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1998–99 Portland Trail Blazers season

The 1998–99 NBA season was the 29th season for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association.[1] On March 23, 1998, the owners of all 29 NBA teams voted 27–2 to reopen the league's collective bargaining agreement, seeking changes to the league's salary cap system, and a ceiling on individual player salaries. The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) opposed to the owners' plan, and wanted raises for players who earned the league's minimum salary. After both sides failed to reach an agreement, the owners called for a lockout, which began on July 1, 1998, putting a hold on all team trades, free agent signings and training camp workouts, and cancelling many NBA regular season and preseason games.[2][3][4][5][6] Due to the lockout, the NBA All-Star Game, which was scheduled to be played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 14, 1999, was also cancelled.[7][8][9][10][11]

However, on January 6, 1999, NBA commissioner David Stern, and NBPA director Billy Hunter finally reached an agreement to end the lockout. The deal was approved by both the players and owners, and was signed on January 20, ending the lockout after 204 days. The regular season began on February 5, and was cut short to just 50 games instead of the regular 82-game schedule.[12][13][14][15][16]

During the off-season, the Blazers signed free agents Jim Jackson and Greg Anthony, who would reunite with his former UNLV teammate Stacey Augmon,[17][18][19] and acquired top draft pick Bonzi Wells out of Ball State University from the Detroit Pistons, who selected him with the eleventh overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft.[20][21][22][23] The Blazers got off to a fast start winning eight straight games between February and March,[24] on their way to a 27–6 start. Despite losing four of their final five games, the team finished 35–15 in the lockout-shortened season, earning their fourth Pacific Division title and the first since 1991–92.[25] Their record qualified them for the #2 seed in the Western Conference. The team earned their 17th straight trip to the playoffs, and 22nd in 23 years.[26]

Isaiah Rider led the team in scoring with 13.9 points per game, which is usually a low average in points for a team's scoring leader, while Rasheed Wallace played half the season off the bench, averaging 12.8 points per game, and Damon Stoudamire contributed 12.6 points and 6.2 assists per game. In addition, Brian Grant averaged 11.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, while Arvydas Sabonis provided the team with 12.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, Walt Williams contributed 9.3 points per game, and Jackson provided with 8.4 points per game off the bench.[27] Head coach Mike Dunleavy was named Coach of the Year,[28][29][30] and Wallace finished in second place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.[31][32]

The Blazers swept the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference First Round in three straight games, marking the first time since 1992 that the Blazers advanced to the playoffs.[33][34][35][36] They followed with a 4–2 series victory over the two-time defending Western Conference champion Utah Jazz in the Western Conference Semi-finals,[37][38][39][40] but were swept out of the Western Conference finals by Tim Duncan and the eventual NBA champion San Antonio Spurs in four straight games.[41][42][43][44] The Spurs would reach the NBA Finals for the first time to defeat the 8th-seeded New York Knicks in five games, winning their first ever championship.[45][46][47][48][49]

Following the season, Rider and Jackson were both traded to the Atlanta Hawks,[50][51][52][53] and Williams and second-year center Kelvin Cato were both traded to the Houston Rockets.[54][55][56][57]

Draft picks

The Trail Blazers did not own any picks in the 1998 NBA draft.

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

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

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Playoffs

Player statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Awards and honors

Transactions

References

  1. ^ 1998-99 Portland Trail Blazers
  2. ^ Wise, Mike (June 30, 1998). "BASKETBALL; It's Their Ball, and N.B.A. Owners Call for Lockout". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  3. ^ Heisler, Mark (June 30, 1998). "NBA Lockout". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  4. ^ "NBA Lockout Begins". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. June 30, 1998. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  5. ^ Bembry, Jerry (June 30, 1998). "Billion-Dollar Question: NBA Facing Long Timeout? Rising Salaries Spur Basketball Owners to Lock Out Players". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  6. ^ Steele, David (June 30, 1998). "NBA Lockout Now a Certainty". SFGate. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  7. ^ "NBA Cancels All-Star Game". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. December 8, 1998. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  8. ^ Wise, Mike (December 9, 1998). "PRO BASKETBALL; It's Official: N.B.A. Cancels Its All-Star Game". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  9. ^ Heisler, Mark (December 9, 1998). "NBA Dunks All-Star Game". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  10. ^ Asher, Mark (December 9, 1998). "NBA Cancels All-Star Game". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  11. ^ Steele, David (December 9, 1998). "NBA Drops All-Stars -- What's Left?; February Game in Philly Latest Casualty of Lockout". SFGate. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  12. ^ "NBA: Let The Games Begin!". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. January 6, 1999. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  13. ^ Wise, Mike (January 7, 1999). "With Little Time on Clock, NBA and Players Settle". The New York Times. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  14. ^ Heisler, Mark (January 7, 1999). "NBA, Players Union Agree to End Lockout". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  15. ^ Justice, Richard; Asher, Mark (January 7, 1999). "NBA Labor Dispute Ends After 6 Months". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  16. ^ Bembry, Jerry (January 7, 1999). "Just Beating Buzzer, NBA Unlocks Season; With Only Day Left to Make Deal, Owners, Players Union Agree". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  17. ^ Wise, Mike (February 4, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  18. ^ Heisler, Mark (May 7, 1999). "Bad Guys Gone Good". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  19. ^ Evans, Rich (May 18, 1999). "Are 'Jail Blazers' Ready to Erupt?". Deseret News. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  20. ^ Gardner, Kris (January 21, 1999). "Knicks Acquiring Sprewell Highlights Six-Deal Day". The Houston Roundball Review. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  21. ^ "Bucks: Signed F Robert Traylor to Three-Year..." The Baltimore Sun. January 22, 1999. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  22. ^ "Pistons Haunted by Wells". Los Angeles Times. January 15, 2001. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  23. ^ "1998 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  24. ^ "Trail Blazers 103, Kings 98". Associated Press. March 9, 1999. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  25. ^ "1998–99 Portland Trail Blazers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  26. ^ "Portland Trail Blazers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  27. ^ "1998–99 Portland Trail Blazers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  28. ^ "N.B.A.: ROUNDUP -- PORTLAND; Dunleavy Named Coach of the Year". The New York Times. May 22, 1999. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  29. ^ "Dunleavy Honored as Top Coach". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 22, 1999. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  30. ^ "NBA & ABA Coach of the Year Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  31. ^ "1998–99 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  32. ^ "1998-99 Regular Season Award Winners". Eskimo.com. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  33. ^ Baum, Bob (May 13, 1999). "Portland Sweeps Suns, 103-93". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  34. ^ "Pistons Enjoy Payback Win; Blazers Sweep". Deseret News. Associated Press. May 13, 1999. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  35. ^ "NBA PLAYOFFS ROUNDUP: Blazers Send Suns Home In Three". Kitsap Sun. May 13, 1999. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  36. ^ "1999 NBA Western Conference First Round: Suns vs. Trail Blazers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  37. ^ "N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Trail Blazers Stop Malone and Send the Jazz Home". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 28, 1999. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  38. ^ Adande, J.A. (May 28, 1999). "Malone and Jazz Finally Fall Flat". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  39. ^ Hall, Landon (May 28, 1999). "Portland Ends Utah's Reign in the West". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  40. ^ "1999 NBA Western Conference Semifinals: Trail Blazers vs. Jazz". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  41. ^ "N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Ready and Waiting: Spurs Sweep Into First Finals". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 7, 1999. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  42. ^ Heisler, Mark (June 7, 1999). "Only Blazing Is Done by Spurs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  43. ^ Wilbon, Michael (June 7, 1999). "Spurs Sweep West". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  44. ^ "1999 NBA Western Conference Finals: Trail Blazers vs. Spurs". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  45. ^ Roberts, Selena (June 26, 1999). "Spurs Win Title as Knicks' Dream Ends". The New York Times. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  46. ^ Kawakami, Tim (June 26, 1999). "Spurs Tower Over NBA". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  47. ^ Wyche, Steve (June 26, 1999). "In the End, Spurs of the Moment". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  48. ^ Bembry, Jerry (June 26, 1999). "It's Spurs' Moment; A. Johnson's Shot Beats Knicks, 78-77, Clinches NBA Crown". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  49. ^ "1999 NBA Finals: Knicks vs. Spurs". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  50. ^ "Hawks, Blazers to Make 4-Player Deal". Deseret News. Associated Press. July 31, 1999. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  51. ^ "Smith Going to Blazers for Rider and Jackson". Tampa Bay Times. August 1, 1999. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  52. ^ "Smith to Blazers in Mega Trade". CBS News. Associated Press. August 2, 1999. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  53. ^ Wise, Mike (August 3, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; Trading Begins in the N.B.A. Bazaar". The New York Times. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  54. ^ Wise, Mike (October 2, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; Rockets Are Sending Pippen to Trail Blazers for Six Players". The New York Times. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  55. ^ Smith, Sam (October 2, 1999). "Blastoff: Rockets Sending Pippen to Portland for 6". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  56. ^ "Pippen to Go to Blazers for Six". The Washington Post. October 2, 1999. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  57. ^ "Pippen Comes to Portland Blazing". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. October 5, 1999. Retrieved October 12, 2022.