1997–98 Cleveland Cavaliers season

NBA professional basketball team season March 2026 August 2023 Cleveland Cavaliers 1998 47 35 Central 5 6 Mike Fratello Wayne Embry Gordon Gund George Gund III Gund Arena First round(lost to Pacers 1–3) CLE SportsChannel/Fox Sports Ohio WUAB WTAM The 1997–98 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 28th season for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the National Basketball Association. Cleveland Cavaliers Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/ August 6, 2026 Season summary Off-season In the 1997 NBA draft, the Cavaliers selected shooting guard Derek Anderson from the University of Kentucky with the 13th overall pick, selected point guard Brevin Knight out of Stanford University with the 16th overall pick, and selected small forward Cedric Henderson from the University of Memphis with the 45th overall pick. Heisler Mark Draft Over, But Not Finished Los Angeles Times June 26, 1997 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-06-26-sp-7002-story.html January 2, 2023 Cotton Anthony No. 1 Pick Turns Duncan Into Spur of Moment The Washington Post June 26, 1997 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/06/26/no-1-pick-turns-duncan-into-spur-of-moment/0d3bc16e-a289-4cf0-be77-fd196c6e35d7/ August 3, 2025 1997 NBA Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1997.html January 2, 2023 Lithuanian rookie center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who was drafted by the Cavaliers as the 20th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft, but missed all of the previous season due to a foot injury, made his debut in the NBA this season. During the off-season, the team acquired All-Star forward Shawn Kemp from the Seattle SuperSonics in a three-team trade, Roberts Selena Pro Basketball: Sonics' Kemp Gets Wish and Is Traded, to Cavs The New York Times September 26, 1997 https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/26/sports/pro-basketball-sonics-kemp-gets-wish-and-is-traded-to-cavs.html March 1, 2017 Baker Chris Kemp Is Key Player in Three-Way Trade Los Angeles Times September 26, 1997 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-sep-26-sp-36358-story.html September 18, 2022 Sherwin Bob Shawn Kemp Moves On, Reign Comes to an End; Kemp Is a Cav, Baker Is a Sonic After 3-Way Deal The Seattle Times September 26, 1997 https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19970926&slug=2562608 May 16, 2022 acquired Wesley Person from the Phoenix Suns in another three-team trade, Berger Ken Nuggets Send McDyess to Phoenix Associated Press October 1, 1997 https://apnews.com/article/806e4ff7a62141a2ffea2903428a8956 October 29, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20220920170417/https://apnews.com/article/806e4ff7a62141a2ffea2903428a8956 September 20, 2022 dead Associated Press Plus: In the News -- Pro Basketball: McDyess to Suns in Three-Team Deal The New York Times October 2, 1997 https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/02/sports/plus-in-the-news-pro-basketball-mcdyess-to-suns-in-three-team-deal.html December 4, 2022 Staff and Wire Reports Suns Make Trade for McDyess Los Angeles Times October 2, 1997 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-oct-02-sp-38410-story.html December 4, 2022 and signed free agent Mitchell Butler. Associated Press  Transactions  The Gadsen Times  October 4, 1997  D2  https://books.google.com/books?id=jr4fAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA22&dq=1997+Cleveland+Cavaliers+mitchell+butler&article_id=6726,403593&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjImba93K2XAxWv6BoGHYy6Eu04HhDoAXoECAsQAg#v=onepage&q=1997%20Cleveland%20Cavaliers%20mitchell%20butler&f=false October 9, 2026 For the season, the Cavaliers slightly updated their home and road uniforms; the uniforms still featured the controversial light blue splash across their jerseys, but were removed from their shorts and replaced with a much smaller light blue splash on the bottom of the left leg. The team nickname "Cavs" was changed from orange to black with orange inlines on their white home uniforms, while the city name "Cleveland" was changed from orange to white with orange inlines on their black road uniforms; both uniforms featured the team's primary logo of a basketball going into a net on the right leg of their shorts. The team's updated uniforms would remain in use until 1999. Cleveland Cavaliers Home Uniform Chris Creamer's SportsLogos.net https://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/efh95jn7e1eyl17u3ggg891bn/Cleveland_Cavaliers/1998/Home_Uniform January 22, 2022 Cleveland Cavaliers Road Uniform Chris Creamer's SportsLogos.net https://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/pgpqlgzzgnxhulcs2sncvd1hq/Cleveland_Cavaliers/1998/Road_Uniform January 22, 2022 Regular season With the addition of Kemp, Person, Ilgauskas and Knight, the Cavaliers struggled with a 4–6 start to the regular season, as Bob Sura only played just 46 games due to an ankle injury, Johnson L.C. Grant Hurt Orlando Sentinel November 20, 1997 https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1997-11-20-9711200230-story.html November 7, 2022 Associated Press Ankle in Cast, Cavaliers' Sura Out for Weeks Times Leader December 10, 1997 https://www.timesleader.com/archive/924604/ankle-in-cast-cavaliers-sura-out-for-weeks July 11, 2022 and Butler was out for the remainder of the season due to a neck injury after 18 games. Associated Press N.B.A.: Yesterday: Jordan's 47 Lead Bulls Into First The New York Times December 28, 1997 https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/28/sports/nba-yesterday-jordan-s-47-lead-bulls-into-first.html January 28, 2023 Around the NBA The Washington Post December 31, 1997 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/12/31/around-the-nba/0ab0b936-d18a-4805-b7aa-6a485957c12d/ October 3, 2022 In December, the team signed free agent Scott Brooks. Cavs Sign Guard  The Vindicator  December 13, 1997  B10  https://books.google.com/books?id=O-VJAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA12&dq=1997+Cleveland+Cavaliers+signed+guard+scott+brooks&article_id=6560,8004172&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjyxI6R262XAxUL4ckDHc-YEYMQ6AF6BAgIEAI#v=onepage&q=1997%20Cleveland%20Cavaliers%20signed%20guard%20scott%20brooks&f=false October 9, 2026 However, the Cavaliers posted a 10-game winning streak between November and December afterwards, Associated Press N.B.A.: Last Night: Cleveland Wins It at the Line The New York Times December 12, 1997 https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/12/sports/nba-last-night-cleveland-wins-it-at-the-line.html October 22, 2021 and later on held a 27–20 record at the All-Star break. NBA Games Played on February 5, 1998 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/?month=2&day=5&year=1998 July 19, 2022 The Cavaliers played above .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, finishing in fifth place in the Central Division with a 47–35 record, earning the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, and qualifying for the NBA playoffs after a one-year absence. 1997–98 Cleveland Cavaliers Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1998_games.html June 21, 2021 The Cavaliers had the best team defensive rating in the NBA.https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/defense/?sort=DEF_RATING&dir=-1&Season=1997-98&SeasonType=Regular%20Season Teams Defense NBA.com April 16, 2021 Kemp averaged 18.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, but only shot .445 in field-goal percentage, 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, Anderson played a sixth man role off the bench, averaging 11.7 points and 1.3 steals per game in 66 games due to a knee injury, Associated Press N.B.A.: Last Night: Ilgauskas Scores 32 to Lead the Cavs The New York Times February 1, 1998 https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/01/sports/nba-last-night-ilgauskas-scores-32-to-lead-the-cavs.html January 28, 2023 Associated Press Like Magic, Anderson Back and Orlando Gets a Victory Los Angeles Times March 5, 1998 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-mar-05-sp-25801-story.html October 18, 2022 while Henderson provided with 10.1 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, and Knight contributed 9.0 points, 8.2 assists and 2.5 steals per game. Off the bench, second-year center Vitaly Potapenko averaged 7.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, while Sura provided with 5.8 points and 3.7 assists per game, and Ferry contributed 4.2 points per game. 1997–98 Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1998.html June 21, 2021 Ilgauskas and Knight were both named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, while Anderson and Henderson were both named the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. During the NBA All-Star weekend at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, Kemp was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; it was his sixth and final All-Star appearance. Howard-Cooper Scott Lakers Get Four-Star Rating as Van Exel, Jones Honored Los Angeles Times January 28, 1998 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jan-28-sp-13049-story.html April 20, 2023 NBA.com Staff 1998 NBA All-Star Recap NBA.com September 13, 2021 https://www.nba.com/news/history-all-star-recap-1998 May 16, 2023 1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1998.html November 27, 2021 Meanwhile, Ilgauskas, Knight, Henderson and Anderson were all selected for the NBA Rookie Game, as members of the Eastern Conference Rookie team, although Anderson did not participate due to injury. Associated Press 1998 NBA Rookie Game Roster Times-Union February 6, 1998 4B https://books.google.com/books?id=2aQ_AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA14&dq=NBA+rookie+game+roster+1998&article_id=5656,907211&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi85_eY9eCPAxVT1fACHWPLIaEQ6AF6BAgGEAM#v=onepage&q=NBA%20rookie%20game%20roster%201998&f=false September 19, 2025 Ilgauskas scored 18 points along with 7 rebounds and 2 blocks, and was named the Rookie Game's Most Valuable Player, as the Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference, 85–80. Popper Steve N.B.A. All-Star Weekend: Kids Slam and Ham, But a Grown-Up Shoots for Dough; Houston Pair Win in 2Ball The New York Times February 8, 1998 https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/08/sports/nba-all-star-weekend-kids-slam-ham-but-grown-up-shoots-for-dough-houston-pair.html January 15, 2022 1998 NBA Rising Stars: East 85, West 80 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1998_rookie.html January 15, 2022 In addition, Person participated in the inaugural NBA 2Ball Competition, along with Michelle Edwards of the WNBA's Cleveland Rockers. Withers Tom Cooper, Drexler Win 2Ball Contest The Day February 8, 1998 G4 https://books.google.com/books?id=2pVGAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA26&dq=1998+NBA+2Ball+steve+nash&article_id=4047,1580472&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiRkISl9-WPAxXtg4kEHb1BMvsQ6AF6BAgKEAM#v=onepage&q=1998%20NBA%202Ball%20steve%20nash&f=false September 19, 2025 Bender Patricia 1997–98 All-Star Events and Contestants - in New York Eskimo.com https://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/misc/all-star98.txt September 19, 2025 Knight finished tied in eleventh place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, 1997–98 NBA Awards Voting Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1998.html December 26, 2024 while head coach Mike Fratello finished in third place in Coach of the Year voting. Times Wire Services Bird Draws Top Honor in His Rookie Season Los Angeles Times May 13, 1998 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-may-13-sp-49216-story.html February 2, 2023 The Cavaliers finished 14th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 694,629 at the Gund Arena during the regular season. 1997–98 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1998.html January 22, 2026 NBA playoffs In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1998 NBA playoffs, the Cavaliers faced off against the 3rd–seeded Indiana Pacers, who were led by All-Star guard Reggie Miller, All-Star center Rik Smits, and Chris Mullin. The Cavaliers lost the first two games to the Pacers on the road at the Market Square Arena, but managed to win Game 3 at home, 86–77 at the Gund Arena. 1998 NBA Eastern Conference First Round Game 3: Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers Box Score, April 27, 1998 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199804270CLE.html June 4, 2026 However, the Cavaliers lost Game 4 to the Pacers at home, 80–74, thus losing the series in four games. Associated Press N.B.A. Playoffs: Cleveland Ousted The New York Times May 1, 1998 https://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/01/sports/nba-playoffs-cleveland-ousted.html July 2, 2021 Associated Press Knicks, Heat Slug It Out Again Los Angeles Times May 1, 1998 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-may-01-sp-45244-story.html November 25, 2022 1998 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Cavaliers vs. Pacers Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1998-nba-eastern-conference-first-round-cavaliers-vs-pacers.html February 3, 2023 This would also be the team's final NBA playoff appearance until the 2005–06 season, as what would follow was a seven-year playoff drought. Aftermath Following the season, Brooks was released to free agency. Until the 2022–23 season, this was the final season in which the Cavaliers qualified for the NBA playoffs without future All-Star LeBron James, who was selected by the team as the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft. 2 Offseason Free agents Trades Draft picks 1997 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 1 13 Derek Anderson SG Kentucky 1 16* Brevin Knight PG Stanford 2 45 Cedric Henderson SF Memphis *1st round pick acquired from Phoenix in three-way Antonio McDyess deal.SUNS: Suns Rise Again in West Roster Cleveland Cavaliers 1997–98 #5787DC #000000 #000000 #FFFFFF 23 Derek Anderson basketball G/F 6 5 220 1974–07–18 Kentucky 2 Scott Brooks G 5 11 165 1965–07–31 UC Irvine 6 Mitchell Butler G 6 5 210 1970–12–15 UCLA 27 Tony Dumas G 6 6 190 1972–08–25 UMKC 35 Danny Ferry F 6 10 230 1966–10–17 Duke 45 Cedric Henderson basketball, born 1975 F 6 7 215 1975–03–11 Memphis 11 Zydrunas Ilgauskas C 7 3 238 1975–06–05 Lithuania 32 Henry James basketball F 6 8 220 1965–07–29 St. Mary's (TX) 4 Shawn Kemp F 6 10 230 1969–11–26 Trinity Valley CC 12 Brevin Knight G 5 10 170 1975–11–08 Stanford 1 Wesley Person G 6 6 195 1971–03–28 Auburn 52 Vitaly Potapenko C 6 10 280 1975–03–21 Wright State 44 Shawnelle Scott C 6 10 250 1972–06–16 St. John's 3 Bob Sura G 6 5 200 1973–03–25 Florida State 30 Carl Thomas basketball G 6 4 175 1969–10–03 Eastern Michigan Mike Fratello Marc Iavaroni Sidney Lowe Ron Rothstein https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1998.html February 22, 1998 Regular season Season standings CLE CLE z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot Game log background:#5787DC; color:#FFFFFF 1997–98 game logTotal: 47–35 (home: 27–14; road: 20–21) y background:#000000; color:#F60 October: 0-1 (home: 0–0; road: 0–1) Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor= |- || || || || || || |- y background:#000000; color:#F60 November: 9-5 (home: 4–3; road: 5–2) Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor= |- || || || || || || |- y background:#000000; color:#F60 December: 8-5 (home: 4–3; road: 4–2) Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor= |- || || || || || || |- y background:#000000; color:#F60 January: 9-7 (home: 5–3; road: 4–4) Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor= |- || || || || || || |- y background:#000000; color:#F60 February: 4-9 (home: 2–3; road: 2–6) Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor= |- || || || || || || |- y background:#000000; color:#F60 March: 11-4 (home: 7–1; road: 4–3) Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor= |- || || || || || || |- y background:#000000; color:#F60 April: 6-4 (home: 5–1; road: 1–3) Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor= |- || || || || || || |- Playoffs Cleveland Cavaliers yes 1998 #5787DC #FFFFFF Cleveland Cavaliers First round yes yes #000000 #F60 no 1 1 0 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 23 | @ Indiana | L 77–106 | Shawn Kemp (25) | Shawn Kemp (13) | Brevin Knight (5) | Market Square Arena16,644 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | April 25 | @ Indiana | L 86–92 | Shawn Kemp (27) | Zydrunas Ilgauskas (10) | Brevin Knight (7) | Market Square Arena16,617 | 0–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | April 27 | Indiana | W 86–77 | Shawn Kemp (31) | Kemp, Knight (7) | three players tied (5) | Gund Arena17,495 | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | April 30 | Indiana | L 74–80 | Shawn Kemp (21) | Shawn Kemp (12) | Brevin Knight (6) | Gund Arena18,188 | 1–3 |- CLE yes 1998 Player stats Regular season PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPGShawn Kemp808034.644.525.072.79.32.51.41.118.0Wesley Person828239.046.043.077.64.42.31.60.614.7Zydrunas Ilgauskas828129.051.825.076.28.80.90.61.613.9Derek Anderson661327.940.820.287.32.83.41.30.211.7Cedric Henderson827130.848.00.071.64.02.01.20.510.1Brevin Knight807631.044.10.080.13.28.22.50.29.0Vitaly Potapenko80017.748.00.070.83.90.70.30.47.1Bob Sura46420.537.731.756.52.03.71.00.25.8Danny Ferry69315.039.533.380.01.70.90.40.24.2Henry James2805.940.744.095.50.50.20.00.02.9Carl Thomas2909.438.639.561.51.30.30.60.22.7Greg Graham609.358.30.0100.00.21.00.20.02.7Mitchell Butler18011.431.916.760.01.21.00.40.02.1Tony Dumas706.750.050.00.00.70.70.00.02.0Scott Brooks4307.342.445.590.00.71.10.40.11.8Shawnelle Scott4104.644.40.066.71.40.20.10.21.1 Playoffs PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPGShawn Kemp4438.046.50.084.410.32.01.31.026.0Zydrunas Ilgauskas4436.857.10.052.07.50.50.51.317.3Derek Anderson4025.845.50.088.52.32.81.30.310.8Wesley Person4434.037.936.875.02.32.50.80.08.0Cedric Henderson4439.339.30.061.54.32.81.50.07.5Brevin Knight4433.028.60.060.04.05.82.50.34.5Vitaly Potapenko4017.540.00.050.02.80.80.50.04.3Carl Thomas1011.00.00.066.71.00.00.00.02.0Scott Brooks108.00.00.0100.00.02.00.00.02.0Shawnelle Scott103.050.00.00.00.00.00.01.02.0Bob Sura3010.320.00.066.71.01.30.30.01.3Danny Ferry303.30.00.00.00.30.00.00.00.0 Player statistics citation: Awards and records Awards Zydrunas Ilgauskas, NBA All-Rookie First Team Brevin Knight, NBA All-Rookie First Team Derek Anderson, NBA All-Rookie Second Team Cedric Henderson, NBA All-Rookie Second Team Records Milestones All-Star Shawn Kemp – 1998 NBA All-Star Game Transactions Trades Free agents Development League References Cleveland Cavaliers on Database Basketball Cleveland Cavaliers on Basketball Reference Category:Cleveland Cavaliers seasons Cleveland Cleve Cleve