Sam (May 5, 1997). "Hawks 84, Pistons 79". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  39. ^ "1997 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Pistons vs. Hawks". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  40. ^ Roberts, Selena (May 14, 1997). "Bulls, Led by Rodman, Keep Going". The New York Times. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  41. ^ Nadel, Mike (May 14, 1997). "Bulls Send Hawks Flying, 107-92". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  42. ^ Isaacson, Melissa (May 14, 1997). "Plenty of Reasons for Bulls' Playoff Success". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  43. ^ "1997 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals: Hawks vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  44. ^ Nadel, Mike (May 8, 1997). "Hawks 103, Bulls 95". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  45. ^ Berkow, Ira (May 9, 1997). "Chicago's Late Heroics Fail to Arrive in Game 2". The New York Times. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  46. ^ Bagnato, Andrew (May 9, 1997). "When Push Comes to Shove". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  47. ^ Atlanta Hawks (1968-Present)
  48. ^ Wise, Mike (June 14, 1997). "A Fistful of Rings: Bulls Grab Fifth Title of 90's". The New York Times. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  49. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 14, 1997). "Bulls Get Fifth Element". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  50. ^ Johnson, K.C. (June 16, 1997). "Bulls Got There, Because They'd Been There". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  51. ^ Benson, Lee (June 14, 1997). "Chicago Heartbreaker". Deseret News. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  52. ^ "1997 NBA Finals: Jazz vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  53. ^ "Atlanta Barely Notes the Passing of the Omni Arena; Enters Its Final Days During NBA Playoffs". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. April 27, 1997. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  54. ^ Hill, Karen (July 22, 1997). "Demolition Experts Place Explosives Around Omni". Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 14, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  55. ^ "Crowd Has a Blast at Omni". The Washington Post. News Services. July 26, 1997. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  56. ^ "The Atlanta Constitution - 27 July 1997, Sun - Page 82 - (Atlanta, Georgia)". Newspapers.com. July 27, 1997. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  57. ^ Newberry, Paul (May 11, 1997). "Bulls 89, Hawks 80". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  58. ^ Roberts, Selena (May 12, 1997). "Bulls' Laugher Suddenly Turns Serious". The New York Times. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  59. ^ "1997 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 4: Chicago Bulls at Atlanta Hawks Box Score, May 11, 1997". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  60. ^ "The Omni". Basketball Ballparks. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  61. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (August 27, 1997). "Fox Hunt Finally Over for Lakers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  62. ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. September 23, 1997. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  63. ^ "Pacers Trade Williams for Askew". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 5, 1996. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  64. ^ The Hawks traded #45 and #47 picks to the SuperSonics for #28 pick on June 25, 1996.
    "Hawks Regain First-Round Draft Pick in Sonics Trade". Associated Press. June 25, 1996. p. D1.
  65. ^ "1996–97 NBA Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  66. ^ 1996–97 NBA season Summary - Basketball-Reference.com
  67. ^ "1996–97 Atlanta Hawks Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 2, 2021.