1997–98 Cleveland Cavaliers season

{{short description|NBA professional basketball team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox NBA season

| team = Cleveland Cavaliers

| end_year = 1998

| wins = 47

| losses = 35

| division = Central

| division_place = 5

| conf_place = 6

| coach = Mike Fratello

| gm = Wayne Embry

| owners =

• Gordon Gund
• George Gund III

| arena = Gund Arena

| playoffs = First round
(lost to Pacers 1–3)

| bbr_team = CLE

| television =

• SportsChannel/Fox Sports Ohio
• WUAB

| radio = WTAM

}}

The 1997–98 NBA season was the 28th season of the National Basketball Association in Cleveland, Ohio.[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1998.html 1997-98 Cleveland Cavaliers] In the 1997 NBA draft, the Cavaliers selected Derek Anderson from the University of Kentucky with the thirteenth overall pick, selected Brevin Knight out of Stanford University with the sixteenth overall pick, and selected Cedric Henderson from the University of Memphis with the 45th overall pick.{{cite news | last = Heisler | first = Mark | title = Draft Over, But Not Finished | work = Los Angeles Times | date = June 26, 1997 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-06-26-sp-7002-story.html | access-date = January 2, 2023}}{{cite news | title = First Round Selections in the 1997 NBA Draft Wednesday in Charlotte, N.C. | work = Hartford Courant | date = June 26, 1997 | url = https://www.courant.com/1997/06/26/first-round-selections-in-the-1997-nba-draft-wednesday-in-charlotte-nc/ | access-date = June 2, 2023}}{{cite magazine | last = Reed | first = William F. | title = No. 8: Cleveland Cavaliers | magazine = Sports Illustrated Vault | date = November 10, 1997 | url = https://vault.si.com/vault/1997/11/10/no8-cleveland-cavaliers | access-date = January 9, 2023}}{{cite web | title = 1997 NBA Draft | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1997.html | access-date = January 2, 2023}} Lithuanian rookie center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who was drafted by the Cavaliers with the 20th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft, but missed all of the previous season due to a foot injury, would make his debut in the NBA this season. In the off-season, the team acquired All-Star forward Shawn Kemp from the Seattle SuperSonics in a three-team trade,{{cite news | last = Roberts | first = Selena | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Sonics' Kemp Gets Wish and Is Traded, to Cavs | work = The New York Times | date = September 26, 1997 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/26/sports/pro-basketball-sonics-kemp-gets-wish-and-is-traded-to-cavs.html | access-date = March 1, 2017}}{{cite news | last = Baker | first = Chris | title = Kemp Is Key Player in Three-Way Trade | work = Los Angeles Times | date = September 26, 1997 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-sep-26-sp-36358-story.html | access-date = September 18, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Sherwin | first = Bob | title = Shawn Kemp Moves On -- Reign Comes to an End -- Kemp Is a Cav, Baker Is a Sonic After 3-Way Deal | work = The Seattle Times | date = September 26, 1997 | url = https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19970926&slug=2562608 | access-date = May 16, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Kemp Is Traded to Cavaliers in Three-Way Deal | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = September 26, 1997 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/09/26/kemp-is-traded-to-cavaliers-in-three-way-deal/a505e303-422b-4c21-ba05-1a135fccedc3/ | access-date = December 3, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Sonics Send Kemp to Cavs in 3-Way Deal | work = Deseret News | date = September 26, 1997 | url = https://www.deseret.com/1997/9/26/19336260/sonics-send-kemp-to-cavs-in-3-way-deal | access-date = June 20, 2023}} acquired Wesley Person from the Phoenix Suns in another three-team trade,{{cite news | last = Berger | first = Ken | title = Nuggets Send McDyess to Phoenix | work = Associated Press | date = October 1, 1997 | url = https://apnews.com/article/806e4ff7a62141a2ffea2903428a8956 | access-date = July 27, 2021}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = PLUS: IN THE NEWS -- PRO BASKETBALL; McDyess to Suns in Three-Team Deal | work = The New York Times | date = October 2, 1997 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/02/sports/plus-in-the-news-pro-basketball-mcdyess-to-suns-in-three-team-deal.html | access-date = December 4, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Staff and Wire Reports | title = Suns Make Trade for McDyess | work = Los Angeles Times | date = October 2, 1997 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-oct-02-sp-38410-story.html | access-date = December 4, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Nuggets Deal McDs to Phoenix | work = The Spokesman-Review | date = October 2, 1997 | url = https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/oct/02/nuggets-deal-mcds-to-phoenix/ | access-date = June 24, 2023}} and signed free agent Mitchell Butler.

The Cavaliers struggled with a 4–6 start to the regular season, as Bob Sura went down with an ankle injury and only played just 46 games,{{cite news | last = Johnson | first = L.C. | title = Grant Hurt | work = Orlando Sentinel | date = November 20, 1997 | url = https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1997-11-20-9711200230-story.html | access-date = November 7, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Ankle in Cast, Cavaliers' Sura Out for Weeks | work = Times Leader | date = December 10, 1997 | url = https://www.timesleader.com/archive/924604/ankle-in-cast-cavaliers-sura-out-for-weeks | access-date = July 11, 2022}} and Butler was out for the remainder of the season with a neck injury after 18 games.{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = N.B.A.: YESTERDAY; Jordan's 47 Lead Bulls Into First | work = The New York Times | date = December 28, 1997 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/28/sports/nba-yesterday-jordan-s-47-lead-bulls-into-first.html | access-date = January 28, 2023}}{{cite news | title = Around the NBA | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = December 31, 1997 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/12/31/around-the-nba/0ab0b936-d18a-4805-b7aa-6a485957c12d/ | access-date = October 3, 2022}} However, the team posted a ten-game winning streak between November and December,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = N.B.A.: LAST NIGHT; Cleveland Wins It at the Line | work = The New York Times | date = December 12, 1997 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/12/sports/nba-last-night-cleveland-wins-it-at-the-line.html | access-date = October 22, 2021}} and later on held a 27–20 record at the All-Star break.{{cite web | title = NBA Games Played on February 5, 1998 | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/?month=2&day=5&year=1998 | access-date = July 19, 2022}} The Cavaliers played above .500 for the remainder of the season, finishing in fifth place in the Central Division with a 47–35 record, and qualifying for the playoffs after a one-year absence.{{cite web | title = 1997–98 Cleveland Cavaliers Schedule and Results | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1998_games.html | access-date = June 21, 2021}} The Cavaliers had the best team defensive rating in the NBA.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/defense/?sort=DEF_RATING&dir=-1&Season=1997-98&SeasonType=Regular%20Season|title=Teams Defense|work=NBA.com|access-date=April 16, 2021}}

Kemp averaged 18.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, while Person averaged 14.7 points and 1.6 steals per game, and also led the league with 192 three-point field goals, and Ilgauskas provided the team with 13.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. In addition, Knight contributed 9.0 points, 8.2 assists, and led the league with 196 total steals, averaging 2.5 steals per game, while Anderson provided with 11.7 points and 1.3 steals per game off the bench, playing 66 games due to a knee injury,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = N.B.A.: LAST NIGHT; Ilgauskas Scores 32 to Lead the Cavs | work = The New York Times | date = February 1, 1998 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/01/sports/nba-last-night-ilgauskas-scores-32-to-lead-the-cavs.html | access-date = January 28, 2023}}{{cite news | last = Thompson | first = Jack | title = Cavs' Anderson Returns | work = Chicago Tribune | date = March 5, 1998 | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-03-05-9803050363-story.html | access-date = October 5, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Like Magic, Anderson Back and Orlando Gets a Victory | work = Los Angeles Times | date = March 5, 1998 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-mar-05-sp-25801-story.html | access-date = October 18, 2022}} Henderson contributed 10.1 points per game, and second-year center Vitaly Potapenko averaged 7.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game off the bench.{{cite web | title = 1997–98 Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1998.html | access-date = June 21, 2021}}

During the All-Star Weekend in New York City, New York, Kemp was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game, which would be his sixth and final All-Star appearance,{{cite news | last = Armour | first = Terry | title = Jordan Top All-Star Vote-Getter; Bryant, 19, Youngest Ever Picked | work = Chicago Tribune | date = January 26, 1998 | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-01-26-9801260059-story.html | access-date = December 27, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Howard-Cooper | first = Scott | title = Lakers Get Four-Star Rating as Van Exel, Jones Honored | work = Los Angeles Times | date = January 28, 1998 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jan-28-sp-13049-story.html | access-date = April 20, 2023}}{{cite news | agency = NBA.com Staff | title = 1998 NBA All-Star Recap | publisher = NBA.com | date = September 13, 2021 | url = https://www.nba.com/news/history-all-star-recap-1998 | access-date = May 16, 2023}}{{cite web | title = 1997–98 All-Star Events and Contestants - in New York | website = Eskimo North | url = https://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/misc/all-star98.txt | access-date = December 27, 2022}}{{cite web | title = 1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114 | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1998.html | access-date = November 27, 2021}} and Ilgauskas won the MVP award in the Rookie Game.{{cite news | last = Popper | first = Steve | title = N.B.A. ALL-STAR WEEKEND: Kids Slam and Ham, But a Grown-Up Shoots for Dough; Houston Pair Win in 2Ball | work = The New York Times | date = February 8, 1998 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/08/sports/nba-all-star-weekend-kids-slam-ham-but-grown-up-shoots-for-dough-houston-pair.html | access-date = January 15, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Howard-Cooper | first = Scott | title = Jordan Under the Weather, and Stern Is Under the Gun | work = Los Angeles Times | date = February 8, 1998 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-feb-08-sp-17068-story.html | access-date = December 5, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = All-Star Show Slow Out of Blocks | work = The Spokesman-Review | date = February 8, 1998 | url = https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1998/feb/08/all-star-show-slow-out-of-blocks/ | access-date = March 21, 2023}}{{cite web | title = 1998 NBA Rising Stars: East 85, West 80 | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1998_rookie.html | access-date = January 15, 2022}} Both Ilgauskas and Knight were named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, while Anderson and Henderson were both selected the NBA All-Rookie Second Team; Knight also finished tied in eleventh place in Defensive Player of the Year voting,{{cite web | last = Bender | first = Patricia | title = 1997–98 Regular Season Award Winners | website = Eskimo.com | url = https://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/misc/awards98.html | access-date = December 30, 2024}}{{cite web | title = 1997–98 NBA Awards Voting | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1998.html | access-date = December 26, 2024}} and head coach Mike Fratello finished in third place in Coach of the Year voting.{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Bird Named Coach of the Year | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = May 12, 1998 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/nba/longterm/1998/finals/articles/coach12.htm | access-date = October 6, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Jorgensen | first = Loren | title = Coach of Year - Sloan's Second to None and One | work = Deseret News | date = May 12, 1998 | url = https://www.deseret.com/1998/5/12/19379514/coach-of-year-sloan-s-second-to-none-and-one/ | access-date = November 1, 2024}}{{cite news | agency = Times Wire Services | title = Bird Draws Top Honor in His Rookie Season | work = Los Angeles Times | date = May 13, 1998 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-may-13-sp-49216-story.html | access-date = February 2, 2023}}

However, in the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Cavaliers would lose in four games to the Indiana Pacers,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = N.B.A.: PLAYOFFS; Cleveland Ousted | work = The New York Times | date = May 1, 1998 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/01/sports/nba-playoffs-cleveland-ousted.html | access-date = July 2, 2021}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Indiana Seizes the Opportunity to Oust Young, Pesky Opponent | work = Deseret News | date = May 1, 1998 | url = https://www.deseret.com/1998/5/1/19377532/indiana-seizes-the-opportunity-to-oust-young-pesky-opponent | access-date = June 3, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Knicks, Heat Slug It Out Again | work = Los Angeles Times | date = May 1, 1998 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-may-01-sp-45244-story.html | access-date = November 25, 2022}}{{cite web | title = 1998 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Cavaliers vs. Pacers | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1998-nba-eastern-conference-first-round-cavaliers-vs-pacers.html | access-date = February 3, 2023}} and they would not make it back to the postseason until 2006. For the season, the team slightly redesigned their uniforms, which remained in use until 1999.{{cite web | title = Cleveland Cavaliers Uniform | website = Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net | url = https://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/efh95jn7e1eyl17u3ggg891bn/Cleveland_Cavaliers/1998/Home_Uniform | access-date = January 22, 2022}}{{cite web | title = Cleveland Cavaliers Uniform | website = Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net | url = https://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/pgpqlgzzgnxhulcs2sncvd1hq/Cleveland_Cavaliers/1998/Road_Uniform | access-date = January 22, 2022}}

Until 2023, this was the last time the Cavaliers made the playoffs without future All-Star LeBron James, who was selected by the team as the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft.

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