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1996–97 New York Knicks season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1996–97 New York Knicks season
Head coachJeff Van Gundy
General managerErnie Grunfeld
Owners
ArenaMadison Square Garden
Results
Record57–25 (.695)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Atlantic)
Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference semifinals
(lost to Heat 3–4)

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionMSG Network[1]
WBIS-TV[2]
RadioWFAN[3]
< 1995–96 1997–98 >

The 1996–97 New York Knicks season was the 51st season for the Knicks in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[4] For the season, the Knicks celebrated their 50th anniversary in the NBA by revealing an anniversary version of the team's primary logo.[5] During the off-season, the Knicks acquired All-Star forward Larry Johnson from the Charlotte Hornets,[6][7][8][9] and signed free agents Allan Houston, Chris Childs,[10][11][12][13] and former All-Star forward Buck Williams.[14][15][16] The team also had three first-round draft picks in the 1996 NBA draft, selecting small forward John Wallace out of Syracuse University with the 18th overall pick, small forward Walter McCarty from the University of Kentucky with the 19th overall pick, and small forward Dontae' Jones out of Mississippi State University with the 21st overall pick.[17][18][19][20] However, Jones would miss the entire season with a foot injury, and would never play for the Knicks.[21][22][23]

In the regular season, the Knicks won eight of their first ten games, and held a 34–14 record by February 6, 1997,[24][25] finishing in second place in the Atlantic Division with a 57–25 record,[26] and made the NBA playoffs for the 10th consecutive year.[4] The team also posted three seven-game winning streaks during the regular season, which were its longest this season.[25] The Knicks enjoyed a successful season, with their 57 wins tied for the third-most in franchise history;[4] they finished second in the Atlantic Division and third in the Eastern Conference.[27]

With Houston as the team's starting shooting guard, John Starks played a sixth man role off the bench,[28][29][30] averaging 13.8 points per game and leading the team with 150 three-point field goals;[26] he was named the Sixth Man of the Year, receiving 84 out of a possible 115 first-place votes from the media.[27][31][32][33][34] In addition, Patrick Ewing averaged 22.4 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game,[26] and was selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland, Ohio,[35][36][37][38] but did not play due to a groin injury,[39][40][41][42] despite playing 78 games this season;[26] it would also be his final All-Star selection, having played in his final All-Star Game the previous year.[43] Ewing also earned All-NBA Second Team honors,[27] finished in eighth place in Most Valuable Player voting,[44][45][46] and was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.[47]

Houston finished second on the team in scoring with 14.8 points per game, while Johnson averaged 12.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, Charles Oakley provided the team with 10.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, and Childs contributed 9.3 points and 6.1 assists per game.[26] Off the bench, Williams averaged 6.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, and Charlie Ward contributed 5.2 points and 4.1 assists per game.[26] In the final game of the regular season, at the United Center on April 19, 1997, the Knicks defeated the then-69–12 Chicago Bulls, 103–101, preventing them from posting two consecutive 70-win seasons, and tying the best home record (40–1 set by the 1985–86 Boston Celtics, and later matched by the 2015–16 San Antonio Spurs).[48][49][50][51][52]

In the playoffs, New York defeated the Charlotte Hornets in a three-game sweep in the Eastern Conference first round, and advanced to the Eastern Conference semi-finals,[53][54][55][56] where they faced the Atlantic Division champion Miami Heat, in what would eventually become the first chapter of one of the fiercest NBA rivalries of the period.[27][57] After jumping to a 3–1 lead in the series,[58][59][60] the Knicks were eliminated by the Heat in seven games,[61][62][63][64] after a brawl erupted at the end of Game 5 that led to the suspensions of five key Knicks players: Ewing, Houston, Johnson, Starks and Ward.[65][66][67][68][69]

The Knicks finished fifth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 790,520 at Madison Square Garden during the regular season.[26][27] Following the season, Wallace was traded to the Toronto Raptors in a three-team trade,[70][71][72] and McCarty and Jones were both dealt to the Boston Celtics.[73][74][75]

NBA draft

[edit]
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 18 John Wallace SF  United States Syracuse
1 19 Walter McCarty SF/PF  United States Kentucky
1 21 Dontae' Jones SF  United States Mississippi State

Roster

[edit]
1996–97 New York Knicks roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
G 4 Brooks, Scott 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1965–07–31 UC Irvine
G 1 Childs, Chris 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1967–11–20 Boise State
C 33 Ewing, Patrick 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1962–08–05 Georgetown
G 20 Houston, Allan 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1971–04–20 Tennessee
F 2 Johnson, Larry 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1969–03–14 UNLV
F 5 Jones, Dontae' (IN) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1975–06–02 Mississippi State
F 40 McCarty, Walter 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1974–02–01 Kentucky
F 34 Oakley, Charles 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1963–12–18 Virginia Union
G 3 Starks, John 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–08–10 Oklahoma State
F 44 Wallace, John 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1974–02–09 Syracuse
G 21 Ward, Charlie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1970–10–12 Florida State
F 52 Williams, Buck 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1960–03–08 Maryland
C 32 Williams, Herb 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 242 lb (110 kg) 1958–02–16 Ohio State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (IN) Inactive
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: January 6, 1997

Roster notes

[edit]

Regular season

[edit]

Season standings

[edit]
W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Miami Heat 61 21 .744 29–12 32–9 16–8
x-New York Knicks 57 25 .695 4 31–10 26–15 19–6
x-Orlando Magic 45 37 .549 16 26–15 19–22 13–11
x-Washington Bullets 44 38 .537 17 25–16 19–22 14–10
New Jersey Nets 26 56 .317 35 16–25 10–31 11–13
Philadelphia 76ers 22 60 .268 39 11–30 11–30 11–14
Boston Celtics 15 67 .183 46 11–30 4–37 1–23
1996–97 NBA East standings
#
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Chicago Bulls 69 13 .841
2 y-Miami Heat 61 21 .744 8
3 x-New York Knicks 57 25 .695 12
4 x-Atlanta Hawks 56 26 .683 13
5 x-Detroit Pistons 54 28 .659 15
6 x-Charlotte Hornets 54 28 .659 15
7 x-Orlando Magic 45 37 .549 24
8 x-Washington Bullets 44 38 .537 25
9 Cleveland Cavaliers 42 40 .512 27
10 Indiana Pacers 39 43 .476 30
11 Milwaukee Bucks 33 49 .402 36
12 Toronto Raptors 30 52 .366 39
13 New Jersey Nets 26 56 .317 43
14 Philadelphia 76ers 22 60 .268 47
15 Boston Celtics 15 67 .183 54
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

[edit]
1996–97 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta 3–1 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–2 4–0 2–0 3–1 1–3 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–1
Boston 1–3 0–4 0–4 1–2 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 1–2 0–2 1–1 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–1 0–2 0–2 0–4
Charlotte 3–1 4–0 0–4 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–2 2–2 2–0 4–0 3–1 1–2 4–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 0–2 2–0 3–1
Chicago 3–1 4–0 4–0 3–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 2–2 4–0 2–0 3–1 2–2 3–0 4–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–1
Cleveland 1–3 2–1 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 0–4 2–2 2–0 4–0 1–3 2–2 3–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 1–3
Dallas 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–1 0–2 0–4 0–4 1–1 2–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 1–3 3–1 0–2
Denver 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 0–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–1 0–4 3–1 1–1
Detroit 3–1 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 0–4 3–1 2–0 4–0 1–2 2–2 2–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 4–0
Golden State 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 4–0 3–1 0–2 0–4 1–1 1–3 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–4 2–2 1–3 4–0 0–4 2–0 0–4 3–1 0–2
Houston 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 1–1 4–0 1–1 3–1 3–1 0–2 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 2–2 4–0 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–0
Indiana 1–3 2–1 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 1–3
L.A. Clippers 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 3–1 0–2 3–1 1–3 0–2 2–2 0–2 2–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–4 2–2 4–0 1–3 2–0 1–3 4–0 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 4–0 1–1 4–0 1–3 1–1 2–2 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–0 1–3 4–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 1–3 4–0 2–0
Miami 2–1 4–0 2–1 2–2 4–0 2–0 2–0 4–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–1 0–2 2–0 3–1
Milwaukee 0–4 3–1 2–2 0–4 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–2 2–1 1–2 2–2 3–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 1–3
Minnesota 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 3–1 4–0 0–2 3–1 0–4 0–2 3–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 0–4 4–0 0–4 1–1 1–3 4–0 1–1
New Jersey 1–3 4–0 0–4 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–1 0–4 0–2 0–2 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–3 0–2 2–0 1–3
New York 3–1 4–0 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 3–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–0 1–1 2–0 4–0
Orlando 1–3 4–0 2–1 0–3 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 3–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 0–2 1–1 1–3
Philadelphia 0–4 3–1 0–4 0–4 0–3 0–2 1–1 1–2 0–2 0–2 0–3 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–3 1–1 2–2 2–3 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–2 2–0 1–3
Phoenix 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 4–0 2–2 1–1 2–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 4–0 3–1 2–2 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1
Portland 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 4–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 2–2 4–0 1–3 0–2 2–2 4–0 0–2
Sacramento 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 3–1 0–4 1–1 2–2 0–4 0–2 2–0 4–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–4 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–1 0–4 4–0 0–2
San Antonio 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 0–4 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 0–4 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 1–3 0–2
Seattle 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 4–0 1–1 4–0 1–3 1–1 3–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 2–0 1–3 4–0 2–0
Toronto 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–1 1–3 0–2 1–1 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 3–0 0–3 0–4 3–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–2
Utah 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 4–0 2–2 2–0 3–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–2 4–0 3–1 3–1 1–1 4–0 2–0
Vancouver 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–2 0–4 0–4 3–1 0–4 1–1 0–4 1–1
Washington 1–2 4–0 1–3 1–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 0–4 2–0 0–2 3–1 2–0 0–2 1–3 3–1 1–1 3–1 0–4 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–2 0–2 1–1

Playoffs

[edit]
1997 playoff game log
First Round: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 April 24 Charlotte W 109–99 Allan Houston (25) Patrick Ewing (9) Chris Childs (8) Madison Square Garden
19,763
1–0
2 April 26 Charlotte W 100–93 Patrick Ewing (30) Charles Oakley (10) Chris Childs (9) Madison Square Garden
19,763
2–0
3 April 28 @ Charlotte W 104–95 Larry Johnson (22) Patrick Ewing (11) Johnson, Childs (5) Charlotte Coliseum
24,042
3–0
Conference semifinals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 May 7 @ Miami W 88–79 Allan Houston (27) Patrick Ewing (16) Johnson, Ward (5) Miami Arena
14,870
1–0
2 May 9 @ Miami L 84–88 Allan Houston (19) Patrick Ewing (11) Chris Childs (7) Miami Arena
14,870
1–1
3 May 11 Miami W 77–73 Patrick Ewing (25) Ewing, Oakley (11) Ward, Starks (4) Madison Square Garden
19,763
2–1
4 May 12 Miami W 89–76 John Starks (21) Charles Oakley (9) Chris Childs (8) Madison Square Garden
19,763
3–1
5 May 14 @ Miami L 81–96 Patrick Ewing (19) Charles Oakley (9) Chris Childs (7) Miami Arena
14,782
3–2
6 May 16 Miami L 90–95 Chris Childs (22) Charles Oakley (12) Chris Childs (9) Madison Square Garden
19,763
3–3
7 May 18 @ Miami L 90–101 Patrick Ewing (37) Patrick Ewing (17) Charlie Ward (8) Miami Arena
14,870
3–4
1997 schedule

Player statistics

[edit]
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Regular season

[edit]
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Scott Brooks 38 0 6.6 .487 .417 .933 .5 .8 .6 .0 1.5
Chris Childs 65 61 31.9 .414 .387 .758 2.9 6.1 1.2 .2 9.3
Patrick Ewing 78 78 37.0 .488 .222 .754 10.7 2.0 .9 2.4 22.4
Allan Houston 81 81 33.1 .423 .385 .803 3.0 2.2 .5 .2 14.8
Chris Jent 3 0 3.3 .333 .667 .3 .3 .0 .0 2.0
Larry Johnson 76 76 34.4 .512 .324 .693 5.2 2.3 .8 .5 12.8
Walter McCarty 35 0 5.5 .382 .286 .571 .7 .4 .2 .3 1.8
Charles Oakley 80 80 35.9 .488 .263 .808 9.8 2.8 1.4 .3 10.8
John Starks 77 1 26.5 .431 .369 .769 2.7 2.8 1.2 .1 13.8
John Wallace 68 6 11.6 .517 .500 .718 2.3 .5 .3 .4 4.8
Charlie Ward 79 21 22.3 .395 .312 .760 2.8 4.1 1.1 .2 5.2
Buck Williams 74 4 20.2 .537 .000 .642 5.4 .7 .5 .5 6.3
Herb Williams 21 2 8.8 .391 .000 .750 1.5 .2 .2 .2 1.9

Playoffs

[edit]
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Scott Brooks 4 0 1.8 .500 1.000 .0 .0 .0 .0 .8
Chris Childs 10 10 32.8 .437 .346 .826 4.9 5.9 2.0 .0 10.4
Patrick Ewing 9 9 39.7 .527 .000 .643 10.6 1.9 .3 2.4 22.6
Allan Houston 9 9 40.0 .436 .500 .886 2.6 2.3 .7 .3 19.2
Larry Johnson 9 9 32.8 .558 .353 .842 4.0 2.6 .8 .1 13.8
Walter McCarty 2 0 2.0 1.000 .0 .0 .5 .0 2.0
Charles Oakley 10 10 35.8 .442 .000 .759 8.8 1.6 2.2 .3 9.8
John Starks 9 1 28.1 .444 .317 .806 3.4 2.8 1.1 .0 14.0
John Wallace 4 1 10.0 .267 .000 1.000 1.8 1.3 .3 .5 2.5
Charlie Ward 9 0 20.2 .296 .111 .750 2.8 4.3 1.4 .0 2.2
Buck Williams 10 1 19.3 .486 .529 4.0 .6 .3 .4 4.3
Herb Williams 3 0 7.7 .400 .3 .0 .0 .0 1.3
  • Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Knicks only.

Awards and records

[edit]

Transactions

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 2016–17 New York Knicks Media Guide (PDF). New York Knicks. 2016. p. 305. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  2. ^ Sandomir, Richard (January 20, 1997). "Station Bets on Business-Sports Mix". The New York Times. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  3. ^ 2016–17 New York Knicks Media Guide (PDF). New York Knicks. 2016. p. 304. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "New York Knickerbockers Franchise Index". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on April 24, 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  5. ^ "New York Knicks Logo". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page – SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  6. ^ "Hornets, Knicks Ponder Trade". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Services. July 11, 1996. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  7. ^ Brown, Clifton (July 12, 1996). "Pro Basketball; Knicks Chase Hornets' Johnson as N.B.A. Resumes Business". The New York Times. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  8. ^ "Around the NBA". The Washington Post. July 13, 1996. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  9. ^ Isola, Frank (July 13, 1996). "Larry Loves N.Y.: Knicks, Hornets Work Out Bugs". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  10. ^ Brown, Clifton (July 14, 1996). "Pro Basketball; A New Backcourt: Childs and Houston Join the Knicks". The New York Times. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  11. ^ "Knicks Get Childs; Houston on Tap". Orlando Sentinel. July 14, 1996. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  12. ^ Wise, Mike (July 15, 1996). "Pro Basketball; It's a Blockbuster Day for Knicks". The New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  13. ^ Sheridan, Chris (July 15, 1996). "Knicks Acquire Larry Johnson, Sign Houston and Childs". Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  14. ^ Roberts, Selena (July 27, 1996). "Pro Basketball; Knicks Seal Up Buck Williams". The New York Times. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  15. ^ "Knicks Sign Buck; Bucks Sign Allen". Tampa Bay Times. July 27, 1996. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  16. ^ Markowitz, Dan (October 20, 1996). "Revamped Knicks Assessing Strengths". The New York Times. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
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  18. ^ Bembry, Jerry (June 27, 1996). "76ers Make Iverson the 1, Philadelphia Takes Georgetown Guard; Camby Goes Second". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
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  21. ^ a b Wise, Mike (June 29, 1996). "Pro Basketball; Surgery Sidelines Jones 3–6 Months". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  22. ^ Wise, Mike (November 4, 1996). "Knicks Outshine Disco Lights in the Home Opener". The New York Times. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  23. ^ a b "Dontae' Jones". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  24. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  25. ^ a b "1996–97 New York Knicks Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g "1996-97 New York Knicks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  27. ^ a b c d e "1996-97 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  28. ^ Wise, Mike (October 6, 1996). "Starks Is Making Houston's Job Easier". The New York Times. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  29. ^ Brown, Clifton (October 17, 1996). "Pro Basketball". The New York Times. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  30. ^ "Bulls, Drexler, Shaq Still Hot". Kentucky New Era. November 2, 1996. p. 3B. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  31. ^ "Sixth Man Award for Starks". The New York Times. April 24, 1997. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  32. ^ "Knicks' Starks Turns Demotion Into Honor". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. April 24, 1997. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  33. ^ "NBA Notes: Knicks' Starks Wins Sixth Man Award; Warriors Draw 8th Seed in Lottery". SFGate. Staff and Wire Reports. April 24, 1997. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  34. ^ "NBA & ABA Sixth Man of the Year Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  35. ^ "Webber's All-Star Stats Aren't Ticket to Game; Bullets Forward Not Picked as Reserve". The Baltimore Sun. January 29, 1997. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  36. ^ Jorgensen, Loren (February 8, 1997). "No Offense, But Malone Would Rather Be Home". Deseret News. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  37. ^ "1997 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  38. ^ "1997 NBA All-Star Game: East 132, West 120". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  39. ^ "Knicks' Ewing to Miss All-Star Game". United Press International. February 5, 1997. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  40. ^ Brown, Clifton (February 6, 1997). "Ewing, Still Injured, Quits All-Star Roster". The New York Times. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  41. ^ Cummings, D. L. (February 6, 1997). "Stars Are Out for Ewing: Groin Injury KOs Patrick". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  42. ^ "Mourning Latest All-Star Casualty; Dumars on Team". Chicago Tribune. Tribune News Services. February 7, 1997. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  43. ^ "Patrick Ewing". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  44. ^ Kawakami, Tim (May 19, 1997). "MVP: Malone, the Standout Jazz Forward Known as Mailman, Edges Jordan in the Voting to Earn Stamp of Greatness". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
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