The 1996–97 Atlanta Hawks season was the 48th season for the Atlanta Hawks in the National Basketball Association, and their 29th season in Atlanta, Georgia. During this season, Hawks owner Ted Turner was the then-vice chairman of Time Warner after acquiring Turner Broadcasting System.
Season summary
Off-season During the off-season, the Hawks signed free agent All-Star center Dikembe Mutombo to help strengthen their defense. The team also signed free agents Tyrone Corbin, Willie Burton, Eldridge Recasner, and former Georgia Tech University guard Jon Barry; Corbin previously played for the Hawks during the 1994–95 season.
Regular season With the addition of Mutombo and Corbin, the Hawks struggled with a 5–6 start to the regular season, but soon recovered and played above .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season. In December, the team signed free agent, and three-point specialist Henry James, and later on released Burton to free agency in January after 24 games. The Hawks posted a 14–2 record in January, which included a 10-game winning streak, and later on held a 31–15 record at the All-Star break. The Hawks posted a seven-game winning streak in March, and finished in second place in the Central Division with a 56–26 record, earning the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference; the team qualified for the NBA playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. The Hawks also posted a successful 36–5 home record at the Omni Coliseum, which was the third-best in the league, and also won 20 consecutive home games from November 12, 1996 to February 12, 1997. The Hawks had the third best team defensive rating in the NBA.
Steve Smith averaged 20.1 points and 4.2 assists per game, and contributed 130 three-point field goals, while Christian Laettner averaged 18.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, and Mookie Blaylock provided the team with 17.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.7 steals per game, led the Hawks with 221 three-point field goals, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. In addition, Mutombo provided with 13.3 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game, and was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the second time, and was also named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, while Corbin contributed 9.5 points and 1.3 steals per game. Off the bench, James contributed 6.7 points per game in 53 games, while second-year forward Alan Henderson averaged 6.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, but only played just 30 games due to a mysterious illness known as "acute viral pancreatitis", Recasner provided with 5.7 points per game, and Barry contributed 4.9 points per game.
During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, Mutombo and Laettner were both selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; it was Laettner's first and only All-Star appearance. Mutombo also finished tied in 13th place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Smith finished tied in 17th place; Blaylock finished in third place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and head coach Lenny Wilkens finished tied in sixth place in Coach of the Year voting.
The Hawks finished 27th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 549,414 at the Omni Coliseum during the regular season, which was the third-lowest in the league.
NBA playoffs In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1997 NBA playoffs, the Hawks faced off against the 5th–seeded Detroit Pistons, who were led by All-Star forward Grant Hill, All-Star guard Joe Dumars, and Lindsey Hunter. The Hawks won Game 1 over the Pistons at home, 89–75 at the Omni Coliseum, but then lost the next two games, which included a Game 3 loss to the Pistons on the road, 99–91 at The Palace of Auburn Hills, as the Pistons took a 2–1 series lead. However, the Hawks managed to win the next two games, including a Game 5 win over the Pistons at the Omni Coliseum, 84–79 to win in a hard-fought five-game series.
In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the top–seeded, and defending NBA champion Chicago Bulls, who won the Central Division title, and were led by the trio of All-Star guard Michael Jordan, All-Star forward Scottie Pippen, and rebound-specialist Dennis Rodman. The Hawks lost Game 1 to the Bulls on the road, 100–97 at the United Center, but managed to win Game 2 on the road, 103–95 to even the series; in Game 2, Blaylock scored 26 points, and made 8 out of 9 three-point field-goal attempts. However, the Hawks lost their next two home games at the Omni Coliseum, before losing Game 5 to the Bulls at the United Center, 107–92, thus losing the series in five games.
The Bulls would go on to defeat the Utah Jazz in six games in the 1997 NBA Finals, winning their second consecutive NBA championship, and their fifth championship in seven years.
Aftermath This was also the Hawks' final season in which they played their home games at the Omni Coliseum, which was scheduled for demolition after the season. The Hawks played their final game at "The Omni" in a Game 4 loss to the Bulls, during the second round of the NBA playoffs, 89–80 on May 11, 1997.
Following the season, Barry signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers, while James re-signed with his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Ken Norman was released to free agency; Norman only played just 17 games this season due to a back injury.
Offseason
Draft picks
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 28 The Hawks traded #45 and #47 picks to the SuperSonics for #28 pick on June 25, 1996. Center Peristeri BC
Roster
Roster Notes Shooting guard Donnie Boyce was waived on March 4, 1997. Small forward Willie Burton was waived on January 7, 1997. Small forward Darrin Hancock played in two separate stints with the Hawks during the regular season; he was signed by the team after being waived by the Phoenix Suns, who acquired him from the Milwaukee Bucks. After the Hawks waived him, he signed with the San Antonio Spurs, where he would only play just one game for them before being released, and re-signed by the Hawks for the remainder of the season. Rookie center Priest Lauderdale holds both American and Bulgarian dual citizenship.
Regular season
Season standings
1996–97 NBA season Summary - Basketball-Reference.com
z = clinched division title y = clinched division title x = clinched playoff spot
Game log
| 1 || November 1 || @ Miami Heat ||L 81-94 || || Miami Arena15,133 || 0–1
| 2 || November 2 || Detroit Pistons ||L 78-90 || || Omni Coliseum16,378 || 0–2
| 3 || November 4 || @ Portland Trail Blazers ||W 94-76 || || Rose Garden Arena21,567 || 1–2
| 4 || November 5 || @ Seattle SuperSonics ||W 117-95 || || KeyArena at Seattle Center17,072 || 2-2
| 5 || November 7 || @ Sacramento Kings ||W 91-87 || || ARCO Arena17,317 || 3–2
| 6 || November 10 || @ Los Angeles Lakers ||L 85-92 || || Great Western Forum16,097 || 3-3
| 7 || November 12 || Cleveland Cavaliers ||W 87-83 || || Omni Coliseum || 4–3
| 8 || November 13 || @ Boston Celtics ||L 85-103 || || FleetCenter13,184 || 4-4
| 9 || November 15 || Miami Heat ||W 85-77 || || Omni Coliseum16,378 || 5–4
| 10 || November 16 || @ Chicago Bulls ||L 69-97 || || United Center23,939 || 5-5
| 11 || November 19 || @ Cleveland Cavaliers ||L 63-73 || || Gund Arena14,182 || 5–6
| 12 || November 21 || @ Milwaukee Bucks ||W 73-65 || || Bradley Center14,698 || 6-6
| 13 || November 23 || @ Toronto Raptors ||W 91-88 || || SkyDome16,838 || 7–6
| 14 || November 26 || Vancouver Grizzlies ||W 101-80 || || Omni Coliseum || 8–6
| 15 || November 27 || @ Orlando Magic ||L 75-79 || || Orlando Arena17,248 || 8–7
| 16 || November 29 || Washington Bullets ||W 110-81 || || Omni Coliseum12,457 || 9–7
| 17 || December 3 || Boston Celtics ||W 105-95 || || Omni Coliseum || 10–7
| 18 || December 4 || @ Detroit Pistons ||L 90-100 || || The Palace of Auburn Hills14,574 || 10–8
| 19 || December 7 || Toronto Raptors ||W 101-75 || || Omni Coliseum11,422 || 11–8
| 20 || December 10 || Denver Nuggets ||W 89-88 || || Omni Coliseum || 12–8
| 21 || December 14 || Philadelphia 76ers ||W 106-81 || || Omni Coliseum12,473 || 13–8
| 22 || December 17 || @ Dallas Mavericks ||W 109-73 || || Reunion Arena14,805 || 14–8
| 23 || December 20 || New Jersey Nets ||W 109-95 || || Omni Coliseum12,884 || 15–8
| 24 || December 21 || @ Charlotte Hornets ||L 93-98 || || Charlotte Coliseum24,042 || 15–9
| 25 || December 23 || @ New York Knicks ||L 76-82 || || Madison Square Garden19,763 || 15–10
| 26 || December 26 || Chicago Bulls ||W 108-103 || || Omni Coliseum16,378 || 16–10
| 27 || December 28 || @ Washington Bullets ||L 86-97 || || US Airways Arena11,797 || 16–11
| 28 || January 3 || @ New Jersey Nets ||W 95-85 || || Continental Airlines Arena14,310 || 17–11
| 29 || January 4 || New York Knicks ||W 88-71 || || Omni Coliseum16,378 || 18–11
| 30 || January 7 || Phoenix Suns ||W 105-103 (OT) || || Omni Coliseum || 19–11
| 31 || January 9 || @ Orlando Magic ||W 97-92 (OT) || || Orlando Arena17,248 || 20–11
| 32 || January 11 || San Antonio Spurs ||W 87-82 (OT) || || Omni Coliseum15,877 || 21–11
| 33 || January 13 || @ Cleveland Cavaliers ||W 93-79 || || Gund Arena14,565 || 22–11
| 34 || January 14 || Minnesota Timberwolves ||W 95-93 || || Omni Coliseum14,032 || 23–11
| 35 || January 16 || Orlando Magic ||W 78-67 || || Omni Coliseum16,378 || 24–11
| 36 || January 18 || Milwaukee Bucks ||W 94-71 || || Omni Coliseum16,378 || 25–11
| 37 || January 20 || Charlotte Hornets ||W 106-97 || || Omni Coliseum16,378 || 26–11
| 38 || January 21 || @ Miami Heat ||L 91-94 || || Miami Arena14,853 || 26–12
| 39 || January 24 || Washington Bullets ||W 117-105 (OT) || || Omni Coliseum15,325 || 27–12
| 40 || January 25 || Boston Celtics ||W 95-90 || || Omni Coliseum16,378 || 28–12
| 41 || January 28 || @ Los Angeles Clippers ||W 112-96 || || Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena || 29–12
| 42 || January 30 || @ Utah Jazz ||L 96-102 || || Delta Center19,911 || 29–13
| 43 || January 31 || @ Vancouver Grizzlies ||W 87-76 || || General Motors Place15,205 || 30–13
| 44 || February 2 || @ Denver Nuggets ||L 104-115 || || McNichols Sports Arena13,122 || 30–14
| 45 || February 4 || @ Golden State Warriors ||W 107-85 || || San Jose Arena13,111 || 31–14
| 46 || February 5 || @ Phoenix Suns ||L 81-99 || || America West Arena19,023 || 31–15
| 47 || February 12 || Toronto Raptors ||W 106-84 || || Omni Coliseum13,846 || 32–15
| 48 || February 14 || Chicago Bulls ||L 88-89 || || Omni Coliseum16,378 || 32–16
| 49 || February 15 || @ San Antonio Spurs ||W 109-89 || || Alamodome26,809 || 33–16
| 50 || February 17 || @ Houston Rockets ||L 98-127 || || The Summit16,285 || 33–17
| 51 || February 19 || Indiana Pacers ||W 100-87 || || Omni Coliseum16,378 || 34–17
| 52 || February 21 || Houston Rockets ||W 76-74 || || Omni Coliseum16,378 || 35–17
| 53 || February 22 || Charlotte Hornets ||L 92-93 || || Omni Coliseum16,378 || 35–18
| 54 || February 24 || Golden State Warriors ||W 106-100 || || Omni Coliseum15,660 || 36–18
| 55 || February 26 || @ Milwaukee Bucks ||W 79-72 || || Bradley Center13,285 || 37–18
| 56 || February 28 || Los Angeles Lakers ||W 86-75 || || Omni Coliseum16,378 || 38–18
| 57 || March 2 || @ Detroit Pistons ||L 75-82 || || The Palace of Auburn Hills21,454 || 38–19
| 58 || March 4 || Cleveland Cavaliers ||W 93-88 || || Omni Coliseum15,404 || 39–19
| 59 || March 6 || @ Philadelphia 76ers ||W 117-104 || || CoreStates Center13,802 || 40–19
| 60 || March 7 || Milwaukee Bucks ||W 90-80 || || Omni Coliseum14,906 || 41–19
| 61 || March 9 || @ Boston Celtics ||W 114-90 || || FleetCenter16,931 || 42–19
| 62 || March 11 || Utah Jazz ||W 106-99 || || Omni Coliseum14,475 || 43–19
| 63 || March 12 || @ Indiana Pacers ||L 82-92 || || Market Square Arena14,824 || 43–20
| 64 || March 14 || Seattle SuperSonics ||L 91-97 || || Omni Coliseum16,378 || 43–21