1996–97 Boston Celtics season

NBA basketball team season August 2023 March 2026 Boston Celtics 1997 15 67 atlantic 7 15 M. L. Carr Jan Volk Paul Gaston Fleet Center WSBK-TVSportsChannel New England WRKO Did not qualify BOS The 1996–97 Boston Celtics season was the 51st season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. Boston Celtics Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/ August 6, 2026 Season summary Off-season Celebrating its 50th anniversary as one of the NBA's original franchises, the Celtics received the sixth overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft, and selected power forward Antoine Walker from the University of Kentucky. Heisler Mark The Surprises Are Few Los Angeles Times June 27, 1996 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-06-27-sp-22580-story.html December 1, 2022 Greenberg Alan Celtics Expecting Big Things from Their Top Pick Hartford Courant June 27, 1996 https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1996-06-27-9606270314-story.html October 22, 2022 1996 NBA Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1996.html December 1, 2022 During the off-season, the team signed free agents Frank Brickowski and Marty Conlon. Transactions Hartford Courant August 2, 1996 https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1996-08-02-9608020298-story.html July 25, 2022 Celtics Sign Forward Marty Conlon Associated Press October 21, 1999 https://apnews.com/article/d94ef2ce8c7246b596bfe2c5e5b887e9 June 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220630055855/https://apnews.com/article/d94ef2ce8c7246b596bfe2c5e5b887e9 June 30, 2022 dead For the season, the Celtics updated their primary logo of a leprechaun spinning a basketball, and smoking a cigar in front of a green circle, adding gold, black, brown and peach colors; the logo is still present as of 2026. Boston Celtics Primary Logo Chris Creamer's SportsLogos.net https://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/slhg02hbef3j1ov4lsnwyol5o/Boston_Celtics/1997/Primary_Logo July 8, 2021 Regular season With the addition of Walker, the Celtics got off to a 4–8 start to the regular season, but then struggled losing 13 of their next 14 games as players like Dino Radja, Dana Barros, Dee Brown, Greg Minor and Pervis Ellison were all out for long stretches of the season due to injuries. Henrique Chris Boston Celtics: "Thank God for Marty Conlon", the Tank for Tim Duncan and Rick Pitino Boston Sports Syndicate December 25, 2021 https://www.bostonsportssyndicate.com/2021/12/above-parquet-thank-god-for-marty-conlon.html June 27, 2022 The team suffered through their worst season ever, holding an 11–35 record at the All-Star break, NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/?month=2&day=6&year=1997 January 2, 2023 posting a 13-game losing streak between February and March, and then posting a 10-game losing streak near the end of the season. The Celtics lost 34 of their final 38 games, finishing in last place in the Atlantic Division with a dreadful 15–67 record, which is currently the team's worst record in franchise history. 1996–97 Boston Celtics Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1997_games.html June 28, 2021 Walker averaged 17.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, while David Wesley averaged 16.8 points, 7.3 assists and 2.2 steals per game, and contributed 103 three-point field goals, and Rick Fox provided the team with 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.2 steals per game, and with 101 three-point field goals. In addition, second-year forward Eric Williams contributed 15.0 points per game, and Todd Day provided with 14.5 points per game, and led the Celtics with 126 three-point field goals. Meanwhile, Radja averaged 14.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game in 25 games due to a left knee injury, Barros averaged 12.5 points and 3.4 assists per game in 24 games, Minor contributed 9.6 points per game in 23 games, Brown provided with 7.6 points, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game in 21 games, and Conlon averaged 7.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. 1996–97 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1997.html June 28, 2021 During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, Walker was selected for the NBA Rookie Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference Rookie team. Walker scored 20 points along with 9 rebounds and 2 steals, as the Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference, 96–91. Fry Darrell On to the Next Stage Tampa Bay Times February 8, 1997 https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1997/02/08/on-to-the-next-stage/ September 19, 2025 1997 NBA Rising Stars: East 96, West 91 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1997_rookie.html September 19, 2025 Walker also finished in fourth place in Rookie of the Year voting, Associated Press Iverson Is Voted Top Rookie The New York Times May 2, 1997 https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/02/sports/iverson-is-voted-top-rookie.html October 3, 2022 1996–97 NBA Awards Voting Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1997.html October 3, 2022 while Wesley finished in eleventh place in Most Improved Player voting, and Fox finished tied in sixth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting. The Celtics finished 20th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 664,022 at the FleetCenter during the regular season. 1996–97 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1997.html January 22, 2026 Aftermath Following the season, head coach M.L. Carr resigned, Carr, Brown Resign as Coaches The Washington Post May 1, 1997 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/05/01/carr-brown-resign-as-coaches/0902b038-3828-4cb8-991a-2c257783d2b5/ January 8, 2023 Associated Press Carr Steps Down, Bird's Decision Next Los Angeles Times May 8, 1997 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-08-sp-56641-story.html November 5, 2022 while Fox signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers, Wise Mike Knicks Lose the Bidding War for Fox, Who Heads to Lakers The New York Times August 27, 1997 https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/27/sports/knicks-lose-the-bidding-war-for-fox-who-heads-to-lakers.html September 23, 2022 Associated Press Lakers Fill in a Few Foxholes Los Angeles Times August 27, 1997 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-aug-27-sp-26386-story.html December 5, 2022 Howard-Cooper Scott Fox Hunt Finally Over for Lakers Los Angeles Times August 27, 1997 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-aug-27-sp-26383-story.html October 13, 2021 Wesley signed with the Charlotte Hornets, Associated Press Hornets Get Wesley, a Free Agent The New York Times July 2, 1997 https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/02/sports/hornets-get-wesley-a-free-agent.html June 28, 2022 Staff and Wire Reports The Charlotte Hornets Signed Free Agent Point... Los Angeles Times July 2, 1997 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-jul-02-sp-8925-story.html October 3, 2022 Nowell Paul Expendable Wesley to Hornets South Coast Today July 2, 1997 https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/sports/1997/07/02/expendable-wesley-to-hornets/50607195007/ December 27, 2022 and Williams was traded to the Denver Nuggets. Gardner Kris Celtics Trade Williams to Denver The Houston Roundball Review August 21, 1997 https://www.thehrr.com/nba/trade_archive/082297ewilliamsdealt.html October 3, 2022 Celtics Send Eric Williams to Nuggets Tampa Bay Times August 22, 1997 https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1997/08/22/celtics-send-eric-williams-to-nuggets/?outputType=amp June 29, 2022 Greenberg Alan One of Pitino's Slick Moves Hartford Courant October 23, 1997 https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1997-10-23-9710230482-story.html December 27, 2022 Meanwhile, Day signed with the Miami Heat, Staff and Wire Reports Rodman's Special Kind of Contract Isn't Fine with NBA Los Angeles Times September 18, 1997 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-sep-18-sp-33774-story.html June 30, 2022 Winderman Ira Wholesale Changes Fit Heat Budget Sun Sentinel September 18, 1997 https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1997-09-18-9709170463-story.html December 27, 2022 and Brickowski, Conlon and Alton Lister were all released to free agency. This was also the final season for Radja; after failing his physical exam, voiding an off-season trade that would have sent him to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Clarence Weatherspoon and Michael Cage, he returned to play overseas in Europe, signing a contract to play in Greece, and ending his four-year career in the NBA with the Celtics. Associated Press Radja's Failed Physical Voids Celtic-76er Deal Los Angeles Times June 25, 1997 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-06-25-sp-6746-story.html?_amp=true December 30, 2021 Associated Press Bad Knee Nixes Radja Trade Deseret News June 25, 1997 https://www.deseret.com/1997/6/25/19319782/bad-knee-nixes-radja-trade December 15, 2022 Celtics Appeal on Radja Trade Tampa Bay Times June 26, 1997 https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1997/06/26/celtics-appeal-on-radja-trade/ June 21, 2023 Draft picks 1996 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 6 Antoine Walker SF/PF Kentucky 2 38 Steve Hamer C Tennessee Roster Boston Celtics 1996–97 #00703C white #C5B358 #000000 11 Dana Barros G 5 11 163 1967–04–13 Boston College 34 Frank Brickowski F 6 9 240 1959–08–14 Penn State 7 Dee Brown basketball, born 1968 G 6 1 160 1968–11–29 Jacksonville University 30 Marty Conlon C 6 10 224 1968–01–19 Providence 13 Todd Day G 6 6 188 1970–01–07 Arkansas 29 Pervis Ellison F 6 9 210 1967–04–03 University of Louisville 44 Rick Fox F 6 7 230 1969–07–24 University of North Carolina 5 Michael Hawkins basketball G 6 0 178 1972–10–28 Xavier 53 Alton Lister C 7 0 240 1958–10–01 Arizona State 9 Greg Minor G/F 6 6 210 1971–09–18 University of Louisville 40 Dino Radja C 6 11 225 1967–04–24 Croatia 43 Brett Szabo C 6 11 230 1968–02–01 Augustana College (SD) 8 Antoine Walker F 6 8 224 1976–08–12 Kentucky 4 David Wesley G 6 0 190 1970–11–14 Baylor University 55 Eric Williams basketball, born 1972 F 6 8 220 1972–07–17 Providence M. L. Carr Dennis Johnson K.C. Jones John Kuester https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1997.html March 10, 1997 Regular season Season standings BOS BOS Game log Player statistics Regular season Boston Celtics |- | style="text-align:left;"|Dana Barros | 24 || 8 || 29.5 || .435 || .410 || .860 || 2.0 || 3.4 || 1.1 || .3 || 12.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Frank Brickowski | 17 || 2 || 15.0 || .438 || .350 || .714 || 2.0 || .9 || .3 || .2 || 4.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Dee Brown basketball, born 1968 | 21 || 2 || 24.9 || .367 || .308 || .818 || 2.3 || 3.2 || 1.5 || .3 || 7.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Marty Conlon | 74 || 15 || 21.8 || .471 || .200 || .842 || 4.4 || 1.4 || .6 || .2 || 7.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Todd Day | 81 || 27 || 28.1 || .398 || .362 || .773 || 4.1 || 1.4 || 1.3 || .6 || 14.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Nate Driggers | 15 || 0 || 8.8 || .302 || .000 || .714 || 1.5 || .4 || .2 || .1 || 2.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Pervis Ellison | 6 || 4 || 20.8 || .375 || || .600 || 4.3 || .7 || .8 || 1.5 || 2.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Rick Fox | 76 || 75 || 34.9 || .456 || .363 || .787 || 5.2 || 3.8 || 2.2 || .5 || 15.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Steve Hamer | 35 || 3 || 7.7 || .526 || .000 || .552 || 1.7 || .2 || .1 || .1 || 2.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Michael Hawkins basketball | 29 || 0 || 11.2 || .426 || .323 || .800 || 1.1 || 2.2 || .6 || .0 || 2.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Stacey King† | 5 || 0 || 6.6 || .714 || || .667 || 1.8 || .2 || .0 || .2 || 2.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Alton Lister | 53 || 2 || 9.7 || .416 || || .742 || 3.2 || .2 || .2 || .3 || 1.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Greg Minor | 23 || 15 || 23.8 || .480 || .125 || .861 || 3.5 || 1.5 || .7 || .1 || 9.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Dino Rađa | 25 || 25 || 35.0 || .440 || .000 || .718 || 8.4 || 1.9 || .9 || 1.9 || 14.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Brett Szabo | 70 || 24 || 9.5 || .446 || .000 || .738 || 2.4 || .2 || .2 || .5 || 2.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Antoine Walker | 82 || 68 || 36.2 || .425 || .327 || .631 || 9.0 || 3.2 || 1.3 || .6 || 17.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"|David Wesley | 74 || 73 || 40.4 || .468 || .360 || .781 || 3.6 || 7.3 || 2.2 || .2 || 16.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Eric Williams basketball, born 1972 | 72 || 67 || 33.8 || .456 || .250 || .752 || 4.6 || 1.8 || 1.0 || .2 || 15.0 |} † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Celtics only. Player statistics citation: Awards and records Antoine Walker, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team References See also 1996–97 NBA season Category:Boston Celtics seasons Boston Celtics Boston Celtics Boston Celtics Celtics Celtics