The 1997–98 Portland Trail Blazers season was the 28th season for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association .[ 1] During the off-season, the Blazers signed free agents Brian Grant ,[ 2] [ 3] [ 4] [ 5] and Vincent Askew ,[ 6] [ 7] and hired former Milwaukee Bucks General Manager and head coach Mike Dunleavy as their new coach.[ 8] [ 9] [ 10] [ 11] After losing their season opener, the Blazers went on a five-game winning streak, which ended with a 140–139 quadruple overtime home loss to the Phoenix Suns on November 14, 1997.[ 12] [ 13] [ 14] [ 15] The Blazers continued to play above .500 for the remainder of the season, holding a 26–20 record at the All-Star break.[ 16]
At mid-season, the team traded Kenny Anderson along with Gary Trent , and rookie guard Alvin Williams to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Damon Stoudamire , Carlos Rogers and Walt Williams ;[ 17] [ 18] [ 19] [ 20] Anderson never played for the Raptors, as he was soon traded to the Boston Celtics .[ 21] [ 22] [ 23] [ 24] The Blazers later on signed free agent Gary Grant in March,[ 25] [ 26] while Askew was released to free agency after 30 games. The Blazers finished with a 46–36 record,[ 27] fourth in the Pacific Division and sixth in the Western Conference, making their sixteenth straight trip to the postseason and 21st in 22 years.[ 28]
Isaiah Rider led the team in scoring with 19.7 points per game and 135 three-point field goals, while Arvydas Sabonis averaged 16.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, Rasheed Wallace provided the team with 14.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, and Brian Grant contributed 12.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game,[ 29] despite only playing 61 games due to a leg injury.[ 30] [ 31] [ 32]
For the second straight season, the Blazers were pitted against the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference First Round of the NBA Playoffs , and the result was identical to that of the previous year, as Portland fell one game to three. It was also the sixth consecutive year that the Blazers lost in the opening round of the playoffs.[ 33] [ 34] [ 35] [ 36]
The Blazers also set an ignominious record during a road game against the Indiana Pacers . The teams' February 27, 1998 game ended with a Pacer win by the embarrassing score of 124–59, the only time in NBA history where a team has had their score doubled.[ 37] [ 38] [ 39] [ 40]
1997–98 Portland Trail Blazers roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
G/F
2
Augmon, Stacey
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1968–08–01
UNLV
G
9
Brunson, Rick
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1972–06–14
Temple
C
31
Cato, Kelvin
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
255 lb (116 kg)
1974–08–26
Iowa State
G
12
Crotty, John
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1969–07–15
Virginia
F
44
Grant, Brian
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
254 lb (115 kg)
1972–03–05
Xavier
G
23
Grant, Gary
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1965–04–21
Michigan
C
53
Lister, Alton
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1958–10–01
Arizona State
F/C
5
O'Neal, Jermaine
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
226 lb (103 kg)
1978–10–13
Eau Claire HS (SC)
G
34
Rider, Isaiah
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1971–03–12
UNLV
C
4
Rogers, Carlos
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1971–02–06
Tennessee State
C
11
Sabonis, Arvydas
7 ft 3 in (2.21 m)
279 lb (127 kg)
1964–12–19
Lithuania
G
3
Stoudamire, Damon
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
171 lb (78 kg)
1973–09–03
Arizona
F
30
Wallace, Rasheed
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1974–09–17
North Carolina
F
42
Williams, Walt
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
219 lb (99 kg)
1970–04–16
Maryland
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
edit
1997-98 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
–
2–1
4–0
1–3
4–0
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–3
2–0
0–2
1–3
3–1
0–2
1–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
4–0
0–2
2–0
4–0
Boston
1–2
–
1–2
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
1–1
0–4
2–0
1–1
0–4
2–2
1–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–0
0–2
2–0
3–2
Charlotte
0–4
2–1
–
1–3
2–2
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
2–2
1–3
3–1
2–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
4–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
Chicago
3–1
3–1
3–1
–
2–2
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
2–1
4–0
1–1
4–0
4–0
3–1
2–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
4–0
0–2
2–0
3–1
Cleveland
0–4
3–1
2–2
2–2
–
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–3
2–2
2–0
3–1
1–2
2–2
3–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
2–0
1–2
Dallas
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
–
3–1
0–2
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–3
0–4
0–2
0–2
2–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–4
0–4
0–4
0–4
2–2
1–1
0–4
4–0
1–1
Denver
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–3
–
0–2
1–3
0–4
0–2
2–2
0–4
0–2
0–2
1–3
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
2–2
1–3
0–4
0–4
0–2
0–4
1–3
1–1
Detroit
2–2
2–2
1–3
1–3
1–3
2–0
2–0
–
2–0
1–1
1–3
2–0
0–2
1–2
2–2
0–2
2–2
2–2
1–2
3–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
4–0
0–2
0–2
2–2
Golden State
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
3–1
3–1
0–2
–
1–3
0–2
1–3
1–3
0–2
0–2
0–4
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–4
1–3
2–2
1–3
1–3
0–2
0–4
1–3
0–2
Houston
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
4–0
4–0
1–1
3–1
–
1–1
4–0
1–3
0–2
1–1
1–3
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–3
1–3
4–0
2–2
1–3
2–0
0–4
3–1
1–1
Indiana
3–1
4–0
1–3
2–2
2–2
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
–
2–0
0–2
3–1
4–0
2–0
2–1
2–1
3–1
4–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
4–0
1–1
2–0
4–0
L.A. Clippers
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
3–1
2–2
0–2
3–1
0–4
0–2
–
0–4
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–4
0–4
3–1
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–3
1–3
0–2
L.A. Lakers
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
4–0
4–0
2–0
3–1
3–1
2–0
4–0
–
1–1
2–0
4–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–2
2–2
4–0
4–0
1–3
2–0
3–1
4–0
1–1
Miami
3–1
4–0
1–3
1–2
3–1
2–0
2–0
2–1
2–0
2–0
1–3
2–0
1–1
–
3–1
1–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
4–0
0–2
2–0
2–0
0–2
0–2
4–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
Milwaukee
1–3
2–2
1–3
0–4
2–2
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
0–4
2–0
0–2
1–3
–
1–1
0–4
3–1
2–1
2–2
0–2
2–0
2–0
0–2
1–1
3–1
0–2
1–1
1–2
Minnesota
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–2
3–1
2–0
4–0
3–1
0–2
4–0
0–4
1–1
1–1
–
2–0
1–1
0–2
2–0
3–1
1–3
3–1
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–3
4–0
0–2
New Jersey
2–1
2–2
2–2
0–4
1–3
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
4–0
0–2
–
2–2
3–1
3–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
3–1
0–2
2–0
1–3
New York
2–2
2–2
3–1
0–4
2–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–2
2–0
1–1
2–2
1–3
1–1
2–2
–
4–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–1
0–2
2–0
1–3
Orlando
2–2
2–2
1–3
1–3
2–2
2–0
2–0
2–1
1–1
2–0
1–3
2–0
1–1
1–3
1–2
2–0
1–3
0–4
–
4–0
0–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
1–1
3–1
0–2
2–0
3–1
Philadelphia
1–3
1–3
1–2
1–2
1–3
2–0
2–0
1–3
2–0
1–1
0–4
1–1
2–0
0–4
2–2
0–2
1–3
2–2
0–4
–
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
0–2
2–0
3–1
Phoenix
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
4–0
4–0
1–1
4–0
3–1
1–1
4–0
2–2
2–0
2–0
1–3
1–1
0–2
2–0
1–1
–
2–2
3–1
3–1
2–2
2–0
1–3
4–0
1–1
Portland
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
4–0
2–2
2–0
3–1
3–1
1–1
4–0
2–2
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–2
–
3–1
2–2
0–4
2–0
3–1
2–2
1–1
Sacramento
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
4–0
3–1
1–1
2–2
0–4
0–2
1–3
0–4
0–2
0–2
1–3
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–3
1–3
–
0–4
1–3
1–1
2–2
2–2
1–1
San Antonio
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
2–0
4–0
4–0
1–1
3–1
2–2
2–0
3–1
0–4
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–3
2–2
4–0
–
2–2
2–0
1–3
4–0
1–1
Seattle
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
4–0
2–0
3–1
3–1
2–0
4–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
4–0
3–1
2–2
–
2–0
2–2
4–0
1–1
Toronto
0–4
0–3
0–4
0–4
1–3
1–1
2–0
0–4
2–0
0–2
0–4
1–1
0–2
0–4
1–3
1–1
1–3
1–3
1–3
2–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
–
0–2
1–1
0–3
Utah
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
4–0
4–0
2–0
4–0
4–0
1–1
3–1
1–3
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–3
2–2
3–1
2–2
2–0
–
4–0
0–2
Vancouver
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
3–1
2–0
3–1
1–3
0–2
3–1
0–4
0–2
1–1
0–4
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
2–2
2–2
0–4
0–4
1–1
0–4
–
1–1
Washington
0–4
2–3
2–2
1–3
2–1
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–0
1–1
0–4
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–1
2–0
3–1
3–1
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–0
2–0
1–1
—
1998 playoff game log
First round: 1–3 (home: 1–1; road: 0–2)
1998 schedule
† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Trail Blazers only.
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^ 1997-98 Portland Trail Blazers
^ "Trail Blazers Sign Grant to 7-Year, $63-Million Deal" . Los Angeles Times . Staff and Wire Reports. August 24, 1997. Retrieved July 28, 2021 .
^ "NBA -- Blazers Sign Brian Grant; Clifford Robinson Is Out" . The Seattle Times . Associated Press. August 24, 1997. Retrieved June 21, 2023 .
^ "Blazers Sign Brian Grant" . The Spokesman-Review . Wire Services. August 24, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2022 .
^ "Blazers Get Grant for $63-Million" . Tampa Bay Times . August 24, 1997. Retrieved December 1, 2022 .
^ "Furthermore" . The Washington Post . September 27, 1997. Retrieved February 2, 2023 .
^ "Basketball Briefs" . Deseret News . September 27, 1997. Retrieved June 28, 2022 .
^ "Dunleavy Gets Portland Job" . SFGate . May 13, 1997. Retrieved April 2, 2023 .
^ "Dunleavy Named Blazers' Coach" . The New York Times . Associated Press. May 14, 1997. Retrieved December 30, 2021 .
^ "Trail Blazers Hire Dunleavy" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. May 14, 1997. Retrieved October 18, 2022 .
^ "Dunleavy Agrees to Take Reins of Temperamental Trail Blazers" . The Spokesman-Review . Wire Services. May 14, 1997. Retrieved December 15, 2022 .
^ "Portland Falls in Fourth OT" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. November 15, 1997. Retrieved January 4, 2023 .
^ Baum, Bob (November 15, 1997). "Suns 140, Trail Blazers 139, 4OT" . Associated Press . Retrieved July 8, 2021 .
^ "Hawks Remain Unbeaten" . The Spokesman-Review . Associated Press. November 15, 1997. Retrieved January 29, 2023 .
^ "Phoenix Suns at Portland Trail Blazers Box Score, November 14, 1997" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved October 22, 2022 .
^ "NBA Games Played on February 5, 1998" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved July 20, 2022 .
^ Popper, Steve (February 14, 1998). "PRO BASKETBALL; The Trade Comes, to Stoudamire's Relief" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 1, 2022 .
^ "Stoudamire Finally Traded to Portland" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. February 14, 1998. Retrieved June 19, 2021 .
^ "Raptors Deal Stoudamire for Blazers' Anderson" . The Washington Post . February 14, 1998. Retrieved December 5, 2022 .
^ Heisler, Mark (February 20, 1998). "It's a Big Deal for Clippers: There Are No Slam Dunks in the Flurry of NBA Deals" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved June 22, 2023 .
^ Wise, Mike (February 19, 1998). "BASKETBALL; Kenny Anderson Is Traded to Celtics in 7-Player Deal" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 21, 2017 .
^ "Celtics Land Anderson in Deal with Raptors" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. February 19, 1998. Retrieved October 6, 2022 .
^ "In Seven-Player Swap, Raptors Trade Anderson to the Celtics" . The Washington Post . February 19, 1998. Retrieved December 5, 2022 .
^ Smith, Sam (February 20, 1998). "NBA's Rash of Trades Ends with Another Seikaly Deal" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved June 22, 2023 .
^ "Blazers Sign Grant, Waive Wingfield" . Associated Press . March 5, 1998. Retrieved January 18, 2022 .
^ "Sports Briefs" . Deseret News . March 26, 1998. Retrieved February 2, 2023 .
^ "1997–98 Portland Trail Blazers Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ "Portland Trail Blazers" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved January 19, 2022 .
^ "1997–98 Portland Trail Blazers Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ "N.B.A.: LAST NIGHT; Chicago Is No Match for the Balanced Heat" . The New York Times . Associated Press. January 8, 1998. Retrieved January 15, 2022 .
^ "One Half Enough for Bulls' Jackson" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. January 8, 1998. Retrieved October 3, 2022 .
^ Baum, Bob (January 14, 1998). "As They Lose Games, Blazers Lose Spirit" . South Coast Today . Retrieved January 8, 2023 .
^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (May 1, 1998). "On In a Blaze of Glory" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved July 4, 2021 .
^ "Lakers 110, Trail Blazers 99" . Orlando Sentinel . May 1, 1998. Retrieved November 25, 2022 .
^ "Lakers 110, Trail Blazers 99" . United Press International . May 1, 1998. Retrieved May 30, 2022 .
^ "1998 NBA Western Conference First Round: Trail Blazers vs. Lakers" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved February 4, 2023 .
^ "N.B.A.: LAST NIGHT; Pacers Make History in Doubling Portland" . The New York Times . Associated Press. February 28, 1998. Retrieved July 26, 2017 .
^ "Indiana Doubles Its Pleasure in Victory" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. February 28, 1998. Retrieved May 25, 2022 .
^ "Indiana Doubles Portland's Pain, 124-59" . The Washington Post . February 28, 1998. Retrieved January 4, 2023 .
^ "Portland Trail Blazers at Indiana Pacers Box Score, February 27, 1998" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved November 18, 2022 .