1996–97 Miami Heat season explained

The 1996–97 NBA season was the ninth season for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the off-season, the Heat signed free agents, All-Star guard and three-point specialist Dan Majerle,[2] [3] [4] [5] P.J. Brown,[6] [7] [8] and Isaac Austin.[9] [10] The team also signed All-Star forward Juwan Howard to a 7-year $100 million contract, but was voided by the league claiming that Miami exceeded their salary cap;[11] [12] [13] [14] [15] Howard then quickly re-signed with the Washington Bullets.[16] [17] [18] [19] [20] At midseason, the team traded second-year guard Sasha Danilovic, and second-year forward Kurt Thomas to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Jamal Mashburn.[21] [22] [23] [24]

After a 5–4 start to the season, the Heat went on a nine-game winning streak, then won eleven straight games between January and February, held a 36–12 record at the All-Star break,[25] and won eight straight in March, as they won their first Division title with a record of 61 wins and 21 losses, which stood as the franchise mark until the 2012–13 season.[26] The team also posted the league's best road record at 32–9, while posting a 29–12 record at home. Head coach Pat Riley was named Coach of the Year for the third time.[27] [28] [29] [30] [31] The Heat had the best team defensive rating in the NBA.[32]

Tim Hardaway had a career season with the Heat as he led the team with 20.3 points, 8.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game, while Alonzo Mourning averaged 19.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game.[33] Hardaway and Mourning were both selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game,[34] [35] [36] [37] [38] although Mourning did not play due to a foot injury, where he missed 16 games this season.[39] [40] [41] [42] Hardaway was named to the All-NBA First Team, and finished in fourth place in Most Valuable Player voting behind Karl Malone, Michael Jordan and Grant Hill.[43] [44] [45]

On the defensive side, Mourning and Brown both provided leadership, while on the offensive side, Mashburn gave the team a spark. In addition, second-year guard Voshon Lenard showed improvement becoming the team's starting shooting guard midway through the season, averaging 12.3 points per game, as Majerle only played just 36 games due to a back injury.[46] [47] Majerle contributed 10.8 points per game, while Brown provided the team with 9.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Off the bench, Austin, who played as backup center, averaged 9.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, and Keith Askins contributed 4.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.[48] Austin was honored with the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year Award,[49] [50] [51] [38] while Lenard finished in fourth place in Most Improved Player voting.[52]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Heat won their first ever playoff series by defeating their in-state rivals, the Orlando Magic in five games.[53] [54] [55] [56] In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, they faced the New York Knicks, the previous team that Riley had served as head coach.[57] [58] [59] Game 5 of that series featured a brawl, which involved Brown throwing Knicks guard Charlie Ward off the court, and with several Knicks players coming off the bench during the altercation, receiving automatic one-game suspensions while Brown was suspended for two games.[60] [61] [62] [63] [64] Overtuning a 3–1 series deficit, the Heat managed to defeat the Knicks in seven games.[65] [66] [67] [68]

In their first appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Heat lost in five games to the defending champion Chicago Bulls.[69] [70] [71] [72] It was also the fifth playoff matchup between Riley and Bulls head coach Phil Jackson that decade, with the first three meetings from 1992 to 1994 when Riley coached the Knicks, and in last year's playoffs.[73] The Bulls would go on to defeat the Utah Jazz in six games in the NBA Finals, winning their fifth championship in seven years.[74] [75] [76] [77] [78]

Off-season

NBA draft

See main article: 1996 NBA draft. The Heat did not have any draft picks in 1996.

Regular season

Season standings

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1996-97 NBA Records
width=100TeamATLBOSCHACHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMIAMILMINNJNNYKORLPHIPHOPORSACSASSEATORUTAVANWAS
Atlanta– 3–1 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–2 4–0 2–0 3–1 1–3 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–1
Boston1–3 – 0–4 0–4 1–2 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 1–2 0–2 1–1 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–1 0–2 0–2 0–4
Charlotte3–1 4–0 – 0–4 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–2 2–2 2–0 4–0 3–1 1–2 4–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 0–2 2–0 3–1
Chicago3–1 4–0 4–0 – 3–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 2–2 4–0 2–0 3–1 2–2 3–0 4–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–1
Cleveland1–3 2–1 1–3 1–3 – 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 0–4 2–2 2–0 4–0 1–3 2–2 3–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 1–3
Dallas0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 – 3–1 0–2 0–4 0–4 1–1 2–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 1–3 3–1 0–2
Denver1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 – 0–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–1 0–4 3–1 1–1
Detroit3–1 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–0 – 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 0–4 3–1 2–0 4–0 1–2 2–2 2–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 4–0
Golden State0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 4–0 3–1 0–2 – 0–4 1–1 1–3 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–4 2–2 1–3 4–0 0–4 2–0 0–4 3–1 0–2
Houston1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 1–1 4–0 – 1–1 3–1 3–1 0–2 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 2–2 4–0 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–0
Indiana1–3 2–1 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 1–1 – 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 1–3
L.A. Clippers0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 3–1 0–2 3–1 1–3 0–2 – 2–2 0–2 2–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–4 2–2 4–0 1–3 2–0 1–3 4–0 0–2
L.A. Lakers1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 4–0 1–1 4–0 1–3 1–1 2–2 – 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–0 1–3 4–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 1–3 4–0 2–0
Miami2–1 4–0 2–1 2–2 4–0 2–0 2–0 4–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 – 4–0 1–1 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–1 0–2 2–0 3–1
Milwaukee0–4 3–1 2–2 0–4 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 – 0–2 2–1 1–2 2–2 3–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 1–3
Minnesota0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 3–1 4–0 0–2 3–1 0–4 0–2 3–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 – 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 0–4 4–0 0–4 1–1 1–3 4–0 1–1
New Jersey1–3 4–0 0–4 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–1 0–4 0–2 0–2 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–2 0–2 – 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–3 0–2 2–0 1–3
New York3–1 4–0 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–1 1–1 2–2 – 3–1 3–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–0 1–1 2–0 4–0
Orlando1–3 4–0 2–1 0–3 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 3–1 1–3 – 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 0–2 1–1 1–3
Philadelphia0–4 3–1 0–4 0–4 0–3 0–2 1–1 1–2 0–2 0–2 0–3 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–3 1–1 2–2 2–3 2–2 – 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–2 2–0 1–3
Phoenix1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 4–0 2–2 1–1 2–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 – 1–3 4–0 3–1 2–2 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1
Portland0–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 4–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 – 2–2 4–0 1–3 0–2 2–2 4–0 0–2
Sacramento0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 3–1 0–4 1–1 2–2 0–4 0–2 2–0 4–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–4 2–2 – 3–1 1–3 1–1 0–4 4–0 0–2
San Antonio0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 0–4 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 0–4 1–3 – 0–4 1–1 1–3 1–3 0–2
Seattle1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 4–0 1–1 4–0 1–3 1–1 3–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 – 2–0 1–3 4–0 2–0
Toronto0–4 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–1 1–3 0–2 1–1 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 3–0 0–3 0–4 3–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 – 1–1 1–1 2–2
Utah1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 4–0 2–2 2–0 3–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–2 4–0 3–1 3–1 1–1 – 4–0 2–0
Vancouver0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–2 0–4 0–4 3–1 0–4 1–1 0–4 – 1–1
Washington1–2 4–0 1–3 1–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 0–4 2–0 0–2 3–1 2–0 0–2 1–3 3–1 1–1 3–1 0–4 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 —

Schedule

Game Date Opponent Result Heat points Opponents Record Streak Notes
1

Playoffs

In the first round of the playoffs, the Heat confronted their in-state rivals, the Orlando Magic. The Heat won the first two games. In Orlando, the Magic defeated the Heat to force a fifth game. The Heat won the decisive Game 5 at home, 91–83. Winning their first ever playoff series.[38] In the following round, the Heat were matched up against Pat Riley's former team, the New York Knicks. After the first four games, the Knicks had a 3–1 series lead. The Heat won Game 5 although the game was remembered for P. J. Brown fighting with Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward.[38] Some Knicks players came off the bench and earned automatic suspensions, and Brown was suspended for the rest of the series. The Heat players stayed on the bench and gained an advantage for the rest of the series. The Heat eliminated the undermanned Knicks in seven games and one of the most heated rivalries in the NBA was born.[38] In the Eastern Conference finals, the Heat were defeated by the eventual NBA champion Chicago Bulls in five games.

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| April 24| Orlando| W 99–64| Voshon Lenard (24)| P. J. Brown (12)| Tim Hardaway (11)| Miami Arena
15,200| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| April 27| Orlando| W 104–87| Tim Hardaway (20)| Alonzo Mourning (9)| Tim Hardaway (11)| Miami Arena
15,200| 2–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 29| @ Orlando| L 75–88| Alonzo Mourning (17)| Alonzo Mourning (17)| Tim Hardaway (8)| Orlando Arena
17,248| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| May 1| @ Orlando| L 91–99| Alonzo Mourning (23)| Mourning, Brown (13)| Tim Hardaway (8)| Orlando Arena
16,555| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| May 4| Orlando| W 91–83| Alonzo Mourning (22)| P. J. Brown (14)| Tim Hardaway (11)| Miami Arena
15,200| 3–2|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| May 7| New York| L 79–88| Tim Hardaway (21)| P. J. Brown (12)| Tim Hardaway (6)| Miami Arena
14,870| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| May 9| New York| W 88–84| Tim Hardaway (34)| Alonzo Mourning (13)| Hardaway, Majerle (4)| Miami Arena
14,870| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| May 11| @ New York| L 73–77| Voshon Lenard (22)| P. J. Brown (10)| Tim Hardaway (8)| Madison Square Garden
19,763| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| May 12| @ New York| L 76–89| Tim Hardaway (14)| P. J. Brown (12)| Willie Anderson (4)| Madison Square Garden
19,763| 1–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| May 14| New York| W 96–81| Voshon Lenard (21)| P. J. Brown (12)| Tim Hardaway (6)| Miami Arena
14,782| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| May 16| @ New York| W 95–90| Alonzo Mourning (28)| Alonzo Mourning (9)| Tim Hardaway (8)| Madison Square Garden
19,763| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 7| May 18| New York| W 101–90| Tim Hardaway (38)| Alonzo Mourning (12)| Tim Hardaway (7)| Miami Arena
14,870| 4–3|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| May 20| @ Chicago| L 77–84| Alonzo Mourning (21)| Mourning, Austin (8)| Tim Hardaway (9)| United Center
24,544| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| May 22| @ Chicago| L 68–75| Tim Hardaway (15)| Alonzo Mourning (8)| Tim Hardaway (5)| United Center
24,544| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| May 24| Chicago| L 74–98| Voshon Lenard (14)| Alonzo Mourning (9)| John Crotty (5)| Miami Arena
14,720| 0–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| May 26| Chicago| W 87–80| Tim Hardaway (25)| Alonzo Mourning (14)| Tim Hardaway (7)| Miami Arena
14,720| 1–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| May 28| @ Chicago| L 87–100| Tim Hardaway (27)| Alonzo Mourning (8)| Lenard, Hardaway (5)| United Center
24,544| 1–4|-

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player
C82 17 1,881 478 101 45 43 792 22.9 5.8 1.2 .5 .5 9.7
PG81 81 3,136 277 695 151 9 1,644 38.7 3.4 8.6 1.9 .1 20.3
PF80 71 2,592 670 92 85 98 761 32.4 8.4 1.2 1.1 1.2 9.5
SF78 30 1,773 271 75 53 19 384 22.7 3.5 1.0 .7 .2 4.9
SG73 47 2,111 217 161 50 18 897 28.9 3.0 2.2 .7 .2 12.3
C66 65 2,320 656 104 56 189 1,310 35.2 9.9 1.6 .8 2.9 19.8
PG48 0 659 47 102 18 0 232 13.7 1.0 2.1 .4 .0 4.8
†SG43 33 1,351 102 77 39 8 486 31.4 2.4 1.8 .9 .2 11.3
SF36 26 1,264 162 116 54 14 390 35.1 4.5 3.2 1.5 .4 10.8
†SF32 30 1,189 179 111 43 7 428 37.2 5.6 3.5 1.3 .2 13.4
PF31 0 153 37 1 4 10 62 4.9 1.2 .0 .1 .3 2.0
SG28 1 303 42 34 14 4 83 10.8 1.5 1.2 .5 .1 3.0
PG28 0 365 38 45 16 0 110 13.0 1.4 1.6 .6 .0 3.9
PF27 0 273 65 6 8 9 66 10.1 2.4 .2 .3 .3 2.4
PF18 9 374 107 9 12 9 113 20.8 5.9 .5 .7 .5 6.3
†PF10 0 27 5 3 0 1 17 2.7 .5 .3 .0 .1 1.7
SF8 0 32 6 3 2 0 1 4.0 .8 .4 .3 .0 .1
SF1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.0 .0 .0 .0 1.0 .0
†C1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.0 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0

Playoffs

Player
PG17 17 701 69 119 27 1 318 41.2 4.1 7.0 1.6 .1 18.7
C17 17 630 173 18 11 46 303 37.1 10.2 1.1 .6 2.7 17.8
SF17 17 554 84 35 17 2 178 32.6 4.9 2.1 1.0 .1 10.5
SG17 17 548 50 36 11 3 194 32.2 2.9 2.1 .6 .2 11.4
SF17 2 496 72 43 21 4 136 29.2 4.2 2.5 1.2 .2 8.0
PF15 15 451 129 10 9 20 122 30.1 8.6 .7 .6 1.3 8.1
C15 0 287 66 6 6 7 98 19.1 4.4 .4 .4 .5 6.5
PG15 0 125 11 11 4 0 37 8.3 .7 .7 .3 .0 2.5
SF12 0 146 28 7 3 2 30 12.2 2.3 .6 .3 .2 2.5
SG9 0 120 17 5 4 2 33 13.3 1.9 .6 .4 .2 3.7
PF4 0 16 3 1 1 0 8 4.0 .8 .3 .3 .0 2.0
PF2 0 6 0 1 0 0 4 3.0 .0 .5 .0 .0 2.0

Awards

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIA/1997.html 1996-97 Miami Heat
  2. News: Associated Press . Majerle Seems Headed to the Heat . The New York Times . August 14, 1996 . July 31, 2021.
  3. News: Wire Services . Majerle to Sign with Heat . The Spokesman-Review . August 22, 1996 . July 10, 2022.
  4. News: Once More, Majerle to Miami . Tampa Bay Times . August 22, 1996 . October 5, 2022.
  5. News: Heeren . Dave . Majerle Makes It Official with Heat . Sun Sentinel . August 23, 1996 . January 30, 2023.
  6. News: SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Brown Leaves Nets for the Heat . The New York Times . July 19, 1996 . September 24, 2022.
  7. News: Associated Press . Even a P.J. Brown Can Strike It Rich . Los Angeles Times . July 19, 1996 . June 28, 2022.
  8. News: Heat Add Brown, Keep Hardaway . SFGate . July 19, 1996 . June 24, 2023.
  9. News: Patton . Robes . Riley's Camp Has Little Use for Games . Sun Sentinel . October 11, 1996 . December 15, 2022.
  10. News: Patton . Robes . Austin Fits as Smaller Big Man . Sun Sentinel . October 25, 1996 . December 15, 2022.
  11. News: NBA Blocks Howard's Contract . Associated Press . July 31, 1996 . June 6, 2023.
  12. News: Associated Press . N.B.A. Rejects Howard Deal . The New York Times . August 1, 1996 . June 6, 2023.
  13. News: Asher . Mark . NBA Rejects Heat's Contract with Howard . The Washington Post . August 1, 1996 . June 6, 2023.
  14. News: League Voids Howard's Contract with Heat . Tampa Bay Times . August 1, 1996 . June 6, 2023.
  15. News: Brown . Clifton . An Angry Pat Riley Insists the Heat Broke No Salary Cap Rules . The New York Times . August 13, 1996 . March 14, 2017.
  16. News: Brown . Clifton . Howard: 2 Deals, 2 Teams, $200 Million . The New York Times . August 6, 1996 . May 12, 2022.
  17. News: Asher . Mark . Howard's End a Mystery Even with Bullet Signing . Los Angeles Times . August 6, 1996 . June 6, 2023.
  18. News: Asher . Mark . Juwan Howard Re-Signs with Bullets . The Washington Post . August 6, 1996 . October 5, 2022.
  19. News: Nakamura . David . If You Can't Stand the Heat... . The Washington Post . August 6, 1996 . June 30, 2022.
  20. News: Goldstein . Alan . Bullets Sign Howard to Contract, too 7-Year, $98M Deal Sets Up Legal Showdown with Punished Heat; Miami Salary Cap at Issue; If Bullets Keep All-Star, They May Lose No. 1 Pick . The Baltimore Sun . August 6, 1996 . June 6, 2023.
  21. News: Lester . Will . Heat Gets Mavericks' Mashburn for Three Players . Associated Press . February 14, 1997 . July 18, 2021.
  22. News: Brown . Clifton . Miami Acquires Mashburn from Dallas to Bolster Its Firepower . The New York Times . February 15, 1997 . September 16, 2022.
  23. News: Associated Press . Heat Acquires Mashburn from Mavericks . Los Angeles Times . February 15, 1997 . December 1, 2022.
  24. News: A Move Forward: Mashburn . Sun Sentinel . February 15, 1997 . June 21, 2023.
  25. News: NBA Games Played on February 6, 1997 . Basketball-Reference . July 19, 2022.
  26. Web site: 1996–97 Miami Heat Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. June 21, 2021.
  27. News: Heisler . Mark . Riley Coach of Year for the Third Time . Los Angeles Times . May 9, 1997 . July 24, 2017.
  28. News: Tribune News Services . Trail Blazers Fire Too-Slow Carlesimo . Chicago Tribune . May 9, 1997 . January 2, 2023.
  29. News: Riley Coach of Year; Sloan 3rd . Deseret News . May 9, 1997 . January 2, 2023.
  30. News: Associated Press . Bird Will Cut Coaching Teeth at Highest Level . The Spokesman-Review . May 9, 1997 . May 27, 2023.
  31. Web site: NBA & ABA Coach of the Year Award Winners . Basketball-Reference . November 29, 2022.
  32. Web site: Teams Defense. NBA.com. April 17, 2021.
  33. Web site: 1996–97 Miami Heat Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. June 21, 2021.
  34. News: Jorgensen . Loren . No Offense, But Malone Would Rather Be Home . Deseret News . February 8, 1997 . April 19, 2023.
  35. News: Fry . Darrell . On to the Next Stage . Tampa Bay Times . February 8, 1997 . December 28, 2022.
  36. News: NBA.com Staff . 1997 NBA All-Star Recap . NBA.com . September 13, 2021 . May 16, 2023.
  37. Web site: 1997 NBA All-Star Game: East 132, West 120 . Basketball-Reference . November 27, 2021.
  38. http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/miami/heat.html Miami Heat (1988-Present)
  39. News: Patton . Robes . Mourning Has Sore Heel, May Skip All-Star Game . Sun Sentinel . February 6, 1997 . October 3, 2022.
  40. News: Tribune News Services . Mourning Latest All-Star Casualty; Dumars on Team . Chicago Tribune . February 7, 1997 . January 28, 2023.
  41. News: Associated Press . Mourning Hurts Foot and May Miss Six Weeks . The New York Times . February 22, 1997 . October 3, 2022.
  42. News: Associated Press . Heat Loses Mourning to Foot Injury . Los Angeles Times . February 22, 1997 . December 3, 2022.
  43. News: Facer . Dirk . It's MVP Malone . Deseret News . May 1, 1997 . February 1, 2023.
  44. News: Kawakami . Tim . MVP: Malone, the Standout Jazz Forward Known as Mailman, Edges Jordan in the Voting to Earn Stamp of Greatness . Los Angeles Times . May 19, 1997 . September 24, 2022.
  45. News: 1996-97 NBA Awards Voting . Basketball-Reference . June 24, 2021.
  46. News: Winderman . Ira . Heat Get Back on the Road to Winning . Sun Sentinel . December 22, 1996 . October 7, 2022.
  47. News: Winderman . Ira . Heat Gets Majerle Back . Sun Sentinel . April 2, 1997 . October 7, 2022.
  48. Web site: 1996–97 Miami Heat Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. June 21, 2021.
  49. News: Associated Press . Austin 'Most Improved' . Los Angeles Times . May 4, 1997 . October 3, 2022.
  50. News: Sports Briefly . Deseret News . May 4, 1997 . February 2, 2023.
  51. News: NBA & ABA Most Improved Player Award Winners . Basketball-Reference . November 29, 2022.
  52. News: 1996-97 NBA Awards Voting . Basketball-Reference . June 24, 2021.
  53. News: Wine . Steven . Heat 91, Magic 83 . The Washington Post . May 4, 1997 . June 3, 2022.
  54. News: Brown . Clifton . The Other Hardaway Insures a Heat-Knicks Series . The New York Times . May 5, 1997 . May 12, 2022.
  55. News: Sun Sentinel . Heat 91, Magic 83 . Chicago Tribune . May 5, 1997 . November 25, 2022.
  56. News: 1997 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Magic vs. Heat . Basketball-Reference . February 4, 2023.
  57. News: Vecsey . George . Quiet No More: Starks Comes Out Shooting . The New York Times . May 13, 1997 . January 19, 2022.
  58. News: Heisler . Mark . Heat Feeling Some After Knicks Roll . Los Angeles Times . May 13, 1997 . February 20, 2023.
  59. News: Lupica . Mike . Riley's Heat Almost Toast . Sun Sentinel . May 14, 1997 . October 10, 2022.
  60. News: Wise . Mike . Not for the Faint-Hearted: Knicks-Heat Turns Nasty . The New York Times . May 15, 1997 . January 18, 2022.
  61. News: Adande . J.A. . Miami's Fighting Spirit Is Too Much for Knicks . The Washington Post . May 15, 1997 . July 11, 2022.
  62. News: Winderman . Ira . Heat Fights Back . Sun Sentinel . May 15, 1997 . November 25, 2022.
  63. News: Wise . Mike . 5 Knicks Barred for Melee; 3 to Miss Game 6 . The New York Times . May 16, 1997 . June 10, 2023.
  64. News: Smith . Sam . N.Y.-Miami Fracas Results in Harshest Penalties Ever . Chicago Tribune . May 16, 1997 . June 17, 2021.
  65. News: Brown . Clifton . Next Stop, Chicago: Riley Adjusts Rearview Mirror to See Knicks . The New York Times . May 19, 1997 . July 28, 2021.
  66. News: Heisler . Mark . Knicks Can't Take the Heat . Los Angeles Times . May 19, 1997 . November 25, 2022.
  67. News: Adande . J.A. . Hardaway Applies the Heat as Miami Ousts Knicks . The Washington Post . May 19, 1997 . May 30, 2022.
  68. News: 1997 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals: Knicks vs. Heat . Basketball-Reference . February 4, 2023.
  69. News: Wise . Mike . A Redeemed Jordan Sends Heat Packing . The New York Times . May 29, 1997 . May 12, 2022.
  70. News: Adande . J.A. . Bulls Get Cooking, Turn Off the Heat . The Washington Post . May 29, 1997 . November 18, 2022.
  71. News: Armour . Terry . Hot Stuff! Heat Stuffed . Chicago Tribune . May 29, 1997 . May 30, 2022.
  72. News: 1997 NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Heat vs. Bulls . Basketball-Reference . February 4, 2023.
  73. Web site: 2005-12-22 . Collision Course: Riley and Jackson through the years . 2024-05-23 . ESPN.com . en.
  74. News: Wise . Mike . A Fistful of Rings: Bulls Grab Fifth Title of 90's . The New York Times . June 14, 1997 . June 4, 2022.
  75. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . June 14, 1997 . Bulls Get Fifth Element . Los Angeles Times . July 25, 2022.
  76. News: Johnson . K.C. . Bulls Got There, Because They'd Been There . Chicago Tribune . June 16, 1997 . June 4, 2022.
  77. News: Benson . Lee . Chicago Heartbreaker . Deseret News . June 14, 1997 . December 12, 2022.
  78. News: 1997 NBA Finals: Jazz vs. Bulls . Basketball-Reference . February 4, 2023.

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